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Charging cord repair?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by RobertF, Feb 17, 2017.

  1. RobertF

    RobertF New Member

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    Does anyone know of any companies that repair the charging cable itself?

    I plugged mine in, and it does not light up at all. I am familiar with electronics, so yes, have tried resetting it, and have tried different outlets. It is the electronics box itself. Somehow a power spike bypassed the safety equipment.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! have you tried toyota? there is a company that changes them for 120 to 120/240, maybe they can help.
     
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  3. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    If I found my EVSE started having trouble, I'd send it to EVSEUpgrade. I would hope whatever failed would be taken out for the upgrade to level 2 anyway.

    I doubt the dealer would do anything for me besides provide a replacement and charge me accordingly if not under warranty.

    Here's a good video on a repair on a Volt EVSE.
     
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  4. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    If you wind up replacing it, I'd like to buy the broken charging cable. I need some parts from one.
     
  5. RobertF

    RobertF New Member

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    Do you know what this company is? I called my local parts department, and they were of little/no help.

    Thanks
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    evseupgrade.com, as in post #3 by modem above.
     
  7. randy plugin

    randy plugin Junior Member

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    I have a broken 2012 Prius plugin factory evse charger. I got a new one and the old one is sitting in my garage. What would you offer for the old factory evse?
     
  8. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Oh, I can't offer you enough for a working one. I just need the little metal piece that latches it to the car; I'll only pay $20, which is not fair for a working one. Mine works even though it doesn't latch, so it's not worth hundreds of dollars to me.
     
  9. Jenny Seiber

    Jenny Seiber New Member

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    Hello! Is anyone looking to sell a working charger for a 2012 prius plug in? Mine isn't working and i'm looking to purchase one. Please respond if you have anything available. Thanks!
     
  10. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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  11. RobertF

    RobertF New Member

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    Look up the EVSE website... They sell them also.
     
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  12. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    Hah, Toyota. Those monkeys will gladly "fix" the problem by selling another $750 EVSE. They aren't trained in cable repair; they simply replace things as assembled units.

    Assuming a break in one of the wires, it would be easy to locate using a continuity probe. The cables themselves are easy to replace; simply buy the same number of strands in the same gauge as the original.

    EVSE Upgrade charges too much for what they actually do, but that might be the best bet if you don't have the time / equipment to do the repair yourself.

    I upgraded a Leaf EVSE to level 2 (240v) for $25 and an hour of work. It's all I charge with now.
     
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  13. Yea Right

    Yea Right Active Member

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    You should do a DIY video on a cord conversion
     
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  14. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    If I get my hands on another Leaf EVSE, I'll do that. In the meantime, the directions are pretty good on Instructables.

    With the number of companies supplying EVSEs, I'm surprised the price hasn't dropped by now. They are just extension cords with extra safety built in. The circuitry is super cheap, with the majority of the cost being in the copper wires.
     
  15. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Looks like it should work. I wasn't sure what was in that black box. I'm not sure I'm quite comfortable with opening up my Toyota EVSE. I'm sure it works the same, but I think it's more of an emotional thing where I don't want to deface the factory original. I'll probably do it anyway once I find some spare time. Thanks for the link.
     
  16. Yea Right

    Yea Right Active Member

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    The "Instructables" link shows converting a 120V to a 220V, at the same 12A rate.

    What advantages is the 220V (Level 2) at the same 12A?

    I always thought the benefit of the 220V, was to also have it at 30A for a quicker charge?
     
  17. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    If you keep the current the same (amps) and double the voltage, you double the power (Volts X Amps). So you charge twice as fast with the same amperage. Actually, a little faster because you have the same heat loss and other overhead but for half as long. So L2 is a tiny bit more efficient, but not enough to pay for itself financially. It's more of a convenience.

    220 V at 30 amps would charge four times faster.
     
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  18. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    In a Prius Plug-in, the advantage to 220V is that charge time is cut in half, to about 90 minutes. The car will only draw 12A.

    You can make EVSE's with 220V at 15A, 30A, and more, but a Prius won't draw more than 12A. There are EV's which will. My cousin has a Leaf, and she's perfectly happy with the 110V EVSE that came with the car. I explained how I could run a new outlet, and she just didn't care at all. Plugs in at night and it's ready in the morning.
     
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  19. Yea Right

    Yea Right Active Member

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    Cool, thanks
     
  20. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    I think you did a good job. I also had to do this on my 2012 Plug-in and just used splices and heat shrunk them. Not as neat as yours, but workable. Tinning the wires was a good idea tho.