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My Prius is bug out ready and set up to be a power generator today.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Kaptainkid1, Mar 17, 2020.

  1. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    But I still don't see anything wring with what this guy is/has done. You need not respond to some people. Just do your stuff. If I had such opportunities, I'd do more than these modes on my car here in Lagos, Nigeria. We're already suffering the lockdown over here too. I like your proactiveness.
     
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  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I do not have my Prius set up as a generator as i already have a 20 kWh Generac, with an ATS for my house. I do not have a bug out plan as I live bugged out already.

    My role as a 'hater' is entirely based on "You are doing your electricals unsafely". If showing you safe ways to do the connections is hating, I am a hater.
     
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  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    You hater, you.
     
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  4. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    ZAmp Power 1000 watt/ 2000 watt peak inverter and Pure sine. If you don't get a Pure sine inverter you may destroy your cell phone and electronic. 20200318_142508.jpg

    SM-J737T1 ?
     
  5. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    Look "Jumbo" I started this thread to show people you can set up your Prius as a power generator for example. I also put up a video of where I got the ideal and it shows a step by step process of setting up the Inverter safely, with fuses, correct wire and brand name of products. So yes this has two versions: The steps I chose to do for myself and the safe correct way to do it. Why did you choose to leave that information out in your reply?






    SM-J737T1 ?
     
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  6. George W

    George W Active Member

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    I admire your Prius modifications, and posted as much. What I didn't admire is the way that you endorsed an Install without having done it yourself.

    Suicide cords and power strips are only safe if YoU are the only one managing it.

    I get that you're an Innovative individual. It shows. I set up my own solar power in a tool shed. It uses 12-volt DC lighting, with lamps that look like any bulb you buy at a retail store. However, if anyone accidentally put a regular light bulb into those solar sockets, they would burn out.

    Just just like I am using a custom piece of equipment, so is your installation using a custom adapter. You couldn't just trust anyone to know how to use it safely.

    The 'haters' are not disapproving of your ingenuity, they are just trying to emphasize the safety concerns that are associated with the end result. The attitude which you are responding with, could actually make you the Hater.
     
    #46 George W, Mar 31, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2020
  7. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    It's the old could vs. should.

    Here's my twin brother with advice:

    [​IMG]

    I'm glad to hear the kit got you through the outage the other day. Onward and upward!
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    'power companies cutting crews for social distancing' you may need it
     
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  9. T1 Terry

    T1 Terry Active Member

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    The part I don't understand is why would anyone fit a male plug to the lead rather than a female socket so the power board could be plugged in as intended. Apart from that, a mega fuse on the positive between the battery and inverter and the system is a great idea.

    T1 Terry
     
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  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I guess the confusion is around the OP showing a mock-up of his concept versus what he actually did.

    Fitting a male plug to the lead to make what is called a suicide lead, is to connect the female socket on the generator to a female socket in a circuit in the house (after ensuring that the said circuit is isolated from the mains supply which would be dead at this point, but you don't want to enliven any lines in the external grid) to supply power to anything connected to that house circuit. Effectively using the existing home wiring to creating a multi-board.
     
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  11. SRQ

    SRQ Member

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    Excellent thread; my parents are building a new house and I've been constantly harassing them to have the electrician install an auxiliary generator power box thing so they can plug in one of their hybrid vehicles and supply power to parts of the house.

    I have similar mods on my vehicle, partly for camping, and partly so that I can load it up and drive to the parent's house in an emergency (most likely a hurricane).

    I was at ground zero at Panama City a day after Hurricane Michael hit. "you loot we shoot" was a popular slogan you could find spraypainted on bent garage doors. I'd get glared at with my every movement observed when driving through neighborhoods. Houses with generators running had the generator physically secured, and occasionally people hanging out on the lawn with their rifles/shotguns.

    Anyway, those fools who are essentially domesticated by modern society are some of the most dangerous creatures during a time of emergency, because it's their first time having their primal instincts tapped into, and they often pay for it in a wonderfully diverse long-term manner.
     
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  12. Mac Guru

    Mac Guru Junior Member

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    I take it you have never lived in Southern California or Florida etc. etc. nice weather for sure...
     
  13. George W

    George W Active Member

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    In a circumstance like that, you probably don't want to advertise, or let-out that your vehicle is a portable generator on wheels.
     
  14. Minima Domum

    Minima Domum Member

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    That suicide lead is called a suicide lead for a reason... I pray that your wife or kid or someone else doesn't accidentally pick it up and kill them self one day. It's a very stupid solution to an easy problem.

    The rest of the plan is a good idea and I'm in the middle of doing the same, I've also added solar panels and will be getting more batteries in the system to keep the backup going for even longer. I'm very new to the Prius world and amazed how long it can idle on such little fuel
     
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  15. R-P

    R-P Active Member

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    I'm making a stand-alone powersupply*. Guess what is an input and what is an output...

    Obvious hint: if you can touch the pins, it is not an output...

    IMG_20200404_131054.jpg


    (Spoileralert: the first one is an input AND output, it's a speakon loudspeakerconnector where you cannot touch the pins in either the plug OR the socket, Speakon has a similar style powersocket, but I don't have those lying around (in contrast to all other parts used)).


    * it's a solar powered 12V battery with 230V~output for a garage without gridconnection.
     

    Attached Files:

    #55 R-P, Apr 7, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
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  16. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    Finally got more parts to protect the Prius Hybrid system from shorting out with 80amp fuse and 6 gauge wire from a cheap pair of Jumper cable. Jumper cables we're $10 at 12 feet long. Same gauge at lowes would have cost $35. Read should have used 2-4 gauge to run above 55amp per hour. Honestly my usage will be way lower so with quick disconnects, cables, and fuses came out another $100 in parts. 20200410_152803.jpg 20200410_152753.jpg 20200409_153622.jpg

    SM-J737T1 ?
     
  17. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Good stuff. The closer you can put a fuse to the battery, the safer the system is in the event of a rollover/cabin collapse that pushes body steel through the insulation on that +12 feeder. This makes a pretty good improvement over what you had before. (y)
     
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  18. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    Work in progress going to hook up Generator /in line switch to main fuse box to have an easy and safe way to switch power in the house. It's all about time, money and upgrades. Since we already had power outages a few weeks ago. I'm feeling this mod was money well spent. 20200411_143150.jpg

    SM-J737T1 ?
     
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  19. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Very cool! I needed to have my breaker panel replaced shortly after I moved in. I opted to get an extra inlet breaker with an interlock plate accessory, so I can either turn on the main meter inlet OR the generator feed breaker- but never both. I happen to use an ordinary generator to power my house, but I could consider a Prius power arrangement at some point.
     
  20. T1 Terry

    T1 Terry Active Member

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    Looks very similar to the power inlet plug used on RV's in Australia, just a pattern similar to the plug that goes into the powerboard. The 3 way switch separates this inlet from the house circuit so the pins can never be live, when switched to the inlet point rather than the grid, the house is connected to this inlet so no power out, only a safe place for power in. When the 3 way switch is set to grid power the inlet socket is not connected to anything on the other side as the house is now connected to the grid.
    This way a standard extension lead can be run from the inverter or generator if only rated for a 10 amp supply, or if the inlet point is is a 15 amp 240vac, the earth pin is bigger than the active and neutral pin and only a cord with a 15 amp female plug can be used.

    T1 Terry
     
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