I'm a little late to the party, but thank you for such an excellent tutorial! Your instructions are clear and specific, and your photos and videos are top notch! Thank you!
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words, Joanie
@davidschwarz1196
4 жыл бұрын
I've installed several power inverters over the years on my semi truck and I think it's important to mention that the fuse you install on the battery should be as close to the post as you can get it. If there is a break in the wire between your fuse and the post, you could cause a fire if the remaining wire is long enough to make contact with the other post. So you don't want the length of the wire coming from the post to your fuse to be great enough to touch the other post if there is a break in the wire.
@inquisitive1364
3 жыл бұрын
They sell terminal mount fuse holders, so you don't have any cable from the battery to the fuse.
@truePitch1
2 жыл бұрын
David - Excellent point ...!
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Dear Mr. Terrell. I could install the Duracell 3000 inverter in my Prius 2010 today. It was very easy following your instruction. It was made possible only because of your help. God bless you.
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear! God bless you too!
@desmondthang6759
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Kirti, I have 2014 Prius and 2017 prime. Thinking about doing the same setup as your with 3k inverter. What appliances that you have run simultaneously? And your est max wattage usage?
@davidschwarz1196
4 жыл бұрын
@@desmondthang6759 3kw is too much for the 12v agm in your Prius. 1000 Watt is Max. It's not a high amp battery, as it's not meant to crank the engine like with other cars, cranking amps are low so even at 1kw, you shouldn't be doing a lot of surge. Start a microwave once, but not over and over. I'm only going with 500 Watt myself. It'll run my gaming laptop, that's it.
@feredonferedon3998
3 жыл бұрын
Hi please can help me you install the inverter on your hv battery I mean on your hybrid battery? ? Thanks
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
@@feredonferedon3998 Please go to priuschat.com to learn about taping into the traction battery. It's not easy, and is dealing with high voltage.
@tomskid27
8 жыл бұрын
Very detailed video with lots of info and pictures to help others. Great job!
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
+tom sevensixtwo nguyen Thanks for the feedback, Tom.
@jmonte2811
3 жыл бұрын
Great instructions and parts list. I plunged into it today and was successful. It took just over an hour to do the installation. I had all the cables and Anderson connector already put together. I did drop a battery bolt into the compartment but was lucky to be able to fish it out with a magnet - my bad!! All voltages tested at the battery and Anderson connections before the start-up of the inverter. Thanks again!!
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Great to hear! (I still have a couple of dropped nuts lost somewhere that I've never found.)
@woody3307
2 жыл бұрын
LOL..the dropped nuts. That's wear the tears in blood, sweat and tears comes in every time I work back there..haha..
@Jcrpdx
3 жыл бұрын
One of the best videos on this subject. Thank you. I got it to run the blower for my natural gas heater.
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words. Glad it's been helpful for you. I use it all the time to run my microwave while camping ("Glamping," as some would say.) Plus, we've used it to keep our most important appliances running in our home during power outages.
@Jcrpdx
3 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith @TerrellWSmith I have a quick question, if you have time. Because there were limited options available, I bought a 2k Watt peak 3k inverter to use with my 2016 hybrid Rav4. I want to run the blower in my home's natural gas HVAC in case of a wintertime black out. Is there any problem I should be aware of if I consistently use half of an inverters capacity?
@terrellsmith2203
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jcrpdx I don’t know what the max wattage the RAV4 inverter can supply might be. You might get an idea by looking at what the 12V battery is fused at. On the Prius, it’s fused at 140A, so we know not to get near that. 1k for the Prius inverter is safe. Perhaps the RAV4 is similar, but I don’t know.
@billiebarker2619
5 жыл бұрын
I bought my Prius Nov. 2018 and have searched everywhere for ideas & how to's for camping in it. YOUR videos are the simplest, clearest and most complete I have found anywhere. I am so encouraged and grateful. I can't figure out how to subscribe though - are you still posting? Are you still traveling in your Prius? Where are you? Where do you like to go? (I am in Sacramento, California).
@TerrellWSmith
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Billie, for the kind words. I don't know how KZitem works as far as the Subscribe button, I think it ought to be there. I still am driving the Prius, and camping. The screened windows are a challenge when it rains, though. I've made awnings, but they are somewhat of a hassle to set up, so I've been pondering what I might do. I'm in Wisconsin, and I love camping in Rocky Mountain National Park. I've added a solar panel, and a small refrigerator. It's fun to be at a park in the middle of nowhere and pull out ice cream bars!
@erxfav3197
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for sharing and making this video. First one seen on your channel here. Very thorough.
@TerrellWSmith
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words, Anthony.
@donnathomas2675
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making the instructions so clear--even for someone who knows nothing about electronics or cars. Thankfully, my husband does, so he can do the battery work for me. If it weren't for your warning, I would probably go ahead and try to do it myself, even though I know I shouldn't. You may have saved a life today! Thanks!
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
I'm a 73 year old woman and did it all myself. I got a fancy little wrench to reach the nuts and bolts that go to the auxiliary battery and made sure to wear gloves and follow the instructions to the letter.
@descolero1
3 жыл бұрын
I am sooo glad i found you fwwwee!! Not sure if i should be worried lol.
@jheckmann
5 жыл бұрын
Just an FYI, the company mentioned in the video is still offering this cable set for the same price, as a special order, it's not on their website. Just contact them via email.
@mrbr549
8 жыл бұрын
Very neat setup! I like how you hid your connections so that it's inconspicuous. I would think this setup would serve as a limited backup for power outages at home also.
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
+mrbr549 Thanks for the comment. Actually my original purpose was for power outage for the home, especially for the freezer and refrigerator. But since I set it up, we've had no power outages, and I realized it's perfect for camping.
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith and of course if you didn't have the backup system, the power would be out all time time.
@prospect0r7
7 жыл бұрын
Hi, thanks for such an informative video! I followed your instructions in detail and managed to install a Xantrex 1 KW inverter on my 2007 Prius. I'd add that a fixed 10 mm box wrench was essential getting the bolts on and off the 12 V battery. I couldn't have done it with just an adjustable wrench. I'd also add that I had to order my wires from a different supplier (Greg's Marine Wire Supply) because GenuineDealz.com no longer seemed to offer the precise kind of customized manufacturing that was needed here. Also, I think my 2007 Prius' battery terminals were slightly different than yours, so after installation I was unable to cleanly hide the fuse beneath the right rear corner compartment cover, causing the cover to be fairly tilted when placing it back over the battery. Not a big deal since it is so out of the way. Otherwise, your approach works like a charm, and I was able to power a small microwave while camping with the Prius on a recent trip. Awesome! Rick
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
Yes, the metric box wrench is necessary. I have both sets.
@airplane75
9 жыл бұрын
Another great Prius vid!
@gingermcintosh6545
3 жыл бұрын
Whoa! Over my head. Think I need a shop.
@climbers1376
5 жыл бұрын
Incredible work thank you so much!!!
@gusortiz81
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, excellent video. Can’t wait to hook mine up.
@terrellsmith2203
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Gus. Make sure to fuse everything and stay below 1kW and you should be fine.
@suzmaca650
Жыл бұрын
Just came across video…thank you so much!
@TerrellWSmith
Жыл бұрын
You're very welcome - glad it's helpful.
@allotrope
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks so Terrell! I've finally hooked everything up. I am using a 100 amp circuit breaker instead of a fuse. Is that a good idea ? Also the total cable length from battery to inverter is about 2 feet now. Should I try to make to shorter ?
@terrellsmith2203
7 жыл бұрын
Circuit breaker should be fine. Make sure it's on the positive cable very close to the battery terminal, since that's what you're protecting. 2 feet should be perfect. Much shorter and you have no wiggle room. :) Make sure the car is turned on when using it so the battery doesn't get drained. It's a small battery, but with the car on you should be able to draw up to 1K (depending on your inverter). The Prius gas engine will cycle on and off automatically to keep the battery charged. To lock the car while it's running, use the "emergency key" that's part of your key fob. That disables any use of the fob and locks the doors until they are manually unlocked. This is a great way to allow the car to be running and still locked. I use an extension cord plugged into the inverter, and close the trunk on it one click, so the trunk is locked without pinching the extension cord. Then I plug in my rice cooker (microwave, etc.) outside the locked car, and don't worry about anyone getting into the car while it's running.
@alexisjqr
4 жыл бұрын
This video is the best I seen so far in terms of detailed information. I have a 2012 Prius C and I went on a camping trip recently and I thought to myself that the car would be a perfect generator and decided to integrate an inverter so I will do that soon enough. Now I have a question, why do you say that a 1kw inverter is the maximum watt inverter that this battery can handle? I was actually considering a 2kw inverter. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Alexia, thanks for the kind words and your question. I've enjoyed running a small microwave and rice cooker (not at the same time) while camping. You will be glad for the power your Prius can generate too! I'm not familiar with the way the Prius C is set up. Is the battery in the back? The reason for the 1kW limit is that the power is actually coming from the car's DC/DC inverter. The car can only produce so much power, and assuming the DC/DC inverter in the Prius C is similar with the Prius, 1kW would be safe. There is a 140A fuse built into the positive 12V battery terminal on the Prius (maybe also on the Prius C?). Assuming a perfect world (with no power loss), a 2kW inverter will blow that fuse. If it didn't, perhaps your DC/DC inverter in the car would burn up, which would be a very expensive repair. The 12V battery by itself, without power coming from the car, would drain very quickly. So, 1kW is safe, I've been doing it for around five years. Any more than that and you might damage the car. Check priuschat.com before you try anything on your Prius C, since I don't know what might be different with the C.
@kirtishah8261
3 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Dear Terrell thanks for clarifying the issue. I have one submission. It is not the capacity of inverter, it is the load you are putting on the inverter. I am using a 3000 watt inverter but follow your advice very strictly and never put any appliance which need more than 1000 watt at anytime including surge at the beginning. I have enjoyed the inverter during last two long camping trip recently. Inverter in combination with Instapot 3 QT which needs less than 650 watts was extremely useful to me. So far no issue. Thanks one again for your very instructive video which enabled me to install inverter in my Prius without any issue in less than 15 minutes. God bless you
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
@@kirtishah8261, Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad it's working well for you! Enjoy your camping trips!
@egn83b
8 жыл бұрын
I am amazed that you can power a 1kw inverter off the prius starting battery. My knowledge was that it was 35 amp hour battery gel cell and that the charging system according to my book for 2011 said 5 amp charge for the starting battery. The fuse rating for the battery was kinda high for the toyota fuse but I guess you have to account for lighting and inverter draw. When you put that inverter on there I was amazed you got it to work with the amp draw from the microwave. I did hear your engine kick on when you put the microwave into action. I was wondering after having this device on the car for a while has your battery and charging system held up. My Prius is 5 yrs old and its strong according to the dealer but I didnt know the front inverter put out that much amperage to the starting battery. My dad's sonata hybrid after three years the traction battery died it made me a bit nervous about the prius battery but its a gamble these days with hybrids but toyota did a good job with the nimh batteries.
