Ice storms and curse the darkness

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by bwilson4web, Dec 9, 2013.

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  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    So there have been a few storms this past week and more predicted. Ice and snow taking down tree limbs and power lines so folks can sit at home and curse the darkness. But more than a few clueful Prius owners have their own, 1kW inverters ready to power critical home functions:
    • fans for gas or flame heaters
    • lights
    • TV
    • cell phone rechargers
    Although tempting, powering the Christmas lights is probably over the top.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1 bwilson4web, Dec 9, 2013
  2. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    1kw or 1.5?
    It's been a while since I read your excellent write-up on the subject, but I was thinking that the inverter could do 1.5kw.

    You're right though.
    My next car will probably be some form of hybrid or PHEV....whichever gives me more bang for the buck.

    I'm completely DONE with gas generators.
     
    #2 ETC(SS), Dec 9, 2013
  3. massparanoia

    massparanoia Active Member

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    I have converted my gas generator to run off of natural gas. I just hook up the gas line, purge it out and it will run indefinitely. No more lugging gas cans around and I have 7kw of back up power.

    More than enough for the christmas lights ;)
     
    #3 massparanoia, Dec 9, 2013
  4. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    It's 88F and sunny here, with a bit of a sea breeze to stop it feeling too hot. I might take my computer out to the garden, actually.
     
    #4 hkmb, Dec 9, 2013
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's just not right.
     
    #5 bisco, Dec 9, 2013
  6. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    Oh, it's very, very right indeed. The sky is the sort of blue you normally only see on Russian sports-team uniforms, and the sea is a shade darker.

    Actually, rather than describe it, here's a photo from a couple of minutes ago: I've been working in the garden, at a table in the shade of the leaning tree, on the other side of this hedge. My phone is struggling with the sunlight, so the colours are a bit washed out - it's much, much brighter than it appears in the photo. Also, the sea is not actually sloping in real life - I'm just not a very good photographer.

    IMG_20131210_141240.jpg
    I don't know how I cope.

    Mind you, this evening, I have to put on a suit to go to a business event. And I will be hot and sweaty. On the plus side, there'll be free beer to cool me down.
     
    #6 hkmb, Dec 9, 2013
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i get this all winter long from my brother in florida, thanks for adding to my joy.:cool:
     
    #7 bisco, Dec 9, 2013
  8. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    You're welcome.

    Still, at least you don't have to live next to a load of retired slow-Cadillac-driving golf-trousered people in Florida. You should always remember that when your brother e-mails you.
     
    #8 hkmb, Dec 9, 2013
  9. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    Oh, and bear in mind that it's the beginning of summer here. I've just suffered through a long and painful winter when temperatures sometimes dropped as low as the high 50s. It even rained a few times.
     
    #9 hkmb, Dec 9, 2013
  10. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I'm using a 1.5kW inverter in the 2010 to provide the short term, less than 10 seconds, of compressor surge needed for refrigerator compressor startup. The sustained power is ~930 W in the current configuration.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #10 bwilson4web, Dec 9, 2013
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I finally ordered one a week ago, intending to run directly from the traction battery. It had been on my wish list for quite some time, but had been held back by higher priority tasks.

    Shipment is delayed by the recent storms.
     
    #11 fuzzy1, Dec 10, 2013
  12. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    Which one did you go with?
     
    #12 ftl, Dec 10, 2013
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I elected to go with the AIMS 2kw item from ebay that is discussed on another thread. I'll need to review that thread for the changes that had to be made, then find some time to actually get it in. But after opening up the covers to find the HV tap points last spring, and then successfully working on a live breaker panel for some home projects later, I'm feeling comfortable enough to try this one.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, Dec 10, 2013
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  14. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    The change that was made to the AIMS 2kw inverter for AHeta Fan's and mine was that the DC- input was connected to case ground at one of the standoff insulator screws on the printed circuit board and this had to be removed. I sent mine to AIMS for repair. AHeta Fan repaired his own once he saw the pictures of the repairs by AIMS. This ground connection caused a HV Ground Fault DTC to be triggered since the Prius HV DC + and - are floating with respect to ground.

    Jack Chen is the guy that is selling these units on eBay. He knows now that the Prius requires the DC input connections to be floating with respect to ground. So you should not see this problem. You may want to shoot Jack an email through eBay just to verify.

    You can also test yours with a multimeter between the DC input posts and case ground to verify.

    You will really like this inverter. I have tested mine with a refrigerator just to verify that it could withstand the compressor inrush current but have been fortunate so far that I have not needed it in an emergency situation.

    AHeta Fan has an excellent thread on the best installation for this inverter.
     
    #14 jdcollins5, Dec 11, 2013
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  15. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Sounds lovely. :)

    It's nearly Winter here, such as it is, and we recently had our first snowfall of the season. I had to dust off the sidewalk twice yesterday. Oh, the hardship..... ;)
     
    #15 hyo silver, Dec 11, 2013
  16. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    We had our first ice morning of the season yesterday.
    Here's what I captured via my dash-cam...

    If you notice- both were 4wd SUV's :LOL:

    vlcsnap1.jpg vlcsnap2.jpg
     
    #16 ny_rob, Dec 12, 2013
  17. massparanoia

    massparanoia Active Member

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    I love when people think that 4wd/awd does anything more than help you accelerate.
     
    #17 massparanoia, Dec 12, 2013
  18. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Yup... and my po little Prius just kept going ;)
     
    #18 ny_rob, Dec 12, 2013
  19. massparanoia

    massparanoia Active Member

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    Snow and ice is the one time where having a skinny, hard, overinflated tire actually improves traction.
     
    #19 massparanoia, Dec 12, 2013
  20. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Always had people riding my tail when I had the Ranger. Guess they assumed I had 4WD.
     
    #20 Trollbait, Dec 12, 2013
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