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Prius Electrical System

Here's a thought... I have a gadget that is supposed to help jumpstart regular cars. You plug one end into your cigarette lighter and the other into the outlet of the "dead" vehicle. It is supposed to supply current to the battery like jumper cables would. Then after some time, you are supposed to be able to start the "dead" vehicle after the battery gets some amount of charge. IF this would work on a Prius, what if I were to take my solar charger that plugs into the lighter? Would that charge the batteries in the Prius?

I'm thinking the answer would be no or they would be advertising this already and selling the $10 solar charger for $150 with some hot-shot super cool name. Any thoughts?

Rosscoe

Reply to
Just Me
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When I first received my '04 (in October '03, days after they became available), it seemed to make sense to prepare for the eventuality of a dead 12V battery. It's the high-voltage battery that starts the engine, but the electronics have to be running from a little power provided by a modest 12V source. I already had an adequate solar panel with the correct output, and made up a small battery pack using NiMH cells. With a switchable isolation circuit, the car keeps that battery pack charged, and at the airport the solar panel went on the dash to keep it charged.

The idea was that if the car's 12V lead-acid battery were to die, I could use the little battery pack to kick off the electronics and get the car started. I felt very smart.

Well, more than four years have passed. There's never been a problem, even with the car remaining dormant for many weeks, things left on overnight, etc.

In fact, there's never been any problem of any sort, other than an odd beeping when the door is open, ignition OFF and lights OFF.

Just Me wrote:

Reply to
Ike

"Just Me" wrote in news:nP6dnahC5tohSRXanZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

I believe the 12v aux outlet on the Prius is not even connected to the electrical system until the car is "on", so this would not work unless the outlet is rewired. Coastaletech.com sells a kit to do this for the 1G Prius.

Reply to
Stan

This won't work for one simple reason - the lighter power sockets aren't 'live' unless the car is on.

Walt Morris

Reply to
Walter Morris

Reply to
Mr. G

It would charge the small 12v battery that "starts" the car, that's all.

There is no pathway to the traction batteries until and unless the car has been started and is in Ready mode.

Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

Along with the Prius, AFAIK most cars now have accessory outlets which are dead when the car is off. Such cars would need to be modified before they could accept a charge through their outlets.

Reply to
richard schumacher

Don't tell Brokeback McNasty that. He thinks he's a Dr. Einstein!

Reply to
Doctor Einstein

Hey, Ali-G. How'd that abuse thing work out for ya?

ROFLMAO

Reply to
3D

The Prius mod is trivial (one wire, 10 minutes). It's also easy to hard-wire to the 12V system.

Reply to
notaguru

Understood. It's just that no one should think they can buy a plug-in charger and be able to use it with *no* mods.

Reply to
richard schumacher

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