Charging Temperature

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by EvanB, Jul 11, 2014.

  1. EvanB

    EvanB Junior Member

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    Hello,

    I have a new PIP and a question I could not find by searching.

    I live in AZ and even in the middle of the night my garage is 100+ degrees. Is it safe (no long term issues) to charge in high temp with the level 1 cord? How about charging outside with a level 2 in 100-120 degrees?
     
  2. Priusmpg

    Priusmpg Active Member

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    This is a tough one, I'm not sure but I can say the car actively cools the battery while charging.
     
  3. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Although, Toyota is renown for testing their vehicles in harsh climates, therefore I'm sure their recommendations for temperature limits are set within a wide margin of safety.
     
  4. Priusmpg

    Priusmpg Active Member

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    If an alternative is available, better safe than sorry, outdoors, charge in the shade if possible. Less heat and cool cycles will definitely increase the life of the battery. Significantly? Cant be sure.
     
    #4 Priusmpg, Jul 11, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2014
    elementnomore likes this.
  5. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I like that: "defy the heat!" :)
     
  6. Priusmpg

    Priusmpg Active Member

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    Take it easy man. It was a mere suggestion about charging outdoors because direct sunlight is treeing the like a big oven and in the shade, its not.
    Also just thought of something, the battery shouldn't get any hotter than what it would get when operating.
     
  7. EvanB

    EvanB Junior Member

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    The only real alternative I see is not using it as a PIP in the summer months just as normal hybrid. The real question is it a necessary move.

    After having the heat kill the pack in my Civic hybrid and putting my insight n the edge I have been pretty strict in only parking my cars in shade / garage and ensuring the AC is on and aimed at the intake vent for the battery, But grid charging is a new element to me,
     
  8. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    The smilie didn't convey the irony well enough?
     
  9. Priusmpg

    Priusmpg Active Member

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    I guess its hard to convey tone with text. :whistle:
     
  10. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I was making fun of the spelling mistake: "definitely" went through as "defiantly." I'd blame the auto-correct.
     
  11. Priusmpg

    Priusmpg Active Member

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    So the the smart people thing comes back to bite me. Ooops
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Heat might have been a factor in killing Civic Hybrid batteries, but I suspect overzealous Honda engineers were the main culprit.

    Regarding AC use, here's a sentence in Honda's Aug 2010 recall notice:

    Frequent stop-and-go driving with A/C use during warm weather speeds up the IMA battery deterioration.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would get a scan gauge and monitor battery temps while charging for awhile.
     
  14. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I would do anything I could think of to cool the car / pack off some as it charges.
    There must be a reason why they are not selling in AZ so far.

    extreme heat and cold have much the same effect on the pack.
    And if you run a/c continuously while charging at those outside temps,
    from what I've noticed it would probably take 4 hours to fully charge the pack using a 240v
    and it might net ever finish using the 120v
     
    #14 vvillovv, Jul 14, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2014
  15. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Not sure what you mean as far as saying cold has the same effect as heat.
     
  16. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    "extreme heat and cold have much the same effect on the pack."
     
  17. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Umm...
    But what effect? If you are referring to battery longevity, I believe you are wrong.
     
  18. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    about what? charging temperature?

    you never know, you could be right.
     
  19. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

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    I don't think Honda ever approached hybrids as anything other than a compliance tool, and they certainly didn't respect the early Civic Hybrid owners when the batteries started dying (not just in hot climes). That's why when I was looking at a Plug-In, I considered the Accord PiH, but couldn't get over how shabbily Honda treated previous generations of hybrid owners.