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

Equipment to buy for jumpstarting a PiP

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Mayank Jain, Mar 3, 2018.

  1. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    As to your question about why the car wouldn't take charge from the EVSE cable, it's because the 12V was too dead for the car's computers to know it had been plugged in. The HV charger is in the car and does a sort of hand shaking protocol with the EVSE cable and then charging begins, controlled and monitored by the charger inside the car.

    So it's "just" a matter of determining why your 12V went dead.
     
    albus, Mayank Jain, padroo and 3 others like this.
  2. SlidingBike

    SlidingBike Active Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2017
    171
    111
    0
    Location:
    Fremont, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Congrats on find a way to get to the next level of your fix.
    As you are referring above, what do you mean by "Terminals under the hood" Vs "Exposing the battery inside the trunk" ?

    On the other hand, there are few non-visible possibilities of power suckers in the vehicle, one such is attached OBD2 device, Dashcam etc, they may not show some light but they keep draining. These MUST NOT be your case as you got it off from a DEALER. These COULD BE your case since you bought a used vehicle.

    Also if you want to proceed with the so called Phantom test, I got a multi meter if you want to borrow :)

    If you PERSONALLY are going to replace the 12v battery, try your luck with Costco first for a reliable battery. But since you have just got it off the dealer, pretty much the dealer needs to get this replaced.
     
    Mayank Jain likes this.
  3. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I don't know the system Jerry but I was thinking the same thing.

    Does your car show it is charging the 12 Volt battery now that you have it in the garage and running when it is plugged in?
     
    Mayank Jain likes this.
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You cannot run it when it is plugged in. Only way to test that I can think of now, is to measure the 12V battery terminals with a multimeter while charging the HV battery. If it's up around 14V, then it's charging.

    I haven't checked it and I don't see a direct reference in the OM, but there is this from the manual. It's the last item in the bullet list.
    ■ Charging time may increase

    In the following situations, charging time may become longer than normal:

    ●In very hot or very cold temperatures.

    ●The vehicle is consuming a lot of electricity, for example, when the head- lights or emergency flashers switch is on.

    ●There is a power outage during charging.

    ●There is an interruption in the electrical supply.

    ●There is a drop in the voltage of your panel’s AC supply.

    ●The charge in the 12-volt battery is low, for example due to the vehicle being left unused for a long period of time.
     
    Mayank Jain likes this.
  5. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,347
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I believe you have 3 days to make a scene...I mean...give the Dealership the chance to make things right after the purchase in CA. A Prius is notorious for needing a jump at the Dealership quite often after sitting around and people just doing the look-e-lu. Especially a used Prius. They see it all the time and should be willing to fix you up with a replacement 12VDC to keep the sale...I mean...keep you happy. ;)
     
    Mayank Jain and Mendel Leisk like this.
  6. Mayank Jain

    Mayank Jain Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2018
    99
    70
    1
    Location:
    Cupertino, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions.

    Today morning, I checked the car once again.
    Battery was OK.
    I put the car on charging immediately - and since I had a happy battery, it started charging immediately.
    After the charge, I drove the car around on EV mode only for 10+ miles.

    Since I got the car checked at Pat's Garage, I decided to forgo that option (and save $250) :)

    Thanks again everyone. I think, I am making progress in learning more about Prius & cars in general - all thanks to this community!

    Cheers!
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,673
    38,211
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    A battery retailer (Pep Boys for example) should have a pro quality electronic battery tester, be willing to test it for you gratis, give you a printout. It's cold cranking amps should be more than spec, and voltage 12.6 or better.
     
    Mayank Jain and SlidingBike like this.
  8. Mayank Jain

    Mayank Jain Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2018
    99
    70
    1
    Location:
    Cupertino, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Thanks - will get this done!
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    2,306
    1,330
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Not sure whether this helps, but FWIW, when our Gen-2’s 12V gradually discharged over time to dead, I found that I was unable to jumpstart it, but I was able to charge it back up with an external battery charger. i didn’t have time to diagnose why, but charging with a battery charger was fine for me.

    Typed by Mr88cet’s dancing thumbs
     
    Mayank Jain likes this.
  10. Mayank Jain

    Mayank Jain Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2018
    99
    70
    1
    Location:
    Cupertino, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
  11. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    albus likes this.
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,673
    38,211
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    @Mayank Jain that JNC660 Jump Pack you mentioned, that's what I have, permanently ensconced in the hatch sub-floor tray. I've never needed it for ours yet, knock-on-wood. The newer ones have the built-in automatic charger which is handy. You can set up with Clore to email you a charge reminder every 90 days. Monthly or every 45 days might be better.

    Still, I regard the jump pack purely as a method to get the car started, on your way to get a replacement, or help.
     
    jerrymildred and padroo like this.
  13. albus

    albus New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2018
    28
    19
    0
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Is there a way to select (or limit) the maximum current delivered? I'm asking because on a Prime the 12-volt battery is only supposed to be slow charged (~5 A).

    upload_2018-3-5_14-51-58.png
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,673
    38,211
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The JNC660 is a jump starter, not a charger, so I don't think the 5 amp limit is relevant. Totally candid: I'm not sure though.

    I charge with a CTEK 4.3 (4.3 max amps) fwiw.
     
    albus likes this.
  15. albus

    albus New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2018
    28
    19
    0
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Got it. Thanks for the clarification.
     
  16. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I always understood jumping and charging the 12V battery to be different but I see what you mean.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  17. Mayank Jain

    Mayank Jain Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2018
    99
    70
    1
    Location:
    Cupertino, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I'm planning to buy this jump starter from Noco : http://amzn.to/2D1ZCZw
    I also bought a 12 Gauge 25 Foot extension cord for charging my PiP as my wall socket is kinda on the ceiling (instead on the walls).
     
  18. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    2,306
    1,330
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Again, on our gen-2, charging with a trickle charger worked for me, FWIW. Not clear why jumpstarting didn’t.

    So, it sounds like it’s pretty much a miniature version of a traditional car battery. Curious that a Toyota service advisor once described it to me as more like a dry-cell battery.

    Typed by Mr88cet’s dancing thumbs
     
    #38 mr88cet, Mar 6, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2018
  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    @Mendel Leisk have you used anything as a memory retainer when replacing the 12 v battery? I thought about a jump pack but some documentation seems to indicate they only provide 12 volts for 30 seconds.
    My son, with his 2015 Prius v is trying to plan ahead. I remember on his 2005 Prius he replaced the battery as a preventative measure. He thinks the Prius v needs to keep its engine settings. Forget about convincing him otherwise, BTW.
     
  20. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Maintaining car memory is no big deal, with one of these you do it with a 9 Volt battery. Through an active power port.


    I looked at my wiring diagram and I think I am wrong about using a power port to supply power while changing the battery. It looks like both are only active in the acc or run mode. At least for my wiring diagrams I have for a 2016 Prius

    I think I would use the jump start tab in the main fuse box under the hood.
     
    #40 padroo, Mar 6, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2018
    Mayank Jain and Prodigyplace like this.