1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Has anyone installed the enginer PHEV?

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

  1. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    4,089
    468
    0
    Location:
    Bahstahn
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I just read through the Chargery DB8 document, and find it
    relatively inscrutable. Someone stateside needs to take a
    proofreading pass through this thing.
    .
    I did note that it's designed for r/c model batteries, and would
    readily believe that it's a little out of its league for a PHEV
    effort.
    .
    _H*
     
    2 people like this.
  2. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    2,076
    523
    5
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Unfortunately there is almost no documentation of this effect, and I don't know how reproducible or well understood it was. I'll keep trying to look for any more specific accounts of situations in which this problem was encountered.
     
    1 person likes this.
  3. Desertstraw

    Desertstraw New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    1
    1
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I am interested in the enginer kit and would buy one if satisfied on three points.
    1) From comments that I have read here, it seems that many kits come with defective parts. Given that there is only a one year warranty is there any reason to think that the kit will hold up after it is working?
    2) Apparently there is a great deal of upkeep involved with the systems as they are delivered today, cell balancing in particular. Do today's users think that the plan to deliver trouble free units later this year makes them worth waiting for?
    3) Is the 4kw system less stable than the 2kw and more likely to break down?

    Unlike many of the first buyers, I am unwilling to accept a system that involves maintenance. For me to buy it, it must be like my cruise control, work when I want it and be no bother.
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2006
    1,499
    99
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    To the risk takers go the spoils. I believe the converter issue has been rectified. and it has a two year warranty on the parts.

    Lastly, it looks like a 4kWh system is more stable - bigger reservoir to draw power from.
     
  5. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2005
    580
    500
    47
    Location:
    Raleigh, NC
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    Both of my converters run fine, no overheating. One o my chargers was bad. I need to contact Jack for a replacement. An 8kwh system is even more stable then the 4kwh.:DSee thread below:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-p...-hybrid-electric-vehicle-8kwh.html#post945680
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. cabledave

    cabledave Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2006
    63
    52
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I agree. After having the system for a few days I came to the conclusion that they were being overtaxed.

    They need some heat-sinking added. Hopefully the 16 cell unit they are designing takes the heat issue into consideration.
     
    1 person likes this.
  7. drees

    drees Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2007
    1,782
    247
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Frankly, doesn't sound like the Enginer kit is right for you at this time. A Hymotion or similar kit should be pretty much "plug and play" as you desire.

    Of course, you will pay extra to get "plug and play" - and even then, there may be a few quirks.
     
  8. plugmein2

    plugmein2 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    114
    124
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't agree with the others. I am not tech savy like everyone else. I just wanted to know about the system and how it worked.

    Initally, after the break-in period (battery balancing), it has been easy for me to just plug in and go. However, I am a girl always wanting a "bang for her buck", if I can adjust my driving habits to accomodate the kits range and FE, I will do it. So far, I have been averaging 99.9 MPG in the city by going 40 mph or less. So far, the 4kw system has required less charging, therefore, less maintenance.

    JOANNA
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. chenyj

    chenyj Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    96
    115
    0
    Location:
    Troy, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Our distributor is going to Seattle, Portland area. If anyone in that area orders before Sept 10, we provide free shipping and delivery.
     
    1 person likes this.
  10. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2006
    1,499
    99
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Jack I'm going to email you about this.
     
  11. chenyj

    chenyj Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    96
    115
    0
    Location:
    Troy, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    We are going to attend PA Energy Fest in Kempton, PA. We are welcome to stop by our booth, review the system and chat with us. Hopefully place an order at the end :)

    More detail at www.[B]paenergyfest[/B].com
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    2,076
    523
    5
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Just keep in mind that heat sinking will only help control your temperature rise above ambient. When ambient is already greater than the max operating temperature (as it would often be here in Phoenix) heat sinks aren't going to do you much good ;)
     
    1 person likes this.
  13. cabledave

    cabledave Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2006
    63
    52
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    You make a good point, however I can tell you that the balancers are way hotter than the ambient temp when they are doing their thing.

    The balancer housings are sealed so maybe some air flow vents might help at least keep the temp down to the surrounding air.

    When mine start giving wacky readings, I have disconnected one, allowed it to cool off and the readings go back to normal, as in agreeing with my multimeter. I would assume it would be impossible for the balancer to balance when it isn't reading proper voltages on a couple of cells which is what I have witnessed.
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    2,076
    523
    5
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I guess it would sense that they run hot. It sounds like they run by dissipation, which means all the extra energy in the batteries thats bled off is converted to heat. If the cases are sealed, it may be that the power dissipation devices are just sinked to the case. Is the case (or at least part of it) metal? If so at least having them mounted to a large metal plate with heat sink grease would probably go a long way toward keeping the temp down. Fins and airflow would help even more, but a lot of times just a big plate will give it enough radiating area to keep the temps down.
     
    1 person likes this.
  15. mjv

    mjv Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2009
    52
    2
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Kansas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I guess one could also think about cooling like we do for home built computers. Water-cooling anyone? It would be quieter than fans, but I have no idea how big the piping would have to be. CPU fans have some good designs for cooling the high temperatures the chips generate.
     
    1 person likes this.
  16. fjpod

    fjpod Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    419
    72
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Where would you mount the radiator?
     
    1 person likes this.
  17. dlbowman01

    dlbowman01 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    11
    11
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Got a P3120 DTC today when I started the car, then threw both switches for both converters at the same time. See my "first impressions" note under the thread Enginer PHEV Test Pilots: Mpg reports and important data.

    Any information on this code (and its removal) would be appreciated.
     
    1 person likes this.
  18. kiettyyyy

    kiettyyyy Plug-In Supply Engineer

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    205
    167
    0
    Location:
    West Covina, CA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Btw everyone, yesterday was the start of a fresh tank with a brand new DC/DC converter replacement. Before, I was averaging about 68 MPG with a DC/DC that kept turning off after about a few miles.

    I'm now averaging 99.9++ MPG for the past 20 miles. I'll post more data as I make it this week :)

    Also, I've ordered my second DC/DC converter from Jack, it should be coming in about a week. I'll post photos of the installation when it comes around.

    So far, thumbs up for Enginer :)
     
    1 person likes this.
  19. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2006
    1,499
    99
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Seems like you want two converters like this guy: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-p...-mpg-reports-important-data-3.html#post953638

    Is this something Jack recommends?
     
    1 person likes this.
  20. dlbowman01

    dlbowman01 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    11
    11
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Jack offered the option to me and I thought it made sense. That's why I went for it. The converters heat up fast when used for EV driving. With two, I have the option of switching to minimize heat buildup.
     
    1 person likes this.