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Has anyone used solar chargers in the Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by neon tetra, Apr 25, 2008.

  1. neon tetra

    neon tetra Member

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    #1 neon tetra, Apr 25, 2008
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I had one early when I first got my Prius. Mine came with some alligator clips that I attached directly to the 12v battery rather than using the power outlet. My intention was to plug it in when the car would sit for a few days unused.
    I think I plugged it in once. Eventually I just got tired of the thing sitting unused in the back of the car. If you do park, in the open sun, for a week to 10 days at a time it might benefit you to plug it in at those times, but other than that I think you'll find it to become more clutter than any actual benefit.

    What I thought you were asking about was something like this:
    [​IMG]
     
    #2 efusco, Apr 25, 2008
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    What Evan wrote. I bought one and slowly realized that it wasn't worth having it cluttering up the rear seat.
     
    #3 richard schumacher, Apr 26, 2008
  4. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    i have a 13watt panel and it works great!
    keeps the 12 volt battery charged when its standing still long periods of time

    efusco : where is that photo from?
    any specs?
     
    #4 Flying White Dutchman, Apr 26, 2008
  5. ForTheGlory

    ForTheGlory New Member

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    If there was a way to hook it up to the HV battery (there definitely is not a way to do it easily...voltage is too low) I could see myself using one. But I don't see that I'd want it for 12v battery charging.
     
    #5 ForTheGlory, Apr 26, 2008
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I took that (terrible photo) at hybridfest last year. It's a plug-in solar prius build by veridian corporation.
     
    #6 efusco, Apr 26, 2008
  7. auricchio

    auricchio Member

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    Jeez, Evan, I can tell you're not using a Mac with iPhoto. Two minutes. Not the prettiest with that quickie editing, but it sure looks more usable.
     

    Attached Files:

    #7 auricchio, Apr 26, 2008
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    yea yea, I took over 800 photos there, I'm not going to edit them all. I actually did edit that one a little after I saw how bad it posted....

    But, it's an irrepairably bad image bc of that nasty glare coming off the left rear column of the hatch screwing up the exposure. But it's my own fault for not checking it and then adjusting for it.
     
    #8 efusco, Apr 26, 2008
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    yea yea, I took over 800 photos there, I'm not going to edit them all. I actually did edit that one a little after I saw how bad it posted....

    But, it's an irrepairably bad image bc of that nasty glare coming off the left rear column of the hatch screwi[​IMG]ng up the exposure. But it's my own fault for not checking it and then adjusting for it.
     
    #9 efusco, Apr 26, 2008
  10. Optimus

    Optimus Member

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    hmmm, a new style of "sun" roof....
     
    #10 Optimus, Apr 28, 2008
  11. NoMoShocks

    NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer

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    I wonder how many solar panels it would take to fire up an invertor to create 120 V at about 10 Amps. Then you could plug in your Hymotion Plug In pack and run at 100 MPG all day long on a sunny day.

    Well, actually, I guess you would run the equivalent of 30 miles at 100 MPG evey 4 hours, because it is supposed to take about 4 hours to charge the 5kWh battery pack.
     
    #11 NoMoShocks, Apr 30, 2008
  12. timtim2008

    timtim2008 Member

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    [​IMG]

    i was thinking of getting one also.
     
    #12 timtim2008, Jul 28, 2009
  13. timtim2008

    timtim2008 Member

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    lol, maybe a 6x10' Trailer full of them.
     
    #13 timtim2008, Jul 28, 2009
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