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

Toyota-Leviton Charger Install

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by ppimd, May 1, 2012.

  1. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    It's a very interesting question, but I don't think your test proves that the EVSE serves as a 12V "battery tender." For one thing, once charging competes, it appears that everything shuts off, and if so, any 12V charging would stop. So if, for example, you go on a trip and leave your PiP plugged in, I'm not convinced that the 12V battery would be charged. I would love to learn if this were true, it would be fantastic!
     
  2. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Here's the math:
    4 watts x 730 hours / 1,000 = 2.92 kWh/month.

    At ten cents per kWh, leaving the charger always connected will cost 29.2 cents per month. Of course, you plug it in 3 hours per day anyway, so the incremental cost would be closer to 25 cents per month.
     
  3. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    The 12v auxiliary battery will recharge by the main DC-DC converter while running. It is not another way.
     
  4. ronlprius2

    ronlprius2 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    56
    7
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
     
  5. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I don't understand if you're answering my question. Does the HV battery maintain the 12V battery charge when the EVSE is plugged in? I know it charges the 12v when the car is in Ready mode, but I don't know what happens during charging.
     
  6. fjpod

    fjpod Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    419
    72
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Except I pay 25 cents per kwh.
     
  7. seek

    seek Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2012
    32
    6
    0
    Location:
    Tewksbury, MA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I suspect that people that quote a very low rate don't add up all the lines that are then multiplied by the kwh used (ie. taxes, renewable energy, fuel surcharge, etc.)
     
  8. Allannde

    Allannde Just a Senior

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    874
    138
    0
    Location:
    Washington State
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Rebound

    My later checking confirms what you said. When the EVSE charging stops any charging of the 12v battery stops. Then I plugged in my battery tender and when it said my 12v battery was full, it tested at 12.6v! There definitely is some charging of the 12v battery with the EVSE, but not enough to trash the Battery Tender. To be fair, there was a dome light and perhaps some other draw on the battery at the time which would have depressed the reading.

    Allan
     
  9. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,122
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    It'd be interesting to see the electric rate schedule for your area and to know your monthly usage vs. whatever baseline you're allocated.
    Possibly, but here are two really cheap areas:
    2011 Rates
    Seattle City Light: Electric Rates & Provisions