Can't get power plug all the way in

I just checked on Consumer Reports and the ACDelco AGM batteries are poorly rated with short life. Regular ACDelco batteries are highly rated. Super Start AGM batteries are top-rated. However, I don't think AGM batteries have any performance or longevity advantage over regular batteries in general, and they often perform worse and last shorter. With a regular battery, you can also regularly top off the battery electrolyte, increasing the battery life.

 

I would not automatically assume your 12v battery is dead. If you are going to buy a maintainer do that first. Decent combination charger maintainers run about $35. An app is not really necessary when you have a good maintainer since its job is to safely keep the 12v charge level up 24x7.

This unit and other good maintainers provide a permanently connected cable option with a simple two wire connector where you don't necessarily have to open the hood to connect or disconnect. It still comes with alligator clamps for use in temporary situations.

 

costco has a 4.5amp battery tender for $50 online, i was able to find it for $45 in store.

i personally use a duracell 4amp battery charger.

 

I personally used this one when I left my Prime in the garage for a month.

1 amp battery maintainer - all you need.

Got it for $20 on Black Friday last year. Did a fantastic job. Going to pick up another one on the next Prime day sale for the Camry.

 

Are you talking about the traction battery plug or the 12v battery charger? Did you replace the 12v battery with a new one, or is it the one it had drained? And most importantly, how often and how long (not the distance but duration time) are you driving your PP? If you are not driving much and it still has the old once drained 12v battery, then you may need to charge it up more often. But it may need to be replaced sooner than later. On the other hand, if you have replaced it with a new 12v battery, and you are driving at least once a week for 1 hour or longer, then, you may be OK without charging the 12v for a long time. If you are talking about the traction battery charger (EVSE), then it doesn't matter how often you charge. Charge as often as possible for your convenience to maximize the EV mode use, but not charging the traction battery have no effect on the 12v battery draining.

 

You can install a Battery Monitor 2 (http://www.amazon.com/QUICKLYNKS-Battery-Monitor-Bluetooth-Device/dp/B01MT4583U/) on the 12v battery that will let you know when it needs to be charged. If the battery is brand new, and you are driving at least 1 hour once every week, then chances are that you will not need to charge the 12v battery with an external charger at all. Since you are driving less frequently, you may need to charge the 12v battery whenever the level drops below 12.0V. I usually charge it if the level reaches below 12.2v, but that does not happen often for me.


The monitor which can be checked on your phone using the BlueTooth connection looks like this. As you can see, my PP's 12v battery voltage never really drops below 12.2v. And when and if it does, the app lets me know it needs to be charged.

 

If you are not going to monitor the 12v battery, I think charging it once a week or once every other week should be sufficient, provided that there are no other issues causing excessive 12v battery drain. But there is no harm in charging the 12v battery more frequently, so just keep doing what you are doing is fine.

 

When I saw the link in your comment, I was amazed that an Amazon link showed up as just a link. But then I clicked it and got a page saying that the link could not be found.
PS. I'm starting to think about getting one of those, by the way.

 

Thanks for pointing out that bug. Previously, I was able to embed the amazon URL to the words and that would goes to correct page. Now, it seems that is no longer allowed. As soon as I embed the URL it adds an extra string to the URL which makes the page not available. I copied the URL (http://www.amazon.com/QUICKLYNKS-Battery-Monitor-Bluetooth-Device/dp/B01MT4583U/) instead, this method works without getting the error or making it invisible to readers using an AdBlock.

 

Just a note regarding the app that goes with the BM2. For some reason, there are two free versions on the Playstore. One (JMP Battmon II) has the ability to export the data to Excel, but only the data for the selected day. The other (just called BM2) has the ability to look at a graph of 1, 7, or 15 days. No idea why there are two apps that are otherwise the same.

Then I made the mistake of looking for others....
There's a paid app called BM3 that allows you to monitor up to four BM2 units from one app.
ANCEL has an app for their unit that looks the same as ours. I don't know if it's compatible or not.
ProCharger Battery Monitor - same look & feel
BM12V - yup, another one
Matson Monitor - same as the BM3 app above
Ultimate9 BM - different 'home page' but other pages look like ours
AEG Batteriemonitor - Will this list ever end??

