Voltage stabilizer

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Sezy, May 4, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Was thinking about trying one of these magical voltage stabilizers that add HP and MPG. Had it on my last car Acura TL and it helped with random electrical issues like dim and flickering lights. To me it's a like a capacitor you connect right to the 12V battery. Which I don't mind because I do have subs.

    Voltage Stabilizers Can Increase Power And Torque - Fact Or Fiction - Import Tuner Magazine

    Wondering if anyone has tried one of these yet on a Prius?
     
    #1 Sezy, May 4, 2015
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,877
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    How would your voltage be de-stablized?
    You have no (12 v) alternator, you have no (12 v) starter, the inverter always produces a steady voltage when the car is READY. (never use any electricity in a Prius unless you are in READY)

    I am always interested in letting others do the experimentation, but have you seen any symptom you hope to make go away?
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, May 4, 2015
    fuzzy1 likes this.
  3. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    No clue on why based on their claims but I have no negative symptoms. Hoping maybe brighter headlights, maybe better sounding bass, and or less power drain from running the A/C. It's under $20 on eBay so might be trying this out soon.
     
    #3 Sezy, May 4, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    113,631
    51,709
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    why not? let us know how it works out. i would be interested in the wiring diagram.
     
    #4 bisco, May 4, 2015
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,877
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Brighter headlights will come from more wattage.
    We will have to disagree that there is EVER better sounding bass, but even assuming there is, it comes from a better stereo.
    The A/C compressor is not 12 volts, only the fan in the heater assembly even uses 12 volts, the rest is 201 Volts AC.

    While a tutorial on the high voltage system, this goes over how 12 volts is managed in a Prius:


    May be most interesting starting at 15:15 and going to 18:00 for AC and 12 Volt parts
     
    #5 JimboPalmer, May 4, 2015
    Last edited: May 4, 2015
    Sezy, RightOnTime and ftl like this.
  6. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Very interesting and informative video ^^^^


    Got the item in,cost about $16. It's basically a capacitor with a blinky light. Only had it connected 3 days now and the placebo effect is in full swing. The car feels quicker and tires squeek more often in my tiny peel outs attempts or jumps into traffic. No change in sound quality or brightness of the lights. However I have noticed the past 2 weeks when leaving work my hybrid battery is down to like 2 bars after installing this it's usually in the green or full. Regular car battery voltage was unchanged. I've been tracking my mileage in a spreadsheet for the most few months so will post after a couple of fill ups to compare. More testing to come.


    20150516_140624.jpg 20150516_140648.jpg

    When I redo my coil overs I'll remount this and put a sticker over the hole. : )

    20150531_191456.jpg
    Bolts directly to the Negative terminal.

    20150531_191504.jpg

    20150531_191508.jpg 20150531_191915.jpg

    Right onto the positive.
    20150531_191921.jpg 20150531_192135.jpg
     
    #6 Sezy, Jun 3, 2015
    Daves09prius likes this.
  7. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    1,880
    711
    75
    Location:
    Carrollton, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    #7 Justdidit, Jun 15, 2015
  8. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    So this thing seems useless and I think it's going out. The light on it is flashing differently than it was the first month. My HV battery still goes down to 2 bars almost daily. My drag times were worse with this but I also had my subs in on my last run. No improvement in MPG, has actually been on a decline. Think I'll disconnect this thing and see how my MPG goes.
     
    #8 Sezy, Jul 22, 2015
    Daves09prius likes this.
  9. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    1,880
    711
    75
    Location:
    Carrollton, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Ever since you installed it, the only thing different was the subs? Or after you installed it, you been mashing the throttle more to get your drag times....causing a lower mpg? lol My 2007 will go down to 2 bars if I don't allow it recharge like normal...with normal driving. I'll hit 2 bars daily if I drive like I stole it all the time. :)

    I bet you'd be surprised what is IN that lil box if you open it up. I've heard their a joke. A real grounding kit might help but a lil box like that - is probably just 'snake oil' in a fancy box.
     
