Hybrid Generator Mode ? ... meh

[Ron]

I have meat cooler/fridge in my trailer that runs on a 10,000 btu air conditioner (similar size to a small rv air conditioner). It requires a 15 amp circuit to handle peak compressor startup surge but normally consumes much less power.

I ran it on the 2400W outlet in the bed. It ran on battery for less then a minute then the engine kicked in. It started with 3 bars on the battery. It continued to run but after 20 minutes the battery level had not increased from 3 bars. Even without the cooler hocked up, the battery does not recharge itself. The engine just shuts off which is fine for normal driving operation.

It will run constantly as a generator but wish it did a better job of recharging the battery and cycle the engine only when needed. I can run the cooler on the highway but for this setup, i still need to carry my 2kw generator to power the cooler while i'm parked. It's much more efficient than using the tacoma as a generator which does not seem engineered to store engine power.

I can hear the complainers already - "what do you expect, its a truck". With the technology today and movement for power efficiency, i expect more.

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[rchrds]

Yea, I am also not impressed. We have a Rav4Prime, and use the prime to run a similarly sized air conditioner- but with the much larger battery, it runs on the battery (with the engine off) for almost 10 hours before the engine kicks in- which happens for about 20 minutes, then starts a shorter cycle, but you can watch the engine charge the hybrid battery.

With the Tacoma- I have experienced the same very short cycle. I'm not even sure why the battery indicator screen even exists, as it never seems to move off of three bars. As far as I can tell, the operating range of the smaller NiMH battery is so small, it is not really intended for running something like an AC or large fridge without having the engine running, which is supremely disappointing. It is what it is- I will carry the Honda 2K in the camper, but it sure would have been nice to be able to supplement it with the Tacoma.

Forget trying to keep a fridge running overnight and not have the engine kick on repeatedly while you are sleeping. F that noise.

 

[trailhunger]

do you know what the kWh pull is on your walk-in trailer freezer? You need a hefty power station daisy-chained to ANY rig to get that dialed IMO. More efficient coolers out there...?

Even a Tundra's NIMH inverter isn't designed to hold reserve for something like that

 

[Ron]

do you know what the kWh pull is on your walk-in trailer freezer? You need a hefty power station daisy-chained to ANY rig to get that dialed IMO. More efficient coolers out there...?

Even a Tundra's NIMH inverter isn't designed to hold reserve for something like that

A quick google search says a 10000 btu ac burns about 8 kwh per day (lots of variables to affect that).
That would be 5 full recharges of a battery the size of the tacoma.

If the tacoma started 5 times a day and ran for an hour - that would have been amazing. I didnt really expect it to work very well with my cooler but it should do better than running all day and not even charging the battery.

My 2kw generator easily runs it and stays on low speed most of the time.

 

[JBSwine]

I guess the question is really what is the recharge rate of the hybrid battery when truck is just idling.?

 

[WKTJR1]

That's disappointing to hear. But it may still come in handy the next time my power is off. Then the Tacoma Prime is released these issues will go away.

 

[trailhunger]

A quick google search says a 10000 btu ac burns about 8 kwh per day (lots of variables to affect that).
That would be 5 full recharges of a battery the size of the tacoma.

If the tacoma started 5 times a day and ran for an hour - that would have been amazing. I didnt really expect it to work very well with my cooler but it should do better than running all day and not even charging the battery.

My 2kw generator easily runs it and stays on low speed most of the time.

8kwh per day isn’t a snapshot of what it pulls per kilowatt hour. You would need to plug into something that could give you telemetry on what it pulls when the ac unit is actually running. Sure outside air temps affect how hard the cooler works, but what it actually draws - must be under 2400, but I’m guessing it’s up there like 1800w, kicks the engine on within a few minutes. A power station would be ideal here as an intermediary.

The reserve on the hybrid is roughly 1/2 the NiMH cell. Basically you got ~700-900watts to work with before the motor kicks in (allegedly; according to other owners). I take delivery this Thursday & testing on Saturday. I have a feeling it’s a bit more, but by example: if you run a small air fryer that pulls 945 watts it’ll run for about 45 min before the engine kicks on.