I suspect that these apps have been customized to only work with the right brand of hardware, but it's still surprising to see so many apps with the same look & feel.

This is for Android, I have no idea what's on the Apple side.

Ed

 

Yep, I have both of the apps. I use both depending on my need. Excel import function was something I used, before, but every 2 min reading for 24 hours gets a bit too much data on a spreadsheet. So, I am happy with the new MB2 app showing 15 days span. I think the JMP Battmon II app is just a leftover old app. If you look at the version, you notice it is v2.4 and AFAIK it has not been updated in the last few years, whereas BM2 version has been updated to v3.4.2. I have not used the BM3 app (paid version) but it may be useful to be able to monitor up to 4 batteries on the same screen. I now have three cars with BMII installed. However, switching between car is not very difficult, so having only one car/display may be simpler and easier to read.

I just found this battery monitor in Amazon.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZDMLMGY/

No experience with it, but it says it uses Bluetooth 5.0 and the range is double the 4.0. Current BMII units are all BT4.0 and the range is not that great. I really have to be standing next to the car to pick up the signal. If I have to replace a unit, I am going to give a try with this one.

 

Yup! That works. (and I ordered one yesterday -- should arrive today)

And that works. And perhaps I ordered too soon. $10 more, but more range might be worth it.

Back to the ad blocker aspect -- I see you used http rather than https. I wonder if that's what made those links work as plain links and not java script. Here's a test:

test failed

 

If it is from Amazon, then just return the one you ordered first and order the new one. Yeah, BMII works fine and the free APP that comes with it is OK to use, but the BlueTooth range is something that can be improved. I have to be literally standing next to the car in order to connect to it. I would love to read the review on the new BT5.0 unit.

The trick I use is when I copy the URL link I copy the string starting from "www." Do not include "https://" (or "http://") in front of the URL "w w w.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZDMLMGY/" is the string I copied except I placed space in between "w" so that the script does not rewrite it on this comment when I upload.

When you copy the URL this way, it gets embedded into the comments with a proper hyperlink. But the scripts add the "https://" (or "http://"). One caveat is that if you used this workaround, and if you go back to your comment to edit it, you have to delete the "https://" (or "http://") part of the URL. If you don't then after you save the edited version of your comment, the URL is converted to an Amazon media link which is now blocked by almost all AdBlocker.

Here is an example of another Battery Monitor by Ancel that was mentioned by @EdPalmer42. The App is almost identical to BM2, but the app did not work with the BMII monitor hardware. I believe it is BlueTooth4.0.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WCW49YM/

 

I got a bunch of cigarette-lighter chargers with V and A displays for very cheap when I had my old car. I am not sure if they display the battery voltage in modern cars, as the cigarette lighter may not be directly connected to the battery, without a regulator circuit. Perhaps someone has the circuit diagram for Prius Prime.

 

I don't have a circuit diagram, but I have used a battery monitor (not a charger) that plugs into the 12v outlet. It shows the value very close to the actual voltage. But, I think it shows only when the car is READY, ON, or ACC. I don't remember seeing it lit when the car was off.

 

It certainly wouldn't work in the OFF mode. So, you're saying it shows the same voltage as on the battery terminals in the ACC, ON, and READY modes?

 

Yes, was close enough to the Battery Monitor that was directly connected to the terminal, IIRC. But since it did not work when OFF, it really did not serve the purpose of checking the resting voltage of the battery. As you know, if the car is READY, then the 12v battery is being charged at ~14.5v. Even if I remembered to put the car in ON or ACC mode to check the voltage, the mere fact I opened the door and put the car into ON or ACC mode draws a significant amount of load such that it was not accurately measuring the resting voltage.

 

Close enough to not worry about it. I'd need to have someone in the car to read it while I put my meter on the battery to be more precise.