Prolong Battery Discharger testing

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jeff652, Dec 12, 2016.

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  1. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    Discharge testing of our soon to be released Prolong Battery Discharger went perfectly. Just need to finalize our enclosure design and ramp for production. Can't want to get this to market!

    [​IMG]

    The Prolong Battery Discharger will:

    -Be extremely easy to use
    -Work with every vehicle we currently support
    -Drain the battery at 1.4-1.5A during the normal operating range, then taper current draw down as low as 200mA while the battery deep discharges.
    -Shut it self off when done.
    -Have multiple safety monitors & protection mechanisms
    -Retail for less than $200

    Target release is January-February 2017

    (We are also working on a universal pro series 3A charger and discharger that will be released in the spring for our professional customers)
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 jeff652, Dec 12, 2016
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  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    Just stack it under the charger in a visually similar enclosure appropriately labeled and leave a reasonable gap for heat to escape. When not in use, the cables could be wrapped around the posts providing the gap.
     
    #2 DonDNH, Dec 12, 2016
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  3. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    It's going to start off as a sheet metal box. Injection molds are expensive and we want to be sure it's going to take off before investing in molds.
     
    #3 jeff652, Dec 12, 2016
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Is that a fan design? If so, will it pull double duty and direct the exhaust air to the HV battery?
     
    #4 fotomoto, Dec 12, 2016
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  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Sure sounds alot better than the light bulb routine. I would be interested in one.
     
    #5 edthefox5, Dec 12, 2016
  6. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    Is that it, in the silver enclosure?
     
    #6 gamma742, Dec 12, 2016
  7. ikefor

    ikefor Member

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    Certainly an improvement from the light bulb, can I ask how it differs from the intelligent discharger?
     
    #7 ikefor, Dec 18, 2016
  8. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    Functionally almost identical for 1/3 the price. Internally a completely new design that brings cost down and reliability up. :)

    EDIT: There is one key difference. The Intelligent discharger has a peak current draw of 2.5A. The Prolong Battery Discharger will peak at 1.5A. It will take longer to drain the battery. This is a fine trade off for a product that will be 1/3 of the cost. We are also working on a new Universal 3A Professional grade discharger. One unit that will work with all battery types and be faster (at a 3A peak). It will obviously cost a lot more than the consumer units as well.
     
    #8 jeff652, Dec 18, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2016
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  9. ikefor

    ikefor Member

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    Thanks that helps, especially in understanding the price difference. The intelligent discharge has worked pretty well for me so far, will be nice to see what the end product (Prolong Battery Discharger) will look like. Consider cooling and ventilation as dischargers typically tend to run hot and some users may be in the tropics with all year round average temperatures in the mid 80's degree centigrade.
     
    #9 ikefor, Dec 19, 2016
  10. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    Getting closer. Some revisions needed to the enclosure and one more PCB edit:

    1.jpg

    We are also adding what I have named the @WilDavis feature :): An audible (loud) buzzer that alerts you when the discharge process is complete. Think microwave on steroids. It's not Bluetooth but will have the same effect.

    2.jpg

    I think we will have these ready in late March/early April. It will likely be a limited release initially or slightly higher cost for the first couple months due to a key component being on global back order and all alternatives being much more expensive. :(.
     
    #10 jeff652, Jan 13, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2017
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  11. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Thank you @jeff652 - I feel deeply honoured! :)
     
    #11 WilDavis, Jan 13, 2017
  12. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Will it be programable to be able to select it on/off and is the volume level adjustable? Just thinking if I am working away right next to it, I don't really want to be "yelled" at by the thing and possibly jump out of my skin. LOL.
     
    #12 dolj, Jan 13, 2017
  13. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    hahah yes, great question. We need a way to silence it for those overnight discharge sessions (and to reduce scare events;))
     
    #13 jeff652, Jan 13, 2017
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  14. offib

    offib Member

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    Aww man.
     
    #14 offib, Jan 13, 2017
  15. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    Yeah we are not excited about it either. It's only about a $20 impact, but still. It seems we have the last 12 of the spec'd fans on the planet and more won't be in from the factory until mid May. The next best alternative is close to $10 each more
     
    #15 jeff652, Jan 13, 2017
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  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    That doesn't seem bad at all.

    And won't deter some from looking at that option in the near future:).
     
    #16 Raytheeagle, Jan 13, 2017
  17. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

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    In my career as a machine design engineer, I have run into similar situations many times before. My advice to you is that time to market is more important than a short term $20.00 premium. Give the customers the choice to get the more expensive first run, or to wait for the less expensive version.

    Considering I have a 2004 Gen II, 2010 Gen III and 2014 "v" donor chassis under the Firebrid, I'm going to be looking for the full discharge/recharge package to use on my fleet soon.

    Bill the Engineer
     
    #17 Bill the Engineer, Jan 14, 2017
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  18. offib

    offib Member

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    Pretty much.

    I was meant to reply earlier, Jeff. Sorry about that. A $20 or $40 bumb up is acceptable. I was just not hoping for the release date to more from early February to at the most mid May. If it's not now, then I wouldn't be able to devote the time for it until July most likely.
     
    #18 offib, Jan 14, 2017
  19. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    We are opening the Prolong Battery DIscharger for pre-orders. I will add a few prototype photos tonight, mostly the ones from this thread. Here is the link with dates, price, detailed product info, and pre-order details:
    Prolong Battery Discharger Pre-Order -- Hybrid Automotive

    Feel free to ask questions here of via PM/email and I will do my best to answer them.

    Thanks :)
    Jeff
     
    #19 jeff652, Jan 24, 2017
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  20. offib

    offib Member

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    Nice!!!! Pretty sure I'll be jumping in on this soon! Looking at the checkout from your site, would it include taxes and all that jazz when importing to Ireland? And would the right, 3-pin inlet be supplied for 230v 50Hz? If not are they the usual female power cables for desktop computers?
     
    #20 offib, Jan 24, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2017
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