I'm using a $25 lawnmower battery for Prius 12v

Nope.

 

What's the cranking amps rating on the battery and did you have to adapt to non JIS battery terminals?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Is it properly connected to the vent tube to dump fumes overboard, so occupants don't breathe toxic fumes when something goes really haywire?

I haven't yet heard of any Prius occupants dying from battery-related hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The well publicized case of mother and daughter who died of that were in a fancier car model with inside-cabin battery. Most similar poisoning deaths are in lesser publicized industrial incidents, where the demographics of the deceased don't commonly make for tear-jerking headlines.

Spillage during overturns is another issue. Not fun inside the passenger cabin.

 

I could make the car run off D cell ever-ready's or 6 volt lantern batteries if I wanted to jerry rig it.

It's working for you only because you haven't run into a situation where it doesn't, yet. Then you'll be stuck and wondering if it was the right thing to do while paying $175 for a tow truck....

to each, their own....

 

ive done the same with the $19.99 Walmart special, if you want to be safe get an enclosed plastic battery box and drill a hole for the vent.

you should expect about 3 years life in that configuration, (if your lucky) they are cheap enough to replace every few years.

funny part is those batteries now come in AGM as well which should work much better

 

How many amp-hours do those lawnmower batteries have?

Cause for that prize here it looks like you could only get get a small one with something like 10Ah or less. That sound small enough that if the Prius would sit for a week or even less than that battery would be empty and it then couldn't start. And that's only if it would be fully charged to begging with. And it probably won't if your driving short trips.

 

that’s the price you pay for being cheap, when my cars are gonna sit I remove the positive cable.

Anyway
I use a lawnmower battery in my Insight, they vary in capacity but for $19.99, I’m willing to replace it every 2-3 years. Cheaper in the long run,
Penny wise and also pound wise

 

So it was about 10Ah? Insight probably uses less current from the battery when sitting as it doesn't have SKS?

It being cheaper in the long run really depends on if the capacity is enough for your use. If the lead acid (AGM or not) battery is stored with less than 50% charge it's going to age fast. And if it's allowed to get completely empty it will be bad a lot faster. To get that 3 years out of cheap battery it needs to be kept mostly full.

 

i think you're good, if you cannot afford a proper replacement

 

Haha these posts always crack me up because 99% of people dont understand batteries or how things work.

I just did the same and replaced my battery with a $50 lawn and garden batt. Its not as big as the factory one so prob a little less AH but the prius doesnt need much. The toyota one was only 20AH. It just needs to turn on the computers so the Dc/DC charger starts up.

I didnt vent it to the outside but normal condidtions it should not be venting anyways and if it does off gas ill be driving and almost always have the fresh air vent on( the battery is right next to the exit vent)


I wanted to get a $200 lithium 50ah but at that price point they dont have cold weather protections and the car would kill it by charging it in below freezing temps.

 

Feel free to join that club..because you're missing a few things.

 

I've used one of these batteries in my Honda, as a starting battery, as it was exactly the same dimensions. After four years of use, I removed the battery and had it tested, as surely it had to be near death, due to the price. Battery measured 230ca. A new one off the shelf measured 310ca.

 

I like your other post about reprogramming a used Key fob. I started looking at your other posts and found this one. Sweet! I've been using Walmart lawnmower batteries in one of my Priuses for years. Made a crude little bracket to make it work and voila. Lasted 4+ years so far.

 

I believe the lawn mower battery idea!
U can get 2 amp levels.and its next to the outside vent.yep.
Harley batteries in the 60s 70s /HD 12/
100.00 ?used to be.
Exact size as a lawn mower/but flat post on top. Hey
I got 230 volts on my self reconditioning project.
Maybe I should get it down to 201?yesterday no TRIANGLE/ now /its there .

 

Figured Id throw my update on here. Well my $60 lawn and garden battery seems to have only lasted 1 year. I have to jump start it now even after I use a charger on it over night. I did kill the battery a few times by leaving the light on so that might have done it. Ill throw another update on here for what battery i get.

 

So, for $60 you got a lawnmower battery that lasted a year.

For $200 you could have model-specific battery that lasts 3-4 years. Is the small saving worth it?

 

that was definitely the problem. you'll kill any prius battery with multiple discharges

 

For not much more $$ than that lawnmower battery cost, you can get a similar physical size U1 AGM utility battery that's less likely to leak acidic gunk, less likely to vent combustible H2 gas into the car interior, less likely to spill sulfuric acid into the interior in case of accident, and likely to last longer. My U1 AGM is nearing 8 years in service.

 

Since the DC/DC charging system of the Prius is specific to the factory installed AGM 12v battery and the charging algorithm is specifically engineered for AGM it is unlikely that a non-AGM battery will enjoy a long happy life. That doesn't mean a flooded lead/acid battery is doomed in the short term, but it would likely last much longer with a charging algorithm appropriate for the battery chemistry.

Also, don't obsess over Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) because the Prius 12v battery doesn't Cold Crank anything. A moderate 300~450CCA is fine.