Why would you by a charger?

[Motomax]

Charge time is pretty important if you’re dealing with TOU prices. I don’t have my MME yet but I’ll have about a 4 HR window to replenish my commute miles so the extra speed of a 40A charger will be beneficial. Plus after rebates it’s only like 150 so no big deal.

Also, these things break sometimes so keeping the mobile charger as backup is nice. I’d waste more $$ commuting with my other car for one-two weeks while you get a replacement sent.

Sponsored

 

[RickMachE]

Charge time is pretty important if you’re dealing with TOU prices. I don’t have my MME yet but I’ll have about a 4 HR window to replenish my commute miles so the extra speed of a 40A charger will be beneficial. Plus after rebates it’s only like 150 so no big deal.

Also, these things break sometimes so keeping the mobile charger as backup is nice. I’d waste more $$ commuting with my other car for one-two weeks while you get a replacement sent.

Wow, that window is awful!

My TOU window is 7PM - 11AM, i.e. 16 hours, plus all day on weekends. And that's for my whole house, not just the EV.

I'd save a penny per kWh, and give up 6 hours a day, if I went with a separate meter (plus the cost to get it installed, plus during peak time I'd pay 1 to 4 cents more. And I'd lose the lower rate window for the rest of my house.

 

[dbsb3233]

For me it was because I wanted a hard wired charger outside. The garage is full of toys, so I didn’t want to plug and unplug a mobile charger everyday in rain or snow. Instead I bought a 4x4 metal mailbox post from Lowe’s for $75, ran 3/4 sealtite inside and ended up with something the wife doesn’t hate.

Nice. That's one of the best looking outdoor setups I've seen.

 

[Motomax]

Wow, that window is awful!

My TOU window is 7PM - 11AM, i.e. 16 hours, plus all day on weekends. And that's for my whole house, not just the EV.

I'd save a penny per kWh, and give up 6 hours a day, if I went with a separate meter (plus the cost to get it installed, plus during peak time I'd pay 1 to 4 cents more. And I'd lose the lower rate window for the rest of my house.

Yeah PGE rates are ridiculous. Their EV plan is $0.19 off peak then up to $0.50 for full peak. My work schedule give me very limited off peak hours.

I’m going to use my tax credits to get solar next year with a battery so I can tell them and their TOU (even for solar) to f-off haha.

 

[EELinneman]

Intermountain Flash & Flicker is implementing this scheme, but between 4:00 and 8:00 PM as a surcharge. So, come 8:05 PM I will charge and avoid their stupidity. Looking hard at solar and battery to minimize my exposure to these clowns. Finding that the solar business is as unethical as some of these high ADM dealers.

 

[Benny’66]

Nice. That's one of the best looking outdoor setups I've seen.

Thanks. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I used one of those 36” mailbox mounting spikes too so if I ever want to remove it I can. The whole thing is very solid. If you’ve looked at the price of actual EVSE mounting posts or bollards, they are ridiculous!! Some sort of auto cord retractor would be nice, but I’m sure I can coil up my cord 2-3 times a week.

 

[kulaga]

One bit of advice if you're running a new 14-50 plug: Have the electrician use the heavier wiring needed for 60A service. I bought a Grizzl-e charger for use now, but if I decide to hard wire a charger in the future I just need to swap the 50A breaker for a 60A to get full 48A charging. Did not add much to the cost at all.

 

[alexgorod]

One bit of advice if you're running a new 14-50 plug: Have the electrician use the heavier wiring needed for 60A service. I bought a Grizzl-e charger for use now, but if I decide to hard wire a charger in the future I just need to swap the 50A breaker for a 60A to get full 48A charging. Did not add much to the cost at all.

Good advice!
I had an electrician for an estimate recently and he is going to use aluminum wires. Is it OK?

 

[krafty81]

Also every time you plug and unplug at 14-50 plug you degrade the connection. I like leaving the charger in the car all the time for emergencies and love the 50A charging my always ready Chargepoint provides!

 

[jaycake]

Good advice!
I had an electrician for an estimate recently and he is going to use aluminum wires. Is it OK?

I live in Mass so you prices may vary, but 25 feet of 6/3 Romex (copper) was 109.19. That is enough with a few feet to spare to hard wire my charger. Personally I would feel more comfortable with Copper as it is more thermally stable..it may not be an issue. ask for 2 prices 1 with copper and 1 with aluminum wire. if your ok with the differential go with copper.

 

[DYohn]

Good advice!
I had an electrician for an estimate recently and he is going to use aluminum wires. Is it OK?

Make sure that is allowed by the code in your area.

 

[alexgorod]

Got a quote from the electrician

I'll ask about upgrade the wire that can support 60 amps, but is there something else that I need to clarify?

 

[macchiaz-o]

Got a quote from the electrician

I'll ask about upgrade the wire that can support 60 amps, but is there something else that I need to clarify?

I'm impressed by this detailed quote. Very cool.