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Toyota Prius 2012 PHV charger support for 240v?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Sam Elias, Oct 9, 2018.

  1. Sam Elias

    Sam Elias New Member

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    Hi All

    Been doing lots of research but not sure if i can plug my car to charge it using the car original charger. On the charger it says 100v/200v
    Here in New Zealand we have 240v and not sure it its okay to plug it? The car is japan import.

    I am scared to plug it and cause damage to the battery please help!!
     

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  2. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Hi Sam,

    My vote is against trying the charger. Household voltage in Japan is 100, and the charger label showing 100/200 implies a sensing circuit that can handle either voltage. But 240 seems too far out of the acceptable range for the good health of the charger, itself. I am also concerned that your label does not indicate the output voltage. My US label shows 110 to 120V output, but would even that be appropriate for every Prius PHV the world over? We don't know.
    temp.jpg
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    you purchased a car in new zealand and only have 240v, shouldn't the evse be specified to the country?

    does it have the correct wall plug?

    have you asked the dealer? toyota?
     
  4. Sam Elias

    Sam Elias New Member

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    Thank you for your answers.

    I asked toyota dealer and they not sure
    Also regarding the plug it has japan wall plug

    My next question is what happens if i buy after market charger which does 240v would it be fine for the car or would it damage it?

    Attached image of nz site selling after market and it says it works with prius but is 240 okay for the car? Thats my question
     

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  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I think you would be good to go with an adapter. This one does not convert voltage so should be marked 230 volts to remind you not to plug 115 volt devices in it.

    www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR9D7VJ
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, the car charger can handle 240 volts, and will charge in about 2 1/2 hours. many here use them, even though we get 120 volt evse standard with the car.

    personally, i think you should try the evse that came with the car. some here use it with no problem, and you can search for the thread discussion.
     
  7. Sam Elias

    Sam Elias New Member

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    So you guys recommend to use the original charger that came with it which says 200v With an nz adapter wall plug?
     
  8. Sam Elias

    Sam Elias New Member

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    Also on the charge lid it shows 100/200 volts
     

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  9. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    I would not use that Japanese-market EVSE, as it clearly only states 100 or 200 V AC input. We're dealing with relatively high current here, so I wouldn't take any chances. And certainly do not use any cheap Chinese plug adaptors like those linked, they are also not safe for high-current devices.

    What you need is G9060-47230, which is the EVSE for 220-240 V markets. That's what I have (standard equipment for Europe). Or an aftermarket EVSE designed for 240 V - I don't have experience with these, so couldn't recommend any in particular. The car is 100% designed to work with 220-240 V AC inputs, the limitation is the portable EVSE in this case.

    It should charge in 90 minutes at 240 V, if it's taking 2.5 hours at that voltage then something's wrong :)
     
  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I use my 240 volt EVSE at home and the 120 volt one at work or in other places where I can charge. The car loves 240 volts. Charges in about 1-1/2 hours compared to 2-1/2 on 120.

    It would be twice as fast, but the car limits the 240 volt charge to only 9 point something amps according to my meter but allows about 13 amps at 120 volts. If it could do 13 amps at both voltages, 240 would be at least twice as fast.
     
  11. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    I believe the on-board charger is limited to 2.2 kW.
     
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  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I think that's about right. My meter shows about 2.3 kW and I know there are losses and it may not be perfectly accurate. Even so, it's much faster than the 120v charging.
     
  13. Sam Elias

    Sam Elias New Member

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    Then why on lid it says 100/200v any ideas?
     
  14. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    Oh, I somehow didn't see that post before I replied. That label might just be there assuming you're only using the car in Japan, as they'd be the only suitable voltages that exist there. I think there was someone else around here using a JDM Prius PHV in NZ, I can only imagine they were able to charge it OK on your domestic supply, though I don't know what EVSE they used.

    I haven't seen any Japanese imports here yet (we're RHD so do the same), but a few JDM Leafs have appeared over here and haven't blown up charging off 230 V AC. The onboard charging equipment on EVs and PHEVs are very strict, and will just cut out if they're supplied power that they don't agree with.

    But as we can see, the portable EVSEs have different part numbers and specifications depending on market - I suspect that needs to be changed at the very least.
     
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  15. hieronymous

    hieronymous Member

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    Sheesh, fella, you answered your own question in your first post! NZ uses a 240 volt electrical supply - so DO NOT ever try to use any electrical device that isn’t designed to provide that (unless you want to BURN your house down).

    Any EV / PHEV charger is part of the car, the cable you plug into the wall is called an EVSE. The Prius PHV charger is the same in every PHV everywhere, but each car has to have an EVSE designed for the country it is currently being used in. The NZ electrical supply is 50 cycles/240 volts so you must use an EVSE that has a certification label that states these values.

    If the dealer you bought from provided the car with the original Japanese market EVSE instead of a NZ certified replacement, then that cable is NOT fit for purpose in NZ and the sale was illegal under NZ law. Go back to the dealer and demand a suitable EVSE so you can charge your PHV safely. Threaten him with legal action if necessary - you can complain to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal, and take a case to the Small Claims Court.

    Once again, do NOT attempt to use the supplied 100/200v EVSE, it is illegal and DANGEROUS....
     
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  16. pokenoprius

    pokenoprius Member

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    Hey Sam, I purchased my 2013 Plug In from Pukekohe Toyota, ( 3 days ago ) and it came with the red 3rd party adapter, the same as the one in your pic. Works just fine.
     
    #16 pokenoprius, Oct 30, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 30, 2018
  17. fyl

    fyl Junior Member

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    Hey fellas, I am thinking of getting a PHV 2012 in NZ here. How is your experience so far and how many miles have you clocked ? Thanks.
     
  18. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Only 56K and no problems. If you buy the 2012 be sure the 12-volt battery has been replaced.
     
  19. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    My PiP had about 85,000 miles on it when I traded it for the Prime. Ran great aside from having to replace the air conditioner compressor.
     
  20. pokenoprius

    pokenoprius Member

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    I have purchased mine with 36k ( approx ) km on the clock and all is well, I work in Auckland near the airport so have a 88km round trip every day . Absolutely no problems with it so far. Takes 1.5 hr to charge from a dedicated circuit , using the supplied NZ compliant charger . Best car purchase I ever made