Topic: Home chargers - what do you have and comments

[Guy]

Yes, EVDuty.

[Blueprint]

So after a full week with a PHEV presser hooked up to it multiple times, my EVSE never bugged 

My only guess is that having ChargePoint run remote diagnostics resetted something. With our CX-90 PHEV arriving tomorrow, time to look for an extra EVSE for inside the garage!

[DriverJeff]

Reason for this thread: with the CX-90 PHEV arriving next month, I will take advantage of $750 in subsidies ($600 province, $150 town) to have another unit installed inside the garage. This will require a smart charge splitter so both units can be on the same circuit (the device only allows one unit to pull juice). No real need for a smart unit inside as pressers will use the outdoor unit, but many units have this feature today. Very little cable required also, as I will locate it near the outdoor one on an inside wall.

Looking forward to comments and experiences with other brands. The Quebec-designed EV Duty is the most popular domestic EVSE here; it's ugly, but it will be indoors so not as much an issue as for my initial install.

I really like the Grizzl-E

https://grizzl-e.com/product-category/canada/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjMiiBhA4EiwAZe6jQ0hcpTvuZCbF_Z5HY63fv3_my1XFdmW2DHm2PLMMRmY7nGIeCKIlDhoCKDwQAvD_BwE

Canadian company.

I"m a little late to this thread, but that's what I got last year.  Had it about a year now (we of course went for the super-class Camo theme) and it's done exactly what i need it to do:  charge the EVs and PHEVs I bring home.  If I was to nitpick, the Camo part is just a decal though and it's not been weathering well.

[DriverJeff]

gas stations are so much easier 

I don't have a gas station at home, so I find not stopping at a gas station, yet leaving each morning with a full battery easier.  And the range on my GX is worse than some EVs I bring home.  Uggh.

[rrocket]

gas stations are so much easier 

I don't have a gas station at home, so I find not stopping at a gas station, yet leaving each morning with a full battery easier.  And the range on my GX is worse than some EVs I bring home.  Uggh.

The key being....you need to own a home for that convenience.

[Blueprint]

So I confirmed that my city has a $150 EVSE incentive on top of the province's $600, so that's $750 of free money towards added convenience / home value. Time to call my electrician. The plan would involve a "mini install", tapping into the existing EVSE's junction box, add the "smart box" that manages draw between the two and a new EVSE. No ladders, no holes, no fishing wires through walls. It's plain amazing how many homes in my area have an outdoor EVSE - I'd say 20% of homes easily.





These things appear to be as expensive as the actual EVSE though... More research to follow.

[tortoise]

Interesting.

Not being familiar with these systems, how is this different from what you already have?

[Blueprint]

Interesting.

Not being familiar with these systems, how is this different from what you already have?

This idea here is not to max out the panel with two dedicated EVSE circuits at 40 amps each. The "smart boxes" hook-up the two (or more) EVSE's to a single circuit and they manage the draw so the circuit's capacity is taken into consideration. In my case, both EVSE's would not be used at the same time but it would allow me to have one in the garage for the CX-90 in winter, and just a "dumb" one at that, while I keep the outdoor unit for pressers aka the "smart" one with full per-session kWh data. Rest of the year, the TR6 rules the garage and all it needs is a 110V NOCO 1 maintainer 

[Blueprint]

This was put on hold until after our Italy trip.

Electrician was here yesterday, turns out that since Hydro-Quebec replaced the counters, load codes were changed and my panel can handle the extra circuit with ease. That would be cheaper, since my circa 2017 ChargePoint can't do load share. Total install around $700 for a higher-load circuit, plus the EVSE. Looking up these at the moment.

[Blueprint]

Just came back from Costco. They have a pallet of Wallbox Pulsar Plus for $699. Others sell it for $925...

VERY compact - gotta read up on these. Hydro-Quebec sells them too, so probably not junk?

[rrocket]

Just came back from Costco. They have a pallet of Wallbox Pulsar Plus for $699. Others sell it for $925...

VERY compact - gotta read up on these. Hydro-Quebec sells them too, so probably not junk?

Make sure the cord is pliable in the cold!!

[me_2]

Just came back from Costco. They have a pallet of Wallbox Pulsar Plus for $699. Others sell it for $925...

VERY compact - gotta read up on these. Hydro-Quebec sells them too, so probably not junk?

Make sure the cord is pliable in the cold!!

https://www.protegez-vous.ca/automobile/bornes-de-recharge/comparez-toutes-les-bornes-de-recharge-pour-vehicules-electriques/wallbox-pulsar-plus-40a
Weakness
"The cable becomes very rigid at -40 degrees Celsius"

YT Wallbox Pulsar Plus 40-amp EV Charger Full Review
State of Charge

[Blueprint]

The cable issue is moot for me as it is going inside the attached and heated garage.

Just came back from Costco with one. While I still like the idea of the simple $480 Grizzl-e, after getting the tape measure out its NEMA enclosure is way too bulky for the corner of the garage where I want to install the thing. The Wallbox is the smallest unit on the market, and the next step up in price.

Now to find an electrician to install the NEMA 14-50 plug - my go-to guy just retired 

[Blueprint]

WallBox installed!

I placed it in what currently is the left rear of a vehicle nosed in the garage. It's the most flexible location for various charge portals. With the CX-90, we just need two loops to get the cable to the right rear. Most plug-ins have the portal front left, while some have it in the front. This placement allows access to all setups.

A full charge on the CX-90 from empty went from 11 hours to less than 3. 700$ + tax at Costco, installation was 900$ + tax. Provincial rebate is 600$, filed online, and municipal is 150$, so not too bad for the added convenience. My panel had ample capacity, so it's on its own 50a breaker on a separate circuit. The two EVSE's can thus work at the same time. Had to find a new electrician, my go-to guy having retired. The new guy (found on local reviews) likes a clean install, so he did a hardwire job, with a very tidy result.

Everybody is right on how stiff the cable is on this thing - I would not want to use it outside in the cold!

[Guy]

Looks good and add value to your home!

[Blueprint]

Looks good and add value to your home!

Bingo - EVSE's are always highlited in home listings here. Green plates have reached 15% or all private vehicle registrations in our town IIRC.

[ktm525]

Did they fish the wire or did you redo your drywall?

[Blueprint]

Did they fish the wire or did you redo your drywall?

fish, one hole hidden behind a ladder support near the ceiling, no drywall 

[Guy]

Looks good and add value to your home!

Bingo - EVSE's are always highlited in home listings here. Green plates have reached 15% or all private vehicle registrations in our town IIRC.

When we bought the condo, the fact there was a EVSE was a big factor for us.

[pi314]

Genuinely asking, how much of a factor is it for a house buyer? Isn't it at most like 5k to do an install (worst case scenario like my house where you'd need to run stupidly low gauge wire across ~ 60 ft)?