Reconditioning Experience with Hybrid Automotive's Prolong System

Hi. So do you really recommend to invest in a prolong system. I hear of this today so at first I though it was a scam. Thanks

 

It's still bloody cold, however (…drum roll, sound the trumpets!)
Chrg4: 40½ hours 250V 354mA (…yippee!) now leave for 2 hrs to recover!

OK, so the trick is loooonnnnnngggggg soaks and tons of patience! (…and having a garage where the temp is ~20F helps! )

…and that's that for another six-months!

Happy New Year! Everybody!

 

Scam? Sham!!! (…just take a look at my results! (and don't forget to check my "so-called" benefits - rather than bore the pants of all our regular readers, I'll let you data-mine for yourself (search is your friend!) use Prolong and Hybrid Automotive Systems as search terms). @jeff652 is the guru (and the boss-fellah of Hybrid Automotive Systems and he is sure to answer any questions you might have!)
Here's a precis of the latest:

Date 20171226: Prius Hybrid Traction Battery long recondition 128,500 miles
Chrg1: 31 hours 248V 356mA
Dschrg to 134 V - 6:45 hours
Chrg2: 32 hours 247V 356mA
Dschrg to 84 V - 6:45 hours ("dead-cat-bounce" had taken the V back up to 190V when I checked!)
Chrg3: 33½ hours 249V 356mA
Dschrg to 17V ~ 7 hours (I started checking around 6:45, and the meter was at 60V, and dropped at 10V every 6 mins or so, and I was able to hit the 17V on the nail)
Chrg4: 40½ hours 250V 354mA (…yippee!) now leave for 2 hrs to recover!

OK, so it took about 158 hours but what else is there to do in the last week of the year?

…and BTW Welcome to PriusChat! (…but take care, it can be addictive! )

 

I do. It remains to be seen, however, whether or not it pays for itself in the long run. That is something we will never be able to actually quantify because we never will know at what point in time our batteries would have failed without it.

The justification for battery conditioning can be seen in the Ni- MH technical bulletin put out by Duracell batteries.

Wayback Machine

In particular, page 10 on memory effect shows the value of balancing any battery pack that contains multiple cells.

In my case I was seeing the MFD battery levels drop from high blue to low purple first thing in the morning. It was also fluctuating rapidly during the course of the day. I decided to buy the Prolong system before the battery threw a code and we wound up stranded on a cross country trip. Balancing restored some capacity and the levels have stabilized. I've only had the system for 6 months so I can't speak to the long term value but it appears to be well worth it so far.

 

It is highly recommended here, especially with the intelligent discharger. Do not be too impatient though. The battery needs to cool down before driving after the final charge.
@jerrymildred knew that but got impatient and needed to replace the battery.

 

I recommend it and have used it successfully .

I also share the device with another member (and have both the charger and Intelligent Discharger out on loan for another member to rebuild his pack), which helps with costs management as well as gives use to a device that just “sits around” otherwise .

This is no scam. As @WilDavis said, search is your friend.

 

If you wish to share like Ray does, it is advisable for each member to buy their own discharge capable harness and just share the equipment.

 

Not only advisable, required.

 

Also, the Gen2 and Gen3 share the same charger and Discharger, but the harness is different.

So it offers good flexibility .

 

I am not sure where the Prius c fits in though. Same or different charger? @jeff652 would know. Not sure about anybody else.

 

Different capacity, so different Charger.

 

You know the .356 never changes right? It’s clamped at that. Don’t have to keep saying it there all set at that current level.

 

I watched that like a hawk the first time.

 

Just that ?

I watched EVERYTHING like a hawk the first time .

When I saw the charge bouncing around below 203 volts let’s just say I was a bit concerned .

But it all worked out.

 

You guys had to watch with the old light bulb discharger. The newer intelligent one is much more hands off, I am told.

 

I have the bulbless Intelligent Discharger and still didn’t sleep well the first time using it.

But now I’m familiar with it.

 

OK, my bad! (…ooops! ) I'm glad you pointed that out! (…I'd have felt so stoopid if it had gone up and down (…like the whore's drawers! ) …but it looks like all is performing nicely! (…nice job @jeff652 )

 

Just make sure you don’t knot your knickers and keep ‘em up.

 

I do wonder if it would be technically possible to do the same without prolong system, if I understand correctly there is no individual module charge/discharge, the system uses complete battery pack as a whole, same as the car does.

For discharge you could just put car in N and run the A/C or just normal ready mode, but obviously this could result in bricking the car with only one option - grid charge. But if the car would have enough juice to start the engine it would be fine. So in what way is Prolong system different and why didn't Toyota think of something similar through their Techstream or other diagnostic software, that they could run in their service shop?