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Can you assume a 2.5 hour L1 charging time?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by iRun26.2, Mar 25, 2012.

  1. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

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    The user's manual says the L1 charging time may require up to 3 hours for a full charge. It ALWAYS is about 2.5 hours for me (and that's what I've heard from other people, too).

    Does anyone, as a standard practice, just assume that 2.5 hours is enough?

    (I'm thinking about planning for this 0.5 hour offset so my car 'really' is just charged before I leave for work in the morning, rather than being fully charged 1/2 hour before I told it to be).
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you starting from empty?
     
  3. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    When my dads is completely dead with no EV left it takes 3 hours at 110. I don't often charge from dead since I charge more often than he does. Well, he also is forced more often to do more than 13 miles in EV throughout the day with no access to plugging in.

    What does it matter though if it finishes charging 1, 2 or even 3 hours before you leave for work?
     
  4. mikenewmediary

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    Sorry for asking, but does it matter when the charge is completed?
     
  5. jbrad4

    jbrad4 Active Member

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    The Toyota manual says to charge it just before you use it. It's not good to let a Li-Ion battery stay fully charged for long periods of time (several days or weeks). A few hours won't make any difference.
     
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  6. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

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    I guess I am too much of a perfectionist. I'll still allow 3 hours when using the 'Start' timer function.

    Also, I just read at page 90 of the user's manual that the charge time will take approximately 2.5 hours. I guess the 3 hour figure is just to be certain.
     
  7. SimiPrius

    SimiPrius Member

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    Mine takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes over a 110 line. It is not a dedicated circuit, but I don't think there is much else on it.
     
  8. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

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    The manuel also says that the charging time with vary with the temperature. I wonder how that will work (longer or shorter charge times in winter or summer)?
     
  9. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Perfectionist aside, is there a concern of having it start at say midnight and end at 3am and sit charged at full until you leave whenever that is, say 6am, 7am etc? Having it charge and sit (we're talking hours not days) is not going to affect your battery if that's the concern.
     
  10. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    Say your car won't be driven for a week. So one would not want to leave it fully charged, but is it better to have it "discharged" (i.e., at HV level), or partially charged?
     
  11. drash

    drash Senior Member

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    Anything less than half charged is fine especially for only a week.
     
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  12. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    partially charged is fine.
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you guys making this up as we go along or is the manual clear on all these different concerns?
     
  14. drash

    drash Senior Member

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    The manual says don't leave it fully charged and parked for long period unused.

    Physics of both Lithium and Nickel-based batteries are if you are going somewhere for a long time it is best to leave the battery in a lower charged state. Lead acids of course should be stored fully charged. They have somewhat reversed types of problems.
     
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  15. ryogajyc

    ryogajyc Active Member

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    Here's exactly what the Owner's Manual states on pg. 93:
     
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  16. RiverRat

    RiverRat Junior Member

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    Doesn't heat also shorten battery life? I would think a short cooling period for the batteries, before heat generating discharge would also extended life.
     
  17. jbrad4

    jbrad4 Active Member

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    Yes. All true. That's why I plan on charging early in the morning on the days that I will be driving my Plug-In.
     
  18. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

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    What I fond interesting is that they didn't mention anything in this section about not charging immediately after driving. I thought I remember reading that you should try to let the car sit a while before recharging but I don't remember where I saw that.

    (I am guilty of that couple times per week)
     
  19. ryogajyc

    ryogajyc Active Member

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    The L1 and L2 charging power is ~1kW and ~2kW to the battery, which is very low compared to the charging/discharging power during driving. For example, maintaining 35mph discharges the battery at ~9kW, so charging is not really stressing the batteries.

    I recall a forum member posting that as well, but that was his explanation for "Use the charging timer function as much as possible in order to fully charge the hybrid battery (traction battery) immediately before starting off." However, considering the charging/discharging rates during driving makes it an unlikely explanation, IMO.
     
  20. crewdog

    crewdog Acting Ensign Prius Prime

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    fwiw, recharge times have usually been about 2:20 when just the EV battery is depleted to 0.

    doing errands this morning, i arrived back in garage down 3 bars on the HV portion of the battery, and recharge time indicated 2:45

    Maybe the full 3 hours is when the HV portion of the batt is fully depleted?