    #9 Justdidit, Jul 22, 2015
    Daves09prius likes this.
  10. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I've had subs in since before I started tracking the MPG. Only thing different in my second drag race was that I left my subs in and this voltage box was installed. So it could have been the weight from the subs hurting it. When I dragged I noted that in my spread sheet,got 34.8 MPG but haven't been able to get past 40MPG since putting my bigger wheels on. Did that box at the same time but MPG still went down.

    The battery bars will go down to 2 somedays if just sitting. Turn the AC on and it goes down real fast. I just ordered a grid charger from hybridautomotive so we'll see if that helps.
     
    #10 Sezy, Jul 22, 2015
  11. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    1,880
    711
    75
    Location:
    Carrollton, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I barely get above 40mpg with my 19" wheels and I drive like a old person. With my stock 16" I was getting 51mpg. The painfulness of trying to look cool. haha.

    Have you tested your 12v using the onboard Diagnostic?
     
    #11 Justdidit, Jul 22, 2015
    Sezy likes this.
  12. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,877
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    This just in, snake oil may have been snake oil.
     
    #12 JimboPalmer, Jul 22, 2015
    Justdidit likes this.
  13. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    what is the size of capacitor? It may be a good option for sub.

    if you need brighter headlights get HID kit, they are down to ~$30 shipped.
     
    #13 cyclopathic, Jul 22, 2015
  14. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    8,391
    4,271
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hardly surprising, seeing as the A/C draws 3-phase AC directly from the HV.

    With all the thrashing you give that Prius, you are probably prematurely ageing the HV. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

    It does tickle my funny bone that now. all of a sudden, you are worried about the declining MPG. (y)
     
    #14 dolj, Jul 22, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2015
    Sezy likes this.
  15. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Snakeoil to the prius so far yes but it did help on my last Acura that had electrical issues. My 12 V Optima yellow top battery is going strong and I do trickle charge that before races.

    When I consider it fully dead I'll take it apart and post pics of the capacitors.

    Well I figure I have most my "performance mods" lol done and been traveling more why not try to get back some MPG. Actually tried the EV button mod last night and FAILED. ev button install problem | PriusChat describes my issue.
     
    #15 Sezy, Jul 23, 2015
    Daves09prius likes this.
  16. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    8,391
    4,271
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't know what you hope to accomplish by installing the EV button, but if you were hoping it was some magical way of trying to get back some MPG's, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. The EV button has a few legitimate uses -- relocating your car on your driveway, into or out of the garage, moving stealthily around a parking building, may be a stealth approach (late at night) to the neighbourhood (for the last 100 yds) -- but overuse will not gain you MPG's. Probably cost you MPG's, in fact.

    Good luck with the install though, I hope you get your problem sorted.
     
    #16 dolj, Jul 23, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2015
  17. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Noticed the LED was blinking erratic last week then not at all this week so I took this turd out. Reconnected it briefly to see if it gets a charge which is still does but I see no benefit to this device. 25V cap inside. Still have it ,maybe I'll put it on my riding mower. ha


    20150802_185844.jpg 20150802_185852.jpg 20150802_185931.jpg 20150802_185947.jpg 20150802_185952.jpg
     
    #17 Sezy, Aug 3, 2015
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    113,631
    51,709
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    well done.
     
    #18 bisco, Aug 3, 2015
  19. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    If you're loosing MPG, when was the last time you replaced the O2 sensor or cleaned the throttle body? If the O2 sensor is old and dirty, it won't return proper signals to the ECU, so the computer will add fuel to the mix thinking it's in a lean condition. This will result in bad MPG.
     
    #19 Daves09prius, Aug 6, 2015
  20. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    434
    229
    37
    Location:
    Saint Charles, Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I'll clean the throttle body and MAF sensor this week. It's been like 40,xxx miles since doing that. How much are 02 sensors about?
     
    #20 Sezy, Aug 10, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2