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Building stationary power system using old HV packs

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Dxta, Sep 30, 2018.

  1. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    I have some Highlander hybrid, Camry, and Prius battery packs in my shop for some months now.

    I'm just thinking if it's possible, to use those packs as a storage system for energy, since in my location, power disruption has being a big problem over here.

    I know Musk's has something maybe similar setup in a region in Australia, providing power to a community.

    Has anyone ever done this before using used HV packs?

    Could you PLE share your experience? Would want to do same too.


    Dxta
     
  2. brdmb

    brdmb Junior Member

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    Here is some good reading on how folks have used the Prius (and its battery) for home power backup. Lots of good information on this site!
    The Correct Answer

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Thanks a lot! Would check em out
     
  4. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    I have just gone through that site right now. It doesn't say much about what my thread is talking about.

    The site is dedicated to using a Prius as a generator.


    Dxta
     
  5. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I don't think it would be worth the trouble and how would you charge them back up?
    Portable generators are a pain but they do work. I have a 20KW Kohler whole house generator that starts automatically within ten seconds after power goes out.
     
  6. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Is your generator "green enabled"? No emissions generated?

    I intend to use a solar panel, or just get a custom charger that could charge any of those.
     
  7. brdmb

    brdmb Junior Member

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    It says everything you'd need to know to be able to find a proper inverter that would allow you to supply AC loads from the DC battery packs you have while providing isolation. (The load side of your question.)

    The only piece you would have to figure out is the charging side, which would not be trivial with the battery packs operating at over 200 V DC.

    Be safe.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how does musk recharge the power wall, solar?
     
  9. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    What an opportunity! The only thing that has prevented me from building something like that was mostly the lack of scrap hybrid cars... Hmm...

    You can possibly build yourself a great setup. Put a few batteries on a bus, put inverter(s) on it to supply domestic power, then put a charger on the bus and run it when grid power is available. You might get it all to balance so that you can enjoy constant power, even with low average grid availability.

    Be careful and have fun!
     
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  10. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    I don’t think the battery’s in Toyota’s would make a very good Backup for your home power going out. It was not designed for that and 6.5 amp hours won’t go far beyond some light bulbs.
     
  11. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    No, but when you're in Lagos and the grid is only available a random 9 hours per day and you happen to already have some big batteries from cars? I'd be pretty motivated to solve this puzzle myself.
     
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  12. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    When you are in the dark and your sump pump is overflowing, and your freezer is thawing, who cares about being green.:)
     
  13. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Having battery packs are cool but i thought most solar equipment used 24 and 48 volts thru deep cycle batteries that tend to not throw off heat. How are you going to keep the battery packs from overheating under load? How are you going to convert 240 volts DC to 115?(220?) AC?
     
  14. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    The modules only have around 6amp hours of total energy when new. (6.5)

    That means you can run a 6 amp load for 1 hour.
    Or a 1 amp load for 6 hours.
    That is not much power.
     
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    but he has lots of highlander, camry and prius packs. that's a lot of power.
     
  16. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    But they are likely quite dissimilar.
    Dissimilar capacity.
    Dissimilar discharge rates.
    Dissimilar charge rates.
    Dissimilar internal resistance.
    Dissimar internal resistance.
    This can cause big problems

    You would need to do some serious monitoring of things if you. Would be b stbto stay in the middle of the SOC.

    That said, anything is possible.
    If you were stuck in aremote area and these were your only means for power, you could definitely make it work.
     
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  17. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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  18. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Anything is possible, given enough time and money. If you are going to go to the expense of building a solar/grid charged UPS you would be better served by some Golf cart Batteries.
     
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  19. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

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    Yes, the Powerwall can charge from solar. Fully off grid is not technically supported at this time, though. As backup for outages, no problem and solar will continue to charge.
     
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  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    so the same for toyota batteries i assume.