I just had an electrician install a 220 outlet in my garage. What do I need now to charge my PIP at a faster rate? Currently it takes about 2 1/2 hours for a full charge on 110 outlet. I understand that I can cut that time in half with 220. Suggestions are welcome.
there are many L2 evse's available. the cheaper the better in my opinion. you can have your oem converted for a couple hundred. you can then use it for 110 or 220. i have a custom built unit, cost me $500. in parts. i think you can find an off the shelf for $400.? maybe a used one on ebay for less.
What 220V plug type did your electrician install? Shop around. I originally went with an eMotorwerks Juicebox, but had problems and ended up with a ClipperCreek unit and have been happy since. Been around a long time and good customer service. Even with a plug option, they now start under $400. ClipperCreek | EV Charging Stations | EVSE | Electric Vehicle Charging\ Make sure you match up the correct plug type.
That is the question my electrician asked me, and I didn't have an answer. So he put in the same configuration as a dryer. He said if that doesn't work, he will change it out when I have the additional equipment in hand.
Schroeder Electric Charger is what the EV club here recommends. Schneider Electric EVlink 30 Amp Generation 2.5 - Enhanced Model Indoor Electric Vehicle Charging Station-EV230WS - The Home Depot 30-Amp hard-wired connection. 18-foot cord. Decent price ($548) 5-star rating from 199 reviews on the link above.
I'd have gone with a NEMA 14-50r instead since it's the one used at RV sites. You would then be able to use your charger without needing an adaptor (more as a way to future-proof for when you have a full EV). My suggestion is to buy a 2011-2012 Nissan Leaf EVSE ($200 or less used) and modify it ($20) to run both 240v and 120v. Instructions here. That's what I ended up doing, and it cost me $200 total. I have the EVSE mounted to the ceiling next to the 240v receptacle. I get close to a full charge in 1hr, and a full charge in just under 90 minutes. Alternatively, my friend bought this GE "charger" from Amazon for $380 shipped. It's a 7.2 kWh EVSE, so it can supply the full charge current a Nissan Leaf or many other EVs are capable of charging with. The price fluctuates on this, so it may be higher or lower depending on which day you're looking at it.
I build a dual voltage EVSE using a board and other parts from this open collaboration. They are friendly, offer good support and don't keep you in the dark about its technology : open-evse - Open Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) - Google Project Hosting
I got a GE Wattstation (GMC dealership had some leftover from Codas and was clearing them out) and it has worked great. Whichever you decide I suggest getting one with 7.2 kW (or 6.6 kW) in case you get a BEV in the future. I purchased a LEAF later on and was happy to be able to take advantage of the faster charging without needing to buy another EVSE.
I googled my connection, it is a NEMA 6-20r, but I presume I can have this switched out to whatever I want. Thanks for all your suggestions. The DIY and conversions suggested are beyond my capabilities. I need something that is "plug and play." I would like dual voltage and something that would be BEV compatible for the future.
It costs nearly $300 for the conversion when you factor in shipping and the adapter cord. For just about that price, you can purchase a brand new EVSE that has a 7.2kWh rating and keep the original EVSE in the car for charging at other locations. I find the cost of the conversion absurd, which is why I did it myself for less even when factoring in the Leaf EVSE purchase. Now I have 2 units, and I didn't have to go without an EVSE while I waited for a conversion to be made. The work required to do the conversion is simple and requires no soldering. If you can strip wire and turn a screw, then you have all the skill required to complete the project. Possibly, but I'm not sure if it would meet code. The NEMA 6-20R is a 3-wire receptacle with a hot-hot-ground connection providing 240 volts. NEMA 14-50r is a 4-wire receptacle with a hot-hot-neutral-ground connection providing both 120v and 240v. Since you don't need the 120v circuit, it's feasible to wire only the hot-hot-ground connections to the NEMA 14-50r. I don't see why that would ever be a problem, but I'm not an electrician. Some electricians say it's ok as long as the receptacle is labeled as an EVSE outlet only.
I prefer the plug in models over the hardwired models as they give you more flexibility to change them out in the future. And although others have preference for modifying chargers to support higher charge rates, I'm a fan of just buying one that already works with warranty (personal choice). If you're not in a rush, I would suggest looking into the Chargepoint Home model hopefully being released in a few months. It connects to your Wi-Fi so you can view usage reports, and possibly gives you the opportunity of submetering in the future.
I apologize if my message appeared to be directed at you. My intention was to inform the larger audience and give them some confidence in the project, not to admonish people who are uninterested or unable to do the modification.
I also have an openEVSE and I love it. I bought the kit but I believe you can buy them already assembled for a little more money.
