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Inverters

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Electric Charge, Nov 5, 2012.

  1. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    I would like to start a thread (inspired by the Sandy storm) which collects the opinions of the inverters people are using. The goal is to make it really easy to weed out the good ones from the bad ones. I'd like to stick to a certain format in order to make it easier to study this information, something like:

    My Inverter by Harbor Cargo ($100)
    http://harborcargo.co/item_My_Inverter
    Specs: 1000W, 2 outlets
    Pros: cheap, easy to install, can be hardwired directly to battery
    Cons: blows up car

    Just a suggestion, either way, would love to see all the data collected in this thread.

    Hopefully others will find this thread useful as well.
     
  2. Bought a Vector today 1000 Watts. Set up my workbench as a simulated whole house load. Load so far was about 300 Watts. Stayed nice and cool. Engine never did come on. I ran it for about 1/2 hour. I may ever need it in a emergency, but, if so, I got it!
     
  3. If anybody has a manual on the Vector 1000 W ? It may prove useful ?
     
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...good idea for thread...lets say around 1k to 1.5k is optimal.
    You can get idea at Amazon.com.
    To me 1k makes sense as safest generic option, and is smaller unit.
    There are 2 basic choices: modified sine wave (MSW) units and true sine wave units (3-5x more expensive).
    I would like to know best MSW unit.
     
  5. chenyj

    chenyj Member

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    There is a 2kW inverter on ebay, that can be connected to the high voltage battery pack for best efficiency and higher output.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just cut a couple wires and splice it right in!
     
  7. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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  8. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    would connecting to the HV battery void the Toyota warranty ?
     
  9. Bisco: could you draw a schematic of the HV hookup and enclose some pics as well. Splicing decreases current carrying capability.
     
  10. Just putting you on. Andy.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    me too. :p would be just like engineer, it would work, after many revisions and many replaced parts. when you need it in an emergency? not so much.
     
  12. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    is the article correct saying it only puts out 1500 watts?
     
  14. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    yup, I also read somewhere that the PIP battery max wattage is about 1650 watts. don't know where I saw it tho
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if they are building a factory system into the car that only puts out 1500 watts, what's the point? the secret is tapping into the hybrid battery and running some serious household appliances.
     
  16. It takes 3.2kwh to charge, has a max of 4.4 so it's useful wattage is somewhere in between. Since its designed KWHr charger rate appears to be 1.2 KWHr then I would assume the engine charge rate would be the same. If you consume faster than the engine can regenerate, then the system will fail. 1500 Watts Is adequate for a emergency. I think it's a great idea from Toyota.
     
    lensovet and priuskitty like this.
  17. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    I am pretty sure that the battery can handle much more than a 2KW charge rate, it probably handles over 10KW from a regen.

    If you were doing this on a PiP, hopefully there would be a "force charge" mode that would run the engine at optimal effeciency, top up the battery, and manage a battery state of charge in concert with maintaining engine temperatures for effecient recharges. Having the engine crank up for a couple of minutes every hour to maintain a steady 2KW output would be a much more elegant solution than the standard genset.
     
  18. Perpetual Motion. Don't connect the PIP charge cable to the output of the inverter. IT WII NOT WORK. My inverter screamed at me that it was overloaded, so I disconnected.
     
  19. Toyota is certainly capable of making future design changes to increase the output. HOWEVER, as of now the 2012 PIP charges at a 1.2kwhr rate, according to my Kilowatt meter. And if the article quotes 1500 Watts, that sounds reasonable, at this point in time.
     
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