PLEASE HELP! Home Charging Options for Prius Prime

To be clear, it draws 12A at 120V and 16A at 240V.

 

'It' meaning the car.

 

Yes.

 

This fellow builds EVSE. $320 for an L1/L2 at 16A continuous

He seems to have a good reputation at the Nissan forum

 

The charging station is a smart power supply that communicates with the car's built-in charger system. It is more than just a cable with a weird plug.

I think the charge station needs a 4 conductor connection...two hot, neutral, ground. Some dryer plugs will work as well as a range plug. Or, a proper 240 volt connector and plug.

To another question...the amperage capacity is something like how fat a hose to use. The Prime only can accept 16 amps, so a 20 amp circuit works fine. (The draw must be no more than 80% of the circuit rating.). A future car you own might accept a higher charging current, so wiring now for 30, or 40, or 50 amps would cover those bases at a slightly higher cost today. If....if your home system can supply much power while supplying everything else in your home.

 

Totally forgot to mention this: the 30% federal tax credit is back in effect for EVSE home installations and equipment (the EVSE itself). It had timed out but the current administration reenacted it through 2016. It's not known what the next admin will do so keep that in mind.

30% Federal Tax Credit for ClipperCreek EVSE

FWIW

 

Good to know. I thought that program was already retired.

 

if I'm not mistaken the ELSE must be UL certified to qualify.

 

I'm planning to upgrade to a Prius Prime Advanced soon. I don't have a garage and, of course, the only electrical outlet on the front of my house is about 20 feet away from the driveway. Does anyone know if it is possible (meaning safe) to use an outdoor extension cord to charge the car? I'm just trying to avoid the additional expense of installing a charging station or another 120 outlet. Since the car only takes 5 hours to charge on a 120 line, I don't really need a level 2 charger.

 

12-guage cord (heavy-duty), no longer than 25 feet, can be used with the charger for Prius PHV. For example...
RIDGID 25 ft. 12/3 (-58 Degree) Cold Weather Extension Cord-758-123025RCL46 - The Home Depot

The same should work for Prius Prime too.

You will of course need to protect the charger and be sure that circuit isn't being shared by anything that could put anything more than a minor load on it.

Note that Prime does offer the ability to reduce charge-rate from 12 amps to just 8 amps. That will allow for greater charging flexibility, but will also increase charging time.

 

There should be no problem using a 12AWG cord. If the plug or breaker isn't GFCI protected, get a cord that is.

 

Thanks John...very helpful and Home Depot is close by!

 

Quick question. does the Advanced Model have an app on your smartphone that shows your charging level and will it work if, say your apartment is on the 14th floor away from the plug in the parking lot?

 

it should have, and it will work because it uses entune to cell tower to phone. i think you get 3 years free, then monthly subscription.

 

So there's a sim chip in the car? Otherwise how does the car connect to the cell tower?

 

I pick up my Blue Magnetism with Moonstone interior Toyota Prius Prime Advanced on Tuesday so I will find out then

 

I would think it does it through your phone. the key words are free for three years, then subscription. Forcing loyal customers into a subscription for some info on your own car is a blunder.

 

The key word is "through your phone" my phone will be at least 200 yards away and on the 14th floor, so how through your phone does that work mind you Bluetooth range is only 30 feet edit: can anybody point me in the direction on the technical details of the Entune App as it pertains to the Prime Advanced model?

 

The car connects to the Internet through cell service. If your phone is on the Internet either through WiFi or cell service, it should work from the opposite side of the planet.

 

any particular cell service? AT&T? Verizon? T-Mobile?