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

Using PIP As A Generator

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by El Dobro, Oct 29, 2012.

  1. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2005
    2,788
    1,153
    0
    Location:
    Roseville, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Aren't gasoline engines on portable generators incredibly dirty, noisy, and inefficient, compared to the ICE on the PiP? The ICE would run at its optimal RPM to recharge the EV battery, and then shut off, right?

    A generator kit would have to tweak the controller software which generally does not want to charge the EV battery with the ICE.
     
  2. Jimbo69ny

    Jimbo69ny Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    712
    107
    0
    Location:
    Ithaca, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I think we scared off PK :)
     
  3. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    2,171
    659
    23
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The controller on the PIP can adjust the engine to any level it wants to charge the battery, why would Toyota engineers set it to be less than as efficient as possible? A generator OTOH is stuck with a limited range since it needs to be running anytime there is any load. Plug in a phone charger, and your generator is running 1000 RPM.
     
  4. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    2,614
    496
    0
    Location:
    Burlington, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Also, who the hell draws 1500 W?? My average electricity draw last month was about 170 W/hr.
     
  5. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    2,614
    496
    0
    Location:
    Burlington, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Huh? I guess you didn't click through on the link because then you'd see that Toyota is providing EXACTLY that for the current PiP in Japan starting on November 1.
     
  6. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    2,171
    659
    23
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No, it's not. It is likely 170 kWh (kiloWatt-hours) 1000 times 170 Wh. Your toaster draws between 1000-1500 Watts.

    Note: kWh is 1000 Watts * hours, NOT 1000 Watts / hours.
     
  7. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,531
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    What is a W/hr ? I'm unfamiliar with that unit ;)

    Anyway, to answer your question: lots of tools draw over 10 amps, meaning over a kilowatt. I know a couple of my saws come pretty close.
     
  8. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,531
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Depending on the state, average residential monthly electric consumption is 800 - 1000 kwh. Amazingly high, but Merkins will be Merkins. If Lensovet is actually consuming 170 kwh a month he can give himself a little congratulatory pat on the back.

    For context, the Australian home that Corwyn linked to last week wrt to low energy refrigerators consumes about 25 kwh electricity a month.
     
  9. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    2,614
    496
    0
    Location:
    Burlington, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    My average consumed electricity per day for the last month was 3.91 kWh. 3.91/24=.1629, even less than the 170 W figure I gave (which I got by estimating the total bill divided by my rate). I guess I did screw up the units a bit though: 170Wh is what I should have said.
     
  10. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    2,614
    496
    0
    Location:
    Burlington, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    The highest monthly usage I've had this year was 192 KWh back in April. According to PG&E, "similar homes" used 247 KWh during that same time, while "efficient" homes used 130.
     
  11. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    went to taco bell for my free taco
     
    DadofHedgehog and lensovet like this.
  12. Jimbo69ny

    Jimbo69ny Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    712
    107
    0
    Location:
    Ithaca, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I was talking to Prius Kitty.
     
  13. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    It's my understanding that the PIP ICE doesn't charge the battery like the 120 volt or 240volt grid does, it charges the battery like a regular Prius, right? So you wouldn't have a fully charged battery to work with, although the ICE would charge the battery when SOC is below a specific level then shut off when that SOC is reached.
     
  14. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I was referencing that exact link, about the PIP adapter.
     
  15. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    2,614
    496
    0
    Location:
    Burlington, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Sure, but it will still be a hell of a lot more efficient than a regular generator. And as mentioned, only start up when the power draw is significant enough to warrant it. The battery would be charged up initially and then past that the engine would run when needed. But the power coming out would be 120 all the time.
     
    Jimbo69ny likes this.
  16. Jimbo69ny

    Jimbo69ny Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    712
    107
    0
    Location:
    Ithaca, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    No you were talking about generators and linked to a generator on Amazon.
     
  17. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    1500 watts I was referencing to was from the PIP adapter
     
  18. Jimbo69ny

    Jimbo69ny Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    712
    107
    0
    Location:
    Ithaca, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Whatever, point is you were suggesting I get a generator. I wanted a pip that had the option of working as a generator instead. Case closed end of story. lol
     
  19. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    2,614
    496
    0
    Location:
    Burlington, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Right, and my point was that you can! In Japan :)

    [​IMG]
     
  20. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    and the output is 100 volts not 120 volts