Enginer PHEV

[f16bmathis]

Hey,

Just bought an Enginer PHEV 2kw kit. I installed it and am having a few problems. I am working with thier support (very helpful) but wanted to run this at both ends.

After installing, I ran the car around the block. Starting the car, it started as a normal Prius. The engine came on shortly after starting. Didn't think it was supposed to. The Prius pack then started draining to nothing! I had error codes for low Prius pack, check engine, the triangle warning. As I rounded the block, the engine started revving at high RPM's. The pack went to fully charged in seconds, then started going back down again, motor runniung high rpm's till I got home and shut her off.

Also, when I plugged the Prius in, the charger showed red. I then turned off the PHEV C/B on the side of the box, and the charger showed green right away. Turned the C/B back on and the charger goes to red again. Is this normal?

[seilerts]

If Eric Powers charges by the hour to look at your system, it is well worth it. He is in Madison and has the most experience with the system.

http://priuschat.com/forums/private-.../send-to/1015/

Was your error code P0A80? That can happen if the current output from the converter is too high.

[MJFrog]

Originally Posted by f16bmathis

Hey,

Just bought an Enginer PHEV 2kw kit. I installed it and am having a few problems. I am working with thier support (very helpful) but wanted to run this at both ends.

After installing, I ran the car around the block. Starting the car, it started as a normal Prius. The engine came on shortly after starting. Didn't think it was supposed to. The Prius pack then started draining to nothing! I had error codes for low Prius pack, check engine, the triangle warning. As I rounded the block, the engine started revving at high RPM's. The pack went to fully charged in seconds, then started going back down again, motor runniung high rpm's till I got home and shut her off.

Also, when I plugged the Prius in, the charger showed red. I then turned off the PHEV C/B on the side of the box, and the charger showed green right away. Turned the C/B back on and the charger goes to red again. Is this normal?

The first thing I would check is that the polarity from all components to each other is correct. Especially between DC/DC converter and Prius battery, but also from charger to battery pack and battery pack to converter. Do this for the bumper plug to the charger as well.

I have a 2kwh system as well (however, it's >2 YO and probably doesn't look much like yours). Depending on whether you hooked up the EV mode connectors or not will determine if the ICE starts at power-up or not. Mine will start after the initial delay unless I press my EV button.

[ericbecky]

Originally Posted by f16bmathis

Hey,

Just bought an Enginer PHEV 2kw kit. I installed it and am having a few problems. I am working with thier support (very helpful) but wanted to run this at both ends.

After installing, I ran the car around the block. Starting the car, it started as a normal Prius. The engine came on shortly after starting. Didn't think it was supposed to. The Prius pack then started draining to nothing! I had error codes for low Prius pack, check engine, the triangle warning. As I rounded the block, the engine started revving at high RPM's. The pack went to fully charged in seconds, then started going back down again, motor runniung high rpm's till I got home and shut her off.

Also, when I plugged the Prius in, the charger showed red. I then turned off the PHEV C/B on the side of the box, and the charger showed green right away. Turned the C/B back on and the charger goes to red again. Is this normal?

On Enginer forums you mentioned that the 3000w converter was not bolted down. If it banged around at all, it certainly could have knocked the settings around as well.

If you have to install new parts that come from Enginer I suggest that you always bench test the individual components prior to installing them in the car. That means every switch, circuit breaker, converter and charger.

You'll want to use your handheld multimeter to check the voltage and amperage output of that converter.

As far as the engine coming on, it will normally come on shortly after starting. That is normal. Not sure why you think it would not?

I would suggest that you purchase a ScanGauge (let me know if you need one) so that you can clear any codes.

Any idea what the code was that was thrown or what your Prius Battery's State of Charge was at the time? I've been seeing some things happening when SOC gets too low.

[f16bmathis]

Originally Posted by seilerts

If Eric Powers charges by the hour to look at your system, it is well worth it. He is in Madison and has the most experience with the system.

http://priuschat.com/forums/private-.../send-to/1015/

Was your error code P0A80? That can happen if the current output from the converter is too high.

I've wired and upgraded the avionics (flight controls, radar, ECM, nav, targeting pods... on the F-111 and the F-16 for 20 years, built my own Chevy S10 Electric Vehicle among other things I tinker with. I should be (really stress "should") able to install and get this thing running without spending anything extra. If not, I'll send it back.

It showed up at the house yesterday misssing the long bolts that hold the 5000W converter down in the PHEV box, so it broke both the cooling fans in shipping, no HV wiring, no wires to connect the switch to the ECM connectors, and after watching the video and online manual, they dont show where to connect the 5000W converter to the pack, though the video does show them pointing at the lugs and asking where to connect it, but they never answered or came back to that.

Did get support (really quick) they sent a picture showing where the HV wires go, as I have it now by looking at another site, on the side of the relays not on the battery side. They are also sending parts that I was missing.

[f16bmathis]

Originally Posted by seilerts

If Eric Powers charges by the hour to look at your system, it is well worth it. He is in Madison and has the most experience with the system.

http://priuschat.com/forums/private-.../send-to/1015/

Was your error code P0A80? That can happen if the current output from the converter is too high.

The codes were P3023 & P3024, Prius pack below min.

[f16bmathis]

Originally Posted by ericbecky

On Enginer forums you mentioned that the 3000w converter was not bolted down. If it banged around at all, it certainly could have knocked the settings around as well.

If you have to install new parts that come from Enginer I suggest that you always bench test the individual components prior to installing them in the car. That means every switch, circuit breaker, converter and charger.

You'll want to use your handheld multimeter to check the voltage and amperage output of that converter.

As far as the engine coming on, it will normally come on shortly after starting. That is normal. Not sure why you think it would not?

I would suggest that you purchase a ScanGauge (let me know if you need one) so that you can clear any codes.

Any idea what the code was that was thrown or what your Prius Battery's State of Charge was at the time? I've been seeing some things happening when SOC gets too low.

I'll check the inverter output and connections tonight, yesterday I had finished and took a test drive.

As far as the engine coming on, I "assumed" I would be able to drive the 1.5 miles to my daughters school and home as I have been in EV mode without using any gas. Shame on me for not reading an operators manual! I may have to modify this once I get it working so I can still use the EV button, if possible.

I do have a ScanGauge, cleared the codes, P3023 & P3024. The state of charge had run down to nothing, and then up to full, then back down again, engine running wildly till I got around the block and shut her off. The engine eventually stopped spinning thereafter.

[Flaninacupboard]

Did you disconnect the 12V battery during installation? this will force the battery ECU to recalculate it's SOC, which can be difficult for it to do, especially if you are adding current it's not expecting!

[seilerts]

Originally Posted by f16bmathis

P3023 & P3024.

You may have reversed polarity on the converter - battery connection. Or the converter is defective and is sending out high levels of RF noise, which could confuse the battery ECU.

[f16bmathis]

Originally Posted by Flaninacupboard

Did you disconnect the 12V battery during installation? this will force the battery ECU to recalculate it's SOC, which can be difficult for it to do, especially if you are adding current it's not expecting!

It was suggested by an electronics tech that was helping me, but I couldn't see any reason to, so we didn't.