1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Timed charge twice a day?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by ThatTallGuy, Apr 4, 2012.

  1. ThatTallGuy

    ThatTallGuy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2012
    67
    14
    0
    Location:
    Southern NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I'll be charging twice a day, at home at at work.

    I've read in a number of places the assertion that ideally a charge should wait until the battery is cool. There's a timer in the PiP to allow you to plug in but delay charging until a specified time.

    But in order to do this twice a day I'm going to have to keep resetting this timer, twice a day, yes?

    Any suggestions for an easier way? I've thought of putting a lights-type timer on the wall to plug in in the garage that only passes power, say, after 3am. But I'm already going to be going through a Kill-a-Watt and I'd be concerned about the electrical hazards, and I don't know if that would even work if the timer of the car won't start charging until 1pm.
     
  2. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,754
    5,245
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    There are actually 2 timers available, one for START and one for END... which should do fine for your need.

    You press once to choose your preprogrammed START time or twice for END.

    Since you have the advanced package, there smart-phone app will let you check status and you'll get email notify you of status.

    Let us know what you find works best.
    .
     
  3. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2011
    683
    111
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
    I usually perform three full charges per day (giving the battery/EV system a rest whenever possible) and I have to change the timer settings all of the time: Once before going to work, once before leaving work, and once before my evening activities.

    It would have been nice if Toyota would have put in at least two timer ('end time') settings. It has not happened yet but I'm certain I will screw up AM/PM value sometime and wake up to go to work with an uncharged battery.
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. SCDrJ

    SCDrJ New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2006
    120
    20
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Haven't done it yet but it is bound to happen sometime... I charge at work too. I am curious about start and end times, why would you need both?
     
  5. ukr2

    ukr2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2007
    1,009
    275
    31
    Location:
    Victor, NY
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    I also usually charge 3 times a day:
    5am Start - before I go to work at 8am
    10am Start - to partially charge before 1:30am lunch
    Then 2pm Start - to finish the charge before going home at 4pm

    My normal commute is 14.2 miles, therefore I'm on HV when I get to work or home.

    It's easy to change the Start times.

    I don't use the Stop times.

    A Multi-Start Timer would be nice.
     
  6. SCDrJ

    SCDrJ New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2006
    120
    20
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I think I kinda figured this out...

    You do not need to set a start and end time for each charge. It's actually two separate timers. I have changed mine to this:

    Start timer set to 2:30am for overnight charge (to end around 5:30am)
    End timer set to 2:30pm for at work charge (to start around 11:30am)

    Whichever is on-screen at the time you press and hold to set the timer function (start or finish) is the one that will activate.
     
    1 person likes this.
  7. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,754
    5,245
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    That's the strategy I guessed would work best for the twice-a-day approach...

    START = HOME

    END = WORK

    It's what I'll suggest in the User-Guide. Thanks for the feedback.
    .