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Remote Air Conditioning

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by markabele, Jun 13, 2013.

  1. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    What is the best/most efficient use of this feature?

    And do you use it much? And if so, what parameters cause you to use it?

    Would prefer more than "it's hot out" ;-)
     
  2. nklb

    nklb Member

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    I have the feature but never use it. Pretty much it's only if you know you are going to be going to your car soon, and want it to be pre-chilled for when you get to it.

    The solar roof seems to work well enough for me.
     
  3. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I never used it in my PiP. I mean I tried it but that was it. When I was plugged in (Level 2) and it would use grid electric I didn't need it since I was already in my garage and its cool in there. To use it while not plugged in and sitting outside, it uses battery and with the relative short range it already had I wanted to use all my battery for EV and not pre-cooling the cabin.
     
  4. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    So the manual was somewhat ambiguous on whether it actually stops charging while it's on or just reduces (for obvious reasons) the amount of charge available.

    And it also didn't say...if you were still plugged in but the charging was complete, then you decided to start the remote AC, would it then "top off?"
     
  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    When you get yours you can test all that out, that's half the fun. :)
     
  6. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    If my car was plugged in, at a public 240V charger, and it was hot out. The A/C pulls more than the grid can provide, so the battery will provide the difference, then "top off" from the grid. The purpose being to pre-cool the car on grid power, instead of doing it on the battery, and thereby reducing EV range.
     
  7. SJ PiP

    SJ PiP Member

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    i was skeptical but on those days when it's really hot out, it does come in handy especially when you use the entune app to initiate it (gives remote AC more time to cool. key job activation requires you to be in range).
     
  8. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    I have used it when charging outside for free. It works fine and seems to run about ten minutes. It does lessen the charge a bit, especially if you want to use the car right after the AC cycle. If you wait a bit after the AC cycle, you then have a full charge but will loose a bit of the cool the AC has just produced. Also, when the AC is on and you open the door, the AC stops. It's all a bit tricky. Nice feature on a hot afternoon here in CA with temps of 100 degrees. Coming out of my garage, it's not needed.
     
  9. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Got it already. :)

    I still need to change my picture and details.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    53 degrees here, i wish i needed it.:(
     
  11. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Surely if doesn't take more energy than a 240V can provide does it? I suppose if it was super hot out and you had the AC set pretty low it would but I wouldn't think it would under a lot of scenarios.
     
  12. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    I was just repeating what I read on this forum in previous threads. Keep in mind that when it's 70F outisde, it can be well over 100F inside your car.
     
  13. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Totally understand. My only frame of reference I guess is watching my parents run two strong RV air conditioners off of one 240V and it providing crazy amounts of cool.
     
  14. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    The charger in the PiP can only handle 16A...I suspect your parents RV is pulling a lot more than that amperage over their 240V.
     
  15. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Good point
     
  16. beovox

    beovox Junior Member

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    Have tried it while charging on 240v in Europe it will charge at about half the speed and the ac takes the rest, though no 100 degrees here but around 75.
     
  17. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Good to know it still charges with whatever is leftover. I was originally thinking someone said it just stopped charging all together while the AC was on.
     
  18. beovox

    beovox Junior Member

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    Yeah but this is on 240v though might stop charging if you use 110v.
     
  19. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Good point, but personally I wouldn't ever use it on just 110v since the only time I use that is in my cool garage.
     
  20. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Maybe someday I'll give it a try, but I've only used the A/C twice so far, since the weather hasn't been the greatest.