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Running the A/C with motor off

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Roger3125, Aug 20, 2006.

  1. sub3marathonman

    sub3marathonman Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bhaynnes @ Aug 21 2006, 03:35 PM) [snapback]306886[/snapback]</div>
    Try reading the quote that you quoted carefully and you MIGHT be able to figure it out.
     
  2. CrazyRussian

    CrazyRussian Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sub3marathonman @ Aug 21 2006, 11:33 AM) [snapback]306835[/snapback]</div>
    even less energy, actually none: carry a bucket of water with ice in it with you and tap yourself with a wet rag...

    on a serious note, I guess it is a personal choice as to what extend one is willing to go to, to achieve or prove something. For me my conformt is well worth a couple of MPG numbers, but that's just me. YMMV
     
  3. tmgrl3

    tmgrl3 Member

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    When I first got the car, we were having a 100 degree plus heat wave....

    I sat with the car on and in Park...with AC blasting, and spent half hour at time working on getting my RAZR paired and the phone book downloaded.....no problems...very cool...no pink bars....just did it and figured that since there were all blue bars, I was ok...

    Now, though, I do set my temp to 78 - 80 degrees and let the car keep me cool at that level...sometimes, I shut off AC, turn on AUTO and set temp to LO and let the outside air coming in cool....does a nice job!!

    terri
     
  4. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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  5. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sub3marathonman @ Aug 21 2006, 11:33 AM) [snapback]306835[/snapback]</div>
    I don't understand why you are taking a simple thing (keeping the car cool while parked and waiting for people) into something so complicated as well.

    Yes, the ICE will run and charge the battery while in Park. And yes, the battery supplies the energy to run the A/C compressor. If what you want to do is minimize the amount of energy spent keeping the interior of the car at a comfortable level, then I would suggest that you not set the A/C to MAX COLD. Try putting it in AUTO mode and set a reasonable temperature for the cabin. The compressor will only run when necessary, and only as fast as necessary, and the air circulation fan will run only as fast as necessary, which I'm willing to bet would consume a lot less power than your method.

    Running the A/C at MAX COLD is a guranteed way to make the ICE run while in Park or Drive, btw. Putting the car in defrost mode is
    another guranteed way...
     
  6. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Aug 22 2006, 03:11 AM) [snapback]306816[/snapback]</div>
    The voltage was 205V. We see less than 200V many times in EV mode.
    The 18.5% SOC means it still had 1.2 Ah remained, and it had enough juice from a conventional point of view, but the Prius system just refused to use the battery anymore, I believe.

    Anyway, we see 85.0% max SOC, so the SOC renge is 18.5% to 85.0%.

    Ken@Japan
     
  7. Roger3125

    Roger3125 New Member

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    Can't talk for everyone but this man is satisfied with the answer....keep it running.

    Now onto the second question. Has anyone had the experience of after running the AC with motor off and parked for about 15 minutes. Then start up and drive off and find the AC pushing only room temp air...certain not cold?

    On a whim I hit reset and the AC started to push cold air again. Don't know if this is normal or malfunction or whether I should bring my baby in to be checked. Anyone else esperience anything like this?

    A curious mind wants to know
     
  8. Lil Mo

    Lil Mo New Member

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    A simple question and a lot of good information. Thanks, Fellow Prians.

    :)
     
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Aug 21 2006, 08:47 PM) [snapback]307226[/snapback]</div>
    Again the mysterious "reset" button...are you talking about the one on the Consumption screen? That only resets the trip miles and MPG.

    I think it's just coincidental that the cold air started again. The Prius uses an 'intelligent' system that reduces the compressor output when accelerating or when the HV battery SOC gets low...ie. when the primary need is for propulsion.

    The situation you described, if the SOC was down to around 3 bars and you were accelerating the compressor will decrease output significantly until such time that you're at a steady speed and/or the HV battery SOC is a little higher and your cabin temp has dropped below whatever threshold is programmed.
     
