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Balance charger recommendations for people on a budget?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by kibbles510, Feb 18, 2017.

  1. kibbles510

    kibbles510 New Member

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    Hello,

    I wanted to balance the modules on my Prius pack but I am on a tight budget. Anyone know of a cheap charger that will get the job done?
     
    #1 kibbles510, Feb 18, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    see this thread. 'Gen 2 prius individual battery module replacement'.
     
    #2 bisco, Feb 18, 2017
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  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Many users here have liked the Prolong system. They are active on PriusChat too.
    Prolong™ Battery Reconditioning Package

    I am not sure if $450 is within your budget, but it is much less than a replacement traction battery.
     
    #3 Prodigyplace, Feb 18, 2017
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  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I second that motion. Not exactly cheap, but it works extremely well. I wouldn't use something cobbled up to maintain a battery as expensive as the Prius battery. It will almost certainly pay for itself.
     
    #4 jerrymildred, Feb 18, 2017
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    some use simple hobby chargers. it's a long slow process.
     
    #5 bisco, Feb 18, 2017
  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Sounds like a huge job that way. Any idea how long it takes?
     
    #6 jerrymildred, Feb 18, 2017
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    a couple of weeks i believe. before the grid chargers, pro's were using multiples. but i have only read about it, not tried it myself.
    some have money, some have time, some are sool.
     
    #7 bisco, Feb 18, 2017
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  8. kibbles510

    kibbles510 New Member

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    Ok Heres the new voltage on the modules after they've been sitting for about two weeks.

    I also just bought a UltraPower 120AC charger with 2x120w output. Can someone give me specs on what to set the discharge and charge rate for each cell and which cells to start with and which ones to not bother with? Or should i do each cell?

    1.7.60
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    #8 kibbles510, Feb 25, 2017
  9. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    There are a LOT of better things you can do with your money if you really are on a "tight budget".
    Trying to do this on the cheap might do more harm than good.
     
    #9 Sam Spade, Feb 25, 2017
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  10. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Module 15 is trash as it has a shorted cell. You need to load test the others to see if any of them drops to a lower voltage than the others.

    JeffD
     
    #10 jdenenberg, Feb 25, 2017
  11. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Well it's obvious that #15 is the weak module. That it's in the middle of the pack doesn't surprise me either.

    I use a grid charger on the whole pack at once (plug in and walk away) so I don't have any advice on doing it individually. That method is from the early days and most of those folks have moved on but there should still be a few here with some good advice.

    After repairing a pack, you need a periodic (monthly) conditioning to keep it healthy. That's impossible from a practical standpoint with what you have now. You also need a way to load test those modules to see if they fail under load (or show signs) and not just resting voltage.

    GOOD LUCK!
     
    #11 fotomoto, Feb 25, 2017
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