240 volt chargers at home for 2018 Prime?

Sweet!!!

 

Safest would be a non contact voltage tester $8

www.amazon.com/dp/B000NBA8F8

 

If you have a 240v source that's conveniently located, you might want to read about charging at ~L2 speeds for as little as ~$20 dollars.

Using the Primes 120v Charger at 240 Volts, Cost $59 !!! | PriusChat

Standard Prius Prime Charger (G9060-47130) supporting 240V | PriusChat


Rob43

 

The car won't let you drive with the charging cable plugged in.

 

Correct. It won't go into drive or reverse when plugged in.

BTW, @MrHockey, Welcome to Prius Chat. If you enter your reply below the end quote html code, we can distinguish what you write from what you're replying to. The cursor should default to below the quote, so just start typing. As in this screen grab. Hope it helps.

 

It does a lot of stuff to protect you and to protect your vehicle. In addition to being a Ground Fault Current Interrupter, it also tells the charging circuit in the vehicle that charging voltage is available and the maximum current (amps) the EVSE can delivery. It also contains a mechanical contactor switch which keeps the connector on the charging cable positively isolated from the house wiring until the EVSE detects that the J1772 connector is completely inserted into the vehicle and the vehicle is requesting power. (This keeps you or your curious toddler from getting harmed by putting a metal object into the J1772 connector when it is hanging disconnected from the vehicle -- or dropped into a puddle or snow bank in which you are standing.)

Here is a block diagram of what's in an EVSE and how it relates to the charging circuitry within the vehicle:

At least two reasons why not: 1) It would expose you and your vehicle to harm because of lack of GFCI and positive disconnect when not plugged into the vehicle; and 2) because of the lack of the control signal from the EVSE, the vehicle would not know that charging voltage was being offered.

The "brick" is not mystical or magical, but it is an integral part of the total charging system.

I totally disagree with your assertion that there is "No need for that in the 'charging station'." -- i.e., the EVSE. It performs several important functions within the total vehicle charging system.

However, I do agree that the pricing of EVSE hardware appears to have very little to do with manufacturing cost or quality. Some vendors put as much effort into marketing as engineering; other vendors offer rock-solid products at reasonable prices.

J1772 is a SAE standard to which every manufacturer's device must conform. There are some devices which add features such as energy monitoring, internet connectivity, time-of-day programming, etc. which may add considerable value for some users, but the basic hardware functionality remains the same.

If you're highly motivated to avoid purchasing an off-the-shelf commercial Level 2 EVSE, you can always follow the J1772 standard and build your own. You'll find information about this here -- and complete information about the "Open EVSE" open source hardware here. The project uses an oof-the-shelf Arduino project board as described here. You can buy your own components to build the project, or you can purchase a kit.

Or, as has been discussed by others in this Prius Chat forum, it is possible to use the 120-volt EVSE "brick" provided with your Prime at 240-volts with some caveats and limitations. Check out those discussions elsewhere in the forum.

And, have fun but stay safe.

 

That is none the less, why you do not find EVSE charging cables with an L plug, it is against the National Electrical Code.

 

My 240 outlet in my garage is not live. An electrician is coming over on Wednesday to put a 240 outlet in my garage adjacent to my breaker box. I have looked at the Amazon links for the L 2 chargers for Prime. What outlet type should I recommend? Just pick a one and tell him to put an outlet in that matches it? Thanks.

 

Yes. If given a choice of plug types in the charger box, I would choose the 4-prong dryer connector. Very common. NEMA 14-30 or 14-50.

 

Nema 6-20P plug EVSE units are "typically" the cheapest ones I see, here's a link to one that ships from California.
www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-Car-Charger-6-20-Plug-Level-2-Charger-Vehicle-Charger-23-Long-EVSE/392086118771?hash=item5b4a276173:g:ncQAAOSwvK1bxXj2

OR

You could use your stock Toyota OE EVSE, then buy this $13 dollar adapter & charger at 240v (~2:25 minute) using your newly installed 6-20R receptacle.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071JPX114/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A3R37N6WZ86S6W&psc=1


Rob43

 

Focus on the charger. Do you want something that will work with a future plug-in vehicle, one that will have a larger battery where you'd want to recharge faster?

If so, you should prepare that setup now by spending a bit more for a charger & line to support that.

 

Any recommendations? A level 3 charger?

 

If your Minnesota location is in my area, I suggest taking advantage of Dakota Electric's rebate. They'll provide $500 for setting up a time-of-use discount line & meter. We did that twice, once for each Prime. Now there are 40-amp lines with chargers capable of delivering 7.2 kWh sustained (double that of the current Prime) with reduced price electricity for overnight charging.

If you are elsewhere (Xcel, Great Rivers, etc), check with that local electricity provider for you about what they offer to promote at home charging. They want to sell you more electricity. So, each is pursuing means of incentivizing that.

 

This is an area where 'future proofing' is really not possible. Wild chargers may be designed that current household wiring just won't handle.

Various small PHEVs use 16 amp EVSEs (20 amp Breaker)
32 Amp to 40 Amp EVSEs for larger PHEVs and small BEVs (40 to 50 Amp breakers)
large BEVs may do 80 Amps, but by then they often have proprietary plugs not the standardized SAE J1772 plug. (100 Amp breaker)
Supercharger only works with Tesla,
CHAdeMO with Nissan,
or CCS with the Bolt.


While you can put in a 50 Amp breaker and a 40 Amp EVSE, realize that a great deal can go wrong and not blow that huge breaker! Much safer to put a 16 Amp EVSE (all your Prime can handle) on a 20 Amp breaker. And save the large stuff for the future when you need it!

(the 'Car' end is usually not the dangerous end, there are plenty of safeguards there, it is the 'Household' end that is scary!)

 

Don't lose touch with realistic expectations... 40-Amp line will deliver 200 miles in 8 hours.

That's all you need at home. You want faster, you stop at some coffeeshop in the morning that has a DC charger.

 

I have no doubt, really.

BUT: As long as "MrHockey" has a Prius Prime, no matter how much he spends, his maximum driving range (battery) is ~25 miles.

Once he decides on the appropriate 240v NEMA receptacle, he can charge up in less than 2 1/2 hours for as little as ~$20 dollars.

Rob43

 

Much of the cost is in the labor, and you will likely find that the up charge to put a 40 Amp circuit is very low - basically a bigger wire to the load center.

If it were me I would size the circuit for 40 amps minimum.

 

@MrHockey

Have you decided on which 240v NEMA receptacle you're going to install ?

Oh, and I have another reason for you to save your $$ and use your Toyota OE EVSE at 240 volts.


Rob43