  10. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Aug 21 2006, 06:22 PM) [snapback]307191[/snapback]</div>
    Note from Old Fart: The Prius has both an engine and motors under the hood. In careless expression, and in other cars, engine and motor are used interchangeably, since there is only one propulsive source. We can't do that with the Prius, obviously, so a little distinction is a good thing.

    Here we talk about the ICE and MG1 and MG2, though the MGs, as on the Energy display, are frequently lumped together as the electric motor.

    The Inuit have many words for snow since it is important to them. We have a need for specificity too.
     
  11. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Aug 21 2006, 08:47 PM) [snapback]307226[/snapback]</div>
    What do you mean by "reset"?

    The A/C condenser (the heat exchanger at the lower front of the drive compartment which expells heat to the outside air) works a lot better with outside air moving past it. If the car is not moving hot air collects inside the compartment, and this impedes the flow of heat out of the A/C condenser.
     
  12. bhaynnes

    bhaynnes Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sub3marathonman @ Aug 21 2006, 12:45 PM) [snapback]306897[/snapback]</div>
    Hey, no problem. Your toy, use it like you want to. IMHO you are accomplishing nothing during the exercise but if you want to complicate the hell out of it and try to beat a computer, it is up to you.

    I understand completely what you are trying to do. I just cannot understand why you want to do it. I'm not here to argue, you go ahead and run your toy your way and I'll run mine my way.
     
  13. Roger3125

    Roger3125 New Member

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    Now onto the second question. Has anyone had the experience of after running the AC with motor off and parked for about 15 minutes. Then start up and drive off and find the AC pushing only room temp air...certain not cold?

    On a whim I hit reset and the AC started to push cold air again.

    CORRECTION: When i said reset it was a loose transalation of what my wife said as it was she that made the cold air come on. "Reset" is to mean she turned off the AC for about 20-30 seconds and turned it back on. I too thought she meant the reset on the consumption screen.

    Thats Ok I finally figured out swhat she meant by "Buzzing Screw" My portable drill
     
  14. Ed56

    Ed56 Junior Member

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    I am not sure if the A/C will run with the Gas , ICE engine comes on. I know with my 2007 Car, when I am parked, the ICE engine if off too, but the minute I turn the blower fan, not the A/C, on even on low speed, the gas engine starts and continue to run till I turn the fan off. Any Idea if that is normal?
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no, it is not. your hybrid battery is probably very weak
     
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  16. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    What happens to the battery bars on the screen when you do this?
     
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  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    When turning on the blower fan without A/C, does that mean you have it set for some heat?

    The engine coolant temperature must be warm to provide any heat, so turning on heat will also turn on the engine if its coolant isn't sufficiently warm. During initial startup engine warming, auto-off occurs when the coolant reaches a threshold temperature, but this threshold depends on climate control setting and ECO button setting. That changing threshold means there are conditions with a partially warmed engine (either not fully warmed, or cooled from plenty of engine-off time) where turning the fan on/off, or pressing the ECO button, will also turn the engine on of off. But intentionally creating or testing these conditions means have an OBDII port monitor to read that coolant temperature.

    AC can run with engine off, but not for very long because it sucks down the traction battery very quickly. And as the battery gets old and weak, that operating time could become extremely short.
     
  18. Ed56

    Ed56 Junior Member

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    The battery bars on display are all full
    Green and the gad engine is warm too, when I turn the fan, also occasionally, the green bars display fully turn green full complete bars, for a few seconds before dropping one bar from top
     
  19. Ed56

    Ed56 Junior Member

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  20. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Full green bars? That means the battery is as charged as the system will allow. That is not a normal condition that usually happens when you are driving down a hill using the brakes. I think the normal battery condition is top blue bar, it goes to green when stopping at lights. If your car is typically always full green something is not right
     
    #40 Skibob, Dec 6, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2018