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12 volt battery easy access recharge plug mod

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Flying White Dutchman, Feb 14, 2008.

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  1. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    I made a mod to my prius to easily recharge my 12 volt battery

    pics included

    and connected to a small solar panel:D
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 14, 2008
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I did something similar when I got my solar panel/charger (which I never once needed to use and ultimately removed)...I just used the alligator clips though..they stayed on for 3 years without coming off.

    Once thing, if you haven't already done so, you might want to see if you're getting much if any juice from your solar panel. I've read that the UV blocking, esp. if the window is tinted, can dramatically reduce the functionality of the solar panel. If you really need it to charge the battery you might want to run the wire outside the car and just set the panel on the roof.
     
    #2 efusco, Feb 14, 2008
  3. markderail

    markderail I do 45 mins @ 3200 PSI

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    I like the use of the microphone (marine radio?) male-female adapter.

    I'd say cost to do probably below 50$. Saw similar panels on sale at 30$.

    Does it affect rear-viewing visibility, or do you take it down before driving?

    A cool mod would be a sunroof, where the glass of the sunroof was actually a retractable solar panel.


    Good job!


    _
     
    #3 markderail, Feb 14, 2008
  4. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    i have made this mod because with the sks key and long standing still the battery draines to fast.

    i maybe need a new battery but firts my dealer told me that i get a new one under warranty and now he is telling me that its nog possible ..

    o well.. i wil see what i wil do.

    nice thing now is when the battery is realy drained i have a small 4 amps charger that i can connect and instanly start the prius again and i am of..

    i made the same connector on this charger so its clik and go
     
    #4 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 14, 2008
  5. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Just FYI...
    Japanese Prius rear hatch glass blocks 90% of UV and 53% of visible light.

    Ken@Japan
     
    #5 ken1784, Feb 17, 2008
  6. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    By ty-wrapping your positive to the main (+) lead coming in
    from the car, you've made it more difficult to disconnect the
    large connector to the car there. I would have routed the
    wiring differently. Also make sure the two felt-tipped pegs
    from the plastic corner cover aren't landing on your wiring,
    which is pretty easy to have happen back there.
    .
    I'm amused by the XLR connector... they *should* be able to
    pass several amps without any trouble, though; some audio outfits
    use them as *speaker* connectors in fairly high-powered systems,
    although doing so is a poor idea for a few other reasons...
    .
    _H*
     
    #6 hobbit, Feb 17, 2008
  7. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    Why not just use the factory provided jump terminals under the hood? That is the real "easy access recharge" point.
     
    #7 seasalsa, Feb 17, 2008
  8. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    FYI?

    i am not going to disconnect the cables a lot so dont mind the ty wrapping;)

    you see the solar panel?
     
    #8 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 17, 2008
  9. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Just FYI,
    FYI stands for "for your information".

    Ken@Japan
     
    #9 ken1784, Feb 17, 2008
  10. statultra

    statultra uber-Senior Member

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    hey lIon are you from the states?
     
    #10 statultra, Feb 17, 2008
  11. Steamboatsig

    Steamboatsig Member

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    I had one of those solar panels on my 1977 Westfalia. I never killed the battery, but I always wondered if it really did anything. I put a meter to it, and didn't see any voltage at all.
     
    #11 Steamboatsig, Feb 17, 2008
  12. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    ok
    wel not here and the panel works perfect

    nope EU

    i measured it! 14 volts but sometime's nothing, apeared to be a lose connection
     
    #12 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 18, 2008
  13. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    That's fine for me. :)
    However, Dr. Evan's suggestion is you'll get much more energy from the direct sunshine.

    Ken@Japan
     
    #13 ken1784, Feb 18, 2008
  14. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    ok:D

    and.. yes i do when i place it in direct sunlight;) i aspected noting else:cool:
     
    #14 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 18, 2008
  15. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    My dictionary doesn't have the word "aspected".
    Anyone knows the true spelling?

    Ken@Japan
     
    #15 ken1784, Feb 18, 2008
  16. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    :rolleyes:

    yes anyone?

    o mm maybe its expected? not sure......
     
    #16 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 18, 2008
  17. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Anyway, I'm a native Japanese and English is my second language.
    I'm trying to do my best to write the correct English spelling and grammar to contribute to the net for introducing things as a messenger from Japan.
    Please anyone correct my English if you found any on mine.

    Regards,
    Ken@Japan

    PS. Can I get more than 90 point out of 100 on English skill test?
    Please send me your comments by PM, preferably with your correction for my words above. Thank you in advance!
     
    #17 ken1784, Feb 18, 2008
  18. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    what's the rating on that solar panel?

    I have a few panels sitting around. I was thinking of making this mod myself. I'm not sure how to keep the the panel from draining. i thought all i had to do was attach a "voltage diode".. right? (i could google it for conversational reasons... but last time it didn't work.. my battery died.)

    out of time... hopefully i'll get to tinker later.
     
    #18 V8Cobrakid, Feb 18, 2008
  19. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    135mAp's 14volts
    this panel already is oneway on powerflow so it can not discharge the battery

    Anyway, i stil am driving with the same battery that left me standing a few days before.

    i went to the dealer and dit a resistence check and came out OK?
    then i when to a specialized battery car dealer and told me that the battery needs to be replaced.

    THEN i whent to the shop and got me a battery tester and checked it myself
    it read out was WEAK/BAD and advise was to recharge whit a small charger (300mAp's)

    I got it connected now and see what happens its currenly discharging and then starts the charging again.

    the dealer also told me that when the car is not drivin for 30min a day ( aroudn that ) and the car is maybe left standing for weeks the battery needs to be disconnected.

    Realy most poeple drive the car almost every day
    i wunder if there are poeple that have a prius more then 2 year of age and only drive it one's a week for short distance and dont have this problem

    must say that its frizing here right now so maybe the battery cap is lower

    My previus car stands stil for weeks even monts and dont have any problem there...
     
    #19 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 19, 2008
  20. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The problem is no one wants to read a poorly written post. One should have more respect for a language much like Ken does.
     
    #20 F8L, Feb 19, 2008
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