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Prius Prime plug-out, backup power supply for house

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by mc510, Oct 9, 2019.

  1. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    CT shoreline
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Oops! double posted
     
  2. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    CT shoreline
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
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    Limited
    Fair enough but, if/when an outage occurs at my home, minimally I need enough capacity to run a well pump, freezer, two refrigerators, heating system, and maintain the alarm system if the b/u battery dies. It's also nice to provide some lighting etc. and a real nicety to have coffee maker, microwave, TV and computer access (albeit perhaps limited). While a one or two hour outage is only a minor nuisance, we've been down for days or weeks a few times. With three vehicles, a tractor, lawn mower, snow blower, roto tiller, back pack blower, chain saw, etc. etc. One more motor to maintain isn't gonna kill me!:)
     
    Tombukt2 and Salamander_King like this.
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    In the past 20 years, I've only been without power for an hour at most, and that is less than once a year. A back up power source isn't really needed.
    Then the other side of the street loses power far more regularly than me, so this has always a case by case subject.
     
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
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    Two
    I agree and emphasize that local results matter.

    We had a 30-ish hour outage late this spring. (It's always these May/June derecho storms!)

    My wife was out of town with the Prius for the first ~20 of those hours while I was home with the baby.

    As much as I love the idea of getting backup power from our Prius, our ordinary 7.5kW generator proved itself to cost less and be more available within its first day on the job.
     
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  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Durham NC
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    Base
    Well when I go to full EV then you can run the house off the EV battery with an inverter I already in place in the house system my house if I need the generator I need the generator I have well pumps and all that stuff I don't live in the city where I just need to run a couple outlets
     
    pghyndman likes this.
  6. Scarface2005

    Scarface2005 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2017
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    Location:
    San Bernardino Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Reviving an old dead thread here…
    I used 2012 Prius plug in w 2000w sign wave inverter to power Wi-Fi, tv, a couple lights, and gas furnace blower fan. I did it for days at a time when power was out, over several years. That car was wrecked, and I salvaged the inverter.
    I’m trying to install it now in my 2020 prime. I prefer the 12v battery in the back hatch!

    - How can I get my big fat 0 gauge red wire through the firewall and into the interior cabin?

    - what’s a good ground location by the passenger foot well?