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Rain?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by ny_rob, Oct 22, 2012.

  1. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    "Upon us all a little rain must fall".... Robert Plant

    I read the Toyota manual regarding plug in charging in rain-"Do not connect the plug if your hands are wet". Well the Chargepiont station I use is outdoors w/no protection- if it's raining or it's rained the handle will be wet- then my hands will be wet upon removing the handle from the station.

    Is there any dangerous voltage running to the handle before you plug it into the car and the car tells it to start charging?

    What about when the car tells the station the charge is complete- any dangerous voltage there or is the circuit disconnected at both (car/Chargepoint) ends via relays?

    How about if I had to disconnect (pull the plug from the Chargepoint station) while it's still charging the battery- (think sick kid- school nurse wants you at the school now)... any dangerous voltage present there. Again- this is for a rain situation.

    Thanks! I don't want to be a "Fool in the Rain" :)
     
    #1 ny_rob, Oct 22, 2012
  2. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    There is no voltage flowing from the J1772 handle when you plug it in. And once you hit the disconnect button, any voltage flowing is immediately stopped. If the charge has completed, no voltage will be flowing. The manual may have been referring to the portable EVSE and plugging it into a wall socket, not into the car.
     
    #2 devprius, Oct 22, 2012
  3. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Most commercially available EVSE have a function called "proximity switch"; half of it is inside the charger docking port (car) and the other is in the charger's wand. Once you press the release button, it will disengage and shut off all electrical flow. The J1772 standard has been though about very well.
     
    #3 mrbigh, Oct 22, 2012
  4. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

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    How waterproof is the EVSE corded portion? It seems the corded EVSE/GFCI would protect the car, but replacing this cord would still be quite costly.
     
    #4 iplug, Oct 22, 2012
  5. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Thanks for the replies!

    I feel a little better about recharging in bad weather now.
    I read the ChargePoint instructions and it mentioned you can tap your ChargePoint card on the screen during a charging session to stop the charge if you need to disconnect before your charge is complete. So I guess I'm covered in pretty much any situation!
     
    #5 ny_rob, Oct 23, 2012
  6. terpsmandan

    terpsmandan Member

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    Didn't know that I wasn't supposed to plug it in while it is raining... haven't shocked myself yet.
     
    #6 terpsmandan, Oct 23, 2012
  7. Rainking

    Rainking Member

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    Use mine all the time in the rain. Been getting a lot of that lately in NY. I keep the brick and the plug indoors though 100% of the time.
     
    #7 Rainking, Oct 23, 2012
  8. eestlane

    eestlane Member

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    Rain water, itself, does not conduct electricity or all the high voltage power lines would short to ground during a rain storm. Just keep your gear clean so that no conducting contamination would be present, and you should be OK in the rain.
     
    #8 eestlane, Oct 23, 2012
  9. SJ PiP

    SJ PiP Member

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    the manual says something about being careful with high pressure car washes. does water actually enter the charge port area after going through those gas station car washes? or is the concern that they could pop the hatch open?
     
    #9 SJ PiP, Oct 23, 2012
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