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
+egn83b Thanks for the comments. So far, I've run a rice cooker (20 minutes at 450w) off the inverter, and the microwave (600w element) for a few minutes (enough to boil water or cook a potato) and have not seen any problems. On PriusChat.com you can read about people who've run their house (part of it) during a power outage using a 1KW inverter running off the 12v battery, and 3KW directly off the traction battery. My Prius is a 2010 and still has the original 12v battery, although after 6 years, it's starting to show it's age.
@egn83b
8 жыл бұрын
+TerrellWSmith okay thanks
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for all your information and guidance. Fast forward a few months and my Prius power system seems to be working just fine. I bought heavy duty cables and a new breaker which seemed to fix my problems. I now can cook with my Instant Pot mini 3 quart if I want and found this Cusimax infrared one burner cooktop where you can cook at any wattage you like from about 150 watts all the way up to 1500. As soon as I turn on the burner, I immediately put it at 800 watts or less and it works great. I can even fry eggs at 300 watts. Now I would like to get a low wattage microwave/convection oven so I could bake during a power outage. Most low wattage convection microwaves operate at 900, 1000 watts or higher. How risky would it be to cook at the 900 or even 1000 watt level for a longer period of time with this inverter setup? I also went out and purchased 3-50 foot extension cords on sale and already had a 100 foot outdoor extension cord. I made an insert for my bedroom window where one can be open about a foot without any outside air getting into the house but all the cords going through a small hold in the insert which is made of that purple insulation material. I did a dry run and can operate my home low wattage freezer, refrigerator, LED lights in 4 rooms as well as my modem and 2 laptops with plenty of juice to spare. Only issue is getting the car close enough to the house if snow is on the ground and being sure no car exhaust somehow gets into the house.
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Amy, So glad it's working for you. My experience (as well as others) is that microwaves seem to draw much more power than they say. For example, my microwave advertised as "600W" has a sticker on the back which says 950W, but it actually draws a bit more than 1kW when running. So if they say 900, 1000 and higher, stay away from them. You can always check it with a Kill-A-Watt tester. I only use my microwave for 2-5 minutes at a time, then let the inverter (and car) cool off a bit. Other things, like my rice cooker, are rated much lower, and rice takes 20 minutes to cook. When you have the car in Ready mode and are using your power set-up with the car parked outside, make sure you lock your car doors with the metal key which is the emergency key inside your key fob. That not only locks your doors so no one can drive off in your running car, it also disables the use of any fobs to open any doors. (You have to use the metal emergency key again to unlock your car.) And make sure all your doors are closed before locking up. I run the power cord out the back hatch by closing the hatch gently on it until I hear one click. Then I gently give a slight push until I hear the second click. Now the car can be locked while it's running in Ready. The rubber grommet of the back hatch will allow the power cord to go through.
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Thanks for that advice before I go out and purchase something. I've been looking for something low wattage and dual purpose, like a convection microwave, but the ones that claim to be 800 watts are the really expensive ones that go over ranges. I see these little glass infrared convection ovens that use less power. Since they are cheap, maybe I will get one and see what I can do with it. I want something that can bake a small pizza, pie, quiche loaf of bread or small casserole. Getting ready for the zombie apocalypse. Am tempted to get a 20" range and use propane but I can't take that anywhere unless I get an RV. I watched some women here on KZitem bake bread in a pressure cooker and then an instant pot. I tried it and burned the daylights out of the bottom of the rolls, even using a bundt pan as a spacer to keep the pan far from the high heat. Guess there's a lot of experimenting with this. My little 3 quart instant pot only gets to 640 watts max (so says my Kill A Watt) but lacks the "bake" setting. You posted another video about adding an extra battery. Could one use slightly more wattage if one had that setup?
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
@@amywalker7515 You asked "Could one use slightly more wattage if one had that setup?" Unfortunately, no, because the power is coming from the car's DC/DC inverter, and you can only safely draw 1kW. Instead, I would recommend getting a Power Station with the battery capacity you need.
@tomfinn1970
5 жыл бұрын
Great instructions Terrell. Question on lug sizes. Can I go with 3/8? My inverter terminals are 3/8 and it would seem a safer bet to slightly larger on all end lugs. Thoughts? Thx.
@therewarder
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks Terrell - Great job appreciate it😄
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks, glad it was helpful.
@turbojorge
4 жыл бұрын
Awesome. Many thanks for sharing.
@johnsermeno4834
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Terrell, you mentioned in your Prius inverter video that you also connect your Prius (via the inverter) to your house. Please share how you created the cabling to achieve this. :)
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Good question! What I DO NOT do! I do NOT connect directly into the house wiring. For that, you need a transfer switch. I also do not make what is known as a suicide cable (with male plugs on both ends). There's a reason it's called a suicide cable. What I do is rather simple. I park the car outside, or in winter, attach an exhaust hose and run it outside. You do not want CO building up inside. Then I run a heavy duty extension cord 12 AWG from my inverter in the Prius into the house. Plug a multi-outlet power strip into this, and run extension cords to my major items I wish to power: Food freezer in basement, phone and answering system, internet (modem, router), computers, backup, and if needed, a small LED lamp.
@AC-pg9ws
2 жыл бұрын
Followed your same setup with the exception of using a 1500 watt inverter and 120 amp fuse. I know you say that 1000 watt is the maximum draw allowed for the 12v battery but is it ok to use a 1500 watt inverter if the continuous draw does not exceed say 600-700 watts while the car is on ready mode? I use the inverter to charge a portable battery power station (uses about 650 watts for up to 1.5 hours to get a full charge).
@TerrellWSmith
Жыл бұрын
Hi AC, Just keep an eye on your power draw, and avoid the temptation to "just try it" because you don't want to "just fry it." You should be fine with 600-700 watts. Since you're using a portable power station, you can simply plug your power station into your car's 12V Aux power port while driving to get it charged, assuming the power station has a 12V input. Or even while stopped, as long as you're in Ready mode. You can lock the car while in Ready mode with the "emergency" key that's in the key fob, and that will allow the car to be running in Ready mode with the doors locked, so no one drives off with it! Using a big 1500 watt inverter to charge a power station seems like you're wasting power, since each stage has a certain amount of power loss.
@auldzbuzz3374
3 жыл бұрын
I tried this setup on my Prius 2013 and it works great. My family was able to take advantage of this when we do road-tripping and car camping. It gives us electricity when the camping sites we went to has none. My question though is, will this setup still work in the 2020 Highlander XLE Hybrid?
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Auldz. Glad your family has been able to use it! Regarding your question, the Gen 2 & 3 Prius has the battery in the back, inside the car, which makes an ideal location for installing the inverter. Is the 12V battery on the 2020 Highlander under the hood? That will make things a bit more challenging, because of all the rain dirt, etc. Adding an inverter to any car should work, as long as the engine is running so the 12V battery doesn't get depleted rapidly. Just make sure it's fused close to the battery's positive terminal, and check to see how many amps the car's system is able to produce. For your 2013 Prius (Gen 3), the 12V battery is fused at 140A. That's why I suggest fusing the inverter at 100A, for safety of the car's electrical system. The cables between the inverter and 12V battery should be as short as possible (if it's under the hood, that makes it more difficult), and the cables should be heavy gauge, as in the video. Hope this is helpful. (The Highlander is a nice car.)
@auldzbuzz3374
3 жыл бұрын
The 12V battery is in the same spot as Prius 2013 - not under the hood. I'll consult someone with regards to the amps Highlander can produce. I am so noob on this matter. Thanks for the video it gives me an idea and it helps me a lot.
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
@@auldzbuzz3374 That the 12V battery is also in the back of the Highlander is great for you! You can basically do exactly the same thing I did. Look carefully at the side of the positive battery post to see if the fuse is something similar as with the Prius. If so, you'll see a fuse built into the side of the red + 12V post. Use a flashlight to see what it says. On the Gen 3 Prius like you have, it says 140A. If the Highlander says the same thing, you should be able to do the same modification without too much trouble. I ran the heavy wires through the taillight hatch. On the Highlander, you might be able to run them under the hatch that pops off? Or you may need to cut a small hole? In any case, use a piece of string to measure how long the cables need to be. They should be as short as possible to avoid power loss from the 12V battery, but also need to be long enough that you can easily connect your inverter. Hope this is helpful!
@itsmichele
2 жыл бұрын
GREAT video! I'd like to get an inverter set up to my Prius but have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. I want to make sure it's done correctly, do you recommend taking my car to a regular mechanic and having them install it for me? Also, where does the additional 100 amp fuse go? You mentioned that the battery already has one, does a 2nd one need to be added? If you (or anybody in the thread) could let me know I'd really appreciate it! Thanks in advance.
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Michele, you can see the short 3.5 inch cable coming from the plastic box with the 100A fuse at 3:25 in the video. It connects to the positive post of the 12V battery. The 100A fuse goes as close as possible to the positive terminal of the 12V battery. This fuse protects everything after the 12V battery - the cables and inverter. The built-in 140A fuse the battery already has is built into the positive 12V battery cap, and it protects the white cable coming from the DC/DC inverter of the car to the 12V battery. Since you always want to protect power coming from a power source, you fuse close to the power source. Thus the 100A fuse. In theory, you could connect the red cable from the 1kW inverter to the built-in 140A fuse, BUT, then if/when you blow that fuse, you've also blown the connection from the car's DC/DC inverter to the 12V battery, and you have BIG trouble! One reason for using a 100A fuse in this setup is so that it blows before any damage might be done to the car's 140A fuse. Short answer to your question: Yes, you need the second fuse. You could take your car to a regular mechanic and have them do it for you, but my guess is that it would be expensive. And my guess is that Toyota would refuse to do it. If you have a good friend with wiring experience you trust, that might be the best route. If you do have a mechanic do it for you, I'd be very interested in what they might charge. And you should ask first, to avoid unhappy surprises. Part of the reason I planned and did this project myself was to save money. :)
@itsmichele
2 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Thanks a million! I’ll do some research and find out what the cost would be and I’ll post it here. I definitely appreciate all the info you share on your channel, it’s greatly helpful and very inspiring. 🙏🏽😊
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
@@itsmichele I've heard that some Toyota places will do special work, at their "normal" hourly rate, whatever that is.
@pinetreeshilling
4 жыл бұрын
hi love this -so helpful. Question. the cables on the back of the inverter you shrink wrapped.....however the nuts connecting to inverter are not- any chance of them shorting if metal touches them?
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks. You are correct, the posts on the back of the inverter are somewhat exposed. What's hard to see in the video is that they are covered with plastic between the two posts, but the outside nuts are exposed. I only use the inverter once it's setup, and disconnect it when it's not being used, so the chance of shorting them is minimal. And... that's why it has a fuse, just in case.
