Portable Jump Start

[praeter]

Does anyone know if a portable jump starter/charger such as the zipstart xl or the Lectrolite 3 in 1 are suitable for use with the Prius? The zipstart in particular seems a good idea.

Both are available at Maplin -

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=224828

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=49038

[timberwolf]

First of all, when I was searching for information about the Prius and 12V jump starts, I came across some very scary messages that talk about $4000-$6000 repair bills if you ever get the jumper cables connected the wrong way around!!

The Prius aux power socket is apparently not connected to the 12V Battery when the power is off, so the ZipstartXL would be of no use.

I thought about one of those portable jump starters, but something in me was too chicken to buy and then attach if the need arised a cheap charger to a car costing GBP 21,000 - I know I am being paranoid.

Not a recommendation as such because I haven't tried it yet - but I came across one that I did like the sound of and that was the CTEK XS 3600 Battery charger/maintainer. If the advertising is to be believed it has a very low ripple on the 12V D/C, so would be unlikely to upset the Prius computer/ECUs (do not know if that could be a problem?). It has two charging rates 0.8 and 4A, the maximum charging rate supposedly recommended for the 12V Battery is 4A (but I haven't checked if my battery has that warning sticker on it to know whether that is true or not).

BUT the CTEK XS 3600 does need a good 240V mains supply, so not suitable for helping you out if you became stranded away from home, but I figured keep the 12V battery well maintained (i.e. charged) and you wouldn't be let down in the middle of no where.

[Trafficman]

I have used a powerpack 17 amp/h to jumpstart my Prius via the jumpstart points under the bonnet/hood...... you need to take time and read the instructions but no problem. I then drve the car for 20 mins to charge the aux Battery with no problems. (I left the hedalights on for 2 days). :(

[Midi Magic]

Hi

I am just about to pick up my Prius and this Battery problem does worry me. I was thinking that I could use a Solar Panel straight across the Battery to keep it charged.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=228624

Only £7.99 from Maplin at the moment.

[Ogo]

Wow guys. Prius's 12V Battery can be problematic for problematic drivers. But please do not panic. ;)

If you have to jump start your Prius, please do so like instructed in the manual. There are jumper points under the hood. Another alternative is directly on the 12 V Battery.

And best way to avoid any problems is to keep all the doors and lights closed when locking the car. Prius will also beep on you for most of the mistakes you make, like keeping the headlights on or not closing the doors or hatch properly, anyway. So listen and take care of the problem on which your Prius is loudly complaining.

Ogo

[Trafficman]

Ah yes Ogo fine words but I left my lights on when fleeing the car after getting it to high ground in a thunderstorm to avoid floods that trapped me away from the car for 4 days (Worcestershire 2007!). At that time I just wanted to get the car safe and avoid being struck by lightning or soaked (a beeping Prius was the last thing on my mind). However i can confirm that connecting a 12v supply to the charging points correctly worked as expected.

[ian rooke]

Does anyone know if a portable jump starter/charger such as the zipstart xl or the Lectrolite 3 in 1 are suitable for use with the Prius? The zipstart in particular seems a good idea.

Both are available at Maplin -

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=224828

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=49038

I have left boot open twice, drained Battery ,used power pack to start car no prob's (connected straight to battery)

[PhilA]

Does anyone know if a portable jump starter/charger such as the zipstart xl or the Lectrolite 3 in 1 are suitable for use with the Prius? The zipstart in particular seems a good idea.

Both are available at Maplin -

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=224828

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=49038

I have left boot open twice, drained Battery ,used power pack to start car no prob's (connected straight to battery)

Hi all

I had a thread last year about flattening the aux Battery

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/lof...php/t98172.html

Since then, I'm pleased to say I haven't needed to use the big jump-start Battery I bought from Maplin, but I've tested the system for jump starting, as spelled out above, and it works fine.

But here's an interesting thing:

I happened to be in conversation with someone who ought to know (sorry can't give details) and the original problem I detailed, aux battery going flat after 6 days in an airport carpark, is apparently common. Why airports? Because the overflights set off the alarm is the theory, and according to my source, regular alarm and flashers will easily flatten the aux battery in 6 days.

And another tip, which I pass on but with the sternest of warnings not to try unless you know what you're doing . A PP3 battery (yes, the tiny 9v one) has enough capacity to power up the electronic systems, and then the main power-pack takes over and it's possible to start up the car. That seems reasonable, but at the very least I'd advise having a diode rectifier in series to stop the 12v sub-system trying to charge up the tiny PP3, which would strike me as a quick way to generate a dangerously hot (if not explosive) PP3! The way it was described to me, you'd just connect to the under-bonnet tags as if for jump-starting: but I don't know enough about the circuitry to verify this (ie what's to stop the PP3 to try -unsuccessfully- charging the dead aux battery?). Any comments from those better informed?

[timberwolf]

And another tip, which I pass on but with the sternest of warnings not to try unless you know what you're doing . A PP3 battery (yes, the tiny 9v one) has enough capacity to power up the electronic systems, and then the main power-pack takes over and it's possible to start up the car. That seems reasonable, but at the very least I'd advise having a diode rectifier in series to stop the 12v sub-system trying to charge up the tiny PP3, which would strike me as a quick way to generate a dangerously hot (if not explosive) PP3! The way it was described to me, you'd just connect to the under-bonnet tags as if for jump-starting: but I don't know enough about the circuitry to verify this (ie what's to stop the PP3 to try -unsuccessfully- charging the dead aux battery?). Any comments from those better informed?

Sorry, I think someone was pulling your leg.

Try the following link, it gives a good idea of how much startup current is required and what sort of small batteries have been known to startup a Prius.

http://www.robintree.com/prius/startup.html

[PhilA]

Sorry, I think someone was pulling your leg.

Try the following link, it gives a good idea of how much startup current is required and what sort of small batteries have been known to startup a Prius.

http://www.robintree.com/prius/startup.html

I'd forgotten about the brake having to be on to power up - that's going to be the main source of the current drain, I'm guessing. I don't think they were winding me up, I suspect though it's a matter of knowing which tag is the one that powers the circuit boards (rather than the aux Battery charging system). It's not unreasonable to expect a PP3 to power the system electronics, but maybe the logic of startup defeats that workround.

[timberwolf]

Sorry, I think someone was pulling your leg.

Try the following link, it gives a good idea of how much startup current is required and what sort of small batteries have been known to startup a Prius.

http://www.robintree.com/prius/startup.html

I'd forgotten about the brake having to be on to power up - that's going to be the main source of the current drain, I'm guessing. I don't think they were winding me up, I suspect though it's a matter of knowing which tag is the one that powers the circuit boards (rather than the aux Battery charging system). It's not unreasonable to expect a PP3 to power the system electronics, but maybe the logic of startup defeats that workround.

A PP3 powers things like a small transistor radio or a smoke detector. How many ECUs are there in a Prius and how many of them do you need before the decision can be made to throw the three (3) relays?