Two questions....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 9 2006, 07:25 PM) [snapback]300476[/snapback]</div>

If you mean the outlet for the cigarette lighter -- yes, there are two. One is in the center console, the other is under the dash. The locations are shown in your manual.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 9 2006, 04:25 PM) [snapback]300476[/snapback]</div>

There are two power outlets (neither will support a cigarette lighter). One is below on the passenger's side. It's toward the left if you're sitting in the passenger's seat. The other is inside the center console. Both power down when the car is, although you can change the one by the passenger to always active if you want.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Aug 9 2006, 04:31 PM) [snapback]300480[/snapback]</div>

How do you make it so it is always active? Does the Prius power things longer because of the main battery?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenFarmBoy @ Aug 9 2006, 10:25 PM) [snapback]300609[/snapback]</div>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YEAH - -

How does a person "change the one by the passenger to always active if you want -"?

I'd like the answer to that question, too!

 

The company Coastal Tech sells a Power Outlet mod for about $10. You will note that the directions are on the site, so you can do the mod yourself with parts you supply.

Remember, when you power off you'll be draining the tiny battery, if you do this mod. You shouldn't think you can plug your cell phone in to charge overnight. If you had one of those solar panels you could plug it in and it would help keep the battery up, though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenFarmBoy @ Aug 9 2006, 08:25 PM) [snapback]300609[/snapback]</div>

Remember, the Prius does not have full sized 12-volt car battery. When you power off the car, there is no power coming out of traction battery. Making the outlet always active is risky due to the small 12-volt battery.

EDIT: WoW! Walk away from PriusChat for a couple of minutes and the post you are about to post can become redundant.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Aug 9 2006, 10:08 PM) [snapback]300656[/snapback]</div>

I hear that! I've done the same. Got ready to type, then get a drink of water. When you post you're way down the list.

Anyway, think of that 12-volt battery like the CMOS battery on your motherboard. It isn't designed to run the thing, just keep the settings and make sure everything is there before booting up.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 9 2006, 06:25 PM) [snapback]300476[/snapback]</div>

1) Yes.
2) Yes. It means that no energy conversion is occuring (chemical -> kinetic, chemical ->electric, or kinetic<->electric). There are always losses during energy conversion. The most fuel efficient way to drive any car is to quickly speed up to some maximum speed, and then "glide" (no arrows) until your next stop. Of course it's usually not practical to do this, but the closer you can get to it the better the fuel economy will be.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 9 2006, 07:25 PM) [snapback]300476[/snapback]</div>

Any time you are using NO power to move the car, it is better for MPG If you are using electricity, it will have to be replaced at some point. You shouldn't have to be at 35 MPH to get into 'glide' mode (no power arrows). You can go to glide mode any time the engine is warmed up if the road is flat or somewhat down hill.
You should also know that just because you see NO arrows, or only electric motor arrows, the engine is not necessarily shut down. There is no engine run indicator. The software has to make some guesses as to the likelyhood that you will ask for enough power that the ICE will be needed. Thus it doesn't shut down the second you hit stealth or glide mode. You can 'nudge' it into stealth mode on a nearly flat or slight downhill if the engine is warmed up by getting up to speed, then backing off the accelerator just a bit, then pushing it in gently.

 

No, by all means get one. i have one that never leaves my trunk (except when i have to use it). There's a DC-DC inverter that charges the 12V battery from the hybrid battery, which in turn is charged from braking or the ICE. Others were simply cautioning that, if you do the always-on mod for the power outlet, you'd run the risk of killing your 12V battery if the car wasn't turned on while you were pumping. it's just something to be aware of, and in the situations where you would need a pump, it's infinitely better to have it and leave the car running while you pump the tire than have to call a tow truck because you didn't have one.

 

Right, I also have a 12-V pump. When I use it, I first turn on the car. The ICE starts and stops as needed and I can pump up the tires. We thought you wanted some special use, like charging a cell phone or something.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 10 2006, 04:29 PM) [snapback]301169[/snapback]</div>

I think what eagle33199 meant to say was that there's a DC-DC inverter already in the Prius, which charges the smaller battery while in the Ready mode. Just power up and you'll have no problem with the inflator.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 11 2006, 11:24 AM) [snapback]301612[/snapback]</div>

Right, that's all you need to do.

You should check this thread, which discusses different portable inflators.