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High pitched sound?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Rastermon, Apr 3, 2009.

  1. Rastermon

    Rastermon New Member

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    Hi
    I did some searching and did not find this particular noise. Both in a rented 2009 Prius, and the used 2001 I recently bought, I hear this high pitched sound. I would almost call it a "singing" sound. I doesn't sound like a problem - it actually is a pleasant sound, but I'm wondering what it is. I notice it at about 40 mph. If I had to guess, I'd say its from the transmission...
     
    #1 Rastermon, Apr 3, 2009
  2. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    People with younger ears than mine claim they can hear the electric motor/generators whine.
     
    #2 ggood, Apr 3, 2009
  3. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    It's probably just Rush Limbaugh. Make sure your radio is all the way off.
     
    #3 kenmce, Apr 5, 2009
  4. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    The Inverter (power electronics that produce the high voltage AC drive for the Motor-Generators from/to the 200v battery) works at a high audio rate. You can hear the first few harmonics of the current being switched in polarity at this rate. It also can be heard when listening to a weak AM radio station as noise when either braking (regeneration current) or accelerating (Drive current to the motors).

    JeffD
     
    #4 jdenenberg, Apr 5, 2009
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    You must be young and have good ears. It's the inverter.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Apr 5, 2009
  6. lys

    lys AerodynamicMac

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    I'm not young :(
    and I still can hear it :D

    (well, my former life was in the music world :rolleyes:)
     
    #6 lys, Apr 5, 2009
  7. Nortnarg

    Nortnarg Prius~To go before

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    I love it!! Good one! :rockon:
     
    #7 Nortnarg, Apr 5, 2009
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    It must not have been Rock or Heavy Metal. ;)

    Tom
     
    #8 qbee42, Apr 5, 2009
  9. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i can hear a prius from a block away.. it's the inverter.. that distinct high pitch wine is very audible at certain speeds. it's louder on the lexus models...
     
    #9 V8Cobrakid, Apr 5, 2009
  10. Rastermon

    Rastermon New Member

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    Thanks everyone, and I'm not that young! 44
    My wife doesn't seem to hear it.
     
    #10 Rastermon, Apr 6, 2009
  11. CharlesJ

    CharlesJ Member

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    Better yet, find a nice classical station and enjoy the music:D
     
    #11 CharlesJ, Apr 9, 2009
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