Dead 12v battery

Yes always locking the car will help if you have that door problem history. Makes that long loud beep to tell you it isn't going to lock if something is wrong.

As to the LED's... almost every lamp in my car aside from the turn signals, front side markers, and low beams (HID) are led. Hasn't has any effect on radio reception on any band. My LED interior lamps are also custom cut panels, which are very bright and make it easy to see if left on. I really bought them for brightness, not for the lower draw on the battery, but they do have that benefit too.

Like Mendel, I've got a Ctek 3300, and can only say that anything I've read makes me think you can't go wrong with any of their products.

Roland

 

Thanks for backing me up .. I tend to remebmer stuff like that... this was 2010

My current 2012 has the same table but says 5 A max ... fo figure !!!


thanks

 

^ And maybe the same battery?
Maybe due to more testing?

FWIW, contrary to Toyota's instruction, I don't bother to remove the battery from the car when charging. I'd speculate that's the norm for most DIY charging.

 

Never have removed our 12 volt in both the Gen II and the Gen III Prius when charging. Works great using the jump post and the strut nut with the Battery Minder 12248 set at 4 AMPS on the AGM Setting. Desulfates too... I do agree that most of us here are NOT disconnecting the 12 volt when charging and or topping off. Just keep the doors closed, and the loads to an absolute minimum. (Normal Powered Down and locked up with key fob away from Prius)

Ron (dorunron)

 

yes, jump starting and driving might not get it all the way unto speed. the ctek will also condition it, possibly increasing lifespan.

 

Which is somewhat different than the maximum capacity of the charger being used.

IF.....you have a charger rated at 6 amps and you connect it to a battery and it ACTUALLY DRAWS 6 AMPS for more than a few seconds, then your battery is beyond dead and needs to be replaced no matter what happens next.

Typically the maximum charging rate on a reasonably discharged battery is about 2/3 of what the charger is rated at.
Thus my recommendation of a 6 amp charger maximum which should produce an actual charging rate of about 4......and even that won't last long if the battery is actually healthy.

I'm not just pulling this stuff out of my rear end. I've been in the electronics field for about 50 years now.
That doesn't make me immune from making a mistake now and then though.

 

Yes. To be absolutely sure that the battery gets 100% charged at least once.
The 12 V battery lasts longer if it is kept fully charged.......or nearly so.

 

$140 for a battery charger? Seems like a lot.

Anyway, do you routinely charge the battery? How often?

 

The CTEK 3300 around $60~70, and I thought that was high; there are cheaper, similar chargers.