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

Charge time for Enginer system - 110V versus 220V

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by SFGiant-and-Plugin-Fan, Feb 21, 2011.

  1. SFGiant-and-Plugin-Fan

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2011
    47
    2
    0
    Location:
    Durham, NC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The Enginer install manual says that the charger's average current is "10A @120VAC or 5A @220VAC" and that "it takes about 5 hours to charge up from drained." No indication is given that there is a different charge time for 110V versus 220V. Does this mean that the system is set up to charge at the same rate, regardless of which outlet is being used?:confused:
     
  2. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2004
    4,365
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Do you have your system set up to charge 220?
     
  3. Floyd2

    Floyd2 progressio per sententia

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    106
    23
    0
    Location:
    Netherlands, Europe
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    On average the US grid provides 115 Volts AC and in Europe 230 Volts. The charger has a slide switch marked 115 - 230.

    US: 115V x 10A = 1.15 kiloWatts maximum per hour.
    Europe: 230V x 5A = 1.15 kiloWatts maximum per hour.

    So the charging time will be about the same, no matter where you live. My experience is that the pack depletes up to about 3.7 kWh and recharging takes about 4 hours.

    In NC that will take about the same time but never set your charger to 230V if you use a US 115V outlet.
     
  4. SFGiant-and-Plugin-Fan

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2011
    47
    2
    0
    Location:
    Durham, NC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks. I have not installed the system, but was being advised to set it up so that I could go either way under the assumption that charging via higher voltage would take less time. Since this does not seem to be the case, I'm not going to bother with the higher voltage option and will keep it on 110V.
     
  5. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    1,297
    213
    0
    Location:
    Midlands - UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Charging at 230v will be slightly more efficient, but the hassle of not being able to plug in anyhwere may make it not worth doing for you.
     
  6. SFGiant-and-Plugin-Fan

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2011
    47
    2
    0
    Location:
    Durham, NC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I mean, I will keep it on 115V. :rolleyes:
     
  7. Floyd2

    Floyd2 progressio per sententia

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    106
    23
    0
    Location:
    Netherlands, Europe
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You may very well have 110V, it varies slightly from state to state. Same goes for Europe: Flaninacupboard probably uses 240V in the UK and I have 220V in the Netherlands. So let's call it 230V. ;)
     
  8. pcwulf

    pcwulf Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2010
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    Mainland Europe
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi Floyd2,

    I live in Netherlands and trying to find some information regarding converting my Gen-II to PHEV. Came across your post and thought of asking some questions.

    Once you convert a car to PHEV in NL, is it possible to register it with the motorvehicle registration as a PHEV. (Obvious reason for the question is that they offer and extension of the vehical tax exceptoin until 2019 for certain PHEVS)

    Further, can you share some information about how to do the conversion here in NL. Can I order the kit from enginer directly to NL? Or are there service providers here who'll do the conversion for you?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  9. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    1,146
    407
    5
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi PCwolf,

    Enginer has shutdown and gone bankrupt. There is a supplier of the same kit in Germany which sells by a different name i.e.MD-Tech which is supposed to be an improved version of the Enginer kit.

    See his website: PHEV kit System - Plug-in Autos
     
    steveinsaugus likes this.