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Prius "plug-in" requirements

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by PriusPlug, Dec 4, 2012.

  1. PriusPlug

    PriusPlug Junior Member

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    Hello

    Ordered a new 2012 prius plug-in base model (33,054) yesterday and will get the car in 2 or 3 days. I have a GFI outlet in my garage (15 amp) which i am using for cable modem+phone. It has two outlets and I can potentially plug the Prius cable into one of them. My question is can I use the GFI outlet in this fashion i.e. sharing the 2 outlets on the wall receptacle with Prius as well as other small electronics. There are no heavy duty appliances connected to it. There is another power outlet in the garage in the ceiling that is used for garage door opener and it is not a GFI outlet. Just a regular outlet is being used for Garage opener.

    Looking for personal experiences in this regard. Thanks much !.
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I think the max draw is 12 Amps so if the cable modem and Phone ATA do not draw 2 Amps (and they don't) you are fine.
     
  3. PriusPlug

    PriusPlug Junior Member

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    Thanks much for the quick answer. I was planning to get a new 15-amp outlet installed for charging ($175) :). Really appreciate the clarification
     
  4. PriusPlug

    PriusPlug Junior Member

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    If I may, I have one other question. How long is the charging cable that is provided with the car (not specially purchased)?.
     
  5. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    How do you know how many AMP's the outlet is?
     
  6. PriusPlug

    PriusPlug Junior Member

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    Very good question. I am guessing because the circuit breaker on the main panel in my garage has a label of 15 on it. I am told by our electricity supplier that it means it is 15-amp line. There is only one GFI outlet in my garage. That person also suggested that I maybe able to buy some sort of a guage that will tell me the AMP'age?. Will have to do more research to confirm this.
     
  7. delrey

    delrey Member

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    Another question. I don't have a garage or carport, I'll be charging outdoors in my driveway. Should I be worried about charging in the rain? Plugging or unplugging?
     
  8. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    I found out recently that my living room is sharing the same circuit as my garage door opener and the PiP. I never had a problem for the first month plugging in. All it took was for my wife to turn on the electric fireplace heater to pop a fuse. No problem. I'll just set the timer for the PiP to charge at midnight.

    This circuit is shared with the garage door opener, living room outlets, a 50" LED TV, and an assortment of lights. It is the only available outlet in the garage. I don't plan on installing a separate circuit.
     
  9. PriusPlug

    PriusPlug Junior Member

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    Good tip. I will also make sure to use the power very early in the morning. My living room outlets are on a separate circuit breaker. I have one exclusive for the garage. However not sure if the outlet in the verandah is shared with garage or living room where nothing is plugged in.
     
  10. I believe it is 20 Ft.
     
  11. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    I also live in an apartment with my PIP parked outside with an outlet next to my parking spot. Been charging my PIP since April 23, 2012 in the rain no problem

    LG-MS910 ? 2
     
  12. Not worried about charging in the rain, NO, not generally. In very heavy rain I cover my exposed extension, which is on the ground, with a small rug. However in the rain I recommend unplugging from the source of the voltage first and plugging into the source last, this lessens the possibility of shock. By only using the charge cord, is not a problem, it is designed for the water to run off.
     
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    My answer is posted in the other thread, Prius plug-in questions on 15-amp outlet requirements

    I must strongly disagree with mmmodem below. As an electrical professional (an engineer, not an electrician), I see his situation as a problem waiting to happen. The PiP and the electric heater should not be on the same circuit, period. Even without the heater, the PiP ought not share a circuit with the living room appliances. If that were my house, I'd be getting new circuits added.
     
    mmmodem and lensovet like this.
  14. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

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    if you don't have it already, i would really recommend putting a UPS between the cable modem/phone and the outlet. these are small electronics, they are not going to be happy about voltage drops when the Prius starts drawing juice.
     
  15. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

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  16. I agree it is possible under hurried circumstances to forget what is plugged in.
     
  17. Lensovet, Normally your posts are super. But in looking up UPS on EBay, all I ever see are small AGM batteries, generally 12V sometimes 24V. I have one of these in my Prius at all times and understand its use as a standby or emergency battery for the Prius ( it works well ) However I do not understand your above para. If you Could draw a schematic then things would be clearer. TY
     
  18. Satch

    Satch Junior Member

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    Agree with Fuzzy on this. I recently installed a new circuit in the garage just for the PIP. Painted it green to remind me to plug in my green vehicle. It was cheap, easy and everything runs smooth now.
     
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  19. Good idea, painting green.
     
  20. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    He's talking about using a small computer UPS to plug the cable modem, router, etc into so as to protect them from potential brownouts caused by the use of the portable EVSE. In reality, the voltage drop probably isn't enough to affect those electronics, but it's not a bad idea to put critical things like that on a UPS. I have our DSL modem, router, microcell, & cordless phone base all on a UPS in case of power outages. In addition, I have at least one non-cordless phone that is plugged into a regular phone outlet.
     
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