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ICE running monitor LED

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by ken1784, Jun 15, 2009.

  1. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Hi all,

    I would like to introduce a very simple and low cost way to light an LED for the ICE running status.

    I found the fuel pump relay power is synchronized to the ICE on, therefore we can see the ICE running status using the relay power.
    It works very well and is very useful to see the ICE status.

    The relay power voltage is 12V, so you can use any +12V LED indicator light from a shop or build your own LED circuit.
    Led Indicator Light
    The schematic is shown below for DIY'ers.

    The relay power lines are connected from the ECM, which is located at driver's side (LHD) of the engine room.
    The LED indicator plus wire is connected to the white IGSW line (#28) and the minus wire is connected to the red FC line (#8) on the ECM.

    Hope you enjoy this LED monitor.

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Michael Cline, cwa, Creaky and 13 others like this.
  2. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Ken,

    This is a fabulous idea. Thank you for taking the time to put together this
    presentation. I suspect your very clear write-up, diagrams and pictures
    took as much time as the actual fabrication and mounting. :rockon:

    Well done. :cheer2: :first: :thumb:

    On a tangential note: It is truely unfortunate that a similar indicator can't
    be easily made for the missing EV mode light here in North America. These
    two lights positioned as you have shown, could function sort of like a
    mini-heads-up-display (HUD) of the Energy Monitor screen on the MFD...
    but not exactly. :rolleyes:
     
  3. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Love it Ken,
    I have thought something like this would be a great tool as it is always right near your line of sight and does not require one to read a numeral like the scan gauge does.

    However would it show the ICE spinning even when it isn't using fuel, for example warp stealth? I'd like a second light which indicates the ICE is spinning as an aid to keeping below 64km/h when pulse and gliding using electric to pulse which I do sometimes.
     
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  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Good idea Ken, and very simple. Thanks.

    Tom
     
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  5. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    damm ken
    you got a 2010 and already got a nice mod for it.

    do you think you can find out something like this for the 2003-2009 to?
     
  6. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Do you mean a separate light for when we are in stealth mode? Gen III has an EV light.
     
  7. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Being a severe amateur when it comes to electronics, why shunt w/ a capacitor and use a 2.2 kΩ resistor if the LED is at 12V? To keep from dropping voltage to the fuel pump relay?
     
  8. EZW1

    EZW1 Active Member

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    For a long time I thought about doing the same thing, but as a indicator on the rear of the car with placards to tell the driver behind me when I'm running on fuel and running on electricity. Obviously the indicator would have to be something brighter than an LED.
     
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  9. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Thank you all for comments,
    I have not tested it yet above 46mph speed.
    Will do some days later.
    The 2G Prius also has the IGSW and FC lines on the ECM, which is located behind the glove box. Pin assignments are shown below.
    I have not tested it yet on the 2G Prius.
    Could anyone test the LED monitor on the 2G Prius?
    You're correct. The capacitor is not mandatory. I place the capacitor to bypass a short period of electric noise.

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]
     
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  10. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    This of course assumes that fuel is being injected any time the
    fuel pump is running. In the 2nd-gen Prius, that is true, and
    I'd believe it's also true in the 3rd-gen, but to be really
    sure I'd do it as an injection light instead.
    .
    I still can't believe they moved the ECM in the 2010 to out under
    the hood where the wiring can get all crapped up.
    .
    _H*
     
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  11. jprates

    jprates https://ecomove.pt

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    Is there any situation where this LED would be ON while the MFD energy monitor shows zero consumption, or a situation where this led would be OFF and the MFD would show consumption >0 ?

    :confused:
     
  12. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    Nice write up and find Ken.
     
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  13. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Yes. We know the MFD sometimes tells us a lie such as during warming up or S3 idling check period.
    I don't think there is no such condition.

    Ken@Japan

    PS. Thank you, bestmapman.
     
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  14. jprates

    jprates https://ecomove.pt

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    No, I don't think so... assuming you're referring to the missing arrows... :rolleyes:

    The MFD Energy Monitor is exactly an ENERGY monitor, it is not an ICE monitor, hence while on S3 or when idling there is no energy flow shown. This happens because there is no motion energy being the ICE to the PSD. The energy monitor is actually doing what it is suppose to do as far as the diagram is concerned.

    On the other hand, the lower part of that screen, where you can see the instantaneous consumption, is also equally true to its function. If the ICE is running, the consumption will be shown.

    Even when at S3 or idling or at warm-up time, my instantaneous consumption shows 99.9 L/100km. When the ICE is indeed consuming zero, i.e. ICE stopped, you have a consumption of 0 L/100km.

    That's why I was asking about how the led worked in comparison with the instantaneous consumption readout. As I understand it, both are redundant, the LED serves no purpose at all, except of course (this might be worth by itself) to show if the ICE is on or off even when you're not at the Energy Monitor screen.

    Now, if your LED would lit when the ICE is running with no injection and no spark, then it would be great because one thing would complement the other: The MFD would show us if we're using fuel, and the LED would show us if the ICE ir turning. That would be neat! :mod:
     
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  15. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    thx ken

    if i get to it.. i wil post it.

    but anyone want to try and not wait for mee .. be my guest
     
  16. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    The way I rigged my fuel cutoff switch has the side effect of
    implementing the same thing on a 2G. A fuel-pump monitor was
    in fact one of the earliest engine-run indicator mods for the
    Classic way back when, if I recall right.
    .
    _H*
     
  17. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    Hobbit, have you started a thread about the fuel cutoff switch here or elsewhere? That hack may be of some interest to me and I have a question or two, but I don't want to take this thread off topic.
     
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Heven forbid, any of us are the 1st to tangent

    :p

    .
     
  19. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    .. or revive month old threads ;)
     
  20. FirstFlight

    FirstFlight Member

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