@chapter4travels
6 жыл бұрын
What gauge wire would I need if the wires from the inverter to the connector were about 4 feet long? Or is that even advised? Thanks
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
Dear Mr. Terrell Smith thanks for your kind support. I have successfully installed Duracell 3000 watts inverter in my 2010 Prius. I followed all the instructions given in video and could complete the process in about 15 minutes. I could attach cables with battery terminals without using any new nuts & bolts. I put the extra lock washers on the top of cable terminals. I ensure snug fit of cables at all points. I would request you to review my connections (photos enclosed) and suggest any changes I need to make. I have used the inverter for instant pot (750 watts) & Coffee Maker (500 watts) without any problem. I would always ensure that I do not ever draw more than 1000 watts from my inverter. I want your guidance on using an Induction hot plate which is 1800 watts but has the option to set the unit between 200 to 1800 watts. If I set it at 800 watts, could i use it without endangering my 12 v and/or hybrid battery and car generator/inverter. I would like to play safe and not take any chances but if I could use induction hotplate set permanently at 800 watts safely, i would have all the items required for basic cooking i.e. instant pot, induction hotplate & coffee maker. I enjoyed my three camping trips in 2019 (Southern US 2500 miles 14 days, Central & Northwestern US, Canada and Alaska 12500 miles 35 days, Southwestern US 800 miles 20 days) but I had tremendous problem in using my camp stove due to wind and missed my morning and evening coffee on many occasions. Hopefully now with the inverter installed, I would enjoy my future trip more. Once again I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you for evolving this very simple and safe procedure to install inverter in Prius. Without your video, it would have been very difficult for me to take up this project. You have not only made the procedure very simple and safe but also encouraged the genuinedealz.com to supply the complete kit at very reasonable price. That was really very very helpful as it is very difficult to make cables with right wires and lugs. Looking forward for more educational videos from you which would make camping in Prius more enjoyable. God bless you. With regards.
@terrellsmith2203
4 жыл бұрын
KIRTI, I’m not familiar enough with induction cookers to answer your question. If it truly draws less power based on settings, then you’ll be ok. But if it uses “800W” due to rapid switching, that might mean it still pulls full power, but only half the time. You might check it with a meter or a Kill A Watt device.
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
@@terrellsmith2203 Thanks for your kind reply and valuable guidance. God bless you.
@BSerrell4
8 жыл бұрын
Hi T Smith, Would the wired-in Anderson plug work for any car, assuming you use the inverter only when the engine/alternator is running to adjust to the current draw? We had an Anderson plug wired (and fused) to our battery with a solenoid isolator so we could plug in a "house battery" to re-charge while we drove from one camping location to another. I can happily boil water on the camp stove for coffee (wont yet consider hauling a microwave with us) but if I could find a way to power a hair dryer while boondocking, I'd be a happier camper!
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
A hair dryer probably draws around 1800 watts, far too much for the 1KW inverter to power. Some hair dryers might have a "low" setting, but what I think they are doing is still using full power, but only half the time. So wouldn't work. But you could certainly try it. The inverter will just cut out if too much power gets drawn through. As far as already having an Anderson plug, it depends on the wiring. The wires should be as short as possible to the battery, and very heavy gauge to handle the power needed. You can think of it this way: At 120v fairly thin wires can handle a lot of amps (see lamp cords in your home). But at 12v (the car battery), the wires need to be ten times as thick to handle the same amps (roughly). That's why I used 4 gauge wire (the lower the number, the more power can flow through them).
@raysills
7 жыл бұрын
Yes, you need heavy gauge wire for 12VDC. But 120 VAC wires are smaller, because they can pass more POWER at 120 V, than a battery can at 12 V. Why? because the thin wire only needs pass 1 ampere of current for a 120 watt appliance. The thick welding wire has much less resistance (by a factor or 10 or more), so it can pass the 10 amperes needed (for 120 watts). So, if you maxxed out your inverter's power capabilities, you'd be sending 100 amps to it at 12V. That's why you need welding cable... and short lengths of it.
@JVONROCK
8 жыл бұрын
Sorry Friend, I need to sign on and learn some things. thanks for sharing this.
@JVONROCK
8 жыл бұрын
Another mention, I've been using xantrex;s Prowatt SW 1000 for home and they have been flawless for a couple years, Your info has opened a different door to explore, wondering if the 2004 has this option ? find out tomorrow.
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome!
@erickfield8541
6 жыл бұрын
Great videos and advice. Big question. Can you hook up an Inergy Kodiak solar generator to the inverter. The Kodiak charges on AC or solar. If I can charge with this system, it would save stopping, assembling portable solar panels etc. Once charged, I have a 20lb portable generator with USB, DC and AC ports,. Just curious, I the Kodiak mentioned in comments section of another related video.
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
Yes, as long as it pulls less than 1kw, which it does, according to it's specs, it draws up to 600 watts to charge. The Prius already has DC ports, add a small USB and you have USB, and with the inverter, AC. But I'm guessing you want portable power, in which case, yes, you can charge it up with the AC from the inverter, or from your solar. The inverter will charge it much faster than solar, delivering 600w easily. (You'd need a lot of solar panels to give you 600w of solar.) The specs say 2.5 hour recharge time at 600w in, so you'd need to run the Prius for that amount of time, either driving it, or running while stationary.
@amywalker7515
3 жыл бұрын
You advised me about the cables and the Anderson connectors, which we purchased. Now it is all assembled, but I am unable to disconnect them myself and my son is having a lot of trouble getting them apart too. In order to make it easier for me to operate could one of these 3 scenarios work? 1) I know we are talking about more electricity here, but could one use alligator clamps to hook up the inverter rather than a permanent connection? I have a smaller 600 watt inverter I used to hook up to 2 large marine batteries when I had a backup solar system that attached using alligator clamps. I could have my 100 Amp breaker on the red cable. 2) Could one leave the inverter connected to the auxiliary battery all the time? Would it drain one or both batteries? 3) If I permanently installed cables without the Anderson connectors using my 100 Amp breaker on the red cable, could I merely trip the breaker when not using the inverter to avoid battery drain or damage? I have some dandy new 60 inch #4 cable I could use rather than my shorter professionally made shorter ones. The connected inverter would be stored where the spare tire lives. Would any of these approached work?
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Amy, thanks for your questions. Yes, Anderson connectors do take a bit of strength to connect and disconnect. Hopefully with use, they will get a bit easier. 1) I would not use alligator clamps for the following reasons: They might not be insulated, they might pop off, they probably don't make as good of a connection, so there is power loss. 2) Yes, you can leave the inverter connected, as long as the terminals are insulated (protected), and there's a switch that turns off the inverter when not in use. There's probably a slight power drain even when switched to off. 3) Yes, turning off the breaker will do what you say, avoiding any power drain as well as isolating the positive line. The breaker should be well insulated and as close to the 12V battery as possible for protection. Other comments: A) You mention in 2) connecting to the "auxiliary battery." If you do that, is the auxiliary battery connected to your other 12V battery when you use the inverter? It must be, otherwise when you use the inverter you will drain your auxiliary battery very quickly, possibly ruining it. And the car must be in "Ready" mode when you run the inverter. The power comes from the car's DC/DC inverter. B) Check your inverter to see how much heat it gives off when running with a load. The spare tire space does not give ventilation. Or are you thinking of just storing it there? I store mine in the bin above the spare tire, so I can easily pull it out when needed.
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Hi, Thanks for all your assistance. I decided to just leave the Anderson connectors connected and use the breaker to shut off the juice. I then totally disconnect the inverter when not using it. My new issue is that even though I have a 100 Amp breaker, it cuts off the power when I am drawing 665 watts of power for my little instant pot, which I am using as a token draw to be the equivalent of all the devices I might use at the same time during a power outage (small refrigerator, small freezer, several LED lights, 2 laptops, and one router/modem). I read in the feedback for the breaker I bought that it tends to trip with very little load put on it. So I am going to order another breaker. Should I order one rated for 150 Amps or should I assume the original breaker was just defective? I made sure all my connections with snug and have a heavy ground wire that connects to the car body. If my inverter is rated 1000 watts with surge to 2000 watts, shouldn't I be good to go?
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
@@amywalker7515 Hi. I wonder whether your instant pot is actually drawing more than the 665 Watts of power you think it is. Does it have a "high" setting? Some devices actually draw their full load on high, then on "medium" still draw that same full load, but only half the time through switching. You might check the pot with something else, like a Kill-A-Watt meter. If people are saying the breaker tends to trip with very little load put on it, then perhaps the breaker is not well built, and isn't actually allowing you to draw 100 Amps. I wouldn't order one at 150 Amps, since then you might blow the 140 Amp fuse built into the 12V battery. Stay with 100A. And perhaps order a breaker from a different manufacturer. When a 1000W inverter says it's able to handle a surge of 2000W, that usually means a surge of less than a second! Our home refrigerator is rated at 6A, (which is 720W in an ideal world), but the startup surge is too much for my 1000W inverter. The inverter shuts off. Our basement freezer runs fine off the inverter, it's rated at 5A. Does your inverter show how much power is being drawn? Mine, for example, shows that I'm slightly over 1kW when I'm running my microwave, which is rated at 950W. I tend to not believe the power rating stickers as being 100% accurate, but more in the direction of power draw. So check out your instant pot with something else, especially if it has a higher setting than just 665W.
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith I bought a new breaker and heavier cables and I no longer have the problem, but then I have only used the instant pot once since I made the changes.
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
@@amywalker7515 Glad it's all working for you now. If in doubt, test things with something like the Kill-A-Watt tester. They are less than $30 and easy to use. Here, people can even check one out from the public library.
@priusdwelling504
6 жыл бұрын
Terrell a 2000w invereter is perfectly fine in a Prius running off the 12v. Battery. The Prius is designed to auto start and recharge the 12v. through the hybrid battery as often as necessary. How did you determine a 12v. can only handle 1000W.? Numerous Prius owners have 2,000 and even 2500w inverters long term with no problems.
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
David, the positive terminal on the 12v battery is fused at 140A. That gives 1680W before it blows. Put a 2K or higher inverter on the 12V battery and the Prius inverter may be damaged, or you blow the 140A fuse. The battery itself is rated at 325 CCA 46Ah @ 20 hours (or you may find ones with a higher rating). So you can suck a lot of power out of the battery for a short time, but it's not great for the battery. And yes, the Prius will auto start and recharge the 12v, but if you are drawing too much power out of the battery, the Prius inverter can't keep up with it, and you may damage it. Those installing 2k and 3k inverters in their Prius are drawing from the traction battery, not the 12v battery, at least what I've read over on Prius Chat.
@natureowl
Жыл бұрын
Maybe I'm stupid but.... Isn't the inverter connection to the drive train battery and not the much smaller crank battery? Never seen it done like this.
