240v Home Charger

if i already have a 240v recepticle in my garage, (which i do) do i need anything else? i don't understand this $999. talk. i put in a 50amp 240v recepticle for my electric oven, 50' of 6 gauge cable a double breaker and outlet around a hundred and fifty bucks.

 

To be more correct, the cord w/the power brick is more correctly referred to as an EVSE, not a charger. If it's setup like the Leaf, the 120/240 volt charger is in the car. The plug on the car end is called [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772"]SAE J1772 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame].

It doesn't come with one. However, the Leaf's 120 volt EVSE can be upgraded to charge from at 240 volt source. See EVSE Upgrade - Products. It's run by pEEf here aka Ingineer on mynissanleaf.com.

If you already have a 240 volt J1772 EVSE installed at home, that should work just fine.

For 240 volt and below charging, there is J1772 and most everyone's using it except Tesla. IIRC, the Roadster came out before J1772 was ratified but they do have an expensive adapter.

When it comes to level 3/quick charging (480 volt DC), that's a whole other can of worms and moot for the PiP. The Model S is another story as well where they again came up with their own connector but I believe are making available or providing a J1772 adapter.

PiP should come with a 120 volt EVSE (incorrectly called a charger by many).

You would need a 240 volt EVSE, either "permanently" installed or something along the lines of EVSE Upgrade - Products.

I wish I could find Ingineer's post regarding what the US electrical code issues are with mobile 240 volt devices. He gave a really good explanation on (IIRC) MNL and if memory serves, they're disallowed per National Electrical Code. This is a 2nd best explanation as to why EVSEs exist: My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - Why can't the charging station be internal in the Leaf?.

My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - Why the EVSE at all? might be insightful along with What Is EVSE And Why Does Your Electric Car Charger Need It?.

 

I can't believe there's anything inside the 220V charging device that warrants a $999 price. I think it's price gouging.

 

I agree, it's expensive. I don't know the answer but this topic has been discussed a lot in the past on My Nissan Leaf Forum • View forum - EVSE - Charging Equipment. Perhaps you can dig up posts on this. (I hang out there because I am considering a Leaf as my 2nd car... long story.)

Personally, given the small battery capacity of the PiP and thus the short charge time at 120 volts, I think it's not worth it to pay for a home permanently installed EVSE. Just use the 120 volt brick (EVSE) that it comes with.

FWIW, Nissan's 120 volt EVSE (one that comes with the Leaf) got a sudden price increase from ~$500 to $934 (My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - Nissan massively increases cost of new EVSE's).

 

you get one with the car for the 120v charging right? right? nevermind, thanks cwerdna!

 

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid says yes.

 

sorry. i guess i'll have to wait until i have my pip before knowing if 3 hours is too long. it would have to be a lot of engine use tho to make up for a thousand bucks worth of evse!

 

More background info on EVSEs and where the actual charger is in red at My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - Fast Low Cost Charging - All EVSE Questions Answered!.

I didn't watch the whole video at http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-prius-plug-in/100372-leviton-240v-charger-install-video.html but My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - Can we avoid the EVSE altogether? addresses why you can't just buy cord w/J1772, plug it straight into a 240 volt outlet and into the car on the other end.

The parts of the Leviton video I saw involved wiring a 240 volt outlet and plugging their EVSE (incorrectly called a charger) into the new outlet.

 

Thanks cwerdna!:cheer2: Your post is so informative and thorough! :first:

It seems like if I have the 240V charger for Nisssan Leaf, I am ready to go.:rockon:

 

Hey, can I change how I voted on this poll?

I voted that I would install my own system. Now I am thinking that might be a little too risky. I am now undecided in what I will do. If the 240V/1.5-hour version was a little cheaper, I think I'd definitely want the fast charging option. At $999, I don't know if I can justify the price.

(Since even justifying the price of the PiP doesn't quite work as it is).

 

Just so you know, installation goes like this: You buy the correct grade and type of Romex cable from Home Depot, and run it from your electric breaker panel to where you want your outlet. Assuming you have open space in your panel for a 220V breaker, an electrician can inexpensively and easily add the new circuit breaker. The other end of the Romex snakes to wherever you want the 220V outlet, which may be simple and may be a huge effort. That's why they can't provide firm cost estimates, but it's do-able. In my case, I run it through a crawl space beneath my home, then I'll have to run some conduit underground or maybe along the side of my house to a poll for the charger. (Mine will be outside).

It can be a lot of work, but there is little technical wizardry involved. If you don't know how to add the circuit breaker, pay an electrician, by all means, but any electrician can do this.

 

I have not had the driving / charging experience that you have with a plug-in car but I think a lot of people are also going to wish they had a quick charger once they start using their new PiP.

This brings me to a question: Are you allowed to 'partially charge' the battery (if I charged for 2 hours at 120V could I get 2/3 of the full charge)? And, would this negatively effect the battery life or charge capacity?

 

THis is very true, once you get hooked you want to use it as much as possible as fast as possible..
Another thing to think about is if PiP owners plan on charging away from home, they will need to carry the 120v charging cord at all times. That will become a real PITA if you are also using it at home for charging.

I have a couple electric R/C helicopters that use big 6cell LiPO batterys, and its funny how my charging demands have grown over the last couple years, resulting in new, better and faster chargers and power supplys. Same thing will happen with these cars.