Systems in Hybrid cars?issues???

[Depression 10+ year member]

My Fiance's best friend just got a Honda Prieus hybrid?(spelling)....I personally am a Chevy,Ford, Dodge guy...but I must admit her ride is smooth and effecient....We got her a gift certificate to Good guys for her B-Day and she wants car audio stuff...Whats the deal with putting in high class audio systems (amps,H/U etc..) in one of these Hybrids....

I mean from what I can gather they run off the "extra electricity produced by the motor"...so a 2000 watt car audio system is a "no-no"..but have any of you guys heard how these hybrids handle a "real" system yet still maintain daily transportation needswhen the car is electricaly fueled for power and function?????

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[jellyfish420 10+ year member]

i think the "prieus" is a toyota.

 

[murzar]

Prius is Toyota, Honda is either an Insight or Civic Hybrid. I own a 2004 Prius with premium sound system so I can tell you some on what I researched.

First here are the specs.

Base Head Unit Specifications

• AM/FM Tuner

• CD Player

• DSP (never made it)

• Amplifier Power: 40 W × 4-Ch.

• 6-speaker System

• RDS function

• Manufacturer: Panasonic

Premium Head Unit Specs

• AM/FM Tuner

• Cassette Player

• In-dash- 6-CD Changer

• ASL (never made it :-/)

• RDS function

• Amplifier Power: 45 W × 4-Ch.

• 9-speaker System

• Manufacturer:

JBL (Amplifier, Speaker)

Panasonic (Head Unit)

Speaker Specifications (base - 6 speakers total):

Front Door

Tweeter: 3.8 cm (1.5 in.) 4ohm

Full Range: 16 cm (6.3 in.) 4ohm

Rear Door

Full Range: 16 cm (6.3 in.) 4ohm

Speaker Specs (JBL premium - 9 speakers total):

Instrument Panel Center Speaker: 6.5 cm (2.6 in.) 2ohm

Front Door:

Tweeter 2.0 cm (0.8 in.) 6ohm

Full Range 16 cm (6.3 in.) 2ohm

Rear Door

Tweeter: 2.0 cm (0.8 in.) 6ohm

Full Range: 16 cm (6.3 in.) 3ohm

From what others have said, the premium systems is fine, just need to add a woofer. However the only way to add a woofer to it is to get a line level converter, connected it either to the rear door or center speaker wire after the amp. The front speakers have seperate lines for the speakers, one for the tweeters and one for the door speaker. The rear speakers have a passive crossover in the door somewhere, so the rear speakers and center speaker wires are the only full range speaker wires. The reason the line level converter need to be added after the amp is Im pretty sure that the amp handels the fade/balance/eq.

The prius puts out 14.1 volts always as long as the car is ready to drive, doesnt matter if you are idle, driving, gas engine on or off. This is regulated by the car itself, hence the "block" attached to the positive terminal of the battery. From what others have said, but I have never confirmed with toyota, is that the DC/DC converter (201v->12v) is rated at 100 amps. If you start to exceed this, the car will shut down unnecessary things like the PTC heaters (the heaters that warm the cabin before the engine warms up).

So in short, keep the H/U, speakers, and add a woofer. Also check out http://www.priuschat.com

I havent done anything to my car yet, got a Memphis 16-MC1000D amp, still deciding on the woofer. If you have any more questions about the Prius, feel free to PM me and I will try to answer them.

 

[`pr0digy 10+ year member]

From what others have said, but I have never confirmed with toyota, is that the DC/DC converter (201v->12v) is rated at 100 amps. If you start to exceed this, the car will shut down unnecessary things like the PTC heaters (the heaters that warm the cabin before the engine warms up).

I'll keep dimming headlights Guess you really can't just upgrade the alt or anything either, eh ?

BTW, it's nice to see such an informative post //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif For a first post even! Welcome //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/offtopic.gif.470a8b0541c72322a0037f48a8237473.gif

hey Depression,

did you get your stereo installed yet ?

 

[murzar]

Heh, nope cant upgrade the alt, because the car doesnt have one. This taken from a webpage.

there is no "step" gearbox, either manual or automatic - the Prius does not use step gears

there is no clutch or torque converter - the wheels are always firmly connected by gears to the ICE and motor/generators

there is no starter motor - the motor/generators start the ICE via the gears in the power split device

there is no alternator - electrical power is generated by the motor/generators as needed

 

[`pr0digy 10+ year member]

I wonder if - with much warranty voiding, of course - you could REALLY power a huge system if you could properly harness the potential of the electrical motor ?

 

[TPABlazer 10+ year member]

in the october 04 issue of CA&E they have an install in a prius.

"..adding a secondary power supply from Best America Industries, a 14.4 volt 110 amp voltage regulator."

 

[Redford 10+ year member]

I don't see why it would be a problem... you wouldn't be connecting your power to the 220v or whatever power supply, but instead to the 12v regular old battery under the hood. I'm not sure on the charging system though, but I'm sure the electrical system would compensate for more electrical usage by perhaps slightly lower MPG.

 

[eckard]

Hey so you guys are ther first place I've found relevant info on these cars. The 100amp limit seems do able. I am going to be give $1600 to build a system in a 04 civic hybrid, and he is asking for remote start. I have got to see the car yet but have been researching and am finding little, other than there a huge BAT-CAP behind the rear seat. So is there a 12v battery available in these thing or does the car use the big cap to start the engine. Also where might the amp be located.

I wish the guy had a normal car but hey these things are the wave of the future so might as well get used to seeing them. I'll check out the CA&E car and see whet up, and maybe I stop by the dealer and ask questions on these and find out if the warrenty is void over a little thump being added. I was planning on going gungho on the import but they seem unpredictable.

So any more help and info would be appreciate. My email is eckardjd@hotmail.com let me know what you know about these hybrids...

 

[xSomeguyx 10+ year member]

If anyone has some solid info, I'd be interested to know too. I was just wondering the other day exactly how much reserve current there will be, considering that the car probably uses most of it to do... well, everything.

 

[murzar]

There is a 12v battery in all the hybrid cars. As for Toyota vs Honda they take a different approach in the way they implement the hybrids. Toyota first uses the electric engine and then the gas engine when speed/power requires it. Honda uses the gas engine first and the electric engine as a boost when needed.

Dont know abouy honda, buy toyota used the big bat to start the engine.

 

[eckard]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to go look stupid tommorro at a honda dealer and see what I can find out there.