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retepsnikrep · 12-08-2011, 12:19 PM

We have discussed this at some length on the Insight forum as well.

Insight Thermos Modification - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

I went as far as to get the special prius three way valve and pump and a stainless steel 2-3l thermos but never installed it. I added a 12v heating element into my thermos so you could boost the coolant temp with a very low current heater (even a solar panel on back shelf) as the the mod is not limited to winter use. I even knocked up few bits on the bench and bought some paraffin wax granules. i think the wax does expand a bit so you would have to leave a bit of room for that.

I think the thermos needs to be in the engine comp and hoses as short as possible, only one pump is reqd. There is a diagram of the prius system on the Insight thread.

I like the phase change fluid/wax idea and if you used a vacum bowl or wide neck flask you could incorporate a large surface area heat exchanger into it before soldering on a cover/end plate and insutalting that.

I was going to use simple pic12F683 and a couple of I2C temp sensors to monitor thermos internal temp and engine block temp and control pumping/valve with that.

Please post some pics of your setup.

12-08-2011, 12:19 PM	#30 (permalink)
retepsnikrep EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: UK Posts: 73 Thanks: 0 Thanked 37 Times in 23 Posts	We have discussed this at some length on the Insight forum as well. Insight Thermos Modification - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum I went as far as to get the special prius three way valve and pump and a stainless steel 2-3l thermos but never installed it. I added a 12v heating element into my thermos so you could boost the coolant temp with a very low current heater (even a solar panel on back shelf) as the the mod is not limited to winter use. I even knocked up few bits on the bench and bought some paraffin wax granules. i think the wax does expand a bit so you would have to leave a bit of room for that. I think the thermos needs to be in the engine comp and hoses as short as possible, only one pump is reqd. There is a diagram of the prius system on the Insight thread. I like the phase change fluid/wax idea and if you used a vacum bowl or wide neck flask you could incorporate a large surface area heat exchanger into it before soldering on a cover/end plate and insutalting that. I was going to use simple pic12F683 and a couple of I2C temp sensors to monitor thermos internal temp and engine block temp and control pumping/valve with that. Please post some pics of your setup.