ChargePoint Home Flex vs Pulsar Plus?

[PandaRacer]

Both qualify for my utility's rebate program (which requires the unit to be hardwired). Positive of the Pulsar Plus: I can link another unit onto the same circuit if I decide in the future. Positive of the ChargePoint: seems like it's the "gold standard" of EV chargers.

The ChargePoint is more expensive than the PP, but if that saves me from the potential future cost of an electrician if a warranty on a less reliable machine is needed, it's well worth it.

What are your thoughts?

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[DevSecOps]

I have no comment on the Pulsar Plus as I have never owned one and therefore it wouldn't be appropriate to comment on it.

As for the ChargePoint Flex. I've had one installed for about 3 years. Solid tech support, solid device and when I had a small electrical fire from faulting wiring on the original install (not at all the fault of ChargePoint), they replaced the unit for FREE just because they wanted to make sure that it wasn't damaged. I also had an issue where they rolled out an update that broke charging when the unit first came out. I called them and they fixed it in a matter of minutes.

I say +1 for ChargePoint just based on their support and customer service.

 

[timbop]

What are your thoughts?

Use the "search" button above and enter "pulsar plus". In general I suggest a charger (EVSE) that has a plug instead of being hardwired because you don't need an electrician to replace it if it fails, and you can also plug in the Ford mobile charger in a pinch.

while not an owner review, insideevs does review chargers (EVSE) as well:
https://insideevs.com/search/?q=pulsar+plus
https://insideevs.com/search/?q=chargepoint+flex

 

[generaltso]

I have one of each. In my opinion, the ChargePoint is the better choice.

The Pulsar Plus is a fine unit, but it really comes down to the apps for me. The Wallbox app shows power delivery rate for the point in time that you look at it, but doesn't show any kind of graph of the charging session. It counts up the kWh dispensed for the session until the car reports it's finished charging, and then there's no way to view that info again until you unplug the car, which is just stupid. There are other little quirks like that with the app that annoy me that simply aren't a problem with the ChargePoint app. The only reason my second EVSE is the Pulsar Plus is that ChargePoint inexplicably doesn't allow you to have more than one home unit on an account.

 

[Spiderman]

Don’t have my car yet so for what’s it’s worth… charge point flex based on many reviews in this forum. From the time I turned on power to test the unit was about 60 seconds in the app to recognize the device.
Just make sure your device is UL certified—the flex is. Many on Scamazon NOT.

60amp 48amp charging hardwire completed.
Now if I can just get my MME ER P AWD….

 

[SnBGC]

I have one of each. In my opinion, the ChargePoint is the better choice.

The Pulsar Plus is a fine unit, but it really comes down to the apps for me. The Wallbox app shows power delivery rate for the point in time that you look at it, but doesn't show any kind of graph of the charging session. It counts up the kWh dispensed for the session until the car reports it's finished charging, and then there's no way to view that info again until you unplug the car, which is just stupid. There are other little quirks like that with the app that annoy me that simply aren't a problem with the ChargePoint app. The only reason my second EVSE is the Pulsar Plus is that ChargePoint inexplicably doesn't allow you to have more than one home unit on an account.

You can get the graph and other details from the desktop web app. Also other things like assigning users and locking the machine.

As far as I can tell, neither device is able to determine which vehicle is charging so I have to remember which EVSE charged which car when looking at the data. ???

 

[generaltso]

You can get the graph and other details from the desktop web app. Also other things like assigning users and locking the machine.

I see some graphs in the web app, but just weekly or monthly summaries of total kWh with no way to drill into an individual session. Am I just missing it? When you click on Sessions in the menu, it just shows the same list of sessions as it does in the mobile app with no graphs.

As far as I can tell, neither device is able to determine which vehicle is charging so I have to remember which EVSE charged which car when looking at the data. ???

Yeah, that's another issue with sharing one EVSE between two cars. You'd think that they'd be able to tell which car is plugged in, but that doesn't seem to be the case. It's working out well for me having two separate units so that I can keep track of the charging stats for my car in the ChargePoint app and my wife's car in the Wallbox app. I just wish the Wallbox app was a little better.

