12 Volt: How much is used to start?

In the case where the battery is so dead the hatch won't open, get yourself either a "booster pack" or even just an emergency light 12V gel cell battery. Paid $10 for mine when they had them on sale. You connect it at the "boost point" in the fuse box under the hood, which you -can- open even with no battery. It will allow you to open the hatch to replace the battery, or even get to "ready".

 

I found an interested link:

Prius Startup Current

It says that a 2005 Gen 2 Prius can be started using a 7 amp hour 12 volt gel cell battery.

David Beale, is "7 amp hour" similar to the gel cell battery you have used to open your trunk, or to get your Gen 3 to "ready"?

Thanks!

 

Thanks, interesting research... I guess if it was the end of the world and the end of your 12v you could make a potato battery that might get up to 12v at 7 amp-hours which is probably better than most Yellow Top Optimas...

In general the more the Amp-Hours, the longer the battery will last if you accidentally leave your headlights or interior lights on. It will also have greater ability to do this over time too. For example, I have 55-amp-hour 12v in my Prius that I bought in Dec. 2012. It's still going fairly strong though close to the end.

 

I measured the Amperage spike when SWMBO's Gen 2 is put into ready mode and it was 30A. Bear in mind this do significant damage to a small battery.