1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

How To Jump Start A Prius....

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by cproaudio, Jul 6, 2011.

  1. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    2,401
    758
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    With A DeWalt 12V Battery....
    I left the hatch up for a few days because I didn't drive it due to hot weather. The battery died on me of course. The dead battery measured 6.59v No amount of "battery recovery" time is going to recover it to start up the Prius. I charged up an old DeWalt 12V NiCad battery. I jump started the Prius with it. When I power down the Prius, the interior lights went back to really dim. The video is continuous one shot.



     
  2. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    1,605
    148
    0
    Location:
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Looks like your DeWalt 12v makes a great emergency power source. I didn't understand your last comment. Are you saying the Prius would not charge your 12v battery and thus the lights went dim, or you just didn't let it run long enough?

    By the way, I noticed the garage doors were closed when the ICE turned on. I'm just saying...
     
  3. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    2,401
    758
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    It dimmed because it didn't have time to recharge the 12v battery. I have since put it on a charger over night. Also the garage door was closed because I only run the ICE for that few seconds. I just wanted to see if a power tool battery can jump start a Prius and it could.
     
  4. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    1,605
    148
    0
    Location:
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks for the update. I like the possibility of using the DeWalt 12v as an emergency power source, especially if you're leaving your car parked for weeks without starting. Would an 19.2v DeWalt work?
     
  5. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,825
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    Only if you want to destroy your Prius!

    The 12 volt bus is set up for 11 to 14 volts and a higher voltage can destroy the expensive electronics in a Prius. Reversing polarity also risks causing damage so be careful when jumping your Prius.

    JeffD
     
  6. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    1,605
    148
    0
    Location:
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks. I guess it makes sense not to overload the voltage. What about amperage? Portable battery charger models deliver different amp loads from model to model. I'm starting to act like my kids: ask questions instead of reading the owner's manual!:D
     
  7. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,825
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    A Prius pulls a short burst of about 20 amps to start a few pumps on start up. Then it only needs a small current to boot the computers and the inverter (DC-DC converter) turns on to supply just under 14v to slowly charge the little 12v battery and run all the accessories.

    JeffD
     
  8. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    2,401
    758
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I used 10 awg wires. the brake pump takes alot of current. overall, it did heat up the wires a little bit. you can jump start the prius with either 12v or 14.4v power tool batteries. I wouldn't try anything higher than that. BTW, dewalt doesn't make 19.2v system. craftsman does.
     
  9. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    1,605
    148
    0
    Location:
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Good catch; I went out to look. I have Porter Cable!
     
  10. ticedoff8

    ticedoff8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2010
    32
    8
    0
    Location:
    San Jose
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Can you use the cigar lighter / accessory outlet to trickle charge the battery?

    I could do this on older cars - but the Prius seems to switch the cigar lighter / accessory outlet on & off with the car
     
  11. walterm

    walterm Active Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2007
    466
    202
    34
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    There are some who have posted about rewiring their lighter/power outlets to allow them to be used for charging when the car is off, but you are correct in noting that a standard Prius lighter/power outlet is not connected at all when the car is 'off', so it can't be used to trickle charge.:(
     
  12. giora

    giora Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2010
    1,966
    729
    0
    Location:
    Herzliya, Israel. Car: Euro version GLI
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
    If I am not mistaken, the right connector for jump-start is neither the 12V battery connectors nor the accessories outlet. It is the dedicated connector under the hood and in the fuse box (the + pole).
    If everything else fails - read the manual.
     
  13. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    2,401
    758
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    You can jump start the Prius at the battery too. They put that terminal under the hood because the battery is in the trunk. All GM cars with batteries under the rear seat, rear hatch, trunk area have a + post under the hood for jump starting.
    I jump started mine at the battery because the hatch is already opened. I dont recommend jump starting the Prius using the cig lighter because it's ACC switched. There's not enough juice on the dead battery to switch on the ACC. Also, the wiring for the cig lighter is only 18awg. It's only good for 10 amps. If you ran a 10 awg wire straight to the battery then you're ok.
     
  14. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
    1,610
    246
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The problem with the battery is it's a pain to get at when the latch is closed (electric).
     
  15. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    2,401
    758
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    You don't have to do it at the battery. In fact, you can do it anywhere where there's a direct connection to the battery as long as the wire itself is capable of handling 50 amps. The jumper terminal under the hood is there so that it's accessible when the trunk is closed. Would it give you a peace of mind if I made another video using the jumper terminal under the hood as oppose to directly to the battery?
     
  16. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    i was doing some testing in 08/09 on the power required to start a prius. it was very little. you could almost start this car with an a/c adaptor... (a lot of generics only do 1 amp... i think it's 4 or 5 amps to start up decent)