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

What about installing a 12v heater for the winter?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Jimbo69ny, Sep 24, 2012.

  1. 2005with259k

    2005with259k Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    21
    5
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Also, My Prius is a 2005 and a seat heater is not offered. My job is about 10 minutes away or less at times. (When stop lights are aligned just right) I hate driving my car with a frosted windshield & front windows. It doesn’t warm up fast enough to clear the windows before leaving the house because it just sits there in EV mode, lol. Plus, I can’t lock the doors while it runs because it is a 2nd hand Prius with no valet key.
     
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I believe there never was a valet key, just a mechanical door-only key latched into the fob:
    upload_2021-11-1_19-15-29.png

    I'm not recalling now if the car will allow this key to lock the door from outside while the ignition is turned on.
     
  3. 2005with259k

    2005with259k Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    21
    5
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    My solution wont work for most people. I have an outdoor plug and an extension cord with a hair dryer.
     
  4. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2016
    416
    267
    0
    Location:
    Ireland
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Not sure why you're replying to a 9-year old thread about the Prius Plug-in...
     
  5. 2005with259k

    2005with259k Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    21
    5
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I just had an idea I thought might help someone else. Plus I guess I don’t pay attention to how old the questions are really, . I guess I just like helping.
     
    Mendel Leisk and bisco like this.
  6. 2005with259k

    2005with259k Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    21
    5
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Unfortunately I don’t have that key. The car was second hand and only had one key fob. I lost the valet key the same day I bought the car.
     
  7. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    I am not comfortable with telling people to run a hair dryer off of an extension cord as being helpful.
    Especially not if it is unattended.
    I think you should reconsider your "idea".
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sounds like you'll be ready for the chevy bolt with $12,000. tax credit ;)
     
  9. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    1,199
    324
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,468
    38,102
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Block heater usage helps some, accelerates engine warm-up, which in turn gets the cabin warmer sooner.
     
  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,971
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The electric space heater linked in #49 is listed at 500 watts. (So you'd need to wrestle with fairly heavy 12 volt wiring to it, to handle a bit under 50 amps).

    There is already an electric heater in the car, around 700 watts, used automatically when you ask for the heat and the engine isn't up to temperature yet. (ECO mode locks it out though.)

    I find that, in cold weather, even that 700 watts doesn't feel like much. The most convincing way I can tell it is there is that I definitely can tell how much faster the windshield defogs on a cold start if I take the car out of ECO mode so the electric heater can work.

    Once the engine is up to temperature, the heater core fed by engine coolant is worth about 5,300 watts of heat, completely dwarfing any 500 or 700 watt electric element.
     
  12. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2016
    416
    267
    0
    Location:
    Ireland
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    I was not aware of this electric heater in the 1st gen Plug-in, I will keep that in mind since I normally leave Eco mode on...