ENGINE RUNNING indicator - WE NEED THIS!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Eisenson, Jul 22, 2004.

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  1. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    Coastal will eventually release its neat gadget, already shown on David's site, which indicates not only engine run but braking/regeneration.

    Till then, I want to install a simple ENGINE RUNNING indicator. I was thinking of a resistor-isolated not-too-bright LED mounted in a convenient eye-level spot, powered from (for instance) the fuel pump line.

    Any suggestions? Is there a thread on this somewhere that I missed?
     
    #1 Eisenson, Jul 22, 2004
  2. pkjohna

    pkjohna Member

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    Maybe I'm missing something but what's the point? Can't you already see that info on the Energy screen on the MFD?
     
    #2 pkjohna, Jul 22, 2004
  3. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    The ICE "runs off" sometimes; maybe he's referring to the equivalent of what someone called an animated engine icon. The idea is to know when the engine's turning even if it's not delivering power.How useful this would be is another question.
     
    #3 jamarimutt, Jul 22, 2004
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    the MFD Energy display is not always an accurate representation of what's really happening. For instance, the ICE is always running at any speed above 41mph...but if your gliding or in "hyperstealth" it won't be displayed.
     
    #4 efusco, Jul 22, 2004
  5. Brian

    Brian Member

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    If your in stealth on the way down a hill, which I live at the top of a hill so this happens to me everyday, then you may feel the engine start up with a small jerk. Even then, I am still in stealth and 99.9 mpg's.
     
    #5 Brian, Jul 22, 2004
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    well a variation to what he is looking for like how about a gauge that measures the amount of regen being recovered. it would be similiar to the current gas mileage chart with its real time gauge. i dont see why toyota didnt put a charge meter also. that would be nice to see if there was a way to maximize regen charge and minimize friction braking somehow.
     
    #6 DaveinOlyWA, Jul 24, 2004
  7. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    I, too, would like to see how much charge is going to the battery, be it from excess engine power, or from regen.
     
    #7 daniel, Jul 24, 2004
  8. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    In advance of tomorrow's Prius Club meeting, Coastal Dave and Kelley surprised me with a prototype of their new gadget, and it's terrific! Except for a minute of underdash backtwisting, installation was simple and easy.

    The result was unexpected and extremely tutorial... the engine shuts off at the oddest times, and I'm losing far too much energy to heat (friction braking).

    That indicator will change my driving style, increase my car's efficiency, and save a ton of fuel.

    Thanks, David!
     
    #8 Eisenson, Jul 24, 2004
  9. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    does it give a real time measure of how much power is being regen??

    if so, i am very interested in one.
     
    #9 DaveinOlyWA, Jul 24, 2004
  10. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Oh you lucky guy....I'm so jealous. That's what I REALLY want....I hope they get the production model up for sale soon....for all the reasons you mentioned.
     
    #10 efusco, Jul 24, 2004
  11. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    It doesn't "measure" regeneration, just tells you whether you're regenerating energy or heating the brakes (totally wasted energy), or both.

    And, it tells you when the engine's running - which I absolutely guarantee will generate surprises. I took it out again this morning and once again the ECU gave me serious instruction on how to save fuel! Dave Watson - YOU DA MAN!!! I'm writing to Logan to tell him you deserve a bonus.

    I'll be making a geekmobile presentation at today's Prius Club meeting, and this little feature is rapidly moving to front and center.
     
    #11 Eisenson, Jul 25, 2004
  12. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    darn no way to hook an ammeter to measure regen and just add it to the consumption screen in a different color so we can compare it along with the car symbols that are already there.

    having that measurement would answer the "B mode" question once and for all.
     
    #12 DaveinOlyWA, Jul 25, 2004
  13. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    SURPRISE!!!

    According to the ecoastal widget which monitors voltage to the fuel pump, the engine stops running at highway speed (60-70mph) when you take your foot from the gas.

    "Running" means "consumes fuel". It may be spinning, but I'm not certain and the graphic of course doesn't say...
     
    #13 Eisenson, Jul 26, 2004
  14. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    What's actually involved in the installation? Dashboard disassembly? Tap into wires? How many? Remove any ECU plugs? Insert pin(s), as in the EV switch installation? Or what?

    And what's the display look like and where does it go? How does it fasten on?

    Thanks for anything you can tell us.
     
    #14 daniel, Jul 26, 2004
  15. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    It's a tiny (fob-size) black plastic box with five LEDs, four green and one red (photo at ec website). Cable drops into the dash, then down by driver's left foot.

    Remove the leftmost A/C panel (by now we all know these just clip out) and the left floor edge trim (even easier).

    Wiring is easy: ground plus three (I think) leads. Two go to wires by the driver's left foot, under the edge trim panel. One goes to a plug between the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, and even that isn't a big deal if you weigh 75# and contort for Cirque de Soleil. No pins this time -- Ecoastal provides neat little clips.

    THIS LOVELY GADGET IS A MUST-HAVE!!!
     
    #15 Eisenson, Jul 26, 2004
  16. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    ok well i knew that the Prius ICE shuts off if there is no need for it to run. that includes any speed on long downhill slopes for instance. just like the ICE will shut off when at a stop light for a certain amount of time, it will do the same thing when coasting. this is something i have experienced many times while driving the move hillier areas of WA (of which there are several!)

    to say that the ICE always runs at speed above X mph is not correct since there are times when at freeway speed where the engine shuts down when there is no need for it to run.
     
    #16 DaveinOlyWA, Jul 26, 2004
  17. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    The ICE must spin above 42 (?) mph. It can be shut off and still allowed to spin, as has been repeated often.
     
    #17 daniel, Jul 26, 2004
  18. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    I see by the indicator that it's not getting fuel at, say, 60mph with foot off the throttle.

    Is there something in the system (valve timing or whatever) that relieves compression to unload the system when it's spinning but not driving?
     
    #18 Eisenson, Jul 26, 2004
  19. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    some people says the ICE spins at 42 mph or greater. i dont believe that though. that would seem to put undue load on the car, and my car coasts way too easily for me to believe that its turning a motor.

    i still believe that the ICE shuts off completely just like it does when sitting at a traffic light.
     
    #19 DaveinOlyWA, Jul 27, 2004
  20. LeVautRien

    LeVautRien Member

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    Can it be disconnected from the transmission somehow when it's not in use and thus would spin without resistance? I can't say I know much at all about transmissions, so this is a tossup.
     
    #20 LeVautRien, Jul 27, 2004
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