@TerrellWSmith
Жыл бұрын
Hi Blake, no you're not stupid. 😀Yes, it is possible to connect to the traction battery and draw up to 3kW, but that's not an easy job. What is easy it attaching to the small 12V battery as shown in this video, and with the Prius in READY mode, with an inverter draw up to 1kW. I did it mainly for camping (microwave oven, rice cooker, etc.) Then just this week a storm brought down two large branches which ripped the power lines right off our home. I ran our freezer, modem, router, phones, and computers for ten hours from the Prius until the power was reconnected. BTW, the 12V battery in the Prius is not actually a "crank battery" in the normal sense, the 12V battery actually just powers the car's computer to allow the large traction battery to start the motor when it wants/needs to. The actual power allowing a 1kW inverter doesn't come from the small 12V battery, but from the car's DC/DC inverter.
@isardfrancrevell3085
2 жыл бұрын
I have a Lexus x450H , my main fuse at the battery side is 180A ,I want to keep it safe and put a 80A circuit breaker / fuse. Then the 900 watts inverter with the right size cables. My concern is what about the rest of the cars options like heated seats and the electric power steering (the power steering is fused at 80A) What I think is I can’t use the cars options and the full power of the inverter?
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
Good thinking. I wouldn't try to use the cars options and the inverter at the same time, just to be safe. If you find you need to have power (for something like a small refrigerator), then you might consider not running your heated seats, which take a good bit of power. The steering probably doesn't take nearly as much. Another option would be to get a small power station which can be plugged into your car's 12V aux power, and plug the refrigerator (or whatever) into the power station. I have a small Bluetti (700W) for this.
@JC-ko2yh
8 жыл бұрын
I'm curious, I ended up buying that same inverter and my mechanic told me that technically the inverter does not need the second ground connected as the negative cable connected to the battery is grounded to the car. Is this true? What purpose does the second ground serve? And is it necessary?
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
+JC Gania JC, I think your mechanic is correct as far as the operation of the unit, the negative is connected to the ground of the car through the negative battery wire. The ground wire from the inverter ground terminal (the small nut) to the car ground is a safety feature, providing a sure ground for the inverter housing, just in case something goes wrong inside the unit. Is it necessary? That all depends on how the inverter is wired inside. My guess is that the housing is insulated from all internal wiring. If a positive wire came lose inside the housing, and touched the housing, then the housing would immediately be dangerous to touch. A grounded housing protects that. So yes, ground it for safety. I figure if they provide a ground terminal, then it's best to use it.
@Codemonkey812
7 жыл бұрын
The grounding post should be run to a bonding rod in the ground (Earth Ground).
@terrellsmith2203
7 жыл бұрын
Joseph Jamison , you don't need to ground it to the earth with a grounding rod. Just to the car ground, which is the frame on a negative ground car.
@mohammedmoqbel3688
5 жыл бұрын
@@terrellsmith2203 Terrell, Can I connect the inverter first ground directly to the car grounding (beneath the metal tie-down there is a bolt connected o the battery) instead of connect it to the battery?
@chapter4travels
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video, Would there be a problem connecting the battery directly to the inverter and just keep the inverter in the storage compartment where it will stay? This would shorten the cables and eliminate the connector.
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
Shouldn't be a problem, Greg. Just make sure you have a fuse inline from the + side of the battery. I myself prefer to plug and unplug the inverter, since there are exposed posts on the inverter that I wouldn't wish to get shorted or in contact with something else.
@chapter4travels
6 жыл бұрын
I didn't think about the exposed posts, guess I could rubber coat the positive side. Thanks
@DiAllinson
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for the video, really helpful. I just have a quick question. I'm in UK and my 2011 system is still under warranty as long as I get hybrid check done annually. I think I know the answer but do you want think this is a modification that will invalidate my warranty?
@TerrellWSmith
7 ай бұрын
Hi Di, Your 2011 is under warranty as long as you get a hybrid check annually?!? I assume you must pay for these annual hybrid check-ups? Your car is now 13 year old. Have you ever had any hybrid trouble? I seriously doubt it. The hybrid system is (at least on this side of the ocean) guaranteed by Toyota for TEN years. See your owner's guide. My Prius is 2010, built and purchased in 2009. I have had zero issues with the hybrid system. I'm sorry to say that someone likely cheated you, selling you that warranty. Because of that, whoever sold you the warranty likely would refuse to honor it if you do ANYTHING to your car. The inverter is attached to the small 12V battery and pulls power from the Prius DC/DC inverter. I recommend no more than 1,000 W for the inverter. There are others who pull more than that. If you really wish to add a 1kW inverter to your Prius, ask your dealer to do it (so it's done by a dealer), or get in writing from whomever sold you that warranty that it's OK. But even then, I bet they will do everything they can to avoid covering any warranty work. Will this modification harm your hybrid system? Not at all. The traction motor pulls way more than 1,000 W. There are people who have tapped into their hybrid battery (not the 12V battery) to power their whole house. Might it invalidate your warranty? Likely, because it covers an issue not likely to ever happen. Just my opinion.
@DiAllinson
7 ай бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Hi, I'm in the UK. I bought the car 6 months ago, only 32k miles on the clock. I paid Toyota dealership just £55 for hybrid check, which it passed, and asked them to confirm what I had found online, that getting a hybrid check and a pass certificate extends the Toyota warranty for another year, up to the age of 15 years, and they confirmed this to be true. If I pay Toyota to do the annual service, which I probably will do, they will include the hybrid check for free and extend the warranty too
@TerrellWSmith
7 ай бұрын
@@DiAllinson , thanks! That changes my perception. You bought the car 6 months ago with only 32k miles? Wow! That's amazing. I was thinking you were paying a hybrid warranty since 2011. Yes, it was very wise of you to get a hybrid check when you bought a car that old with so few miles on it, makes you wonder why they sold it. And although I have no idea what costs are in the UK at Toyota, £55 sounds reasonable for a check. (Practically anything the dealer does might get charged at their flat hourly rate.) Sounds like you have not only a good car, but a good Toyota dealer. In that case I might suggest you tell them that you are interested in hooking up an inverter to the 12V battery, and ask them if that would affect your warranty. Feel free to show them the video if you wish, though they might not want to take the time to. A 1kW inverter should not be an issue. Assuming that the UK version of the 2011 Prius is the same as the USA 2010 version, the wire from the Prius DC/DC inverter is fused at 140A (see at 2:27 in the video) at the positive terminal of the 12V battery. My set up fuses the 1 kW inverter at 100A just to be on the safe side. And just a curious question: Is the 12V battery on the right side or left side in the UK version? Let me know how it works out for you.
@DiAllinson
7 ай бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith I got such a great catch, it was like the angels smiling down on me 😊 The couple I bought it from were elderly, and sadly the gentleman had a problem with his neck and was no longer able to drive for the last 3 years, so they hadn't been high mileage since they bought it, but the last 3 years was only about 200 miles a year for it to go for MOT and services and for a friend to give it occasional run around the block. I had been looking at priuses for a few years and they were mostly ex-taxis over 150k miles, and long distance away from me. But this one was only 10 miles away, and it was like I was divinely guided to find it on the day I did. I feel very blessed. The 12v battery is on right hand side so if I'm in drivers seat (right hand drive in UK), it's behind me. I think everything is same way round as USA apart from the front dash and driving. I would have preferred the wider back seat to be behind passenger seat (for laying flat to camp in), but it's behind drivers seat and I think harder to climb through from the front
@TerrellWSmith
7 ай бұрын
@@DiAllinson , yes, you are blessed, and that's a wonderful find! Two suggestions to make it last a very long time: 1) Don't forget to check the engine oil from time to time. Some Prius owners have said they lose oil (I never have). 2) If not already done, next oil change ask that a good synthetic oil, like Mobil 1, but used. That will make the engine last even longer. I currently have 198,835 km on mine. Some, used as taxis, had over 483,000 km.
@teresawebdesign9015
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video. I have a question: my Prius is a 2015. How do I find out what cables my car needs? How did you find out which were the correct cables for your Prius? 🙏🏼
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
2015 should be the Generation 3 Prius, same as mine, with the 12V battery in the back. You can get a cable set pre-made from Genuinedealz.com (see at 1:13 in the video) for around $67 including shipping, last I heard. There's been enough interest generated by this video that they asked if they might make sets, and I said yes.
@teresawebdesign9015
4 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith thank you!
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
@Jesse Carte, thanks for the kind words. You are correct, the 2018 battery is up front, not in the back like the earlier version of the Prius. Which means it's a different set up entirely, because you'd need to run heavy wires somewhere to connect the inverter. And I don't think an inverter would be happy under the hood, unless it's manufactured to put up with rain and road salt, etc. And no, 1500 watts is too much, 1000 is the limit for the car. No, a second battery will not help you, because the inverter draws power from the Prius DC/DC inverter, not primarily from the 12V battery. If you just hook the inverter to a second battery, you would drain that battery in a very, very short time. Sorry.
@dssd245
2 жыл бұрын
I’m running a 850watt ac off of this setup.. it’s good at 80degrees.. at 95degrees.. the low voltage alarm on the inverter goes off..so maybe 3gauge wires?
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
Are you running the car while you're running the inverter? Otherwise you’ll quickly drain your 12V battery. Why run an AC and not just the car’s AC?
@khan-hg6em
8 жыл бұрын
how much fuel the car uses if it powers a house all night,any calculations. this setup must be very useful for camping as one shall need power for appliances etc..
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question, Amir. I've not yet had to power all night, the most was for three and a half hours when the power got knocked out by a storm. Since the gasoline engine only comes on when needed, the Prius would use less gasoline than a generator, which runs all the time, and makes lots of noise. I've read about people powering their home for three days or so. I only powered our freezer, telephone system, internet, and computer during the outage.
@pgannon1948
7 жыл бұрын
Great video! TY!
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Hope it's useful as well.
@stevencohen8774
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video and the plans. Someone stated on another site that " The terminals will heat up with a 100amp+ load and will degrade the battery. " Have you seen any of these results?
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question, Steven. I wouldn’t try to draw more than 1kW from the 12V Prius battery. I have not noticed any unusual heating up of the battery terminals. The inverter has a built in fan which kicks in when there’s more power draw. My setup is 1kW, which is roughly 83A. My microwave is 600W (rated at 900W, and if you look closely at the end of the video, it says it’s drawing 1,120W, but I don’t know how accurate that is, and I run it for only 2-3 minutes at a time at that). My rice cooker is 450W (and a bigger one is 620W). It takes around 20 minutes to cook rice. Occasionally when the house power is out, I run the freezer, computers, internet modem & router, backup NAS, phones and alarm system off the Prius. Unfortunately, our refrigerator (which is rated low enough) has too much startup kick and won’t run. We just got a new furnace, so I’m eager to see if that will run. As far as degrading the 12V battery, I suppose that’s possible over time if you use the inverter often. But the 12V Prius battery is a hybred made for deep cycling. Most of the power is actually coming from the Prius inverter topping off the 12V battery as it drains. So far, my 12V batteries have lasted more than 5 years.
