using the Prius as a generator: is it bad for the battery or engine?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by hockeymonkey33, Mar 12, 2018.

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  1. hockeymonkey33

    hockeymonkey33 New Member

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    I started living in my 2013 Prius (Toyota certified used vehicle) about a month ago and to make things more comfortable, installed a 1000w Motomaster (Canadian Tire house brand) pure sine wave inverter to the 12V battery in the back to run things like a small 200W heater, laptop, LED light rope and to recharge iPad, smartphone, etc.
    When I go to sleep or am working on my laptop, I leave the car in Ready mode and turn on the inverter so that the engine starts when the battery gets low as indicated on the dash display. I have a thermostat controller attached to the heater so it kicks in anytime the interior temperature falls below 15 degrees Celsius and stops at 16 degrees Celsius (adjustable). I usually unplug my laptop after the battery is about 80 percent full and turn off the inverter and might even turn off the vehicle depending on whether I need the heater or if I need to recharge something else. It does not seem to use too much gas with my usage pattern but I was wondering how much extra wear and tear I am putting on the batteries and the engine, ie. would I be due for an oil change sooner than would be indicated by number of kilometres driven?
    I have gotten quite used to living in it but I am constantly thinking about these issues and could not find anything on the web to answer them. Your consultation on this matter is appreciated.
     
    #1 hockeymonkey33, Mar 12, 2018
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  2. hockeymonkey33

    hockeymonkey33 New Member

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    I forgot to add that I cut out Reflectix for all the windows including windshield and lay down a large piece covered by a black plastic garbage bag on the rear dome window which seems to keep the interior warmer.
     
    #2 hockeymonkey33, Mar 12, 2018
  3. taxibuddy

    taxibuddy Member

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    Yes, that's harder duty for both the battery and the engine but it's not the end of the world. Yes, you'll probably want to change the oil more often, but you can afford it with all the money you're saving on rent. Your duty cycle is more like a taxi and most of those manage to survive.
     
    #3 taxibuddy, Mar 12, 2018
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  4. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Welcome to Prius Chat.

    You should be OK with the power draw running one high wattage item at a time.
     
    #4 padroo, Mar 12, 2018
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I would check dipstick every week, once it's dark like it was driven 5ooo miles, change.

    Long as you don't exceed 120 amp draw (which you're not), you'll be okay
     
    #5 Grit, Mar 13, 2018
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  6. Danny3xd

    Danny3xd Active Member

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    Howdy and welcome, HM.

    I do that for hrs most days and don't think it hurts a thing.

    Covering big time will help conserve heat. Especially the windows. Heat rises and windows conduct cold.
     
    #6 Danny3xd, Mar 13, 2018
  7. hockeymonkey33

    hockeymonkey33 New Member

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    @taxibuddy you're right that I'm saving some dough!
    @padroo and @Danny3xd, roger that! I found that taking the battery out of the laptop I can actually hear the inverter start when I for example load a new web page and then go silent. Scrolling with the scroll bar seems to require a bit more power as well (can play the inverter like an instrument almost with it).
    @grid will do on the oil checks. 80 watts/19 volts for a laptop is little over 4 amp? I think it's watts = volts x amp but not sure about my math. Thanks guys!
     
    #7 hockeymonkey33, Mar 13, 2018
  8. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    It's a little more complicated than that, as you're going from DC to AC to DC -- so you need to account for loss in the conversion equipment. But the laptop is the least of your concerns... the heater is the big load.
     
    #8 tvpierce, Mar 14, 2018
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  9. Danny3xd

    Danny3xd Active Member

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    Just a thunk.

    Hockey, I was kinda musing about your post and was thinking in such a small space, your big enemy is the loss of heat. Your own body could almost produce enough heat to keep you survivable but not comfortable due to insolating the space.

    So was thinking along the lines of an igloo or pop-tent. Using slats to create a D-shape with heavy blankets or sleeping bags zipped together.

    You would lose minimal space for much better heat loss reduction. It would also add some privacy.

    ==============================================================================

    When I was a teenager, I lived in an abandoned car. Sorta like Huck Finn. Man, it was miss-a-bo! (I'm Gumby, damit!)

    So spent a lot of time considering these sort of things. LoL.


    One homeless guy talking to another; "Last winter, I slept in a box all......"

    Other homeless guy; "You had a box!?"

    ==============================================================================

    But best of luck! And please check in when ya can....
     
    #9 Danny3xd, Mar 14, 2018
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  10. Danny3xd

    Danny3xd Active Member

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    #10 Danny3xd, Mar 14, 2018
  11. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Where do you sleep?

    From the cars point of view it is just topping up the battery. The lightest duty it could ever have.


    How do you put the reflectix up and down?
     
    #11 kenmce, Mar 15, 2018
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