Smart plug between wall plug and Level 2 Ford Mobile Charger

[iahgva]

Hello,
I have installed the required 220v plug in my garage on which I plug my level 2 ford mobile charger. All good except I cannot specify when I want it to charge and when I don’t want. Only option is the app charging time which is very cumbersome and is not very flexible.
Has anyone found a smart device, similar to a smart plug for a light, that you would plug into the 220V outlet and into which the mobile charger would be plugged? So that I could trigger charging from an app.
The reason I want to do it that way is because of my solar panels. When I produce over my needs and battery is full I would prefer to charge my car than sending these green electrons out to the utility. And when it is cloudy and I don’t produce enough I don’t want to charge my car if I don’t need it for the day or I want to charge it because I need it later. I need flexibility. My schedule is absolutely not fixed.
thanks for your help!

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[Mach-Lee]

No, not easily. You should just buy an Emporia EV charger and use that for excess solar. Much better solution. Mobile charger is not meant for everyday use either.

 

[HuntingPudel]

As @Mach-Lee said, the Ford Mobile charger is not fit for daily use. A rather large minority of owners have had theirs fail. You are much better off with a more capable and reliable solution. ??

 

[Charge_Rob]

Hello,
I have installed the required 220v plug in my garage on which I plug my level 2 ford mobile charger. All good except I cannot specify when I want it to charge and when I don’t want. Only option is the app charging time which is very cumbersome and is not very flexible.
Has anyone found a smart device, similar to a smart plug for a light, that you would plug into the 220V outlet and into which the mobile charger would be plugged? So that I could trigger charging from an app.
The reason I want to do it that way is because of my solar panels. When I produce over my needs and battery is full I would prefer to charge my car than sending these green electrons out to the utility. And when it is cloudy and I don’t produce enough I don’t want to charge my car if I don’t need it for the day or I want to charge it because I need it later. I need flexibility. My schedule is absolutely not fixed.
thanks for your help!

Adding any intermediary device between a charger and the outlet adds additional risks as well. Generally would not recommend anyone use any smart plugs with their chargers as they may not be designed for the heavy constant draw of an EVSE.

That said, as someone who does Excess Solar charging myself, the easiest way to do this by far will be to buy a NEMA 14-50 capable EVSE that already does Excess Solar charging. You'll need to have an energy meter for the charger installed in your panel, which can either wirelessly or by communication wire speak to your charger.

Some suggestions:

Those that can do it wirelessly: Emporia, Open EVSE
Those that can do it with a communication wire: Wallbox Pulsar Plus
Those that can do it if you have Enphase microinverter solar: Enphase

 

[ocdxfv]

If your utility is paying you the same rate as they’re charging you, then there’s no real point in charging off of the solar. If you are not using the solar, someone else is getting the benefit through your utility company, and so it all works out in the end. However, if the utility is paying you a lower rate than what they’re charging you then it does make a difference. It really all hinges on how much you’re getting from your excess solar when you sell it back to your utility.

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