Using car as generator for house power

Fantastic! This is very helpful and my family also thanks you.

 

I bought my 1K pure sine wave inverter for $260 (Xantrex Prowatt SW 1000 from Northermarine on eBay).

 

Try googling "Prius as Generator". There are higher power options available, too.

 

I have used 2, 3 and 4kw inverters on the Prius hybrid battery [see converdant.biz/plug-out]. The 12v 1kw solution maxes out at about 1k. Still 1kw is usually good for the fridge, TV, lights, computers, network and phones. PSW [pure sine wave] is best for appliance longevity and efficiency.

 

This is all pretty fascinating to me. I think I've learned a lot here. If I'm understanding everything correctly, in a pinch I can use a 1500w inverter, connect it to the 12v battery and power items in my house off of it. But if I need more wattage, I will need a larger inverter that would connect directly to the hybrid battery.

I don't think I'd have a problem connecting the inverter to the 12v battery, but the HB inverter connection looks a bit more involved. Does anyone make a kit and/or do the work in SoCal? This would definitely step up my disaster prep game.

 

You got it all right ... you may want to go for a pure syn inverter to minimize loss on the 110V side but pretty much it.

Just like to point out that some appliances may have some gotchas because of the inrush current (mostly stuff with big motors like fridge or A/C pumps). I had some issues with that but further information provided here.

 

Did you find a work around to this? Much less useful if I can't hookup a refer or window AC unit.

 

Buy a generator with enough power to handle A/C motor starting.

 

Thanks for the useless comment. Plenty of these already in this thread. I already have a 3kw briggs and stratton. I'm looking for a more efficient and quieter way to do this, which is what this thread is about.

 

The Prius isnt it. But you go right ahead and give it a try. Good luck!

 

I'd stick with a 1000 watt inverter, tops. The DC-DC converter in the Prius can only handle that draw, anything above that must be temporarily supplied by the 12 volt battery. Inverters usually can supply a surge of 50% to 100% above their rating so a 1000 watt inverter will already be able to push things above the limit. Going with a 1500 watt inverter could go way over the top.

 

About the smallest A/C you are going to find is a 5000 BTU unit, and 1500 watts surge is unlikely to start even one of the newest most efficient models. Remember the hotter it is outside the harder it is to get the compressor moving. You might get it running with 2000 watts, but to get to that level you need to tap into the traction battery, either with the Converdant solution or the APC solution. Then of course you can go much higher.

 

Look up ConVerdant. They can find installers in So Cal.

 

Your quick dismissal of other solutions on the Using PIP As A Generator thread suddenly has become clear. I repost this here as a warning that Mr. Bryan has a bias that the rest of us don't.

A quick Google search reveals that Converdant is owned by.... Randy Bryan.

 

New info for anyone looking to tap their traction battery - additional brands/models of UPS, and an inverter, that are compatible with the Prius traction battery. I added the info to the end of the thread linked in my signature.

 

Loving my Prius today - massive ice storm, tons of trees and limbs down, lost power at 2:21 am and switched over from my big generator to my Prius around 6. Neighbors have stories of being out for 2 weeks after an ice storm and I would bet it will be days before we get it back this time. Have everything running - lights, TVs, DVRs, furnace and wood stove fan. Go Prius Power!

 

It's true when they say drugs ruin lives.

What they don't say is that it isn't necessarily the drug users life!

 

although, it was for phillip seymore hoffman.

 

Ya'll on the wrong thread?