Fitting mobility 12volt AGM battery.

no doubt I'm sold, and the cost is just an added bonus, I do believe this battery in superior to this aplication, the only thing is finding one, it seems to be a bit complicated and also weather I can figure out a suitable lithium, I have a 48v 20ah, if it were wired for 12v it would be 80 ah, granted its about $600 but i could do with half that theres a lot more power availablein a 40 ah lithium than 45 ah led my concern is on my 48 v youre supposed to run it and charge it at night at 5 amps, you mentioned 40 amps in one of you posts, yeaks, not sure how that would work out, I just got some parts in for my bikes from china today they can build me a custom pack thou not sure what to order a 12v 40 ah would cost me about 300 shipped thou would it work, i'll take some pics of the pack I have, the leads are 12g for the neg and 10 gafor the positive, I dont know but most cars have heavy ga leads and it seems like the prius is no different, i'll check the plug in forum, they may know more, I would not mind spending what the dealer charges installed , plus some work to make it happen to put smth like that together, thou not sure how much time I got left out the old one

 

Are we still talking about a replacement for the 12v Prius battery? If so, there are plenty of VRLA AGM deep discharge batteries the capacities and physical size needed. They typically are heavier than the OEM because they are made with more active materials that are expected to make them longer lasting and more resistant to the discharge conditions in the Prius. And they are significantly less costly and just as or even more accessible.

The only thing that might be a concern for some is the absence of a vent tube. Considering these mobility/UPS type batteries are made to be used and charged indoors and the fact the battery compartment is open to the outside and there is little chance of any significant venting anyway, I've come down on the side that these batteries are better quality, very cost effective, and safe enough for me, making them a very viable and most appealing replacement to the typical $200-$300 "special" Prius battery. But each must decide for themselves.

 

I am for sticky'ing this. It would be great if the main post can be updated with specific products from specific vendors that can be connected to the vent tube without having to mess with epoxy and such (i.e., a single vent port on the battery that the tube can be connected to). Thanks.

 

I am not sure the battery compartment is "open to the outside air" or is in any way vented. I believe the vent you see from the HV battery you see is actually venting *into* the area under the hatch to aid air recirculation inside the cabin as the cooling/heating fan for the HV battery runs. Also considering the insanely high temperatures the cabin can reach in summer weather (which is one issue the 12V batteries in regular cars don't have to deal with), I wouldn't use a battery that I can't attach a vent tube to. Granted the likely hood of gas release is very low, but why take any risks with compromising life insurance policies and such?

I like the original Ritar posted by Britprius with provision for the vent tube attachment. Here in the US, I see xpressbatteries is selling "Mastersafe by Ritar". Not sure if they have the vent tube provision or not. Like I mentioned earlier, it would be great if the main post could be updated with specific models from specific vendors. Thanks.

 

Also, if anyone has some free time, it might be worthwhile to contact a couple of these major manufacturers and make them aware of their batteries' application as auxiliary 12V batteries in hybrid vehicles (Prius, Camry Hybrid, etc.). It shouldn't be much of a change (with likely no extra manufacturing cost) for them to redesign the lid to provision for a vent tube attachment.

 

I am just throwing these ideas out there as they come FWIW. Another option is for someone to take a most compatible of these 12Vs and sell a vent tube kit, just like how eLearnAid did it with the Optimas before Optima came out with the OEM replacement.

 

I think the reason we're not seeing universal vent tube provisions is because we're looking at batteries for non-automotive applications.
You can't "make them aware" of an application that they never intended.
You'll probably find that they'll back away from anything that would link them to this application strictly from a liability standpoint.
My takeaway from most enthusiast forums is a sense of relief that I don't have the general car-driving public as my customers.

 

I think you'll find that the headlights remain on when the car is made IG-OFF from READY, until you open and close the driver's door. If the door is not opened and closed, the Prius will think that the driver, who presumably is still sitting in the car, has left the lights on for a good reason.

After six years of use, especially when the vehicle has logged low miles (which implies the 12V battery has been sitting around in a state of partial discharge most of its life), it is reasonable that the 12V battery needs to be replaced.

 

Actually, eLearnAid might be a good entity to do this as they can have more business with a less expensive battery:

Optima DS46B24R Optima battery direct fit replacement for Prius 2004 + & Plug-in Prius with Instructions

It may be worthwhile for someone to communicate with them.

 

When I google "Ritar RA12-33" many of the replacements I see say "Universal" for multiple different applications. So, they might only be happier to cater to one more application. Also, from a liability point of view, we are not asking them to market these as Prius batteries. Just redesign the lid to make it friendly for our application.

 

There are a number of "regular" cars that have their 12V batteries in the trunk and believe me, under the rear cargo floor is the coolest place you'll consistently find. Sure, if you park in the Arizona sun without shades the car interior will soar to 140 F or higher but drive that same car in that same weather and under the hood will get hotter.
To your point, any of these cars with the battery installed "indoors" will use a vent tube.

