Reconditioning Experience with Hybrid Automotive's Prolong System

What are the newer Hybrid Automotive guidelines?

I am thinking of doing another a 2 (possibly 3) round reconditioning for my 2010 HiHy Ltd in the next couple of weeks and need to know this. Does it apply to equipment purchased early 2018 also?

 

The new guidelines for the '04 to '15 Prius call for the discharges to be at 134, 101 and 84 volts. No more going to the lowest setting for those of us with older Prolong systems.

Prolong® Battery Discharger User Guide

 

Thursday, 11:30 am - Still in the balancing phase. It was steady at 240v for a bit but now it's back to 239v. I forgot to put Torque Pro on it before I started so I don't know how out of balance it was. I expect it will be done sometime this afternoon.

 

I seem to remember my last "shortie" spent seemingly forever hovering at 240V, I waited and waited with no avail for that elusive 250V (which I'd seen during the last FullMonty) and eventually gave up after 40 hours! (…I think I could have saved around 30 hours). The next FullMonty is due around the end of June! I'll take note of the NewGuidelines - I hope that will be kosher for my 2014 vintage Prolong System! @jeff652???

 

I don't think there are "newer" Hybrid Automotive guidelines. I assume the "new" voltage levels of 134, 101 and 84 volts are simply caused by limitations of the cheaper consumer discharger.

The guideline for the former "Intelligent Discharger" is still available and shows the values of 134, 84 and 17 volts.
Prolong® Intelligent Discharger User Guide

Interesting: Voltage levels using the Professional Pro discharger are 134, 84 and 50V.

 

This car being older and not mine I'm really trying to play it safe. I don't want to take a chance on screwing it up by going down to 17v and having it reverse on me.

Today I've been keeping an eye on this balancing phase. As described in the product guide, I've watched this one go to a steady 240v, drop to 239v, back up to 240v, now it's down to 238v as it brings individual cells up to snuff. This battery appears to have needed some serious balancing.

 

Thanks for posting the data, srellim234. I'm surprised the HV battery was still in good shape, for the age and miles, before reconditioning.

 

I can't comment on the Pro version, but I just bought (and received) the consumer deluxe kit for my Gen2. I had some correspondence with George at Hybrid Automotive before purchasing. Regarding the change in discharge voltage and number of charge cycles WITH balancing, here is what he wrote:

"We changed the discharge termination levels, we noticed that it is really not needed for the battery to be drained to that low of a level. And yes, it's also not needed for you to balance the battery every time, actually, in our general reconditioning overview user guide, Battery Reconditioning Overview, we only instruct to do it at the first charge and the last charge."

I think some PC members are concerned about straining the battery. If discharging down to 17V is not needed, maybe it's a good thing the newer dischargers don't allow it.

 

I'm not surprised. When you look at the number of older Prii around, consider this: People taking the time to take care of the batteries like this are a small minority of those Prius drivers. Most of those owners are taking their cars to dealers or mechanics who don't have the right equipment or the interest to offer a battery maintenance service.. That means the vast majority of the older Prii you see are still out there on original batteries that haven't been serviced. I even came across a Generation 1 Prius owner on I-70 last September who was still on his original battery and had enough confidence in his car to drive it every other month from Denver to Kansas City and back. These cars are impressive.

 

Thanks for sharing your conversation with George. That alleviates quite a bit of worry and time.

 

@srellim234, I think our Prii must be from the same mould! (…same age, same mileage, same trim) and mine will be undergoing TheFullMonty at the end of June. This will be #11 (FullMonty), and #10 (Shorty) was back in March 2019, according to my calculations. As I've mentioned elsewhere, my overall MPG is ~43 (see fuelly), and the SoC is spending most of its time in the 65%-70% region with occasional peaks of 80-85%. (Just sayin') Perhaps I should ask the Stealership to do a full analysis of the TractionBattery at the next service.

 

They're similar but your battery is definitely stronger than mine. Your charge numbers are higher. My 2008 has spent a lot of time in the desert sitting or running in 105*F or higher temperatures. That really takes a toll on them. Mine is due for the full maintenance again in June, too. We're leaving for the East Coast at the end of June so I want it in as good of shape as I can get it.

 

Thursday, 3:30 pm - Just unplugged it from the charger reading 240v. Next discharge session will be sometime Saturday when I get home.

 

Anyone in northern Ohio willing to rent their prolong for some extra $$? Would love to use it on my 2010.

 

You would still have to buy and install the cable.

 

I’m aware and OK with buying the cable/harness.

 

Ok just making sure. Renting the charger and discharger is easy. Taking out the cable, not so easy.

 

Saturday 8:15 am - I'm back from Phoenix and the car is on the 2nd discharge cycle. Just passing 220v on its way down to 101.

 

Missed the 101v mark and took it off the discharger at 99v as I had multiple visitors and things going on. Been charging for a few hours and is up to 221v right now. We'll see how quickly it gets to 240v this time. Looks like the third discharge will take place tomorrow morning and the car will be done with the final charge session Monday night or Tuesday morning.

 

Just used the Dr. Prius app where it completes a “life expectancy” test. Telling me I have 58% life left, battery is in “fair condition.” 40% is poor and lower than that it should be replaced.

Anyone have any experience conditioning their battery with prolong and then testing it again using Dr. Prius?