@stevencohen8774
4 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Thanks for the fast response. I think I will try and limit the load to about 700 watts maximum just to be on the safe side. I have a clamp meter so I can measure current to keep an eye on the load.
@terrellsmith2203
4 жыл бұрын
Steven, you should be OK with 1kW. The 12V battery is fused at 140A coming from the Prius inverter.
@krllyy
8 жыл бұрын
Terrell, did you use the stock Prius 12v battery or replace it with a deep cyle 12v ? If so, what size battery (amp hours) fit ? Thanks
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
+Ken Lumley Thanks for the question, Ken. I used the stock battery. From looking at the battery holder, I would guess that a larger battery would fit in there (not in height, but in depth). But then you'd be hauling around that slightly extra weight.
@pgannon1948
3 жыл бұрын
Ken, I'm pretty sure that the only purpose of the 12v battery is to boot the Prius computer. Once the computer is booted any draw on the 12v battery comes from the 300+ volt traction battery. Once the traction battery gets low enough the engine starts and recharges it, and it's ready for the next cycle.
@dantube8471
7 жыл бұрын
Nice vid, i also readnyour topic on priuschat. So there is no need to wire it to the fusebox in the front? Is the 140A fuse so 140A the max you can drawn out the battery? Or the 100A because of the inverter fuse in the front. I have a class D mono 1000w rms connected to the 12v so that is up to 87A no problem so far, but i want to keep it that way, is it safe what i am doing?
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Dantube, sorry, I didn't see your question earlier. The 140A fuse is built into the positive battery terminal on the 2010 Prius, where the 12V battery is in the rear. I added the 100A fuse between the positive terminal and my inverter, just in case. You always want to protect the car and battery from any device, just in case something goes wrong.
@feredonferedon3998
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your good video But I’m thinking to fit another 12v second battery and then connect 2000w inverter to the second battery please I need your advice what you think about ? Because I want to use drill and welding machine? Thanks
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
No, don't do it. A second battery will NOT allow you to make 2,000W. The power comes from your car's DC/DC inverter, not primarily from the 12V battery. You will fry your car if you try to draw 2kW from it. Don't go over 1kW, for the safety of your car. A drill (assuming a hand drill) will work, because it's not over 1kW. But a welding machine? No. Get a portable generator that's able to power your welder.
@MichaelEricMenk
3 жыл бұрын
The best option is to buy a so-called 'solar generator" that support 2kW, and can charge "solar generator" from 12V. Set up the same anderson connection as in the video, and charge the "solar generator" from the Prius. The solar generator will deliver the 2kW burst, and the solar generator will charge from the Prius at well below 1kW. More likely under 500W. A 2kW solar generator are large and expensive... As an example, Goal Zero car charging kit draws 50A at 12V (about 750W).
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelEricMenk As you said, large and expensive. But they are getting less expensive. I now have a Power Station (LiFePO4) plugged into my second 12V battery, so it charges as I drive.
@RhondaRants
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the awesome info Terrell! Hoping you can teach me how to determine what I can or can't power with this setup? For instance, like you my initial interest began with running the fridge during the hurricane headed my way. IE. My fridge is a samsung RF197ACPN. States "max amps is 3.9" and "rated voltage 115". So 468Watts? How is the initial surge of the compressor determined? I assume it would involve a ton of loss in conversion, but I could also consider using the inverter to charge some kind of UPS. Suggestions?
@TerrellWSmith
6 жыл бұрын
Hi Rhonda, thanks for the kinds words and question. Your fridge states "max amps," but that's probably not the running amp power draw, but might be the startup surge power draw. Your math is correct at 120V. The best way to really know it's running power needs is to plug it into a small device called Kill-A-Watt. They cost about $20 on Amazon. You are correct that the initial surge can be an issue. For example, our fridge says it's 6 amps at 115V, which is 690W, but the startup surge trips the breaker on my 1000W inverter. Our freezer runs fine, and is rated at 5A. My suggestion would be to just try your fridge before the hurricane hits. Then you'll know. I bet that your 3.9A fridge will be fine with a 1000W inverter. If you look into a UPS which can supply 1000W, it will likely cost you twice as much as your inverter.
@RhondaRants
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Terrell you are awesome! I have also been researching potential van builds to design a diy promaster alternator to lithium ion system that can handle AC, so 3000 to 4000w inverter and good size bank. Since most use cases for using my prius as emergency backup also involve surge loads, it finally occurred to me I'm essentially trying to apply the same application specs to the prius. Could a prius connection to lithium serve as a kick start to the van project? For emergencies the ability to use the car to re-charge a detachable bank intermittently is enough (assuming bank would be outlet ready and charged via shore power before storm) Any thoughts on how this could be setup?The inverter would only be involved in utilizing the lithium stored power. After mulling it, perhaps there is a way to temporarily bypass the 12 v and quick connect to a Lion bank for charging only. The Lion would then be detached from prius and connected to inverter for draw. Sure my lack on knowledge on the electrical side is showing. Hope it's not completely shortsighted.Maybe it's as simple as a diverse enough controller (www.lithiumion-batteries.com/products/lithium-ion-chargers/12v-lithium-ion-battery-chargers/)? I have a 2014 III hybrid with solar roof (no plug in). I do realize I'm talking about a much greater $$ investment. Just thinking there might be an opportunity here to invest in my van power setup in steps, thus allowing me to learn along the way as well as invest incrementally. Are you familiar with the new systems on Hymer Activ and volta kit for promaster that they are also using on the promaster travato????? I think some of these are 48v and believe the RV industry is moving toward this more. The possibilities are really exciting. Don't mean to get off topic just wish I could hang out and really pick your brain. You're clearly very knowledgable.
@TerrellWSmith
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words. Your plans are beyond my knowledge, sorry. But I will suggest this for the storm: If you use your Prius to supply power (1000W is the max draw off the 12v battery, you can go up to 3000W from the Prius traction battery I'm told, but that's a much more difficult build), make sure you have a full tank of gas (assume your Prius doesn't get destroyed or flooded in the storm), extra gasoline safely stored (assume it doesn't get washed away or polluted by muddy water), because when the power grid gets destroyed, gas stations won't be able to pump gas. (Unless the gas station is very old fashioned and has hand pumps!) But even if the gas station has power, a flood might contaminate their gasoline. Best bet is to get away from the storm and be safe!
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
Get yourself a Kill-a-Watt device that you plug in your appliance to while it is running and it will tell you exactly how much energy it is drawing.
@pinetreeshilling
4 жыл бұрын
one more question: the grounding wire you use: what are the specifications? mine did not come with one- and it has no specifications on what to get......thanks!
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Good question. I just used some two-wire copper strand I had lying around. It was from living in Europe, so I'm not sure what gauge it would be according to AWG, but it's probably around 15 AWG (sorry, I don't have my wire gauge handy now), and I used both wires.
@cfldriven
2 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith My inverter (Nature Power) specs #10AWG as minimum for grounding with crimp ring terminal.
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
@@cfldriven They must have a reason. I grounded mine as you can see in the video at 6:55, and used both lines of lamp cord, which is probably 16 or maybe 18 AWG (I don't remember now). That's much less than the 10 AWG your specs are calling for. You can see I grounded it to one of the tie-down posts.
@desmondthang6759
5 жыл бұрын
Hi there. I'm trying to add a 2000w inverter to my 2014 prius with 1/0 AWg wire and 100A fuse. i think 100A will only get 12x100=1200watt. Since I have 0 AWG wire, is it ok to change the 100A to 150A to get 1800w?
@terrellsmith2203
5 жыл бұрын
Desmond, my understanding is that 1000w is the most you can draw from the Prius 12v battery. There are people taping into the traction battery for 3000w, but that’s not a simple project. Putting bigger wire and a larger fuse doesn’t increase the amount of power the battery, and more importantly, the inverter in your Prius can produce. The fuse protects them both. The Prius battery is expensive, the inverter even more expensive.
@rickdezeeuw6937
7 жыл бұрын
I can only find "tinned marine battery cable" at places that make cables. Will that work and be flexible enough? Or does anybody have a link to a welding rod cable?
@TerrellWSmith
6 жыл бұрын
I think it should be fine.
@oguzozdemir4048
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this great video. I have a question. When I inspect the wiring that comes to the 12V battery from under the hood, it seems quite thin for ~70A (For about 1kW). Did you (or anyone) have any problem using the inverter for a long time under considerable load?
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the good question. The white wire which comes from the front of the car is stranded aluminum and looks to be 3 AWG wire, which should be good for 65-75A. The insulation is fairly thin, that's why it looks thin and is protected in a flexible plastic sleeve. There is a 140A fuse built in on the 12V battery's positive side. As you noted, drawing 1kW is ~70A (assuming around 14V when running). The longest I've run the 1kW inverter under full load is when running the microwave, and that's usually a short time (90 seconds to cook a pouch of rice, for example). Occasionally, I've cooked salmon in it, five minutes. A baked potato takes about five minutes as well. When cooking rice in a rice cooker, it takes around twenty minutes, but then it's not full load (my biggest rice cooker is 620W). When the power has been out at home, I connect the freezer, phone system, computers with router, modem, home alarm system, but because none of these things draw much power at the same time, I've not had any issues, even after seven hours. (The kitchen refrigerator startup does trip the breaker on the inverter, though.) So far, I've not seen any issues running the inverter under these conditions, most of which are not full load (except the microwave). I always make sure the inverter has enough space for air around it, and under load, it's internal fan does come on. What I suspect is going on is that the car's DC/DC inverter supplies most of the power most of the time, and the 12V battery acts as a short term buffer under short greater loads. Of course, the 12V battery can only do this for a very limited period of time, but it's a hybrid 12V battery, and able to handle loads. Most of the power comes from the car's DC/DC inverter, which is able to handle the 1kW inverter. Of course, the car must be in "on" mode, the "Ready" light on. It will cycle on and off automatically to keep power flowing.
@oguzozdemir4048
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the detailed answer, now things are more clear for me.
@rickdezeeuw6937
7 жыл бұрын
Would it be possible to have a 2000 watt inverter? If so, what adjustments would have to be made?
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
The limit for the 12v battery is 1000 watts, so no, sorry. The exception would be to draw from the traction battery. That can supply 3kw. BUT, that is a major and dangerous job due to the very high voltage involved. I do not recommend it.
@mohammedmoqbel3688
5 жыл бұрын
If 12v battery gets really low and I can't start the car; Can I connect a car jump starter to the final lugs?
@forwimp
5 жыл бұрын
The whole point of doing this on a Prius is that the 12V battery in the rear is constantly being recharged by the 200V traction battery, which will be periodically recharged by the gas engine as needed; if it's left in the On status as described. The 12V battery should never get low if it's in good condition.
@WishoftheJellyfish
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this video. Would the same equipment (cables, fuse, nuts, bolts) be used for a 1500 watt pure sine wave inverter?
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question. It is not recommended to use a 1500 watt inverter, because you might damage your electrical system. From the 12v battery, the Prius can safely power up to a 1000 watt inverter, not more.
