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Prolong lightbulb discharger issue - just got it in the mail....

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Kevin Cecchini, Jan 19, 2017.

  1. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    Hello,

    I have the prolong charger and it is fantastic. I ordered the lightbulb discharger and received it in the mail today. I plugged it into the car, inserted two light bulbs and nothing. No lights.

    Also, the voltmeter does not read any voltage.

    I am assuming it is user error. I also powered up the ignition and that did not turn on the bulbs. I took the bulbs out and they worked in a lamp. One is 100 watts and the other 60 watts.

    The receptacle has two electrodes, where the receptacle for the charger has four. Would this have anything to do with it?

    I was thinking that I can try a continuity test to see if the electrodes are connected to the bulb receptacles.

    OK, thank you in advance.

    Kevin C.
     
  2. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    The discharger doesn't use 12V whereas the charger provides 12V which is necessary to guarantee the cooling of the TractionBattery. I might be wrong, but best wait for Jeff to comment...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #2 WilDavis, Jan 19, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2017
  3. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    ...could be a wiring error? Lamp holders should be wired in series, with the meter across the whole thing...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  4. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    Upon performing a continuity test, I am going to assume that the two posts were placed in the incorrect spot, since there are four posts, it is possible that the two posts are in the wrong place?

    so hoping to perform the discharge process this weekend, not happing now, that is life.
     
  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    If u just ordered the charger and not the discharger at the same time they probably shipped the charger with the charger only harness.
    Then if you decide to add the discharger later it requires a different harness with different pin out and a fuse and diode.. I may be wrong about your situation but that's the business model they used on me.

    I ordered the discharger later after I bought the charger and now have to change the harness again in order to make the discharger work.
    Not looking forward to tearing the car apart again to get to the battery box.
    But in the meantime stop trying to use the discharger till you talk to Jeff.
    But I bet you have to swap the harness.
     
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  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    And never start the car with either the charger or discharger connected.
     
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  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Both bulbs should be the same wattage so the voltage is spread (serial circuit) evenly over each bulb. This is not causing your problem, but you can be thankful you had this problem, otherwise you could have had some interesting fireworks.
     
  8. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    OK

    OK thank you for the information Ed.

    I am going to call the 1 800 number, which was recommended by Jeff.
     
  9. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    OK, I will be sure to have the same wattage of bulbs, thank you
     
  10. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Yeah my second much later order for the discharger came with a whole new harness that had to be installed.
     
  11. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    Well I checked the harness, it matches the same style and teeth or grooves that the prolong charger has. I also confirmed that the voltage coming from the battery, via the prolong harness attached to the battery, is on the posts that the battery's harness are not touching. They are separated by 90 degrees, if that is correct terminology. I am going to call the 1 800 number to be certain, I do not want to die or destroy the car.

    As for the prolong charger, that item is precious and awesome.
     
  12. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    Ed, I am assuming that the extra harness for the discharger unit had to be applied to the other set of electrodes? It seems that the electrodes that the charger's harness is connected to supplies a voltage to be read, but does not supply amperage or whatever is required to light up bulbs or supply any current.

    that is my assumption, however, I have no idea what I am talking about as I am not an electrician by any means whatsoever.

    I wonder if the new contraption they created will allow for the use of the chargers harness, if that is so, then I will just pay the $200 for the fancy discharging unit and go that route.
     
  13. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Not sure what you mean by electrodes but either harness connects to the battery side
    Of the contactor.
    You never connect anything to the car side of the contactor as that would require the contactor be closed
    Which means the car is on. Never do that.

    Be careful here don't hurt yourself or your car.
     
  14. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    Got it, thank you.
     
  15. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    Ed, I was calling the posts electrodes. my error, but I am safe.

    I spoke with the manufacturer of the harness and discharger and have corrected the issue, ready to recondition battery.
     
  16. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Don't leave us hanging.... what was the solution?
     
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  17. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    OK, so I spoke with the manufacturer and there was three options. 1. purchase the discharge/charge harness, 2. purchase an inline harness from them, or 3. purchase one from the manufacturer.

    so if you choose option 2 or 3, this is what needs to be done. However, one must call the manufacturer and when prompted, press '2' on your phone pad to reach customer service. They will guide you through the so I strongly suggest to not perform any work off of what I am supplying here. I am not an electrical engineer, I am simply a bricklayer. I do not want to give any misguided information and lead anyone to get hurt or destroy their car and/or equipment.

    with that being said, if you skipped above - please read.
    So, if you choose to purchase your own, in-line safety fuse, you need the following.
    -in-line safety fuse
    -2 wire crimps or ability to solder
    -3 amp fuse to fit the purchased in-line safety fuse
    -wire cutting and crimping tool

    next:
    -you need expose the battery- but not remove it.
    -remove the orange battery switch - again I am bricklayer, so I probably have the name way off, my appologies.

    -remove the two plates on the left. these allow the ability to access the battery terminals
    -disconnect the RED wire.
    -There is a diode an inch or so from the terminal of the red wire on your harness for the charger
    -cut this out, and crimp or solder the, in-line safety fuse, insert the 3 amp fuse and you are now all set.
    -check to see if your discharger activates. If not, call back the customer service center and they will walk you through the steps.
    Again, please make sure to call the manufacturer and speak with their customer service representative, for your own safety do not attempt to follow my instructions as I may have accidentally left something out.
     
  18. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    I started to read your reply, and was fine up to the second paragraph, then you totally lost me… :confused:
    1. I'm not sure that I understand exactly from whom you purchased your charger/discharger
    2. Maybe there are more than one prolong charger/discharger manufacturer, and that is where I'm getting confused.

    I bought all my prolong charger/discharger gear from Hybrid Automotive, and have found their Customer Support to be excellent, and apart from me being a bit confused at the start (see threads passim) Jeff and his staff have always bent over backwards to help solve any of my problems.
    BTW latest data on results from my most recent full recondition (done over the New Year weekend) on the Traction Battery in my 2009 Gen II (117k miles); average 45-50mpg over last month, best SoC 81% (8 BARS ALL GREEN - first time I have ever seen that many!) - will keep you all posted, and if this is TMI for you, then you are quite welcome to ignore it!
     
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  19. Kevin Cecchini

    Kevin Cecchini Junior Member

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    Oh, yes it is from prolong. Sorry about the confusion there WilDavis.
     
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  20. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    I notice in your video, the piece of wood on which the lamp-holders are mounted, is much longer than that in the picture shown in the Hybrid Automotive Products page. The one I have looks exactly the same as the one in their picture.