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'Backup' Hybrid battery?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by farmecologist, Jul 15, 2021.

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  1. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Hi all,

    I was poking around our local junkyard sites and came across a Prius C hybrid battery for an extremely good deal. The donor Prius C had 65K on it when the battery was pulled. However, the guys at junkyard said it has been 'on the shelf' for a bit over 2 years.

    I'm not too familiar with battery recycling, etc...Can you battery experts out there give me advice on what would need to be done to get the battery in working order? I'm assuming the cells are fully discharged by this point...correct? If so, is that bad?

    Note that the battery on our 'new to us' 2012 Prius C also has 65K or so but being a 2102, the battery is getting old...and I know that age may matter more than miles for these batteries. So I thought it might be good to have a 'backup' battery for the inevitable...

    Thanks in advance! (y)
     
    #1 farmecologist, Jul 15, 2021
  2. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Our v is a '12 with 30k miles roughly. I don't think it's the age, it's the mileage. 65k is a little high. I'd wait until I need one then buy one of the available options...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
    #2 jzchen, Jul 15, 2021
  3. tangerino

    tangerino Junior Member

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    I would check the voltage if you can. From what I've read if any of the blades are anywhere near 6V out or below each then they're probably permanently damaged. I'm curious how much they would self discharge but if 0.1v/month then they're probably dead. I read they shouldn't sit longer than 6 months without recharging.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #3 tangerino, Jul 15, 2021
  4. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Sitting two years is bad for NiMH batteries. I wouldn’t worry. Just keep driving the C, I doubt you’ll have any battery problems till years down the road.

    My sisters highlanders hybrid battery is 16 years old and works very well. Wild how well these batteries hold up in some cases.
     
    #4 Aaron Vitolins, Jul 15, 2021
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    some things are just not worth trying to maintain for an emergency. this is one of them.

    when your battery goes out, get a new one
     
    #5 bisco, Jul 15, 2021
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  6. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Interesting...ok sounds good. Hmm..I hadn't heard that dead cells couldn't be brought back to life. Also reading about replacing cells yourself. Looks kind of interesting for a guy like me that likes to tinker. (y)

    I'd be interested in hearing from other battery gurus...especially the ones that have replaced cells, etc... I swear I've read some posts about people slowly recharging dead cells and they work just fine. However, of course I can't locate the threads on demand right now.

    @Mendel Leisk @Raytheeagle any idea on who some other 'battery gurus' are that could chime in here?
     
    #6 farmecologist, Jul 16, 2021
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jul 16, 2021
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  8. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    #8 farmecologist, Jul 16, 2021
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  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    @SFO has rebuilt battery packs with the Prolong equipment before:).

    But that excludes reviving a dead cell:whistle:.

    Best to just swap that out and balance the pack ;).

    I'd start by measuring individual module voltages and see where you stand if you are set in purchasing the spare pack (y).
     
    #9 Raytheeagle, Jul 16, 2021
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  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Resident librarian :).

    He's got us covered(y).
     
    #10 Raytheeagle, Jul 16, 2021
  11. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    #11 jzchen, Jul 17, 2021
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  12. JohnPrius3005

    JohnPrius3005 Active Member

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    Hi farmecologist, I’d buy it if it’s a great deal, you have the money to spare, and you want to learn first hand all about these batteries, cells, modules, blades. You’ll learn a lot, not be under pressure to change the good battery in your running car.

    If you’re successful you can then look around for a deal on a car with a bad battery, and flip it. Or keep it as a back up car.

    The gear to discharge and charge these batteries either as a unit or as individual modules is inexpensive and readily available.

    Aloha
     
    #12 JohnPrius3005, Jul 17, 2021
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  13. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    This list could quickly become quite extensive..

    How about a few of the peeps on the other side, like @dolj and @Phildo - or the missing in action @kiwi ?

    And though Steve Keith (Phoenix Hybrid Batteries LLC) isn't currently around (sigh), let us not forget :whistle:
     
    #13 SFO, Jul 17, 2021
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  14. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I don't see the point of aging two batteries instead of one.

    Invest the money somewhere safe and buy a good fresh battery the day you need one. The one you have may still give years of good service.

    Compound interest ages better than NiMH batteries.
     
    #14 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 17, 2021
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  15. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    It is an extremely good deal.. I think the yard is pretty motivated to get rid of it.

    However, the fact it has sat on the shelf for 2 years or so seems pretty concerning based on a comment in post #3 ( 'Backup' Hybrid battery? | PriusChat ). If the battery modules are truly discharged, then I'm not sure it's worth it? What I want to know is if discharged modules can be 'resurrected' or not. Appears not...but I'd like some experts to chime it. (n)
     
    #15 farmecologist, Jul 18, 2021
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there's a thread here somewhere about reliquidating them
     
    #16 bisco, Jul 18, 2021
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  17. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Interesting...I haven't found it yet. Any idea where it's at? (y)
     
    #17 farmecologist, Jul 19, 2021
  18. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    This thread will get you started : Re-hydrating the battery modules. | PriusChat

    Would've poked the bear directly, but he is already spun up elsewhere ;)
     
    #18 SFO, Jul 19, 2021
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  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thank you sfo!
     
    #19 bisco, Jul 19, 2021
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  20. topshot

    topshot Member

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    If fully discharged (0V) then no. If at least a few V then maybe (the more the better). Check the voltage of each cell and decide from there if it's worth your trouble and money.
     
    #20 topshot, Jul 22, 2021
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