@WishoftheJellyfish
6 жыл бұрын
Terrell Smith thank you for sharing this.
@WishoftheJellyfish
6 жыл бұрын
Where can I find the Anderson dust cap cover for 175A? I’ve found some on eBay, but they’re shipped from China. I checked genuinedealz, but they are listing cap covers for 175B, is there a difference? Thank you.
Thanks for that excellent video; I have two questions: Can I use the same connection for a 2000 w inverter ? and What happen if I use something bigger that use more power like 3000 w ?
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately, no. 1000w is the max you can safely draw off the Prius battery and inverter. You could, theoretically, draw more than 1000w for a short time (it'll kill your battery), but much above that you'll blow the fuse between your car and the battery (it's fused at 140A). If you want to go as high as 3000w, you need to tap into the car's traction battery. See PriusChat for people who have done this. It's quite a bit of work, and dangerous.
@geumonteverde
6 жыл бұрын
Terrell Smith thanks so much for your answer, have a great day
@cawag98
3 жыл бұрын
I'd point out that the limitation is the 100A max on the Prius inverter/converter module fuse, which you don't want to blow (replacement not simple). As long as you install a 100A fuse on your hot/red wires (short and fat) it would be okay to use a larger inverter, provided that you don't add items to it going over your 100a Fuse. In this situation, you might want to make a note on the inverter that it's Prius max power draw must only be 100A. You might do this if you already have the larger inverter. Another point: sometimes inverters are rated for their surge power (for a second). A 2000W inverter might really be a 1000W continuous inverter. In other words, you can install any 'size' inverter as long as you only draw the 1000W or so max power. Keep in mind larger inverters may take more power when they are switched on, but not powering anything.
@amywalker7515
3 жыл бұрын
I would like to set this up with my Prius but before I get all the parts, I was wondering if you could advise what sizes to get, etc. You can give one-word answers if appropriate. 1) Will this work with a 2004 Prius? I believe they have a NiMh battery (larger than what they have today, I believe) but the chemistry is different. If not advisable, we can stop right here. 2) Would having a 1200 watt pure sine wave inverter be better for-just-in-case surges? I don't have a lot to run. This is for emergency backup use only. I put my Kill-a-Watt on both my fridge and freezer and they both drew very little power. The freezer is an old-style manual defrost kind and the fridge is one of those energy conserving models. We wouldn't use anything powerful like microwaves in such a situation. 3) What size battery cables? Size 4 or 2? Would 2 be better for not heating up, etc? Is Marine grade what I want? 4) I would like to use a breaker rather than a fuse. What size breaker would you recommend? This is what I have in mind: www.amazon.com/dp/B08BYGRS1Z/?coliid=I1QG63HIPAVA3V&colid=147E3KHK8VQOL&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it 5) Attaching the cables to the battery terminals it's positive on first, then regative, right? I've seen various videos on this and it seems some people do it the other way. I found a site where they will custom make cables with Anderson connectors and whatever kind of terminal ends you want. Once I know the right sizes for all the components, putting the system together should be fairly easy. batterycablesusa.com Your video was extremely informative and easy to follow. Thanks a million!
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Amy. Thanks for the nice words and all the good questions. :) 1) It should. The 2010 Prius also has a NiMh traction battery. 2) 1000 Watts is as high as you should go. And yes, get a pure sine wave inverter. Some equipment will only like pure sine wave. Pure sine wave inverters cost a bit more, but are the way to go. 3) Get #4 cables. #2 will be too heavy. #4 won't heat up. Marine grade is high quality. It should be like welding cable, because it's nice and flexible. 4) A breaker is fine. Either fuse or breaker should be 100A. The 12V battery in the 2010 Prius has a 140A fuse built into the positive battery clamp. The 2004 Prius might be similar, but I don't know. 5) If you are attaching battery cables directly to the battery and there's no load when they are attached then it doesn't matter which order. But if there's a load on them, then always connect the positive first, then the negative to a ground away from the battery. Why? Because 12V batteries (flooded or AGM) make hydrogen gas, and when you connect cables with a load there will be a spark. You do not want a spark near the battery. I have heard of videos which do not tell it correctly -- they are putting people at risk -- I don't know why they have it mixed up. If you measure what you need for cables carefully, there are places which will make very nice cables for you. I got mine from genuinedealz.com (see at 1:20). They have had so many requests now from this video that they have a "kit" with everything ready. I don't know whether this will fit the 2004, since that's a Gen 2 Prius, and the 2010 is Gen 3, so there might be a difference. Hope this helps!
@amywalker7515
3 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Totally awesome! Thank you so much! If I wear latex gloves while I do the battery hook up, and cover the black wire while I do it, I won't get shocked, right? More questions: I see videos where people are attaching the black wire to some other place than on the negative post of the auxiliary battery. Why would one do that? Can't I just hook it up the same way I would hook up my riding mower or car battery? And what about a ground wire connection? If you had to use this where your car is exposed to the elements, how could one keep the hatch door closed with an extension cord coming out during adverse weather and keep people from stealing your car? Could one put a hole in the wheel well to sneak the extension cord through? My garage is a distance from my electrical panel, if I chose to not connect the car to it, I would need several really long extension cords to get power to my fridge and freezer from my garage. Lots of little details to deal with, but it seems totally worth in the long run compared to the cost of a solar or gas-powered generator. Thanks again for your advice.
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
@@amywalker7515 , sure, wear gloves. I usually just make sure I keep one hand away, or put both hands on the same spot, like to do a nut. The black wire is the ground, which is the same as the rest of the body of the car. It's the red wire you have to be extra careful about, the positive wire. So keep tools and yourself from touching both the red (positive) and any ground (the rest of the car's metal parts) at the same time. Yes, you may attach the black wire to any good metal part of the car. If you look closely, the negative (black) wire from the battery is attached to the metal of the car. So yes, you can attach other ground (negative) (black) wires to the frame of the car. I attach it to the negative 12V battery post directly, so that I have a very solid connection. And remember to have a fuse close to the positive battery post, in case something goes wrong. I use a 100A fuse. A breaker is also fine. Regarding the extension cord from your inverter to your house: You don't need to drill a hole in your car. That just helps it rust faster. You can lay the extension cord at the bottom of the hatch opening (keeping it away from the latch area), then close the hatch very gently on it until you hear one click. Then gently push down until you hear the second click. If not, then move it toward one of the corners, where there is more flex of the hatch. There is enough space between the bottom of the hatch and the car for the extension cord to pass through, and the rubber seal on the hatch will seal it against rain. Just don't let the hatch slam down on the cord, or it can be damaged. I use a 12 AWG extension cord, which can carry 15 Amps. Make sure the car is in READY mode and the pure sine wave inverter is turned on, and all your stuff is plugged in and working. I have several 50' industrial extension cords, as well as 100', so I can park the car in the driveway, close the garage door (the cord can go under the closed garage door, because of the rubber seal), and into the house. A multi-tap power strip is plugged into this inside the house. And from there, extension cords go to the computers, phone system, basement freezer, and perhaps an LED lamp. Our refrigerator unfortunately takes too much of a surge starting up for the 1kW inverter to handle. Use your Kill-A-Watt to find out what everything needs. Now comes the fun secret part: Manually lock your car door with the emergency key that's part of your key fob. This locks all the doors and disables any fob from opening them. So your running car cannot easily be stolen. When done, you have to manually unlock the doors with the emergency key to restore the system. By the way, I do NOT recommend plugging anything into your electrical panel. You would need a special panel with a transfer switch. Just run extension cords to whatever you need to plug in, and make sure they don't create a tripping hazard. 1kW for a house isn't much, but it's enough to get by on, and if needed, you can unplug something and plug in something else. :)
@amywalker7515
3 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Wow! Thanks! I'm really ready to go now. I ordered my inverter and breaker switch last night and will get the wire and Anderson connectors tomorrow. For some odd reason, my refrigerator only runs at 100 -107 watts and my manual defrost freezer at 64-66 watts I(says my Kill-a-Watt). Most of the other things I might want to run like lights are all LED's or are laptops that run from 12-40 watts. We wouldn't use things like microwaves or toaster ovens. Just enough to keep the food from going bad and see at night. A 1000 watt inverter should be plenty large enough for what I want it to do. Can't wait to get it up and running. Thank you so much for all your help and inspiration. Maybe you should make an E-Book on how to make the system and sell it on Amazon or Ebay.
@amywalker7515
3 жыл бұрын
Your detailed instructions will also help all the other newbies on here too!
@Kiki-yf2dw
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video! Would it be the same setup if instead of an inverter replace it with a cigarette socket? I want to run 240watts from this 12v socket :)
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
Yes, you could set up a 12v socket directly from the battery to run 240w. Put a fuse on the + side to protect things just in case. The fuse should be 30A. I have added a 12v socket directly from the battery to run a small refrigerator. Use 10 AWG wire if the round trip length (there and back) is 4-7 feet. The 12v sockets already in the car are limited to around 150w (Prius says 120w). Remember that when you run directly from the battery, this socket will always be active, even with the car turned off, unless you install a switch. If you forget whatever you're running is plugged in, you could drain your 12v battery.
@Kiki-yf2dw
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your reply! Is there anyway to put in a relay or some kind of automatic switch that will turn off when the Prius is not on ready? Or should I just stick with a switch and turn it on/off every time? I'm worried I'll forget one of these days...it would be so great if there is some kind of auto shut off switch?
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
Or you could just plan to plug in whatever you're using and unplug it when you're finished. That's probably better than a switch, which may be easily forgotten. Installing an automatic switch which goes off when the Prius is off is beyond my skill level, although you might do something with a relay which is on (powered by one of the car's built-in 12v power ports) when the car is on, and off when the car is off. In other words, control your relay via the car's built-in system.
@Kiki-yf2dw
6 жыл бұрын
Ok! Thank you very much for taking your time to reply! Very appreciate it :)
@realb0r3d
5 жыл бұрын
Terrell Smith Would it be possible to run both of the 12v sockets in the Prius simultaneously at 150w each for a total of 300w? Or will the fuse blow at over 150w? Great videos. Very much appreciated.
@DSJVNdsjnvf4356
3 жыл бұрын
How many watts can you get out of the prius using an inverter? I know you can easily get 1000 watts but could you get like 2500 watts? Microwave, heater, washing machine, etc. Could you get that much power hooking a big inverter? Not an engineer so yeah..
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question, Brandon. !000 Watts. A big inverter won't do anything but damage your car. The power comes from the car's DC/DC inverter. The fuse on the 12V battery is a 140A fuse. 1000 Watts is safe, but more is not -- unless you tap directly into the traction battery, which is a major and dangerous project.
@DSJVNdsjnvf4356
3 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith thanks. By the way, what are the risks of going camping in a prius when you are charging the battery hooked to an inverter in Ready mode? If I’m sleeping in the back of the prius, I wouldn’t want Hydrogen gas building up!
