Jumping a Prius from another Prius

I would think you could boot one Prius from another (running) one- as long as the 'dead' battery isn't too badly discharged.

 

Cool. Instead of risking $4000 in damages to a Prius, you choose to risk $8000 in damages in two Prius.

Schumacher XP400 Instant Portable Power Source : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

I think it would likely work out fine, as long as you do the connections properly. That said, I'd be inclined to get a portable power pack, per above. Or at least the donor car not a Prius.

 

Mendal hit it on the nose... it's because people connect them wrong or poorly... it's also because some larger engines crank too much juice and you risk popping your inverter fuse for the 12v. improper technique can cause the battery to vent and so forth....

You can jump anything with a prius.. and use anything to jump a prius. i've jumped motorhomes, large trucks, and even a 24v tractor (all bridges removed to charge each 12v system)

TO JUMP START A PRIUS:

it goes like this... you hook up the prius (in ready from the 12v directly) to the vehicle you want to jump.. the jumped vehicle has to be OFF. you're basically giving the 12v a really quick charge as the power will start to flow really fast into their battery since there is no regulation. if there is a problem (wrongful hookup will cause a whole other mess) youll notice the 12v bus will clip off. usually the radio and nav or mfd will clip off. since the prius is running off the HV battery the prius will stay on.

so.. you trickle charge for a hand full of minutes or so. then you let the other guy try to start. don't exceed 6 or so seconds on a failed start or you risk damage... what i do is have the jump vehicle do a check... turn on his ign but not start up to see how well his/her battery is taking the charge. if things are bright, proceed to try and start the jumped vehicle. if dim, allow more trickle charge.

once the other vehicle starts, disconnect right away... it reduces some potential issues.

don't ever tap the cables together to make a spark.. it's entertaining to the eye but not your inverter or 12v battery.

jump packs are an awesome option.

side note: i've "competed" against vehicles such as F450s and even a bobcat tractor to try and jump first... my prius usually wins. you'll notice on a really really dead jump that the HV battery will drain quickly and the ICE will kick on rather fast... the jumped vehicle is sucking the juice rather quickly (still off btw)... once things mild out on the prius side, you're pretty clear to start the jumped vehicle.

TO JUMP A PRIUS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE:

keep the other vehicle OFF. a prius doesn't pull very many amps to start. you can take a 12v lantern battery and jump the vehicle if the prius 12v battery is disconnected (keeping your dead 12v from bringing the jump battery "down") or it's hooked directly under the hood (direct feed to the system that technically bypasses the 12v battery switches).

Warning: Having the jumper vehicle on or even worse, reving, can send odd spikes to your prius which the 12v bus fuse can blow... as soon as the prius starts, disconnect, since the HV battery is taking over the load. (the 12v is simply charging at this point)

as an oddity.. if you hook a jump pack up to the front terminals and try to power down the car, you'll probably notice that the front display and such stay on (i noticed this during testing when my 12v first died on me... this is why i say the front terminals bypass the 12v battery switches) {i could be wrong but that's how i remember it}

 

I jump vehicles all the time, granted never with my Prius. I have never connected the cables wrong.

However, there have been times in the past when I simply swapped batteries. If the Prius will run without it's 12VDC battery, then that battery can be safely removed. Put it into the other vehicle and start.

Doing this would present NO hazard to the Prius.

 

The Prius Battery has JIS posts, not SAE posts or Side posts like 99% of cars. It would work in the 1% with JIS posts though.

Battery terminal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

There's always a boatload of hazards when your messing with a car's 12 volt battery. Most dangerous thing on a car. So your saying take the 12 volt battery out of a running Prius and then install it in the dead Prius. Man thats alot of work. And lots of danger both times on the battery move.

Hundreds of posts here reporting jump damage in the last 7 years. Lots of people swearing they did not reverse polarize and still incured damage. To many to be wrong. So something else going on. Maybe if jumped battery stone dead and you hook up to a racing big car it induces a big spike into the Inverter. Don't know for sure. I do know do all you can not to have to jump start your Prius much less use 2. And if must jump try to limit inrush. Donor car off for sure.

Its the Prius Achilles heel. And really expensive.

http://www.toyota.com/toyota-owners-online-theme/pdf/BatteryHowToBroch.pdf

 

Jumped my friends ford focus the other day with no problems, also jumped a Renault megane (keyless entry, no key slot etc like the prius) again, with no problems