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Total loss of power after 1 day?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by asha, Jul 29, 2014.

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  1. asha

    asha New Member

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    Thanks. I'm not driving today (obviously) and I'm just looking for something available at the Wal-Mart across the street from my office park that I can grab and take on the metro with me home. It may be overkill, but if I does the job without blowing the car up tonight... I'm okay with that. Are there any specific risks that would prevent me from the Schumacher jump starter?
     
    #21 asha, Jul 29, 2014
  2. asha

    asha New Member

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    #22 asha, Jul 29, 2014
  3. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    The big jump-starter is overkill, and may damage that tiny thing they call a battery by boosting too many amps through it.

    The battery maintainer is designed to be left on the battery for extended periods of time, but it would get you started if you had access to a power outlet. You may have to leave it connected for over half an hour or more, before you could start your car.

    The best thing would be a smaller booster pack (with battery clips) that you can keep in the car, and recharge it once in awhile. They often have useful attachments, like tire inflators, work-lights and power-inverters on them as well.
     
    #23 GregP507, Jul 29, 2014
    asha likes this.
  4. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    No!
    That light is only lit when it is charging!
     
    #24 retired4999, Jul 29, 2014
  5. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Make sure your rear hatch is closed tight, rear cargo light can be on even if you think it is shut. I turn that light off so this can not happen!
     
    #25 retired4999, Jul 29, 2014
  6. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

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    No, that light turns on when you open the charging door, but turns off once you plug a J1772 plug in. It's meant to give you light so you're not blindly plugging in at night.
     
    #26 PriusC_Commuter, Jul 29, 2014
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  7. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Yep! Sorry you are right of course! I forgot about the white led light. My bad! I was thinking about the yellow charging light!
    It will Not hurt if you leave the white led light on. Almost no drain on battery.
     
    #27 retired4999, Jul 29, 2014
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  8. asha

    asha New Member

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    Thanks again to everyone for the information.

    I ended up buying a smaller jump starter kit (15 amps, I think). It charged the battery and the car has been working normally since. One bonus is I didn't lose any of my presets or Bluetooth connections.

    I'm going to attribute this power loss to user error. Perhaps I left a done light on or something. If it happens again, then I'll take her to the dealer.
     
    #28 asha, Jul 31, 2014
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  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    If you can figure out what interior lights were left on, consider changing them to LED. Standard brightness or power, not extra brightness compared to the original lights, so the current is reduced by 80 to 90%.

    This won't cure the dead battery issue from leaving lights on, but it will give 5X to 10X more hours to discover and fix the problem before the battery actually dies. This should be enough time to survive the night without going dead.
     
    #29 fuzzy1, Jul 31, 2014
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  10. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I've done that, but I'd be surprised if the interior lights didn't time-out at some point.
    But at least now I can assume that they can stay on longer with less impact on the battery.
     
    #30 GregP507, Jul 31, 2014
  11. Jon Hagen

    Jon Hagen Active Member

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    The ones that will kill the battery are the map lights, using the manual switch activated by pushing on the map light lens, those will not time out. BTDT.
     
    #31 Jon Hagen, Jul 31, 2014
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  12. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Another good reason to replace the incandescent interior lights with LED's.
    Even if one or two were left on all night they probably wouldn't drain the 12v batt enough to cause trouble.
     
    #32 ny_rob, Aug 1, 2014
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