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RobertSmalls · 08-16-2010, 08:33 PM

Oh, you're the guy I have to thank for the updated partslist .xls! I'm curious, did you end up with ten CPU sockets as well?

I just took the bare PCB of LEDs and stuffed it between the steering column cowl and dashboard. It needed a thin shim to fit snugly.

I swapped my IMA battery with my spare to see if my limited assist problem goes away. It'll be in the car on the grid charger for 36 hours to bring it out of storage, so I'll know on Wednesday if the battery was my problem.

While I had the battery out, I wanted to see how well some 40Ah LFP cells would fit in place of the stock 6.5Ah NiMH. I think LFP are more appropriate for a PHEV, and if you believe Thundersky, their cells will last until well after you're bored with them.

Anyway, each of these boxes represents two 40Ah cells, so I'd need 25 boxes, 50 cells, to reach the required voltage to replace the IMA battery. The boxes are a little taller than the cells, which will allow room for wiring and a BMS slave.

32 out of the 50 cells fit in place of the IMA battery module with no problem. An additional 8-10 cells would fit where the inverter cooling fan duct is. I'd have no qualms about using cabin air to cool the inverter. Maybe in the winter, I could recirculate that air through the cabin for heat.

There's room for a dozen or so cells to the left of the driver's side frame rail, perhaps 6 cells under the fuel filler pipe, and a few cells in front of the IMA box.

I've been thinking about an Insight-bodied EV conversion. But to do it right would be at least $10,000. The results would be nice, though. I'd put the batteries where the gas tank is right now (in addition to in the engine bay and exhaust tunnel?), and get rid of that damned IMA box. I'd finally have the cargo space of a CRX.

08-16-2010, 08:33 PM	#182 (permalink)
RobertSmalls Left Lane Ecodriver Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY, USA Posts: 2,257 Prius C - '12 Toyota Prius C Thanks: 79 Thanked 287 Times in 200 Posts	Oh, you're the guy I have to thank for the updated partslist .xls! I'm curious, did you end up with ten CPU sockets as well? I just took the bare PCB of LEDs and stuffed it between the steering column cowl and dashboard. It needed a thin shim to fit snugly. I swapped my IMA battery with my spare to see if my limited assist problem goes away. It'll be in the car on the grid charger for 36 hours to bring it out of storage, so I'll know on Wednesday if the battery was my problem. While I had the battery out, I wanted to see how well some 40Ah LFP cells would fit in place of the stock 6.5Ah NiMH. I think LFP are more appropriate for a PHEV, and if you believe Thundersky, their cells will last until well after you're bored with them. Anyway, each of these boxes represents two 40Ah cells, so I'd need 25 boxes, 50 cells, to reach the required voltage to replace the IMA battery. The boxes are a little taller than the cells, which will allow room for wiring and a BMS slave. 32 out of the 50 cells fit in place of the IMA battery module with no problem. An additional 8-10 cells would fit where the inverter cooling fan duct is. I'd have no qualms about using cabin air to cool the inverter. Maybe in the winter, I could recirculate that air through the cabin for heat. There's room for a dozen or so cells to the left of the driver's side frame rail, perhaps 6 cells under the fuel filler pipe, and a few cells in front of the IMA box. I've been thinking about an Insight-bodied EV conversion. But to do it right would be at least $10,000. The results would be nice, though. I'd put the batteries where the gas tank is right now (in addition to in the engine bay and exhaust tunnel?), and get rid of that damned IMA box. I'd finally have the cargo space of a CRX.