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"Cigarette lighter jump starters"

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Jennjay, Aug 8, 2006.

  1. Jennjay

    Jennjay Member

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    Will these work? You are supposed to put into socket in both cars and wait 5 to 10 minutes. Curious about using the Prius as a donor for others in need and also as a receiver to charge our 12v batteries, just in case. Thanks for the input or is it the output ( bad joke)
     
  2. rufaro

    rufaro WeePoo, Gen II

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jennjay @ Aug 8 2006, 06:01 PM) [snapback]299920[/snapback]</div>
    No reply to your question, but if bad jokes were to become a disqualification for PC posters, the qualifying posting membership hereabouts would be VERY low indeed! :rolleyes:
     
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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  4. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Well, I suppose they're better than nothing, but I doubt most people would want to wait that long to get their car started. And as Dr Fusco stated, the "cigarette" socket is usually dead until the car is in Acc or Ready mode.

    For about $30 more I got my 700 amp Canadian Tire car booster. It has built-in polarity protection, and allows an impatient person to start cranking at once. I've used mine several times now to boost dead cars and pickups, and it works fine. Many car dealerships prefer to use a booster box over a conventional jump start, at least around here.

    It's important to look after a booster box though. Charge it monthly, and immediately after use.
     
  5. Jennjay

    Jennjay Member

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    But if I were boosting another car, my car would be on and the socket would be active. I figured that since this is just a trickle charge, I could still be a good samaritan and not worry much about draining the 12v battery. I guess it would not work if I needed a boost, though
     
  6. daronspicher

    daronspicher Active Member

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    I jump started my wife's car using the red post thing under the hood on the Prius. Since then, I've discovered the 12v battery in the rear passenger compartment and will jump right from that if need be next time.

    Someone on here said that's a small battery by 12v standards, and I agree. I just think the whole "Jumping the other car" thing will work a lot better from that than it did from the positive post thing.
     
  7. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    As has been posted before, the 12V battery in the Prius is -NOT- a "car battery". It's not designed to start engines. Drawing that much current from it -will- damage it, seen by shortened life. All it does in the Prius is activate the electronics and the relays that connect the 208V battery to the powerplant.

    As for the question posted the cig. lighter "charger" (which is what it really is) will work with the Prius. You will be able to charge another cars' battery, but your Prius will have to be on - and this will typically take 10-20 min. of "on time". Also, if you can still turn on your Prius (which I doubt if the 12V battery is dead), another car can charge the Prius 12 V battery. The posted mod. above will fix the problem of cig. lighter off due to battey dead, so with this mod. you can recover the Prius if the 12 V battery goes dead with just a cig. lighter cord. Easier than opening the hood, especially when it's -20 and snowing!

    I'm sure most of you know, but I'll say it again: if the 12 V battery is dead you will not be going anywhere. It's required to connect the relays that provide the 208V "traction battery" power that is used to start the engine and/or start the car moving.
     
  8. jdjeep98

    jdjeep98 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Aug 9 2006, 09:33 AM) [snapback]300144[/snapback]</div>
    Hmmm... Has anyone thought about a mod that might momentarily enable the DC/DC converter that keeps the 12V battery charged? Even if it was a button or spring loaded key switch or something, it could be used to boot the car if the 12V battery was dead, couldn't it?

    Just thinking out loud... ;)
     
  9. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Good thought, but where are you going to get 12V to connect the 208V to the converter if the 12V battery is dead? You have to activate 12V relays. They are run by a sophisticated cct with ground fault detection as well.

    Here's a better thought - get a "Battery Tender". You can connect it permanently to the 12V battery. When you leave your vehicle for extended periods, plug in the tender. It's a low current trickle charger with smarts built in.

    I know, I know, you then have to plug in your vehicle. We don't have a problem with that in "the Great White North" ;), as that's normal in winter. Many parking spaces have outlets.
     
  10. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jennjay @ Aug 8 2006, 09:01 PM) [snapback]299920[/snapback]</div>
    Might work to jump a non-Prius in Florida, but likely not in cold winter climates. If the battery is really dead, 10 minutes of trickle from another 12V won't do much. My experience is that you need a good connection to the vehicle doing the jumping AND you have to rev its engine to get the alternator to put out enough power to jump the other vehicle.
    Now jumping a Prius, that's another thing entirely. It won't take much assuming you have the Coastal mod or connect directly to the jump points or the battery.