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Reconditioning Experience with Hybrid Automotive's Prolong System

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by biglew8, May 16, 2017.

  1. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Not sure I exactly understand that, or did you mean "discharge cycle"?

    By full soaker cycle, do you mean the charge up until the voltage stabilises plus 4 to 6 hours? So, if you don't need to do the full soaker charge, do you go straight into discharging or do you still do a charge, and if you do, at what point do you stop it?
     
  2. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    I just looked for the instructions that I remember and couldn't find it. There are three dischargers, the light bulb one, the expensive intelligent one, and the new less expensive automatic discharger. Instructions for the older intelligent discharger say to charge until the voltage is stable, and switch to the discharger without a extra 4 hours. The currently posted automatic discharger instructions say to go 4-6 hours past a stable voltage. Didn't check the light bulb instructions.

    The automatic discharger instructions didn't exist when I was cycling it. Perhaps I saw an interim version of the new instructions. In any case, it's certainly safe to charge an extra 4-6 hours past reaching the maximum voltage.

    The potential is to skip the extra 4-6 hours time per charge/discharge cycle if it works as well. I remember a post about that being Jeff's latest guidance, but I can't find it just now. Jeff?
     
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Thanks Rob for the clarification.

    :cool:
     
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  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I'm confused. You say your charging but you battery voltage is going down??? I've never seen that on my multiple chargings. I think you should have stopped at 241. Thats the most voltage I have ever seen on my battery doing a charge/balance. The hybrid cooling fan is running full blast right?
     
  5. Paranormal Rob

    Paranormal Rob Active Member

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    I wonder if the automatic unit has a logging feature? I may read the online manul to see

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    It currently does not, but @jeff652 is working on that(y).
     
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  7. Paranormal Rob

    Paranormal Rob Active Member

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    That would be interesting to have and would give them useful data as well.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  8. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Yes, the fan is running full blast and yes, the numbers actually did go down. The instructions for the charger indicate that might happen.

    "Once the battery becomes 'full' the balancing process will begin. During the 'balancing' phase you will most likely see a steady voltage reading or a very slow oscillation of voltage - perhaps a 1-3 volt swing over several minutes. This means the battery is in the balancing phase. The initial balancing can take 4-12 hours after the filling phase is complete..."

    I just took the drop to indicate the first cell filled to 241. Later the weakest cell came along and only went up to 238 so the battery balanced at 238.

    EDIT: I'll let you know how this next charge goes. I finished the 134v discharge a little after midnight so I'm already 7 hours into the second charge phase.
     
    #108 srellim234, Jun 9, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2017
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  9. biglew8

    biglew8 Active Member

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    Wow this thread grew since I last checked it! I love reading other experiences! Keep up the great work everyone!

    Here is another quick finding for my Prius after reconditioning:

    1. Drove about 95 miles round trip on Thursday morning (06/08/17) and now my MFD is showing the average mpg is 48.1! I've never seen it that high before. After buying my 2005 Prius back in February 2017, I took it on a weekend road trip down to Portland, OR. That was around 450 miles round trip. That trip was about 43 mpg average. Even during the drive, I did not see it go higher than 44 mpg. I know since I am not done with the current tank of gas, my average mpg can go down some more due to city driving. I'm still pretty excited to see this!
     
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  10. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Sounds good.

    During the first charging after filling and discharge is the charging linear or does it pick up speed? Over these first 8 hours the charge has gone up only 1 or 2 volts per hour and it still has almost 100v to go.
     
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  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    What are the amps it is charging at?

    When I did mine, the charging was fast from the low voltage to 200 v but the charging amps fluctuated until 202v was achieved. Talked to Jeff and he said that was normal. After 202v, it began charging at ~0.348 amps until it got to about 239v, many hours later.
     
  12. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Sorry. My brain fart. Everything is fine. I really don't know what I was thinking. It's currently at 230 and charging.
     
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  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I didn't know the charger only charges at .348 amps, that's really low trickle charging.
     
  14. Paranormal Rob

    Paranormal Rob Active Member

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    At the places that install the Prolong systems, I wonder if they can check the condition a battery is. Since mine is 4 years old and only 34k miles, I would be curious to get a baseline, use the Prolong as reccomended and retest another time.

    However when I get the car, I'm going to drive it a month or so, record data before I use anything.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. Paranormal Rob

    Paranormal Rob Active Member

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    At driving 3000-5000 miles per month, that should be good enough for a baseline I suppose.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You probably don't want to mess with that battery until it's out of warranty.
     
  17. Paranormal Rob

    Paranormal Rob Active Member

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    Is it 10 yr/100,000? I don't recall and I'm probably good for 2 years because of mileage. By that time the Prolong system could possibly be even better I suppose.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  18. Paranormal Rob

    Paranormal Rob Active Member

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  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I believe it's 8 years/100k for most of the country. Yes technology is always improving, don't buy it early until you need it. But the reason you don't want to do it early is you could void your warranty with Toyota.
     
  20. biglew8

    biglew8 Active Member

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    Some of my local shops that are authorized Prolong installers do have services that check for the condition of the hybrid battery. Most of them test the voltage of each cell and also check the bus bars. Some will even replace the bus bars if they are corroded. I was quoted around $800 to install the Prolong wire harness and to check the hybrid battery. I agree with @JC91006 that I wouldn't touch the battery since it is still under warranty. If there are issues with the current battery within warranty period, Toyota will take care of it. Some owner's will not mind even though it is still under warranty. I think I have read from another thread from @jeff652 that it shouldn't void out the warranty since Prolong products will not damage your hybrid battery. But like with many things in life, there's always some kind of risk. Good luck!