 

[SnBGC]

I see some graphs in the web app, but just weekly or monthly summaries of total kWh with no way to drill into an individual session. Am I just missing it? When you click on Sessions in the menu, it just shows the same list of sessions as it does in the mobile app with no graphs.

Yeah, that's another issue with sharing one EVSE between two cars. You'd think that they'd be able to tell which car is plugged in, but that doesn't seem to be the case. It's working out well for me having two separate units so that I can keep track of the charging stats for my car in the ChargePoint app and my wife's car in the Wallbox app. I just wish the Wallbox app was a little better.

I thought the live session was on the Dashboard tab towards the bottom. But now I am questioning myself. ??? I will check when I get a moment. Most EVSE manufacturers have two or 3 applications. The base no frills app like you see with the CPHF and WB Pulsar + and then more advanced use apps that are more like what you see on the Ford Telematics software that come with the Lightning and E-Transit etc.

The ChargePoint account that is included with the CPF50 (Multi-Family/Fleet), CT4000 or Express units have a ton more features. Those actually record the vehicle type so we get to see all the charging sessions and if they were BEV or PHEV, Make, Model etc. The VIN and user data is hidden from me but ChargePoint has that info of course. Well, maybe not VIN but user name for sure.

Pretty soon there are going to be cameras in those things too.....

 

[Jeffvisor]

I have the 40amp (plug in) Pulsar Plus and I think it's a great charger. Small footprint, heavy duty cable and charger handle. Separate Holster for the charger handle. Smart charger keeps a record of your usage and costs for charging. I never had an issue with it. I would recommend it. I never had the chargepoint unit but read good things about it.

 

[SnBGC]

Both qualify for my utility's rebate program (which requires the unit to be hardwired). Positive of the Pulsar Plus: I can link another unit onto the same circuit if I decide in the future. Positive of the ChargePoint: seems like it's the "gold standard" of EV chargers.

The ChargePoint is more expensive than the PP, but if that saves me from the potential future cost of an electrician if a warranty on a less reliable machine is needed, it's well worth it.

What are your thoughts?

Circuit share gives you options in case you add a second plug in vehicle to the household.

The Wallbox can also be locked so the user needs to authorize the unit before it will charge.

The CP does better when exposed to direct sunlight though...

Both work so either choice is fine.

 

[generaltso]

I thought the live session was on the Dashboard tab towards the bottom. But now I am questioning myself. ???

Hmm, yeah now that you mention it, I do see a spot for an active charging session at the bottom. But nothing is there since there is no active session at the moment. I'll have to look at it again with a car plugged in. I hope they add that to the mobile app at some point.

 

[PandaRacer]

Use the "search" button above and enter "pulsar plus". In general I suggest a charger (EVSE) that has a plug instead of being hardwired because you don't need an electrician to replace it if it fails, and you can also plug in the Ford mobile charger in a pinch.

while not an owner review, insideevs does review chargers (EVSE) as well:
https://insideevs.com/search/?q=pulsar+plus
https://insideevs.com/search/?q=chargepoint+flex

We'd go for plug, but our utility rebate requires it to be hardwired...

 

[PandaRacer]

Circuit share gives you options in case you add a second plug in vehicle to the household.

The Wallbox can also be locked so the user needs to authorize the unit before it will charge.

The CP does better when exposed to direct sunlight though...

Both work so either choice is fine.

The more I think about it, I don't foresee installing a second unit. It's a tandem parking space in a condo, and we use the space against the wall for storage, so it's really a one-car garage. Removes that quandary, I guess.

 

[chrisGT]

There is one thing I like about the Chargepoint that I really like. You can hardwire it, and the feed wires connect straight on the board into the charger, so you don't need a pigtail wire and connections with wire nuts into an electrical box. In my opinion that eliminates one possible point of failure/fire.

 

[SnBGC]

There is one thing I like about the Chargepoint that I really like. You can hardwire it, and the feed wires connect straight on the board into the charger, so you don't need a pigtail wire and connections with wire nuts into an electrical box. In my opinion that eliminates one possible point of failure/fire.

That isn't really a unique feature to ChargePoint. All hardwired EVSEs are like that. At least every one that I have seen.

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