Lexus Inverter Hacking
- Jack Bauer
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Lexus Inverter Hacking
Next up on the bench for hacking is the Lexus IS300h inverter. I believe this one is also fitted to the new model GS450h and LS hybrids also. Have another few Lexus inverters on the way including a few 2009 GS450h units that are available quite cheaply. Should work out nice for people who need more power than the Prius and /or rear wheel drive solutions.
Today managed to get the IGBT driver woken up and running in the IS inverter.
Today managed to get the IGBT driver woken up and running in the IS inverter.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
First look inside the GS450H inverter. Uses the same connector for the igbt driver board as the Gen 3 Prius.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Released a development board design for the Lexus IS300H inverter :
https://github.com/damienmaguire/Lexus-IS300H-Inverter
Uses the Hübner brain board and a jumper to select between running the MG1 or MG2 inverter.
https://github.com/damienmaguire/Lexus-IS300H-Inverter
Uses the Hübner brain board and a jumper to select between running the MG1 or MG2 inverter.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
I'll be honest and say I didn't even know about the longitudinal layout of the Lexus GS hybrid drivetrain. It seems a better approach to the RWD conversion I am trying to do, rather than grafting a Leaf motor onto the driveshaft or trying to fit the motor and reduction gear into the rear subframe.
So I'm watching your progress with the GS450H integrated drive gearbox with great interest on YouTube.
Do you think that gearbox alone will be good enough to drive a medium weight car without an engine inputting power? Possibly if you can get both electric motors to contribute by locking up the front input shaft...
So I'm watching your progress with the GS450H integrated drive gearbox with great interest on YouTube.
Do you think that gearbox alone will be good enough to drive a medium weight car without an engine inputting power? Possibly if you can get both electric motors to contribute by locking up the front input shaft...
-< Mazda Eunos JC Cosmo rotary -> EV conversion w/ Lexus GS450H gear >-
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Oh it's very much possible :
Naturally this guy decided not to share (probably planning to be the next Elon) so I'll just have to go do it.
Naturally this guy decided not to share (probably planning to be the next Elon) so I'll just have to go do it.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Wow. That's pretty impressive. I'm not so sure about using Leaf drive components now....
-< Mazda Eunos JC Cosmo rotary -> EV conversion w/ Lexus GS450H gear >-
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
I'm using a GS450h gearbox in my E65 conversion. At 2640kg it should prove the system:)
I'm going to need a hacksaw
Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Most definitely. I'll be approx 1 ton lighter.
If I was to assemble a shopping list of components, what should I be looking for?
If I was to assemble a shopping list of components, what should I be looking for?
-< Mazda Eunos JC Cosmo rotary -> EV conversion w/ Lexus GS450H gear >-
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
You would need the gearbox with the aux oil pump (beware many ebay sellers remove this as it is a common failure part on the gs450h), inverter, hv cables and if possible the lv harness as of course all the connector plugs are custom.
Started in on the GS450h inverter today. Our friends in Toyota are being extra sneaky with this one ...
Started in on the GS450h inverter today. Our friends in Toyota are being extra sneaky with this one ...
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Development board for the is300h inverter arrived and it fits:)
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- johu
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Beauty 
Nice logo, too

Nice logo, too

Support R/D and forum on Patreon: https://patreon.com/openinverter - Subscribe on odysee: https://odysee.com/@openinverter:9
Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
That is great , but did you see what voltage does he use ? it is about 650V nominal ..Jack Bauer wrote: ↑Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:06 am Oh it's very much possible :
Naturally this guy decided not to share (probably planning to be the next Elon) so I'll just have to go do it.

- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
650v is not needed. Don't worry I'll prove it:)
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
What voltage are you thinking and what top speed does that translate to?
-< Mazda Eunos JC Cosmo rotary -> EV conversion w/ Lexus GS450H gear >-
- steveknox
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
I've got a gs450h gearbox in my garage waiting to go into an rx-8. Been building my own inverter but this is a far more realistic proposition. I better start hitting up my local breakers for inverters!
Mazda RX-8
GS450h Running Gear
Outlander Charger
Renault Kangoo 36kwh pack
GS450h Running Gear
Outlander Charger
Renault Kangoo 36kwh pack
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Well the boost converter in the GS450h inverter is playing hard to get. Identified quite a few signals but still not firing the igbts.
Gets rather frustrating when you realise this has been done before but not shared. That said the Toyota stuff continues amaze. It's just been designed to be totally fail safe.
Gets rather frustrating when you realise this has been done before but not shared. That said the Toyota stuff continues amaze. It's just been designed to be totally fail safe.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- tom91
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
You have not managed to blow one up yet? That is quite impressive.
Does each component/section look like it could be a standalone part? I would believe they share quite a lot amongst their various models.
Does each component/section look like it could be a standalone part? I would believe they share quite a lot amongst their various models.
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Can't kill them. They seem to use asics for the igbt drive that simply will not allow anything destructive to happen. They even have their own temp sense so if you let the heatsink hit 90c they ignore the pwm. The prius gen3 inverter is very integrated although the dc dc can run standalone. These older Lexus inverters are modular.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Nice work JB! Now i can get one for my 406c!
What do you think IGBTs have in term of power?
Can you try to run Aux circuit with 380Vdc too?
tnx
Arber
- Jack Bauer
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Boosting from 20v to 250v. The gs450h inverter does not have a dc dc built in. Its just a dual inverter and boost converter. Rated at 37kw from what I can find online.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
Nice work!
-< Mazda Eunos JC Cosmo rotary -> EV conversion w/ Lexus GS450H gear >-
- tom91
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Re: Lexus Inverter Hacking
So much effort to turn on a light bulb. But hats off to you, another one in the bag.