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Battery Cooling Vents and Fans

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by mr88cet, Jan 30, 2017.

  1. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    For you folks who already have your Prius Primes, I have a few questions about the battery-cooling vents and fans:
    • My 2009 (Gen-2) has one vent outboard the right rear seat. I see that the P.Prime appears to have two, somewhat larger vents, one on each side (observation, not question :)).
    • Are those two vents both intake, both outlet, or one in one out?
    • Are there other vents (e.g., external)?
    • How often do the fans run when you're in EV mode for extended time periods under moderate weather conditions?
    • How loud are they when they run? I saw a thread from earlier relating to Gen-4 normal Prius saying that they're pretty quiet, but obviously the P.Prime's battery and associated cooling system are very different.

     
    #1 mr88cet, Jan 30, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2017
  2. Pizza Driver

    Pizza Driver Active Member

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    Sit in your car while it is charging. You can hear the fan running and decide for yourself how loud you think it is. It may take a bit before the fan starts up depending on the temperature and whether you are using a 120V or 220V charger.
     
  3. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    My P.Prime has not arrived yet, unfortunately. Probably not the same noise level as my Gen-2.
     
  4. thatoneraccoon

    thatoneraccoon Active Member

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    The only time I have heard my fans run is when it is charging, otherwise I have not noticed. It is however cold out, so maybe will be different in the summer when its 100 out
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    never hear the fan in the pip.
     
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  6. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    turn your hearing aids up bisco:p
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what?
     
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  8. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    I SAID, TURN YOUR HEARING AIDS UP BISCO!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ah, thank you.:whistle:
     
  10. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    WHAT?:p
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    YOU TOO?(n)
     
  12. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    YEZ:cry: SINCE i WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH IT AT 5 YEARS OLD
     
  13. Dhuntj

    Dhuntj New Member

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    I've had my Prime Premium for 3 weeks. I noticed how loud the fan was right away (I owned a gen 3) and has gotten louder to the point I really notice it and it's quite annoying. There doesn't appear to be rhyme or reason to when the fan comes on. I liver in the Seattle area and it's winter so heat isn't an issue and it's rarely below freezing.
    Been telling my self that I hear it b/c the car's so quiet but I'm now having to admit that it's unacceptably loud to the point I plan to take it to the dealer. It doesn't come on that often and I can't hear it above about 25 mph, but when it is on it's very noticeable. Don't think I had anything that bothered me like this in the 10 years I owned my gen 3. Any ideas would be appreciated.
     
  14. RonMc5

    RonMc5 Member

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    I never sat in my car when charging, but I think I might now. I have never heard the fans running while driving. Both the upper vents are intakes for what appears to be two centrifugal blowers, one on each side. They a ducted into the rear of the battery with each duct covering 1/2 the width of the whole battery. The almost 1/2 is the is what appears to be an exhaust duct that goes through the bottom of the trunk area. I got under the car and that area is covered by a plenum, perhaps to keep water from getting in that way. The is also another blower under the right rear seat. There are two vents, and I haven't completely determined which is intake and which is exhaust, or neither on is exhaust. I came across your question searching for answers. :) I have two temperature probes, one on each of the under-seat vents trying to determine direction. I would prefer it if the hot air was ducted out of the car like the battery vent. Ducting only goes the rightmost one, the center one is just open. After I finish this experiment I plan on moving the probes to the battery area for similar experiments. I wish I had thought of doing this while charging before I heard it in this thread. Climb back in my car 1/2 way through my charge cycle (240 VAC) and see how things are going. :) Now that I think about it, if you are driving your Prius like a Prius the battery ECU and battery itself wouldn't require much cooling. CHARGING is where it's at! Then it B**** to the wall! :)