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Quick question re: 12v ports & battery drain

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by BhamPrius, Mar 31, 2011.

  1. BhamPrius

    BhamPrius Member

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    Apologies if this is elsewhere, but my search for the past 1/2 hour couldn't find the the answer...

    I have a 2010 II.

    I have a small and simple car charger that I'd like to leave plugged into the center console 12v port. It's supposed to stop drawing power if the phone's charged completely in order to avoid overcharging.

    Question: If it's not hooked up to my phone, will it still drain from the battery and if so, how much? Will MPGs be affected by the battery drain or is the drain (if applicable) negligible?

    Also, am I correct in understanding that the 12v in the center console powers down when the car's off and the 12v under the floating bridge is always live?

    Thank you PC!
     
    #1 BhamPrius, Mar 31, 2011
  2. rpeek2

    rpeek2 Dry Ice Juggler

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    As I have found in most imports, both 12V outlets are dead when car is off.
     
    #2 rpeek2, Mar 31, 2011
  3. BhamPrius

    BhamPrius Member

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    Thanks for the reply..I s'pose I could have been more clear on the 1st part..I'm wondering about battery drain/impact on MPGS, if at all, while I'm driving and the charger's plugged in but not connected to my phone.
     
    #3 BhamPrius, Mar 31, 2011
  4. 007

    007 New Member

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    Thats good to know, so if you leave something plugged in, (in either port) it does not hurt/drain the battery as long as the car is powered off. I hope I'm reading that correct?
     
    #4 007, Mar 31, 2011
  5. BhamPrius

    BhamPrius Member

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    Damn..I'll try again: I'm wondering about while I'm driving, if I leave the car charger plugged into the center console 12v port, but not connected to my phone, will it drain my battery or affect MPG (will there be any pull from the battery to power the charger even if it's not connected to my phone). The more I inquire, the sillier I feel for asking. :)
     
    #5 BhamPrius, Mar 31, 2011
  6. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

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    A cell phone charger ?????

    fuggetaboutit .... :D

    REV
     
    #6 revhigh, Mar 31, 2011
  7. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

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    That really isn't a battery charger, it is a converter which converts 12 volts DC to whatever it takes to charge your cellphone. If there is no cellphone attached it is not drawing anything (except for a small light that some of them have to show it is in an active port).

    I am sure someone will know (if not, Rrrollf will invent a series of NASA tests and make something up), but I can't imagine that small, led type bulb could drain a battery in less than several years or affect MPG in any discernible amount.

    Just my opinion.
     
    #7 Joe166, Mar 31, 2011
  8. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    It's impact on mpg or the battery will be insignificant.
     
    #8 RRxing, Mar 31, 2011
  9. BhamPrius

    BhamPrius Member

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    Thanks y'all..that's what I figured..just thought I'd run it by you PC expects before I implemented..carry on!
     
    #9 BhamPrius, Mar 31, 2011
  10. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    If electrons are flowing, it will be consuming battery power. Your charger/converter must convert 12 V from your battery to 5 V for your phone. This means requires a transformer that will consume electricity. Your charger may also have a light that is illuminated when it is turned on. This can serve as a reminder that power is being drawn from your battery. The good news is that it won't run your batter down when the car is turned off, because the circuit will be open.
     
    #10 mad-dog-one, Mar 31, 2011
  11. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    When driving:

    1) It will not drain your battery. The 12V bus is powered from the HV system, which is maintained by the gas engine. In other words, if the car is Ready, you can't drain the 12V battery.

    2) This device will consume some power, even when your phone is charged. This means that it will cause some reduction in gas mileage. That said, the reduction will be so insignificant as to be unmeasurable.

    When the Prius is powered off:

    1) The 12V receptacles are disconnected when the car is powered down. There is no risk of draining the 12V battery.

    Tom
     
    #11 qbee42, Mar 31, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  12. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Concur.

    There may be some theoretical MPG impact, like there is when you run into a mosquito (something else for JPL to study, I'm sure...) but I don't think that its quantifiable, even by JPL.

    Not that somebody out there won't try.... :)

    Don't worry about it!
     
    #12 ETC(SS), Mar 31, 2011
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