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

Portable 12v Battery Jump Starters

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ssdesigner, Aug 1, 2016.

  1. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2016
    304
    241
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2013 Aqua
    Model:
    Persona
    With some of the recent posts about the 12v battery I thought I would research this. I'm not seeing anything specific to the 2016 Gen4 Prii, so because this is my first Prius I'm not sure the 12v batteries have been exactly the same since the Gen1 Prius.

    Does anyone carry a portable battery jump unit in their car? If so, does any standard model work without doing damage?

    Any other tips about the jumpers you may (or may not) use, hookup tips etc would be helpful to myself and other new Prius owners here. Thanks in advance.
     
    ETP likes this.
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Gen 4 battery is in the engine compartment, so jump points shouldn't be a problem. Positive clamp on positive terminal on battery, negative clamp on a solid ground, usually a bolt in the engine compartment.

    Just about any jump pack will do since there's no starter motor to drive, just some relays, etc.

    The main thing is to ensure you don't reverse the polarity when jumping the Prius.
     
    ETP likes this.
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,662
    38,207
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I've used our Jump-N-Carry 660 (JNC660) a fair number of times, pretty dependable. The older ones you had to guestimate how much to recharge them, but now their charger automatically shuts down when it's topped up. Good solid case, slim enough that it fits in third gen hatch underfloor tray, but that's not going to work for you with 2016. It might slip under a front seat ok.

    Jump Starters - 1700 Peak Amp Volt JNC660 | Call us at 1-800-328-2921 |Clore Automotive

    Everybody's going to be chauvinistic towards what they've bought, myself included, lol. There are some very compact jumpstarters too, as long as it's for light duty like the Prius could be just fine.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Aug 1, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2016
    Hawaii Magic and ETP like this.
  4. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2016
    304
    241
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2013 Aqua
    Model:
    Persona
    Thank you to both of you, I appreciate the information.

    I'm in Minnesota, so I feel like having a jump start option is an absolute must with our winters (no offense to the Great White North...but it's damn cold here, lol)

    I just want to be sure I learn HOW to jump it before I need to do so, and that I'm buying a charger that won't harm my car.

    Also looking into 12v batteries.....yup. I'm a HUGE plan ahead kind of guy. And I like the idea of buying an Optima when the time comes if they have a 2016 option. Email sent to them :)
     
    Mendel Leisk and ETP like this.
  5. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2014
    2,489
    2,153
    49
    Location:
    Top RH Corner of RH Coast on L side of The Pond
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I've used mine once on my 2009 Gen II, and numerous times on neighbours' vehicles (anything from Jeep Cherokee to divers Chevys), also I've used mine to recharge my SmartPhone and Tablet, and once or twice I've used the flash-light - details see threads passim (search is your friend!) Good luck! - hope this helps - Wil
     
    ETP likes this.
  6. dandeman

    dandeman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2005
    61
    18
    0
    Location:
    Chapel Hill, NC
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Concur with the Clore Automotive choice... I have the Jump-N-Air model which also includes the air compressor for the tires... I got used to traveling in my Toyota 4Runner 4x4 which I've added dual batteries and a 1/3 hp air compressor for off roading.

    Over the years I've had a battery that tested good at the start of the trip... going into failure in a remote area in South Dakota and.. picked up nails in two tires on another trip..

    I feel naked going on long trips with out extra battery power and an air source for the tires.. Batteries and tires are the two most common failures that strand people . The Jump-N-Air goes in the Prius on any extended trip.
     
    ETP likes this.
  7. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2016
    304
    241
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2013 Aqua
    Model:
    Persona
    WilDavis....when you say "one", do you mean the same model charger, or a different model?
     
    ETP likes this.
  8. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2014
    2,489
    2,153
    49
    Location:
    Top RH Corner of RH Coast on L side of The Pond
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Sorry, where did I say "one" - I think I mentioned the model I bought last year from batterymart.com in one of the previous threads, and I'm sure I could find it by using the "search" function, but I've no need since I already have mine (and I bought a couple more for friends) and I didn't want to spoil the fun for you by removing the need for you doing your own search! (…it really is very simple!) ;)
     
    ETP likes this.
  9. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2013
    1,313
    888
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    image.jpeg
    Since Prius just needs enough power to boot up the computer system, I am carrying this small lithium-ion battery pack. It is much lower weight than the lead-acid versions I have had, but I have not had to use it on the Prius yet. I carry a full sized spare, and that is already an extra 12 pounds or so, and I am tying to not weigh down the car unnecessarily with the emergency battery pack.
     
  10. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2016
    304
    241
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2013 Aqua
    Model:
    Persona
    My apologies for not adhering to semantics. ;)

    I stated that I searched, and your post of "mine" needed more info. So, please let me substitute the quoted language to push my point that I am in need of further info.

    Look, I get it. I'm on dozens of forums where new people come in and ask stupid questions. Questions that may be found in 30 seconds of searching.

    THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE FORUMS. It's clunky, unorganized and difficult. So, yes. I do my do diligence and hit search first.

    Now that I've got my scolding and explanation of "I get it" out of the way....thank you for the help. As always, it is GREATLY appreciated. ;)
     
    ETP likes this.
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,662
    38,207
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The 2016's battery looks to have regular (North American style) posts, and since it's in the engine compartment, maybe not even AGM??
     
    ETP likes this.
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,693
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    could be. keep in mind the gen 4 12v is vastly improved over the past gen's. you may want to research the differences before investing a lot in past gen problem solvers.
     
    ETP likes this.
  13. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,642
    1,134
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    How so? Won't it have to tolerate a much warmer environment?
     
    RCO and ETP like this.
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,662
    38,207
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Could someone with a 2016 maybe post a picture of the labels on their 12 volt battery?
     
    ETP and bisco like this.
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,693
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    they were able to put a much larger battery in. no idea how engine bay warmth affects the life of a typical car battery, but the prius 12v problems all stem from not being able to withstand a deep discharge without significant capacity loss.
     
    ETP likes this.
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,662
    38,207
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'm wondering if it's even an AGM. Either way, being in the engine bay would seem to negate the need to stay AGM, which should open the floodgates for reasonably priced replacement batteries.
     
    bisco likes this.
  17. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,837
    1,827
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    Here is a photo of the GS-Yuasa 345LN1-MF battery in my 3 day old 2016 Prius. It appears to be a "Maintenance-Free", flooded cell, 45 AH lead acid battery.

    Jeffd
     

    Attached Files:

    bisco, ETP, Robert Holt and 1 other person like this.
  18. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    IIRC 45Ah is a bigger capacity than the Gen 3 had.
     
    bisco and ETP like this.
  19. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2016
    304
    241
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2013 Aqua
    Model:
    Persona

    That's interesting. When I emailed Optima about the 2016 battery they said this:

    Thank you for your interest in Optima Batteries. The DS46B24R is a direct fit auxiliary battery for 2004 and newer Toyota Prius models. This battery uses the OE style pencil post and vent port.
     
    bisco and ETP like this.
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,662
    38,207
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    That sounds like they don't fully understand, inserted a "boiler plate" response. With the 2016 there's no need to vent, and the posts look to be regular North American diameters.
     
    bisco and ETP like this.