JuiceBox EVSE Next Steps

[RickMachE]

For JuiceBox owners, you know that Enel-X shut down in the US and all support and warranty has ended. A new company bought the assets, but they seem sketchy. Data stopped a few weeks ago, and people report issues in connecting to the new provider.

I have 2 units sharing a circuit, so I need to either restrict the current or load balance. Given that Enel-X broke load balancing and never fixed it, I'm not going to trust a new entity to manage it properly. Plus, done with relying on a 3rd party.

OpenEVSE has designed replacement boards for both JB v1 and v2 designs. I have been watching the discussions in a Discord group (hate that software), and they started shipping boards in January. I missed the introductory price of $99, the boards are now $129 and might be higher in the future. I ordered 2 yesterday.

Installation is supposed to be easy. You then control the units via a web interface locally, no cloud involved. No load balancing capability, people are doing that with Home Assistant, but the coding is outside my wheelhouse. Waiting to see if someone publishes a step by step guide to do it.

Unit stores each charging sessions data. You can connect to a 3rd party for more analysis.

I will set the car at 20amps and the truck at 28amps for now. If we need more power (come home empty from a trip), I will simply change the one charger to 0 and the other to 48. If someone develops code for load balancing, I will see if I can implement it.

I will post back when I get and install the new boards.

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[stangbat]

I installed a OpenEVSE board in a v2 Juicebox. It was easy and works fine.

Like you say, there doesn't seem to be an easy way to load balance as you'd like, but it is very easy to adjust with the web interface as you are planning to do. For the cost, I think it is a good solution.

You may see ground errors reported when you power it on. These are supposedly a false report and not a problem. It will go to ready status and work. Mine gives an error when powered on but it works and charges just fine.

 

[Falcon53]

For JuiceBox owners, you know that Enel-X shut down in the US and all support and warranty has ended. A new company bought the assets, but they seem sketchy. Data stopped a few weeks ago, and people report issues in connecting to the new provider.

I have 2 units sharing a circuit, so I need to either restrict the current or load balance. Given that Enel-X broke load balancing and never fixed it, I'm not going to trust a new entity to manage it properly. Plus, done with relying on a 3rd party.

OpenEVSE has designed replacement boards for both JB v1 and v2 designs. I have been watching the discussions in a Discord group (hate that software), and they started shipping boards in January. I missed the introductory price of $99, the boards are now $129 and might be higher in the future. I ordered 2 yesterday.

Installation is supposed to be easy. You then control the units via a web interface locally, no cloud involved. No load balancing capability, people are doing that with Home Assistant, but the coding is outside my wheelhouse. Waiting to see if someone publishes a step by step guide to do it.

Unit stores each charging sessions data. You can connect to a 3rd party for more analysis.

I will set the car at 20amps and the truck at 28amps for now. If we need more power (come home empty from a trip), I will simply change the one charger to 0 and the other to 48. If someone develops code for load balancing, I will see if I can implement it.

I will post back when I get and install the new boards.

Twice in the last year my juicebox started flashing red with alarm. I saw on a post to power down and bang on the side to free the contacts. That has worked. Will this board solve this issue or should I just buy another brand?

 

[stangbat]

Twice in the last year my juicebox started flashing red with alarm. I saw on a post to power down and bang on the side to free the contacts. That has worked. Will this board solve this issue or should I just buy another brand?

Sounds like the contacts on your relay are sticking. No, the board won't fix that.

Someone like me could solder in a new relay. Otherwise you'll probably want to get a new EVSE and pass on the Juicebox to someone else.

 

[Falcon53]

Sounds like the contacts on your relay are sticking. No, the board won't fix that.

Someone like me could solder in a new relay. Otherwise you'll probably want to get a new EVSE and pass on the Juicebox to someone else.

Thank you Erik I will start researching a new unit. Duke

 

[zvez]

Thank you Erik I will start researching a new unit. Duke

I've used my JB 40 for nearly two years in dumb mode. I'm going to just keep using it til it packs it in and probably get a chargepoint. I never was able to get the JB app to work which in the long run was probably for the best

 

[RickMachE]

I believe that you can simply buy a new relay, on a board, with no soldering required, for under $60. at least for the JBs up to 2020.

 

[stangbat]

Thank you Erik I will start researching a new unit. Duke

As RickMachE stated, you might be able to just purchase a relay board and replace it. You'd have to open it up, unscrew the wires and bolts and put it all back. Not terribly difficult, but some fiddling would be involved.

v1 relay replacement: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/JuiceBox+EVSE+Relay+Replacement+(UL-front+LEDs+version)/154411

Older style: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/JuiceBox+EVSE+Relay+Replacement+(Old+style)/139619

Haven't found one for v2 Juicebox but the relay board looks similar to the v1 in the first link.

 

[Falcon53]

As RickMachE stated, you might be able to just purchase a relay board and replace it. You'd have to open it up, unscrew the wires and bolts and put it all back. Not terribly difficult, but some fiddling would be involved.

v1 relay replacement: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/JuiceBox+EVSE+Relay+Replacement+(UL-front+LEDs+version)/154411

Older style: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/JuiceBox+EVSE+Relay+Replacement+(Old+style)/139619

Haven't found one for v2 Juicebox but the relay board looks similar to the v1 in the first link.

Thank you, will check it out

 

[Richard L.]

Still using mine as a smart charger. I don't use load sharing so not an issue for me. Has my charging history and associated data. At some point I'll use as a dumb charger.

 

[RickMachE]

Still using mine as a smart charger. I don't use load sharing so not an issue for me. Has my charging history and associated data. At some point I'll use as a dumb charger.

So you changed over to the new provider (company is based in Budapest)?

 

[Richard L.]

Yes. New provider. What's the downside?

 

[RickMachE]

Yes. New provider. What's the downside?

Providing data to an unknown party.
Having them change settings remotely.
Firmware update bricks charger.
They change the settings and lock you out.

 

[Richard L.]

Nothing earth shattering. Worst case I'm forced to buy a new EVSE.

 

[RickMachE]

Nothing earth shattering. Worst case I'm forced to buy a new EVSE.

I spent hours, actually days, on the phone with Juicebox when they screwed up load balancing, and changed settings without telling me. I am done with that.

Open source, no cloud.

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