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
@@DSJVNdsjnvf4356 Excellent question! But no worries. The 12V battery in the Prius is sealed (actually, vented), and there's a small tube which goes off of the battery and vents to outside the car, if necessary. So no Hydrogen gas worries. The question to be asking is about Carbon Monoxide (CO). In Ready mode (necessary when the inverter is running), the gasoline engine will cycle on and off automatically as needed. The Prius engine is very efficient, plus its "on" cycle is short, so the amount of CO made is very small. Plus, you're outdoors camping, and the gentle breeze will take care of things. But just to be on the safe side, have a small, battery operated CO detector in the car. I mention this in my "How to Build a Prius Camper" video. kzitem.info/news/bejne/mW-a16KAp2WXiJw at 8:48.
@newlifetravels155
6 жыл бұрын
Wonderful video. I recently connected a 1000w inverter to plug in my year drop camper at night. It gets hot here in FL and I do understand I have to leave the car running so the battery doesn’t drain. I already plugged an extension cord from the tear drop to the inverter and had a test run for about 20 mins it worked great! My ac on the tear drop camper runs 115v 300low 520high, I haven’t put a single fuse connector on the red wire yet. Do you think I should ? If so why? Thank you
@terrellsmith2203
6 жыл бұрын
Glad it's working well for you. 520w should be no problem at all, even longer than the 20 minutes. Make sure the inverter has ventilation. I put a 100A fuse on the red (positive) wire from the battery, just in case something goes wrong (like when a raccoon bites through your extension cord) to protect the battery in your car. (I don't really think a raccoon would do that, because the rabbits will first!) Actually, it's for protection just-in-case.
@priusdave2064
4 жыл бұрын
Some miss information: a longer wire is fine but it should be larger 4 or 2. A Pure sine wave inverter . A xantrex is not important, same quality for less, 150 A fuse, see zantrex manual.
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Dave, thanks for the comments. Perhaps you missed what I said. I do recommend #4 wire. Sure, you can use #2, it's just heavier and more expensive, but yes, you can run it further. I do say a pure sine wave inverter. I said I chose a Xantrex, but yes, you can find many available, and yes, I said you can find them cheaper, so shop around. No, you don't want to use a 150A fuse. The Prius fuse from the inverter to the 12v battery is rated at 140A, so going larger is not a good idea, no matter what the Xantrex manual might say. I chose a 100A fuse to be on the safe side.
@GeorgijusPavlovas
2 жыл бұрын
А good instruction for those who want to kill the converter-inverter of their Prius. Why all Prius owners want to draw so much power from the 12V circuit?
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
No, this will not harm your Prius inverter. You can easily draw 1000 W from the inverter. You evidently do not understand the electronics of the Prius. I have been doing this for five years now. I power a microwave oven when camping, and I have powered my house when we’ve had power outages. Many others have also done this.
@GeorgijusPavlovas
2 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith "You can easily draw 1000 W from the inverter." Yes, you could draw even 1200W from a Prius converter-inverter. If you were the only consumer of 12V in the whole car, but you are not. "I have been doing this for five years now." Yes, I've been smoking for 39 years now and I'm still alive. Because smoking is not harm my health. The Prius is equipped with a high-capacity high-voltage power battery. But instead of building a homemade inverter powered by this battery, everyone prefers to overload the 12V line.
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
@@GeorgijusPavlovas BTW, it's called a DC/DC inverter. You don't run the 1kW inverter while driving, so yes, almost all of the power the DC/DC inverter generates is available.
@swataasounds
2 жыл бұрын
what if i don't know what i'm doing but i want to do this project?
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment, Sally. First, consider WHY you might like this project done. Maybe you don't really have a need for it. You might want to have a look at this short video about why: kzitem.info/news/bejne/0Jyor6hpkKSYhWk IF you do decide you need it, then find a friend to help you with it. It's not really that difficult.
@dssd245
2 жыл бұрын
Why can’t you just leave the inverter Plugged in and turn it off? Does it drain the battery? Risk of fire?
@TerrellWSmith
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question. Plugged in, there is the possibility that the inverter is always drawing some current, even when turned off. And if that's true, you will slowly drain the 12V battery if you don't drive often. A second reason is that the inverter's terminals might be exposed (they are on mine), and you don't want the positive side to come in contact with ground (any part of the car's metal), because if it does, it might spark (risk of fire), weld itself to the metal (drain your 12V battery), and at the very least, blow the 100A fuse. So to be safe, just unplug it.
@chrisgibbs3988
4 жыл бұрын
Kudos and much gratitude for this wonderfully thoughtful & thorough video. Quite the homage to have GenuineDealz put together your cabling as a bundle with your name as the reference. :) I found an inverter (1200W BestekDirect) that I fits in the cavity over the 12V battery. I was hoping to mount the inverter to a hinged board which I could screw to the edge of the 12V battery cover, allowing it to tip down in to the cargo area. I'd secure board (with velcro?) at the top of cavity to keep closed. Mounting in this space requires the inverter to be positioned vertically, with the rear facing the 12V battery cover. Your thoughts on: - Is the higher wattage inverter an issue even if I never run it over the 1000W recommended? - Will this vertical mounting affect the inverter performance, i.e. heat dissipation? I was planning on venting the board and even attaching a USB turbine to the board to assist in heat dissipation. FYI, the inverter manual is rather useless. - If I wanted to install an isolator (in case I forget to turn inverter off), where in the line would an isolator go: between the 12V battery and the fuse? Between the fuse and the Anderson connector? A thousand thanks for this video and your others! A literal life changer for me.
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Chris, for the kind words. Glad the video is helpful. 1) The higher wattage should be OK as long as you are careful to not go over 1,000 Watts (there is some playroom, but I wouldn't push it.). The fuse between the 12V battery and car's inverter is 140A, so you ought to be OK. I've fused my inverter at 100A so as to be under the 140A on the battery. 2) Sorry the inverter manual is so useless. Nothing online? I assume there's a fan on the inverter? Make sure the inverter has ample airflow and I think you should be OK. I don't think it matters whether it's vertical, as long as there's good airflow. Does the fan blow out? Then maybe you should aim it up, since heat rises, and you don't want it to be forcing heat down, because it'll just rise back up, making the fan work harder. 3) Isolator - just don't forget to turn off the inverter! You absolutely don't want it running when the car is in "Off." You'll drain your 12V battery. I wonder whether an isolator might make you careless? If it were me, I'd skip it. But if you install it, put it after the fuse (between fuse and Anderson connector). That way, if your isolator gets loose, or a wire gets loose, the fuse protects everything.
@chrisgibbs3988
4 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Thanks, Terrell, for the quick and thought out reply. You are wonderful and I appreciate your time and insight.
@chrisgibbs3988
4 жыл бұрын
Sorry, Terrell, one last question; do you know if stainless steel bolts are okay as replacements? I've read some conflicting info regarding corrosion with the mixed metals, but also see that auto parts stores sell (among others) stainless steel battery bolts. What kind of bolts [material] did you use? Thanks, hope you and yours are well.
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Chris, I didn't pay attention to mixed metals, just got the bolts that fit. I think the difference would be so minor it doesn't matter, but some might like to argue about it. The point is to hold the wire lugs snug.
@rickdezeeuw6937
7 жыл бұрын
The cable people I am talking to are asking if the Anderson connectors are single pole or double pole. Anybody know the answer?
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
Double - You're connecting two wires from the battery to your inverter.
@inquisitive1364
3 жыл бұрын
How does he determine that a 1 kw inverter is the maximum for his car?
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the good question, David. I first learned about the 1kW limit from those who do Prius mods at priuschat.com. You can also consider these factors: The power comes from the Prius DC/DC inverter. That power is fused at the 12V battery at 140A. (I have a Gen 3 Prius, and I think the Gen 2 might have a 100A fuse, but I'm not sure.) Roughly speaking, 12V x 140 A = 1680W (roughly speaking because there are other factors involved). So, if you add, for example, a 2kW inverter, you will likely blow the fuse and/or damage the Prius' system. A 1kW inverter gives you a comfortable and safe margin. Add human propensity to push things as far as possible, and you risk the same thing. If you watch carefully, the microwave is actually drawing 1.13kW (assuming the readout is accurate) at 8:20 in the video. My 1kW inverter has a peak surge up to 2kW, but that would blow the fuse. So keep the inverter at 1kW and your should be fine. :)
@larrys8877
5 жыл бұрын
good video but isn't the Prius battery a different voltage?
@terrellsmith2203
5 жыл бұрын
Larry, the Prius has two batteries. The traction battery and the 12v battery. My video is about the 12v battery, which is a standard battery. It is possible to tap into the traction battery, but that’s a whole different project which involves more work, higher voltage, and a special inverter. Check out Prius Chat for info on how to do that.
@mikeq5807
5 жыл бұрын
@@terrellsmith2203 I would have to hire you to do it for me. What would you charge? Not competent with electrical matters. Mike 207.330 0396
@SquirrelTruck84
8 жыл бұрын
Great videos.
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
+Squirrel Truck Thanks, Squirrel, glad you enjoyed them.
@stevepoggi689
4 жыл бұрын
Hi, Can you install a 3000W inverter the same way? Thanks, Steve
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question, Steve. Short answer: NO. Not in the same way. It is possible to install a 3000W inverter, but you'd need to tap into the traction battery, NOT the 12V battery. And going into the traction battery is a totally different thing. If you're interested in that, head over to PriusChat.com, there are some people there who have done it.
@stevepoggi689
4 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Thanks for the info, Steve
@DenaliDad
3 жыл бұрын
I only wish Toyota hadn't moved the battery back up into the engine compartment in front of the firewall. But I did check with a local Toyota dealer; they will do the professional install as long as I provide the parts. That's what I am going to do. Breaching the firewall does not seem like a good idea to me, especially considering how tight everything is in my 2016 Prius 3's engine compartment. Better let the pros do it!
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Good that Toyota is willing to do this for you. I bet it's not inexpensive, though. Think carefully where to put the inverter. :)
@DenaliDad
3 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith The service manager said they would charge the "normal hourly rate." I bet you are right.
@terrellsmith2203
3 жыл бұрын
@@DenaliDad You might also ask them for a time estimate. They should do things right as far as the firewall, so you should be good there. Let us know how it goes.
@amywalker7515
3 жыл бұрын
Wouldn't it be great if Toyota made some kind of small camper that had that same Prius engine? You wouldn't need solar panels or an auxiliary generator. I wonder if you could take out the engine and battery and install it in a camper. Perhaps I should submit my ideas to Toyota.
@amywalker7515
2 жыл бұрын
In the 70's, they made little campers that looked a lot like truck campers but were on these small Toyota pickups. I knew someone who lived in one for years. With van life craze right now, I wouldn't be surprised if Toyota put them out again.
@Bradley777
7 жыл бұрын
so when the prius is in start mode engine not running using the inverter the car will start up when the battery get low so does the battery pack and the start up battery share the same or separate power i must be overthinking this lol cool video.
