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Enginer Plan B

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by cproaudio, Apr 9, 2011.

  1. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    My kit was picked up in person in the Los Angeles warehouse from Jack. He opened the package to make sure everything was there. He noticed the missing BMS and told me that he would send it to me snail mail. I don't think I'll get a brochure from FE. Doesn't matter, mine still works. I'll worry about it when my warranty runs out. OK Now that there is a source for the converter I'll update the original post.
     
  2. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    All the new Enginer kits supplied to customers from overseas where each shipped separately from Fountainhead Electronics in Shanghai China. The address list of overseas customers would have to been supplied to FE so they could be shipped directly. The USA customers were delivered in bulk to USA via a container ship and then to a warehouse. So FE would not have a list of addresses for USA customers. So only overseas customers would get a brochure.
     
  3. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    $170 for direct shipping is not too bad i guess, compared to the HORRIBLE port fees we all had to pay! Watching with interst, are you going for a dual converter setup john?
     
  4. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    Yes, but only one converter at any single time. They would just have a 1:1 duty cycle so they get a chance to cool down.
     
  5. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    Update: My new MD-TECH DC converter works. The output current is not regulated. Just as well my PHEV switch is connected in series with one of my Canview V4 relays to limit SOC to 80%.
    The DC Converter is likely to have been a Enginer Warranty return which may have been repaired.
     
  6. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    What do you mean it's not regulated? My converter varies the output between 8 to 17 amps.
     
  7. epa5epa

    epa5epa Junior Member

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    John is right that only overseas customers would get it. I received the brochure on July 27. I wonder the new DC-DC converter efficiency (90-93% ?) is better than the former one ( >=88%?) and the performance of new BMS. Please tell us in the future if you have any findings.
    Thanks
     
  8. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    My converter output current runs at about 15 amps regardless of battery voltage. The output current is suppose to ramp down to 0 amps as the battery voltage approaches 242 volts.

    I took my Prius for a run today and I got that dead rat stink coming from my new converter. This is the same smell I got from the kit when I first installed it.
     
  9. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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  10. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    I had forgotten about that awful smell :(
     
  11. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    That's how you know it is a Fountainhead DC converter. If you cannot smell a rat it just isnt a genuine DC Converter.

    I wonder if Jack Chen ever smelled a rat before his concept was stolen. :hurt:

    How many more sourpuss installers are going to whinge about it.
     
  12. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Enginer Forum is down. Anyone know what happened to it? Jack talked about changing the forum URL to combat spammers. I wonder if that's what he's doing.
     
  13. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    I recall a number of times that the Enginer forum has been down for maintenance to remove spam and to remove replies which Jack or the moderator see fit to remove.
     
  14. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    This seems off topic but it's not. The forum supports Enginer users and installers which is related to this thread somewhat.
    I moderate Enginer forum but I dont bring the forum down just to ban people. As a matter of fact, I can't. Jack recently deleted over 150,000 accounts but it's it's still growing at a rate of over 1,000 a day. I've banned more people than all other moderators combined since I started modding the forum.
    Now back to the forum being offline, is it possible that one of the spammer capable of bring down the forum?
     
  15. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    I guess that Jack has better things to do than banning users and shutting down spam accounts and removing replies. I do not see much point in running a forum which is not accessible to people who do not have an Enginer PHEV kit.
     
  16. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    new Enginer forum URL is http://www.enginer.us/f
     
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  17. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Anyone know the cost of an Enginer DC-DC converter by itself?
     
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  18. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    I paid US$350 plus delivery from Jack about six months ago for a 5kW converter. I was later reimbursed once I delivered the faulty DC Converter back to Jack. I am not sure but I think I may have lost out on delivery.

    You will probably not get a brand new DC Converter from Fountainhead Electronics but a repaired warranty return.
     
  19. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    They now cost US$500 plus delivery. Mine is on order. They now have a three week lead time. I guess there will be a bit of waiting.
     
  20. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    After seeing the plugin supply's gen III kit, I think I'm going to sell my Enginer kit and switch to plugin supply. Their 4kw kit is 2/3 the size of Enginer and almost half the weight yet supplies 100+amps of assist.