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2010 Prius II HV Battery Reconditioning

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Raytheeagle, Jun 3, 2017.

  1. HybridCPR

    HybridCPR Junior Member

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    QUESTION: I have reconditioned several Prius and Highlander batteries using the Prolong charger/discharger. I have gotten some stunningly good results. Can I depend on these results, and for how long??

    First, note that my final test is module pairs, 14 pairs at once, 2.7A draw for 10 minutes, I check impedance and voltage drop typically starting at 15.3V for so.

    Some results I have observed:
    1) i.e., a Gen 3 with fairly uniform 1V drops per pair, after Recon changed to fairly uniform .38V drops per pair. My test setup is a little erratic re impedance, but it looks like a 10% drop in impedance.

    2) A Highlander Battery prior to Recon, (these have 8 cells) tested in pairs at 19.6V @ 3.3A, 6 minutes. Certain pairs (not all) dropped as much as 5 Volts, even 7 Volts. After Recon these 3 worst pairs changed to drops of prox 0.55 volts @ 3.8A 6 minutes. Impedance changed from 100 milliohms to 30.
    Gen 3 (or 2) Highlander
    Before Prolong Reconditioning V drop Delta/Impedance 1.1V / 0.031 5V / 0.110
    After Prolong Reconditioning V drop Delta/Impedance 0.38V / 0.026 0.55 / 0.03

    Please question or comment or shed light!
     
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  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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  3. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    When a full reconditioning treatment is done (3 discharges, 4 charges), the benefit typically lasts for 9-15 months, depending on the particular battery. We recommend repeating the reconditioning process every six months to 'reset' that 9-15 month clock again and again to keep the battery performing it's best for multiple extra years of life.
     
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  4. Peter123

    Peter123 Active Member

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    You have motivated me to do a top up on my wife's car. I also have a wiring kit for a Camry Hybrid and 2 Camry Hybrids to use it on, but they do not have installation instructions on the web site for that car. I may have to writ that myself.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    One impediment to using these chargers is the hurdle of installing the wiring kit. Anyone care to comment: would it be possible and practical, for a connector to be installed at the factory, hopefully an industry-wide standardized connector (or one of a small group of standardized connectors), so these chargers could just be plugged in, and more readily shared by multiple owners.
     
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  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    There is no chance for quick dealer service profit or gouging to do that.
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Governments dabble in encouraging hybrid and electric vehicle adoption, maybe a standardized charging plug is something else they could push for.
     
  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    COST! It would cost more money, and time, added to the price of the vehicle.
    I watched the video from prolong on installing the harness, it's pretty simple and straightforward.
    15-20 minutes? Half hour tops, if you go slow.

     
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  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    It takes a bit longer than that;).

    But still not a hard job, given there are good pictures and videos available:).

    Now cars come with plug in options, so more of a moot point going forward (y).
     
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  10. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    So, Jeff, have you got anything for the Plug-in Prius? I’ve got a 2012 model. This sounds like it would be great for my car.
     
  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Note this is for NiMH battery technology ;).

    Nothing available for the LiON :cool:.

    But maybe @jeff652 is working on something though(y).
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Would installing the harness on a battery still under warranty void the warranty?
     
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  13. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    If you’re silly enough to leave the harness attached when you tow the car into the dealer for warranty repair of the battery? Yes, most likely. But if you remove it and leave no trace? No.
     
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  14. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I installed ours on the 2010 when it had 149k miles on it;).

    There are ways that the original pack can show something has been done to it:cool:.

    But if you know those, you’re good(y).
     
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The orange caps over some bolts, the ones that can be removed with the safety switch? :whistle:

    Yeah this is where I was going. If Toyota bought into the concept, installed a plug that you could use without jepordizing warranty, that'd be a step in the right direction. And encourage conditioning.

    When pigs fly?

    This is somewhat analogous to the Oil Catch Can: something good, but not sanctioned, and negative ramifications, pretty much just for that reason.
     
    #115 Mendel Leisk, Oct 26, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2019
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  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    The orange heads are the easy ones;).

    And the oil catch can buried low passed inspection where I went:).

    You’re fighting up hill for change and that can be a large energy requirement (y).
     
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  17. Peter123

    Peter123 Active Member

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    It would be a good idea, but governments tend to get standard interfaces wrong. The entire computer industry uses USB now, but cars are stuck with ODBII. The future is EV. I think ICE and hybrids will fade out eventually into niche markets. The focus will be on maintaining a standard for EVs.
     
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