 

Good idea. Would silicon sealant be able to handle whatever might come out of the vent holes? All in all, for a semi-lay prius owner, the following options would be great:

1. An off-the-shelf "mobility" 12V battery with a single vent hole able to accept the vent tube as well as JIS posts; "mobility" as in ultra-low-cost
2. An off-the-shelf "mobility" 12V battery with a single vent hole able to accept the vent tube.
3. A reseller such as (Optima DS46B24R Optima battery direct fit replacement for Prius 2004 + & Plug-in Prius with Instructions) that would do whatever minimum mods are required for a most friendly "mobility" battery and resell the mod with whatever other kit items are required for an easy replacement.
4. A DIY with your ideas for the vent and posts.

It goes without saying the first 3 options would be most popular with most of us on the forum. eLearnAid would be a good candidate; they once supplied a kit before for the optima. If they can partner with some chinese mobility maker, even if you figure in $30 for the battery + $30 for the mods/kit + $25 shipping, they will still come out ahead when compared to $199 for the Optima that they are currently selling. They need not nix their Optima offering, they can just supplement that with this other "mobility" offering with no initial claims of endurance, etc., in the prius application.

 

that makes a lot of sense, I only had this car for a short while, and not still familiar with it plus the wife drives it and , how do I put this nicely: her lack of tecknical inclination can be a bit frustrating at times, I found out about the lights on our way back it was so sunny outside I had a hard time making out the display on the touchscreen, when she noticed that, said oh, is that beter?, what did you do? turned off the lights HHHHHHHMMMMMMMMM as the dimmer is probl set as low it will go, just today we were sitting at a light uphill, no brake, the traction motors were keeping the car still, do me a favor , foot on the brake, but why, im not rolling back? HHHHHHMMMMMMMMM, its complicated just do it, harder, till that Yellow arrow dissapears. oh I did not know that, not to mention what I went throu to get a hybrid, but this one is pretier, whats a hybrid anyhow, I dont like these cars, she loves the $24 fill up thou. I need to stop here the more I think about it the more agravated I get, she was in underground parling lot for christ sake while this was hapening, bet if I mention it tomorow, oh the lights on can do that?
anywho obviously I need a better battery, the whole Ideea about the prius was to save energy not waist it shinig a concrete wall, the car is not housewife proof, thanks for clearing that up for me, I just need to source one, seems a bit more difficult, I know its been mentioned they are readily available. I also second shrivenkat, if anyone found a specific model/ supplyer post it, all I found were cheap knock offs, after all I am looking for a better battery not crqap

 

as for the posts and vent, I am so not woried about it, as long as I dont have to cut the car up to make room, I can do that too just seems overkill at that point, your ritar looks like a rather clean instalation, I just got to figure out how to get one, wonder if my contact in china can ship me one and for how much, bet you bypassing all thouse suits and ties (I'm sure lots of prius owners wear them, those would probl had the dealer tow it, by now, so hopefully I did not hurt somebodys feelings) in the process will cut the cost signifficantly.

anywho as far as the epoxy/silicone/jb weld topic, one thing I found to work great for such instances is that black silicone, for engine building/ gasket makers whathaveyou forgot wat its called, I got several tubes laying arround leftover from other projects its great for making a round tube fit in a square hole, unlike caulk like silicone its sticky, it goes where you put it, makes a mess too but the harder it is to clean it up the better it will hold, right? I know they got varieties like copper and silver and red, when I first used it they did not make that, black always worked fine anywhere I used it, oil pans, intake manifolds, you name it, I dont even buy gaskets anymore, this works better, besides this is not rocket science, also if options you need, Shrink wrap as in for wireing, solder, I'm sure I can think up some more and for those not so inclined , I'll set you up a kit, you just got pick it up at your local parts store and have your own cigarette lighter , I'm Sure if you look at the hardware store you'd find all sorts of things you could use, John was a liitle too specific.

anywho, if someone locates a battery like jhons or better please post it

 

The Prius 12V assc. battery gave us lots of problems or at least worries. Hope Toyota make up their mind to solve the problem. Lots of Gen2 are still running and we don't want to meet the weird symptom,see the 'Christmas' tree......

 

looked over at the optima, first thing I noticed :
You are going to end up with a deep discharge battery (more recover from leaving the lights on etc.) with 35% more capacity
Son of a ......................../
this happens way too often doesnt it?
forget contacting a batery manufacturer, see if toyota has a hack or o software upgrade to make these cars .......... proof, or maybe I shoud check with my electronics store see about a low voltage cutoff swich while im at it.

anywho, I hear there is a lot of optima love arround here, they have brightly colored tops, and cylinders below them, I did not read through all that page but one thing I did not see is AH/ 10- 20, dont get me wrong they may be good batteries but they sure aren't advertising it, than again most optima buyers wouldnt know what that is anyhow, I never had one nor even considered it or closely look at one, but ever since they came out, they've been all about immage, versus performance or value, but you can mount them upside down, I hear that in every commercial, never heard a CCA number, that kind of stuff and excessive advertising, translates to huge markups, they have to keep up with that overhead, plus brightly collred plastic costs more than black and looks pretty under the hood, easyer to find in the dark when you try to jump it, heyyyy I got an idea , I should sugest they make those tops flurescent/glow in the dark, or led backlit,

sorry, not into it, and if you don't get my point, don't worry about it.