 

[Tom Sellick]

8kwh per day isn’t a snapshot of what it pulls per kilowatt hour. You would need to plug into something that could give you telemetry on what it pulls when the ac unit is actually running. Sure outside air temps affect how hard the cooler works, but what it actually draws - must be under 2400, but I’m guessing it’s up there like 1800w, kicks the engine on within a few minutes. A power station would be ideal here as an intermediary.

The reserve on the hybrid is roughly 1/2 the NiMH cell. Basically you got ~700-900watts to work with before the motor kicks in (allegedly; according to other owners). I take delivery this Thursday & testing on Saturday. I have a feeling it’s a bit more, but by example: if you run a small air fryer that pulls 945 watts it’ll run for about 45 min before the engine kicks on.

Ok. I'm interested to hear how this goes. Not much experience with inverters and haven't tried it yet on my truck.

 

[Ron]

8kwh per day isn’t a snapshot of what it pulls per kilowatt hour

It's just just a different unit of measure.

The average kw for the cooler would be
8kwh / day divided by 24 = 0.33 kw = 300w
Or 2.75 amps.

So in one hour it uses 0.33 kwh.

I put a meter on the cooler. It used .3 kwh in 30 minutes. So its using 0.6kw in the initial cooldown which runs full blast till the set temperature is reached.

The longer term steady state is probably closer to the original estimate of 0.33kw

 

[trailhunger]

It's just just a different unit of measure.

The average kw for the cooler would be
8kwh / day divided by 24 = 0.33 kw = 300w
Or 2.75 amps.

So in one hour it uses 0.33 kwh.

I put a meter on the cooler. It used .3 kwh in 30 minutes. So its using 0.6kw in the initial cooldown which runs full blast till the set temperature is reached.

The longer term steady state is probably closer to the original estimate of 0.33kw

I mean.. you could make assumptions or estimations all day but a 10K btu unit pulls much higher in reality. Either that hybrid inverter peak above 2400w or your system is actually a touch lower than 10K. Either way, you’re asking a lot from an NiMH that’s more tailored for camping / cordless power tools, etc. Maybe best to stick with a diesel generator for this bad boy

 

[Ron]

LOL - im still wrong after i measured it.

 

[trailhunger]

Let’s see some proof of a 10,000 BTU AC unit on blast pulling 300w LOL. I want to know the make and model, gonna buy one myself and defy physics, lower my electric bill at home.

 

[Ron]

Let’s see some proof of a 10,000 BTU AC unit on blast pulling 300w LOL. I want to know the make and model, gonna buy one myself and defy physics, lower my electric bill at home.

No.
I have accommodated you enough.
Good luck with the frying pan.

 

[StreeTaco]

Univershul.. trouble maker

 

[trailhunger]

I guess the question is really what is the recharge rate of the hybrid battery when truck is just idling.?

Varies.
NiMH battery recharge rates in hybrids vary based on factors like SOC, temperature, and the vehicle’s charging system.

Charging Rate: It typically ranges from 0.3C to 1C. For a 1.87 kWh battery, this means:
• 0.3C: ~560 watts
• 1C: ~1,870 watts
Charging time can range from about 1 hour (1C) to over 3 hours (0.3C).
- SOC Impact: As SOC approaches 80%, the charge rate slows down to protect the battery, with max rates below 80% SOC and reduced rates above 80%.
- Temperature: High temps can reduce the charging rate or pause charging to prevent overheating.

so if it’s been hot out, bro’s trying to run an AC unit in his trailer meanwhile the hybrid pack is nuking under the back seat and no wonder people aren’t impressed with generator mode. Get the charge to 80% kids remember it takes awhile to charge that last 20% - for safety reasons

Same story with the solid state lithium cells. They’ll charge full-bore 1500w and then down step to 500w as SOC reaches 85%. I do this everyday.

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