Like most of us PIPPOS (plug in prius preorderers) I have been planning this install for a while. I am glad it was so simple and came in under budget for only $15.00. What you see is my dedicated circuit with plug cover. Charging transformer attached to wall with velcro command strips so can be removed if needed. Next to that (closest to car plug) is a $3.50 plastic garden hose hanger I picked up at Lowes. I am perfectly pleased with how quick and easy this install was and how perfectly it works for the car. If anyone in the forum is pondering a budget minded install, I would definitely recommend this route. Charge on!!
Nice neat setup, but doesn't page 94 of owner's manual say: "Do not charge if the charging cable is coiled or bundled." I uncoil mine all the way when I charge.
I just plugged a 12' 12 Gauge extension cord into the socket used by my garage door opener, leaving the socket end conveniently located. I just plug the charging cord into that, nothing else on the circuit, everything is working perfectly; charges from empty to full in about 2:10.
very nice, thank you. i wish my car was parked on the right side of the garage! is you charger upside down?
LOL, i had to turn my computer upside down to see it correctly, then all the information fell out. what a mess!
Good tips. I just finished installing a dedicated line on my home's exterior. What a bear! But I got it done, now I'll try something like what you've got to make it a bit prettier.
This charging thing created a bunch of Huey over nothing. The charger draws the same amount of juice as my Hair dryer and when it's inconveniant to park in front of my garage I have used the outlet in my Greenhouse which is powered by a 100 ft extension cord. Please do let me know if I overlooked something.
Okay, YES the picture came in upside down. I blame the techie big wigs. I am not too worried about the coiled up issue. Its just as it was out of the back of the car. I just hung it up. There are no kinks or bends and no stress on the wire at all. Glad you guys like it. I have a tight space and wanted it clean and simple!
Thanks for the idea of using velcro- since the charger unit has only one hole to hang on a hook as suggested in the manual, it tends to hang crooked. Yours looks nice and neat. I used a rubber-covered hook made for hanging bikes to hold the cord and charging handle. I have problems posting pics here as well. And my brother, who is usually pretty good with all the tech stuff, sent me a picture the other day of his grandaugther crawling on the ceiling.
Stress on the wire isn't the concern - its that (theoretically) it can overheat more easily, and if it's to the point where the insulation melts, you have wires touching. Not likely, but I'd check to make sure it's not getting warm while charging.
A hair dryer doesn't run for three hours continuously. I agree that there are some opportunists here, because a Prius Plug-in can operate perfectly off of a standard 20A 120V or 240V circuit (even a 15A circuit will work), same as a refrigerator or electric dryer (which do operate for hours at a time). It's certainly something any licensed electrician can easily do. However, you should be careful using a 100 foot extension cord. It should be a 12 Gauge cord, and the circuit should be ground fault protected, and it should be either a dedicated circuit or nothing else should be in use on the circuit at the time. I'm not telling you anything special here; these same rules apply for using a power saw in a detached garage or other outdoor location.
I guess you must have a laptop. For me it was much more difficult to see the picture correctly since I use a 25 inch LCD. I managed to flip it 180 degrees and pulled something in my back in the process, the pain was so sharp that I dropped the monitor on the desk which broke in two pieces Great picture though!
