new Enginer Kit

Yeah I connected the temp sensor even though the BMS manual says not to. I got the BMS16D Ver 3.0. The USB cord is about 6'. I added a 6' extension cable and the LCD display has faded. The light still works. The temp readout is in 5C increments. I read that Ver 3.1 came with 5 meter USB cable and the temp read out is now in 1C increments. I did another run today with grill blocking 50% top and 100% bottom. It really screwed up the outside temperature sensor. It started out at 57F and ended with 61F. The distance driven was just a bit over 23 miles and I barely hit 99.9mpg on the dash display. I did a couple of EV accelerations from dead stop to 42mph and still had 6 bars on the HV battery. This was never possible without the Enginer Kit. It was painfully slow but it got up there. I really need to do the coolant temperature hack. There where times when I had to move from parking lot to another parking lot and the coolant temp at 155F and the ICE started for about 10 seconds then shut off.

Edit: I changed my driving technique to stealth mode as much as possible. That's how I was able to achieve near 100+mpg. Since I installed my Enginer kit, I've filled up the tank and reset the Trip B. My current Trip B is 50 miles and 99.9MPG

 

I didn't mention it because it's in the picture. Incase you couldn't see the picture, it's 22mph. I don't think avg spd is all that important because I didn't just go and drive for nothing. I stopped at a bank, grocery store, and AM/PM. I just never turn the car off.

 

I got this system for $2290. It came with a 2 year warranty. If you drive 35 or more miles a day, you'll deplete the battery down to 0%. Depleting the battery down to 0% will still yield about 2000 charges. That's about 5 1/2 years of charging every day, give or take. The next available system is the PICC system retail at $12,500. Granted it is the best system out right now. The 4Kwh Enginer kit has been sold for $2000 when it's on sale (Black Friday week). For the price of one PICC system I can buy at least 5 Eginer kits. 5 Kits will last at least 25 years. It's possible to recover the cost of Enginer kit in it's life time but not possible with the PICC kit. PICC kit cost so much because it's the best system for Gen II and Gen III Prius. It allows cruising in EV only at up to 70MPH but it will spin the ICE without burning fuel. I doubt it'll accelerate in EV only up to that speed in a timely matter. It'll probably still need the ICE for acceleration. It has EV range of about 30-40miles. It replaces the OEM battery so regen is possible. No regen for the Enginer kit.
As for voiding factory warranty, I highly doubt it. There are only 3 wires that attach to the Prius's electrical system, ready signal (12V+), high voltage positive and high voltage negative. There is a ground wire but you can just ground it at any point. The rest of the system just sits on top of the spare tire. You'd attach more wires to the Prius's electrical system with a stereo than with an Enginer kit.

The 5KW inverter will not sustain 45MPH EV. The best I did was 43MPH then gradually down to 42 then 41. It will sustain 41mph for at least 2 miles and still have 6 bars on the battery. It's hard to know how long the Enginer kit will sustain 40+mph at a time. The kit will run out of juice between 15 and 20 miles in EV only. I think you'll probably avg at least 80mpg depending on how you drive and if there are traffic lights or stop signs.

 

One week with the Enginer kit. I've driven the car with the kit for 7 days and 240.9 miles. Of those 240.9, I've averaged just a bit over 99.9mpg as you can see my MID displays below. Now for the sad part. It was fun will it lasted. Today on my way home, my converter fried. I heard a buzzing sound from the kit in the back. After that, I heard a loud electrical pop. After that, burnt smell filled the cabin. I've already sent a warranty replacement notice with Enginer. I hope I can get my system up and running by next week.

 

Would anyone be interested in a write up on my Enginer install?
I know there are several Enginer installers frequent this forum and would probably prefer all the Enginer technical informations be kept in the Enginer user or installer forum. I totally understand that.

I used to be a car electronics installer for over 12 years. I've seen many detail instructions regarding car stereos, videos, alarms, navigations and other related electronics on the internet. I am greatful of those instructions, especially the12volt.com Keep in mind that having instructions doesn't mean that people will go and start doing their own installs. Most people would still prefer to take their electronics and have them professionally installed due to lack of experience, the necessary tools, or the fear of damaging their cars even though they have total access to the detailed and vehicle specific instructions.

I want to write this because it gives people an idea what's involved in an Enginer installation and why the installation costs 500 to 1500 dollars or more of their hard earned money. Who knows? Maybe after seeing what's involved in the installation people who think they can do their own installs would come to their senses and have it installed professionally.

 

School zone?? Wth are you talking about? This is real world driving. The speed limit around here is 45-50MPH and not a closed course test track where I drove none stop at 20mph. I wish I can drive on roads with <40mph. If you're getting only 50-56mpg with Enginer kit then there is something seriously wrong with your kit or driving technique. I'd be ashamed to announce that my PHEV Prius only increased 10mpg. I pulled my kit of the car today since the converter is bad and still manage to get 57mpg for 40 miles of driving including 10 miles of freeway. Is yours a Gen II or III? Did you look at the HSI to make sure you're not using ICE? The AVG speed don't mean squat. It also accounts for a lot 0 mph waiting in the traffic.

 

I changed my driving style to maximize EV/stealth mode. The Enginer kit worked well for me because my trips are at least 5 miles. Most of the time is 7 to 15 miles one way. I have since grill blocked with 50% top, 100% bottom. This helped a lot too. The outside temp here range from 40F to 65F. Since I pulled my kit out, my avg speed has gone up from 20mph to 23mph. I do admit that I drive a little faster after I pull the kit out. The best mileage I got after pulling out the kit was 63mpg for a 43 mile day otherwise is 57mpg. When I had my kit installed, I always try to stay at 42mph stealth. The Enginer kit was able to keep up at this speed for 2 miles at 6 bars. I ran out of uncongested road due to red light. I try to take routes with long stop lights in between and try to time the stop lights to green lights as much as possible. I drive using as least amount of braking as possible so a lot of coasting. My new converter is on the way. It's funny that the converter is Berkley CA. I think it's 3prongpower. I think the old converter fried because during the last 7 miles of its life was driven in EV/stealth mode. I accelerated from red light to 43mph numerous times (rush hour traffic) and it just couldn't handle it. Once I get the new converter, I'll drive in blend mode and will report back.