1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Charging hybrid battery

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by MrDan, Jun 28, 2024 at 8:52 PM.

  1. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hello everyone , my car started giving me p0A80 codes last week. I cleared the code with my cheap obd2 reader and drove it home. I have a techstream software and reader coming in soon from ebay. But until that arrives I can only assume it's my hybrid battery I have 212k miles driven without replacing it . Today I bought a Hybrid battery from fb market place he claimed to be good for $200 which is a really good deal considering each module is around $30 . So when I bought it he said it might just need to be charged because it was sitting for a long time , I'm not sure how long. I'm very self starter and I would like to do this at home with a regular battery charger , charging with low amps for a long time . I guess my question is can I do this with any charger or should I just wait until my tech stream comes in? I don't want to just wait for my prous battery to die on me while on the freeway. What should it do?
     
  2. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Also wanted to know if I can hook up the charger to all the modules connected or will I have to charge each individual module by itself?
     
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,043
    3,243
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The smart thing to do is get the Prolong system, or something similar, and charge it SAFELY.
    You'll need a fan blowing over it so it doesn't over heat.

     
    Grit likes this.
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,138
    4,053
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    What should you do? Bring lots of quarters because it’s going to be wack a mole time!
     
  5. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2018
    349
    127
    0
    Location:
    IL
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    You can charge the whole thing at once, but you'll need the correct voltage and amperage charger. You can make one with a readily available power supply, but you'll have to do some research, and it'll cost over $100 these days.

    Build Hybrid Battery Maintenance Gear For Under $100 | PriusChat

    If you aren't doing a full balance charge you probably don't need to deal with the fan stuff.

    I'd suggest watching the weber automotive youtube video on the 3rd gen prius hybrid battery pack.

    Also consider a visual inspection of the current battery to make sure it isn't just an issue with corrosion on the buss bar.
     
  6. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I've seen some videos online where they charge up each module individually that might be my best option so I don't spend over $500 for those kinda of chargers
     
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,043
    3,243
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You can do whatever you want. Use a regular car battery charger. That will work if you
    put two together in series(batteries not chargers). But you can do that too id you want.
    Don't worry about overheating, it's not important.
    Rig it anyway you want.
     
    #7 ASRDogman, Jun 29, 2024 at 1:02 PM
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2024 at 1:11 PM
  8. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    What do you mean 2 in series like 2 modules put together? doesnt a battery charger only have 1 negative and 1 positive cable?
     
  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,913
    4,676
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Most likely the hv battery in your car is better than one that had been sitting unused for a long time.

    Techstream won’t help much other than seeing voltages in your car’s hv battery.

    Being a self starter is good but a lack of knowledge just makes repair attempts sure to fail. You are dealing with a 201vdc battery that normally will have bad modules needing replacement.

    Maybe you can get a functioning battery by mix and match from both assemblies. Often bus bars, connectors and sensor harnesses are also bad and require careful cleaning or replacement in most cases.

    There are a few good hv battery videos out there and a lot of bad ones.

    Here is one about Toyota hv batteries:
     
  10. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'm watching the video right now , and I paid a mobile mechanic like about 2 weeks ago to rebalance my hybrid battery and it just started giving me the error codes .
     
  11. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,043
    3,243
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Each one is 7 volts. Well, 7.2? Put two in SERIES, and that's 14.2.
    A standard battery charger will charge at over 13 volts, close enough.
    Balancing is very important.
    If you ahve time to waste because your time is not valuable go ahead and spend weeks and weeks
    playing with the battery.

     
  12. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,913
    4,676
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Mobile mechanic? You get what you pay for and I am afraid mobile mechanics are not the solution here. Very few diy or mobile mechanics will have the equipment to do it the best possible way. Just like you, they don’t want to pay for the equipment.

    In reality, there is a strong argument that reconditioning is a very short term solution in most cases simply because all the modules are old and worn. Just replacing the really bad few means others will be right behind. Maybe if you are willing to go back several times a year it’s all good.

    Buying new oem for $2k or less means ten years or more with no hv battery issues.
     
  13. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Got it i think i understand. Im going to call Green bean battery service that gives me a lifetime warranty on hybrid batteries and pay them $1700 .That way i dont have to worry about hv issues right?
     
  14. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,913
    4,676
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Buy a new for a couple hundred more.
     
  15. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    but the new ones wont have lifetime warranty :l
     
  16. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2018
    349
    127
    0
    Location:
    IL
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    What's the voltage of the new used battery?
     
  17. MrDan

    MrDan New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2024
    18
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'm not sure I didn't even check it :/ I just wanted to replace it but then he told me it needed to be charged
     
  18. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,043
    3,243
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Perhaps you should read what other have said about green bean batteries.....
    How much time do you want to waste waiting for them to come replace the defective battery,
    again, and again, and again, and again................?

    The SMARTEST way is to buy a NEW battery. Check ebay, you can find them.
    There is even a JDM seller that has batteries.... Like the engines, that MIGHT be a good battery
    for half the price.

     
  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,138
    4,053
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Sounds like he doesn’t have basic battery wiring knowledge, you’re putting him up to a task that can literally blow him up, kaboom!