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

Upgrading the QI charger (with pictures)

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by Patric88, Oct 28, 2020.

  1. Patric88

    Patric88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2019
    34
    16
    23
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    So I browsed around a bit about how to change my Prius prime qi phone charger out, since the stock one won't even charge my tablet-like phone (Note10+) and when it did charge it would be slow, over heat, and turn off after 10 seconds.

    So I bought a wireless charger from Amazon, and fitted it to my car. It works so well, as good as a desktop wireless charger. I can even get samsung quick charging through this. It is 100% stock appearance but the internals are now different.

    Now everything works amazing. I can toss my phone into that cubby with an otterbox case on and the phone starts charging perfectly and does not heat up at all(not abnormally).

    In the future I'll open it back up and install a push button for power into the existing button that just sits there now.

    Click the picture for my comments/steps/walkthrough


     
    #1 Patric88, Oct 28, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2020
    citiprius, TGrracie and AldoON like this.
  2. Patric88

    Patric88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2019
    34
    16
    23
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Click on the pix to see my comments/steps
     
    pghyndman likes this.
  3. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Very cool. Yeah, the OEM Qi charger was so weak, I gave up on using it after only a month or so on my previous 2017 PP Premium. Now I have 2020 PP LE without a Qi charger, this maybe a good mod to add such functionality.

    One question, did you try splicing the power that feed the OEM Qi charger to drive your new charger? I think the power is at 12v, do you still need to reduce to USB 5v, but that would free the all the cord at the 12v outlet on the rear seat. Now, since you have the 12v outlet on the rear seat side of the console box, your car must be pre-2019 model. Starting 2020, they replaced this second 12v outlet with two USB charge ports (2.1A?).
     
  4. Patric88

    Patric88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2019
    34
    16
    23
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Yeah it's a 2019 pp premium. And by keeping the usb in the back it gives me the option to unplug the charger all together and use my usb socket for other chargers if needed. And yeah the existing harness is 5v not 12. Also the 12 cigarette lighter socket usb connector I use is a samsung fast charger which the qi charger will use. So I must use Samsung's charger or it will only wireless charge. If I have it plugged into Samsungs socket I get the exclusive super fast wireless charger.

    Hope that made sense lol.

    Now I did think about splicing my own 12v plug under the console but as you can see it was night time when I finished and was using a flash light, so I didn't have time to keep playing with it. At least it works great now.

    I did this about 2 weeks before posting this so I could see if it would have any issues and so far I use it daily for like an hour and never have had issues
     
    Salamander_King likes this.
  5. yoyoman

    yoyoman Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    342
    117
    0
    Location:
    San Jose California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I don’t see any pictures in your post. Can u check?


    iPhone ?
     
  6. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    Thanks for sharing. Have you noticed any electromagnetic compatibility issues between the new charger and the smart key system?
     
    Salamander_King likes this.
  7. Patric88

    Patric88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2019
    34
    16
    23
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    None at all, if keys are in the charger slot, it all works perfectly still

    Are you using data saver or something? Try loading in desktop mode and not through safari
     
  8. patcoghm

    patcoghm Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2006
    57
    18
    0
    So I bought a wireless charger from Amazon, and fitted it to my car. It works so well, as good as a desktop wireless charger. I can even get samsung quick charging through this. It is 100% stock appearance but the internals are now different.

    Now everything works amazing. I can toss my phone into that cubby with an otterbox case on and the phone starts charging perfectly and does not heat up at all(not abnormally).

    In the future I'll open it back up and install a push button for power into the existing button that just sits there now.

    Click the picture for my comments/steps/walkthrough

    The original wireless charger, is it reconnected to the plug and where did you hide it. Do you know what would happen if it was unplugged. It must do more then just wireless, maybe the usb plugs in the center console. A lot of electronics in the metal box for wireless compaired to what you installed.[/QUOTE]
     
  9. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    As far as I know, the mobile wireless charger cradle assembly has no other functions. Disconnecting it is unlikely to turn on a warning light, cause a diagnostic trouble code to be stored, or cause other problems.

    The disconnected harness and connector should be properly fastened in place, of course, so they won’t rattle or interfere with the mechanical cable for the parking brake, which runs underneath the center console.
    The charger cradle assembly made by Panasonic for Toyota includes a moving coil; had to meet government and Toyota standards for safety, reliability, durability, electromagnetic compatibility, and so on; and is a design that’s now several years old.
     
  10. Patric88

    Patric88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2019
    34
    16
    23
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    [/QUOTE]


    I routed my wire to the rear seats 12v outlet. The original harness is now ziptied to other words and unplugged fully. No codes, lights, or problems have occured. I still use this charger for at least an hour a day since installed. Not a single problem.

    That large charger I removed wireless charged, and the charging coils inside actually moved up and down and left and right to center itself onto your phone. It also had some processing for current and voltage and it had different operating frequencies. As stated in the owners manual by holding down the wireless charger power button for a few seconds, it will change the frequency and perhaps improve your am/fm radio signal.
     
  11. Silverfun

    Silverfun Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2015
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Thanks for this article. I will use your steps for mine as well. Great job!
     
  12. Darien Day

    Darien Day Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2021
    123
    35
    0
    Location:
    SW USA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited

    Do you remember if there's space in there to splice one of these in (without that mounting plate it comes with) and leave it in there with a USB PD charger plugged into it?



    12V DC socket:
    [​IMG]




    USB PD charger:
    [​IMG]










    It's going to be for a MagSafe charger that will be semi-permanently mounted.