CAN HV BE CHARGED WITH A CAR CHARGER?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Dxta, Sep 1, 2017.

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  1. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    everyone. I really appreciate this PC. Its being a source of vital information for me.
    I have applied most if not all of the information provided by experts in the field to other hybrid cars(Camry and HIHY), with perfect results.

    ## I know that its important to achieve deltas V and T; and to complete the necessary charge cycles,while reconditioning NIMH modules.

    Let's assume I don't have a smart hybrid charger (imax, RC, etc), is it use a standard 12V, 10Ah charger to charge them?

    Battery/charger specifications:

    1 Prius/Camry
    Capacity 6500mah
    Voltage 7.2volts

    2. HIHY
    Capacity 6500
    Voltage 9.6volts

    3 Battery charger specifications
    Input voltage 220volt
    Output voltage 6-12volts
    Current output 10Ah
    A fan directed at the butteries.

    How should the batteries be arranged while discharging/recharging?

    ###For the Prius (7.2V/6500Ah), how many modules should be arranged in parallel while equalizing, taking in to cognizance that the battery outputs 12V, and 10Ah? Would the charger damage the modules?

    @MTL_hihy. What would you do, or would you recondition a pack with the limited equipment listed above, if you were in a remote area in a developing country like Nigeria?
    Your response on how you'd do this would really help.
    Getting those chargers over here isn't that easy.

    PS: I know this would be time consuming, but that's what technicians over here face.

    Thanks everyone for your contributions.
     
    #1 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Wow. I sympathize with your lack of available tools. I used to live in Honduras and also spent some time in Togo. You have to make do with what you have. But I'd be very reluctant to try what you're attempting.

    Also, you said the current output of the charger is 10Ah. That is not a measure of current; it's just saying it can provide 10 A for one hour, or one amp for 10 hours. If it's actually an output of 10 amps, that will overheat and kill the battery. The Prolong grid charger puts out about 1/3 of an amp, if I remember right and that's for the whole traction battery.
     
    #2 jerrymildred, Sep 1, 2017
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  3. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    NO !!!

    And the fact that you have to ask the question indicates that YOU should not be messing with the electronics on a hybrid.
    No offense intended; just a fact.

    A hybrid has TWO batteries: A 12 V one similar to most other cars. That is where the "standard" 12 V chargers are used.
    The OTHER battery is High Voltage and a standard 12 V charger is of NO USE there; dangerous in fact if you try to mix the two.
     
    #3 Sam Spade, Sep 1, 2017
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  4. MTL_hihy

    MTL_hihy Active Member

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    I hear what your saying but given your tools you simply don't have the ability to do what you are trying to accomplish and this will more than likely be disastrous (possible explosions) for any modules done in this manner. At the very least you need to have a hobby charger which handles NiMH type batteries (not lead acid like your charger is meant for). There may be a few other ways to do it (ex building a transformer/rectifier and constant current circuit to give you 240V DC @0.3A from 220V AC) but unless you have serious electrical engineer skills I wouldn't try them. Key here is not to damage what you have in the hopes you can reuse as much as possible later in your rebuild.
     
    #4 MTL_hihy, Sep 1, 2017
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  5. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    I ubderst what you're saying.
    I'm not attempting to do that with the whole pack, if I'm to do such a task.
    Its the modules I'm talking about.

    Are you saying if one needs to recharge a pack, the transformer design you explained is applicable?
    Thanks for the reply
     
    #5 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
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  6. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    I do
    I do understand the hybrid car. But what I asked was, assuming the battery charger outputs 10A, and with a 12volt. Can I connect two modules in series, and charge them, being careful not to overcharged them. One would have to be monitoring the charging process for temperature rise, etc.
    When temperature starts rising, if I terminate the charging. Won't that work?
     
    #6 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  7. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    I know there are two batteries.
    I have removed such batteries from my friend's cars(HIHY, Camry, and priuses). I do undersr the safety ...attached to them.
    My concern is if one has got no NIMH chargers like you guys have over here, can't I regulate the charger output to say, 2A/module, and 10A for two modules? That would mean I'd have to monitor the charge with my DVM and all that. This is stressful I know.
    Thanks
     
    #7 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  8. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    OK, thanks though. Chargers like that, are very expensive.
     
    #8 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  9. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Please is it possible you spell out the design specifications for such a "transformer/rectifier" charger?
    I'd want to ha e that designed so I could use it pending when I get the cash to invest in a NIMH charger(I hear X4 is coo).

    Thanks @MTL_hihy
     
    #9 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  10. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    what ever way you decide to charge them DONT remove them from the pack, they can over heat and swell becoming useless
    BULGED BATTERY MODULES? NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE | PriusChat

    I used 7.6 volt battery charges like the ones used to charge batteries in remote control cars , they were cheap on e bay about $10 USD each its time consuming but I have had luck doing it that way
     
    #10 Beachbummm, Sep 1, 2017
  11. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Hehehe
    Hehehe! So you still remember that thread?
    Yeah, would clamp them using G clamps if need be.
     
    #11 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  12. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Can you do me a favour stating the type and specifications of your charger please?
    Would really appreciate that. Or a link.
     
    #12 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  13. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    Tyco R/C C1897 7.2V NiCd Battery Charger Cord | eBay I don't think this would work over there, its for 110 volt outlets .. I cut the end off and use clips to attach it to the battery modules one at a time .. let charge for about an hour then move to the next one.. as I said it takes a long time but it keeps my spare battery charged
     
    #13 Beachbummm, Sep 1, 2017
  14. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    It would work with a travel adapter that includes a voltage transformer. That's assuming the Tyco charger isn't too fussy about getting 60hz rather than 50hz.
     
    #14 jerrymildred, Sep 1, 2017
  15. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    I didn't think of that.. I guess it would work overseas...
     
    #15 Beachbummm, Sep 1, 2017
  16. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    That charger is for NICd. Can it easily detect the deltas on the modules its charging, without issues?

    Really appreciate tour inputs.
     
    #16 Dxta, Sep 1, 2017
  17. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    no its not automatic I just keep checking the voltage with a meter every hour and move to the next mod when its charged.. the automatic charges are a lot of money
     
    #17 Beachbummm, Sep 1, 2017
  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Did you check his location? There is no need to be so harsh with folks in locations with few of the first-world resources to which we are accustomed, who have little alternative to improvising.
     
    #18 fuzzy1, Sep 1, 2017
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  19. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Sometimes you can only work with what you have. This video on ingenuity will be the best 3 minutes you spend today:
     
    #19 fotomoto, Sep 1, 2017
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  20. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Improvising with electricity can get you DEAD.
     
    #20 Sam Spade, Sep 1, 2017
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