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Originally Posted by orange4boy
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For now I'm going to test it with my 12V batteries - 750 watt inverter - 50 amp switch-mode charger - 12V Prius. Some losses from the batteries there but it's all the same to the Prius.
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Excellent approach. You'll get a rough-order feedback on the potential fuel savings without putting a lot of money in the project. If it looks good after and "A" "B" "A" test, then an optimized design makes sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by orange4boy
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In the meantime I should be on the lookout for some big-ass diodes and hopefully a similarly big-ass DC-DC. The diodes reside in the voltage regulators, yes? Or are they mounted on the alternator?
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It varies. I was looking at Ebay and saw a Ford and Chyrsler external set set of 100 A diodes but I haven't checked Digikey, Allied and Mouser, yet. What really surprised me were some Schottky diodes. These have an unusually low forward voltage drop.
Quote:
Originally Posted by orange4boy
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Is the diode simply wired in line with the Prius DC-DC main wire?
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The 'ring' should be the direction the "+" charges exit. Just check it with a battery and VOM. The positive charges pass in the direction of the arrow towards the base.
Quote:
Originally Posted by orange4boy
. . .I'm going to need block heaters to get decent mileage in the winter here. I just did two trips to the Cove and back and the Km/100 bars traced a hyperbolic curve down from the cold drive to the warm.
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In the USA we have to order block heaters from Canadian dealers.
Bob Wilson