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
The Prius has a "traction" battery (the BIG one which powers the electric motor), as well as a 12v battery. The 1KW inverter is connected to the 12v battery. When the 12v battery drops to a certain point, the gasoline engine comes on and charges it back up. So they do not share the same power. The traction battery is 201.6v.
@Bradley777
7 жыл бұрын
ok thank you terrellwsmith :)
@Bigjohndallas
3 жыл бұрын
Can this same procedure be done with a 2009 Prius?
@TerrellWSmith
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question, John. The 2009 (Prius Gen 2) is slightly different. Check the fuse on the positive terminal of the 12V battery. On 2010 (Gen 3), it's 140A. It might be less on the 2009. So use a fuse that's lower in value than the Prius 12V battery fuse, just to be safe. The cable length from the 12V battery to the inverter also may be a bit different, so check that as well. Do not try to draw more than 1kW, so your inverter should be 1kW or less, and pure sine wave. Other than these things, you should be fine. You can double check with the people at priuschat.com
@Bigjohndallas
3 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Thanks so much for your answer and time. My wife wants me to get rid of my Prius (we have two other cars and are empty nesters) Using it as an electrical backup gives it purpose. I will follow up on your suggestions. Thanks again for your help.
@freetrailer4poor
8 жыл бұрын
Great idea. If you really want to go maverick. You could replace battery with lithium ion phosphate 4*3.5. 120 ah. Then you could run without have car on and even have electric blanket on overnight. I guess the car comes automatically if the voltage drops.
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
Yes, the car auto starts up if/when the 12v battery gets low, to charge it up again. I wonder what might happen with the charging system with a different 12v battery? It looks like there would be space to put a larger battery in there, which might allow fewer engine cycles.
@freetrailer4poor
8 жыл бұрын
TerrellWSmith I actually looked at the center console 12V plug today, it says 120W max. But if there is a way you could use some of that power to store a battery or supercap then anyone can use to use their car to boil water from the center. Not sure what happens when the 12V battery is low, does the engine kick on, or does the main battery charge the little battery. It seems my mileage dropped a few mpg, I wonder if it is result of the small battery dying. A small refrigerator takes less than 120W, but the surge would blow the circuit I would think. But hooking to the main battery, it might be possible to have even a refrigerator via a 300W inverter if engine kicks on. 12V Dc refrigerators cost $500, but AC cost $100 new and used one probably free if you look around.
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
When the 12v battery gets low, it's charged by the gasoline engine turning itself on automatically.
@TerrellWSmith
8 жыл бұрын
I've looked at small refrigerators, because having to buy ice all the time is a nuisance, and having it melt into the food, creates a mess that needs to be dumped out every day. I put my food in large plastic bags to keep it from swimming in melted water. Plus, it'd be fun to be able to eat ice cream! BUT, 12v mini refrigerators cost almost as much as a big kitchen one! So I gave up on the idea for now. An AC refrigerator that gets bounced around a lot probably wouldn't last very long. That's likely why the 12v models cost so much, they are made to take the bumps. And they are made to work off the 12v plug.
@freetrailer4poor
8 жыл бұрын
TerrellWSmith You have a nice plug, to plug one in at. The Wynter 45 quart is $476. Cheapest 110V is Haier 1.7 cuft at Bestbuy for $105. If you fill ice area with Blue Ice, you might be alright for camping if you only run it with car running and travelling. There is also a portable ice maker.
@TACOMASRT5
4 жыл бұрын
Did you not fuse this?
@terrellsmith2203
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the question. See at 2:10 for the fuse holder and fuse, 3:25 for connecting the fuse, and at 5:48 you can see the fuse holder sitting on top of the battery.
@gabakusa
5 жыл бұрын
links???
@gwernette5971
5 жыл бұрын
Generation 3 must have a better charging capability to the 12-volt battery. The Gen 2 can't charge it's 12 volt battery (only maintain) so I would imagine it wouldn'tt support the draw from an inverter 'loading' the 12-volt
@TerrellWSmith
5 жыл бұрын
I don't know about Gen 2, but the people on priuschat.com would know.
@allotrope
7 жыл бұрын
So I need to ground the inverter to the car ?
@terrellsmith2203
7 жыл бұрын
Priyan, whether you NEED to is up for argument. I think it’s a good idea, since (if) there’s a ground tap on your inverter, that way if anything breaks inside, the case won’t get “hot” but will be grounded. Make sure your car’s ground is the same polarity as your ground tap. On the Prius, ground is negative.
@Noah-qt3rq
4 жыл бұрын
Watching your inverter’s display, it looks like your microwave was pulling 1100 watts
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Noah, you paid close attention! According to the microwave's label, it's rated at 950W. According to my Kill A Watt device, the microwave draws 985W when on grid power. The display on the inverter shows around 1.12 kW at 13V. The inverter is rated at 900W continuous, 1kW for five minutes, and 2kW surge. So yes, I'm running the microwave at the limits of the inverter. Most microwaved food takes less than 5 minutes fortunately, so that works. If I need to do several servings or dishes, I allow a short cooling off period between.
@Noah-qt3rq
4 жыл бұрын
I installed mine in my 2006 Prius using your video. I’m using a Samlex 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter. Thank you!
@thesurvivalist.
7 жыл бұрын
I tried this with 500 watt inverter, and it fried it when I connected the inverter to the battery, I was going to use it with my Power Pressure Cooker.
@terrellsmith2203
7 жыл бұрын
The Survivalist, how many watts was your cooker? I'd guess more than 500?
@thesurvivalist.
7 жыл бұрын
Terrell Smith I never connected it, the inverter fried when I connected it to the battery.
@terrellsmith2203
7 жыл бұрын
Maybe you got the polarity mixed up?
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
I am sorry but I could not attach the photos. Can I send it on your email or whatsapp or Facebook please? Thanks
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Sure. I did a search for you on FB, and was surprised at how many people have your name! You should be able to find me.
@michaelsmith5463
5 жыл бұрын
Terrel: Does this effect ur car warranty?
@safffff1000
4 жыл бұрын
How will they know if you remove the wires before servicing?
@larrys8877
5 жыл бұрын
and BAMB, there goes the computer. lol
@GEAUXFRUGAL
7 жыл бұрын
Boil water in about 2 min with this setup. Sure I have a MSW inverter for when I need that power to power an ice maker or maybe a freezer but a MWO is not exactly the best way to cook on the road. Sure I have cooked using MWO but you want real power when you use that MWO. They make some pretty good 12 volt machines that cook on the road. If that is not working for you go with propane as you will see in my stove video the water boils very fast. I go for 16 oz of coffee when I brew. kzitem.info/news/bejne/laGGyGppk594i5w I am still working on a good way to do coffee on the road I think I will go make a cup now. I will try the coffee filter with a fork this time should have video up in about an hour.
@TerrellWSmith
7 жыл бұрын
Yes, that is a great way to boil water, and possibly make soup. But I use the microwave oven to cook potatoes, vegetables, whole meals like supper, and even make popcorn. Can't do that in your little stove. :)
@GEAUXFRUGAL
7 жыл бұрын
Just found it better to simplify and flame is about as simple as it gets. I like bio stoves too not a lot of experience with them.
@beedee9534
3 жыл бұрын
1200
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
I would like to know following from those of you who have installed any kind of power inverter (any power size, any type Pure or Modified sine wave etc etc.) on 12 v battery (NOT ON HYBRID BATTERY) in their Prius : 1. Have you noticed (perceived or real) any kind of problem with your 12 v or hybrid battery after installing the power inverter? Has it affected the life of your 12 v or hybrid battery? 2. Worst problem you have encountered due to power inverter? 3. Looking back do you feel that installation of power inverter was worth all the expenses and trouble and has improved your camping experience ? Your answer would help large number of fellow camper like me who are planning to install power inverter in their Prius.
@TerrellWSmith
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for asking the questions, Kirti. I'll be interested in what others reply. From me, I would only go with pure syne wave, so the power is clean. Your questions: 1) No problems that I've noticed. I would keep the inverter at 1kW (less is also OK, but not more). And the cables from the 12V battery should be kept as short as possible. My 2010 Prius is now old, and the hybrid battery works as well as it ever did, as far as I can tell. I'm on my second 12V battery, the first one lasted around 9 years and now serves as my second battery (see kzitem.info/news/bejne/xIJ5p32OfoiqbGk). 2) Worst problem? None - other than I wish I could run my home refrigerator during a power outage, but the startup surge is too much. 3) For camping, I love being able to bring along a small 600W microwave, 450W rice cooker, and lately, a small Dometic refrigerator. Some might say this is not true "camping" - that's OK. I'm thankful for the "stuff." I have a 120W folding portable solar panel I can use to charge the 12V batteries when I'm camped and not driving. And I've used the Prius inverter a few times when our home was without power to run the freezer, computers, modem & router, backup NAS, phones and alarm system. The downside? Now I never want to buy a car where I wouldn't be able to install an inverter! :)
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
@@TerrellWSmith Thanks Terrell, you have encouraged many like me to enjoy the benefit of Prius power by using inverter. Your original technique and procedure is very simple and safe. The company recommend by you is now offering a readymade kit as per specification suggested by you. I have ordered the kit and would install my inverter as soon as I get the kit. I am going to follow all instructions given by you in video. I would never use any appliance which demand more than 1000 watts of power although i have purchased Duracell 3000 watts inverter from Costco. Once again thanks for your kind help. God bless you. Stay safe and take care.
@terrellsmith2203
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words. What year is your Prius? Stay safe and healthy.
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
@@terrellsmith2203 Thanks Terrel, i have 2010 just like yours. Today i got the cables, Anderson connector was a super idea from you. Waiting for fuse box. Would seek your kind guidance if required. With regards.
@terrellsmith2203
4 жыл бұрын
KIRTI, make very sure you get the polarities right. Someone else smoked his inverter, and I suspect he got the polarities wrong.
@walterdelong6324
4 жыл бұрын
"Just an FYI, the company mentioned in the video is still offering this cable set for the same price, as a special order, it's not on their website. Just contact them via email." Confirming genuinedealz.com is still offering this set if you email them. This saves people the headache of trying to order the components themselves.
@terrellsmith2203
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Walter! They contacted me to ask if they might make the cables as a “kit” following this video, and I gave them permission. I receive nothing from it other than the satisfaction I’ve helped another Prius owner.
@kirtishah8261
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Walter I emailed and they sent me invoice ($62 for entire kit), I paid by my PayPal account. Hopefully I should get the kit within few days. I would like to know if you have experienced any issue after installing the inverter. Thanks
@walterdelong6324
4 жыл бұрын
@@kirtishah8261 I was able to install the inverter fine. It's not too bad at all if you follow the directions.
@adamshow360
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks but it was the worst video, you don’t know how to show people step by step, that’s is really very improfessional. I can not believe how you did this video, I didn’t understand anything.
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