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Has anyone installed the enginer PHEV?

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by alevinemi, May 28, 2009.

  1. Blazehodges

    Blazehodges New Member

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    Our install is scheduled at 9am in Santa Ana on the 14th. I can hardly wait. We keep missing Fedex, but we will just go pick it up if they don't deliver today. Not sure what the Long Beach install location is? We were giving the Santa Ana address????


     
  2. kiettyyyy

    kiettyyyy Plug-In Supply Engineer

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    Okay, update:

    I drove around with the new DC/DC converter for 3.5 miles. Driving uphill and a lot of hypermiling got me an average of 97.3 mpg.

    I left the car sitting in the parking garage to raise the SOC of the traction battery. It went up to 6 bars(Blue). After a few more minutes, I noticed that the green LED turned off as well as the DC/DC converter indicator LEDs! Any ideas?
     
  3. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

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    You left your car in the parking garage with the ignition on?
     
  4. eddiem

    eddiem New Member

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    Sounds like you converter is not adjusted properly, I would Email jack and see if he will provide you the steps on adjusting it yourself.
     
  5. eddiem

    eddiem New Member

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    My mistake the cell is not bad it's just week. Jack sent me a new cell and I replaced the week cell, the next day the cell swelled like a grapefruit, I emailed Jack and found out I should have connected the balancer overnight and checked the voltages to make sure they are even before charging them.
     
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  6. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

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    I'm wondering if the converter overheated and shut itself off. The converter exhausts it's heat through the vent in behind the drivers rear wheel well. The vent has a rubber flapper that keeps it closed when the car isn't moving. The flap opens when there is air pressure inside the car is greater than outside, which is when the car is moving. Were you able to turn on the system later, maybe after it cooled off?
     
  7. plugmein2

    plugmein2 New Member

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    ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

    Jack Chen of Enginer sent me an email and asked me to forward the following information:

    "Can you let the Enginer users know couple things about
    installation?

    1. Before first time charging, check the cell voltage with the balancers to see if
    any cell is out of norm (too high or too low) by pressing the left button to select
    type "LiFe" and pressing right button to read cell voltage.

    2. Standby during the first charge and check cell voltage from time to time to make
    sure cell voltages are increasing evenly.

    3. Disconnect the charger AC outlet when balancers beep.

    4. Let the cells idle overnight with balancers on and check the cell voltages again.

    5. If the cells are balanced within 0.02V, then you can drive it. If not, charge and
    balance again.

    6. To test if the system is working, start the car and park, you should see the
    battery energy indicator having more bars on the display in a minute or two.

    7. Don't drain the battery too much during the first dozen drives for maximize
    battery life.

    Since we don't force or foul the computer into EV Mode, the driver needs to do some
    extra work. You can use ICE to accelerate to desire speed then release the pedal and
    re-engage again softly to cruise at a constant speed (<45 MPH) in EV drive.

    Please let us know any improvement suggestions so that we can make the product better.

    Jack"



    JOANNA
     
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  8. kammssss

    kammssss Member

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    This is really a DIY kit...lol. Thanks for that post on the battery. I kind of had the same questions about the break in period. Hey, does anyone think the DC converter can be used with a 36v battery system? Or is that to low of a voltage. Thanks and I will be reporting "some" data tomorrow. Peace.
     
  9. plugmein2

    plugmein2 New Member

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    GOOD NEWS!!! JACK'S BAN HAS BEEN LIFTED!!

    Jack Chan of Enginer can once again post to Prius Chat directly and answer questions. The mod who banned him had this to say:

    "we banned an innocent, potential supporter and advertiser from the largest prius community in the world for about a week. I may not be innocent here, but I'd do the same thing again if it looked like this forum's members were being spammed via PM. But we need you guys (Prius Chat Members) to let us know when things need to be fixed or are not as they originally appeared.

    Please make sure Jack sees this post and is made aware that he's been reinstated...with my personal apologies for the confusion and inconvenience. "

    Thank you to all who supported, and voted for Jack's ban to be lifted. Prius Chat mods did some investigating and found Jack to be vindicated from intentionally "Spamming" anyone.:)

    Thanks again to the mods for lifting the ban!

    JOANNA
     
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  10. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

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    Just a note to 2004 owners (and maybe 2005?). Some additional work will need to be done while installing your Engineer.us kit. There is a white relay module, about the size of a pack of playing cards that must be relocated. It is located where the top left corner of the battery carrier goes. Also, there are two #10 mounting studs that must be cut off. See my attached picture.

    Does anyone know what this relay is for? I am assuming that it can be relocated without a problem.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. kammssss

    kammssss Member

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    Hey Everyone,

    I just got my kit today, 4kw, and there to be a few missing parts: fire extinguisher, 16 cells of batteries, 2 balancers, and a 120v charging receptor that goes outside the bumper. Heck, I think I got the wrong kit. Hey, aren't there suppose to be batteries IN the kit when it arrives? I think I got the Kiettyyyyy bug.
     
  12. kammssss

    kammssss Member

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    Hey Guys,

    I found this to be confusing during the HV cable connection. The terminal that is closest to the front of the car is suppose to be negative. This terminal is the one with the plastic ring around it. However, if you look closely, you will see a positive symbol. I called Jack about this, and he said it is the negative terminal; hence, I connected the black wire there, just like the picture on the EAA forum. And if you look closer to the other terminal, you will see a negative symbol. BTW, I have an 05. Ttyl.
     
  13. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

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    Most who ordered the 4kwh kit will get the 2kwh kit and the additional 2kwh batteries and balancers a week or two later. So that would explain the missing batteries and balancers. So you are only missing the recepticle and the fire extinguisher.
     
  14. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    for your info the plastic ring is the current sensor:)
     
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  15. kammssss

    kammssss Member

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    Hey Sir,

    That is the negative wire, right? Just making sure. Thanks.
     
  16. kammssss

    kammssss Member

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    Hey guys,

    I give up for today. I just got the HV cables connected. Also, is it me or the picture of the 4kw kit depicts a different inverter? I just noticed that the mountings, according to the pictures, for the inverter and charger are positioned differently to accomodate all the batteries. Back to the inverter, the pictures depict an inverter that is slightly shorter in lenght than two batteries; however, my inverter is 2-3 inches longer. Well, I will be at the first session of installation at the Santa Ana address for sure. I hope Jack had some spare parts. Ttyl.
     
  17. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

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    Check the top of the converter. Does it say 3000W?
     
  18. kammssss

    kammssss Member

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    Hey Boss,

    The inverter does say 3000w. However, as I took off the 6 screws from underneath the inverter to remount it on the sidewalls to make it look like the picture I see for the 4kw, it doesn't fit correctly. The inverter hinges stick up about a quarter inch, making it impossible to close the lid completely. I hope I don't have to trim the inverter hinges. Okay, WHO HAS A WORKING 4KW unit?
     
  19. kammssss

    kammssss Member

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    Hey Guys,

    I just got the red triangle light, car won't start. I did take out the orange service plug. Do I have to take it to the dealer to get it reset? What could of gone wrong? It's a very simple procedure. Was I suppose to disconnect the 12v negative terminal? I didn't do that. Damn it! Please help.
     
  20. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

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    Did you put the orange service plug back in correctly? What icon is showing on the mfd? That should tell you what the problem is.