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Inverter teardown!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by hobbit, Jun 5, 2007.

  1. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    As promised quite a while back, I've made decent progress on my own
    expose' of the Prius inverter, hopefully to build upon various
    prior art. What a fascinating device it is, all round.
    .
    http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/ginv/
    .
    Heavy on tech, of course, but with just a little bit of fantasy
    thrown in here and there.
    .
    [Oh, could someone who also reads Priusonline do me a favor and post
    a pointer over there in the tech section, too? I think my account
    fell into a black hole a while back..]
    .
    _H*
     
    #1 hobbit, Jun 5, 2007
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    daaaaamn! impressive stuff! DH is gonna FLIP when he sees this... he did some pulling apart of another inverter a while back but never had time for this kind of detail. we knew you'd make some really good use of it.
     
    #2 galaxee, Jun 5, 2007
  3. bestmapman

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

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    Nice info on the inverter.

    Since you seem to be very knowlegeable on the actual nuts and bolts as well as the electronics of the Prius could you answer athese questions?

    When you go to the "N" Mode what actually happens. Specifically I was wondering:

    1) How does the ICE disconnect from the PSD?

    2) What type of connection or coupling is used to connect the ICE and PSD?

    3) What happens when it is reconnected?

    Additionally, I understand that the ICE must turn above 42 MPH to protect MG1. But if the ICE is disconnected from the PSD by being in "N" then it should not matter is the ICE is turning or not above 42 MPH.

    Thanks
     
    #3 bestmapman, Jun 5, 2007
  4. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    This is mentioned in the pages, in fact. By definition, "N" in the
    prius is simply "thou may not touch the motors", done by dropping
    the gate-enables for MG1 and MG2 from the hybrid ECU to the inverter.
    Nothing changes mechanically! Both motors just free-run. I believe
    the boost converter also tries to track car speed a little bit just
    to make sure the positive rail is higher than either MG could
    produce at peak due to their magnets spinning past the windings,
    but I haven't totally gone after that.
    .
    _H*
     
    #4 hobbit, Jun 5, 2007
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Wow Hobbit....wow.
    First, you can't possibly be married. My wife would kill me for the time and mess you made there.

    Next, what a fantastic job of documenting such a technical thing and, for the most part, making it entertaining and fairly understandable what was what. It might help a little to have an overview pic with the area currently being discussed outlined just for clarity at each section.

    The electrical part...well, I'm not an EE, I'm jumpy around jumper cables, and it takes me 3 or 4 tries to install a new light switch...so it kinda left me dazed.

    And I did post the link at POL for ya.
     
    #5 efusco, Jun 5, 2007
  6. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 5 2007, 03:50 PM) [snapback]455938[/snapback]</div>
    and that is the other (um, previously unspoken) reason DH couldn't do something this in depth. :lol:
     
    #6 galaxee, Jun 5, 2007
  7. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bestmapman @ Jun 5 2007, 03:31 PM) [snapback]455913[/snapback]</div>
    1) The ICE never disconnects from the PSD.

    2) A clutch, which is there only to avoid a shock load on the PSD.

    3) It never really disconnects, only slips a little if needed.

    Tom
     
    #7 qbee42, Jun 5, 2007
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Nice work. No major surprises, but it's interesting to see how Toyota split up the functions and physically enclosed all of the electronics.

    Thanks again,
    Tom
     
    #8 qbee42, Jun 5, 2007
  9. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Interesting and impressive stuffs. The IGBTs seem so small. It reminds me of a picture of the PSD near Pepsi can. It would be great to see how it compares to the coke/pepsi can.
     
    #9 usbseawolf2000, Jun 5, 2007
  10. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jun 5 2007, 02:56 PM) [snapback]455878[/snapback]</div>
    Wow. You *are* a stud! If you ever need a new contract, PM me, we need people like you.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 5 2007, 03:50 PM) [snapback]455938[/snapback]</div>
    Feh! From what I've seen marriage is highly overrated. How did one guy at my office - divorced three times now - put it? Oh yeah:

    "Find a woman you HATE, and buy her a house!"

    You could say he is a wee bit sore from the experience
     
    #10 jayman, Jun 7, 2007
  11. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    Thanks for the education, hobbit. The only time I got to see the inside was at the region back in '00, learning about this new hybrid they called "Prius". With the Prius being so trouble free, at least around here, I never get much into the details. If there is a problem, it is usually warranty and Toyota always gets the defective parts back. So it is always nice to get an inside view of what I have removed, :) .
     
    #11 rick57, Jun 13, 2007
  12. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jun 5 2007, 12:38 PM) [snapback]455971[/snapback]</div>
    Are you being facetious here? There is no clutch at all in the PSD. MG1, MG2 and the ICE are permanently coupled together vi the PSD.
     
    #12 devprius, Jul 10, 2007
  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    hobbit, I'm tempted to make a parody song ... Rick James ...
    You ARE a super friek ... and I mean that in the best way :p
    GM should have hired you, as I'm certain THEY spent time doing the same thing, to figure out how Toyota does their magic. I look at your electronic handiwork in aw.
    I am not worthy! :D
     
    #13 hill, Jul 10, 2007
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