120v to 240v EVSE Modification

I purchased a used Leaf EVSE for $200 and have been L1 charging with it ever since. A couple things I don't like about L1 charging is the charge efficiency, which I've measured at about 70%, and the length of time it takes to charge when multiple trips are made close together.

This Instructables article talks about how to modify a Leaf EVSE to use a 240v outlet and output L2 power. Since I already have a 240v line in my house and the few items I need to make the modification, I'll likely tackle this project.

I now have the original Prius charger, and I'm wondering where the info is to modify the Prius EVSE to allow for L2 charging? Searching the web and this forum so far has not turned up any results.

I see many posts endorsing sending the unit in to Phil's company for the upgrade, but that rubs me wrong in 3 ways. The first is that I bought the EVSE for $200, and spending $260 on a simple upgrade that involves very few parts seems silly. Next, I prefer to be a tinkerer than a consumer. Learning and doing is both more fun, and cheaper. Finally, I don't like Phil's attitude on the other forum I won't mention. He's not interested in educating people; only selling his product. I get that, and I can't blame him for promoting his business; I might do the same in his shoes. However, I participate in forums to both be educated and to educate others. If I can learn something and then pass along the knowledge, I will. Open source FTW!

If someone can point me in the right direction for completing this mod for the Prius EVSE, I'll do a good write-up with pictures and possibly put together a Youtube video.

A small bunch of wealthy hippies isn't going to put any meaningful dent in our fossil fuel usage. Eliminating the price penalty for going electric is the only way for the masses to convert.

 

I like that and was considering going that route, but I have 2 EVSE units and everything I need to convert at least one of them. I'm more of a risk taker than a play it safe personality.

The 240v shouldn't be much more strain on the EVSE unit since it's still limited to the same amperage. Charging the Prius should be easy for the Leaf unit, since it won't even approach the maximum current rating.

Any idea what caused the failure on the unit you picked up?

 

For now, I've decided to only upgrade my Leaf EVSE unit, and have some varistors and a length of power cord being shipped to me. I will leave the Prius EVSE unit alone for the time being since there are no good instructions on how to modify it, and IMKen says it requires major desoldering to get to the components.

It seems a little dishonest of the upgrade company to say "The upgrade process consists of new internal componentry". This implies that much or all of the internal components are replaced, when in fact the only thing that is removed is a single varistor (which is replaced with 2 varistors at less than $1 in materials).

Yesterday I finished wiring a 6awg-4 line from my breaker panel to a 14-50R outlet and tested the voltages to ensure I wired it correctly. Once my parts arrive for the EVSE unit, I'll do the mod and plug into the new outlet.

Now that I have a 50A 240v outlet, I'm feeling like it's wasted on the Prius. Now I'm considering selling the Acura TSX and buying a full EV to make better use of the outlet. That will require that I make room in the garage for 2 vehicles, and I'd like to resurface the floors. One project always leads to another!

 

I'm looking at concrete surface options, but the only thing affordable seems to be epoxy paint. I don't know how it would hold up to dragging floor jacks around and parking on it every day. My preference is a lighter color so that it brightens up the room, although it would be easier to stain and show dirt.

Here are some of the products I'm considering:

UGL 1-gal. Gull Latex Drylok Concrete Floor Paint-209154 - The Home Depot

G-Floor 9 ft. x 44 ft. Levant Standard Grade Slate Grey Garage Floor Cover and Protector-GF55LV944SG - The Home Depot

If I could get this stuff way cheaper, that's what I'd want in the garage.
Husky 10 ft. x 22 ft. Coin Grey Universal Flooring-HK70CN1022SG - The Home Depot

 

What vehicle did the EVSE you are waiting for belong to?

I completed the Leaf EVSE conversion and decided to leave the Toyota unit alone. The only time it gets used is when I visit my parents.

You'll be the first to get photos of the Toyota internals, and I'm very curious to see them.

All OEM EVSE units are built similarly, with 120v being supplied to the logic side, and a contactor that can supply either 120v or 240v on the output. The main difference between the Chevy video and the Leaf instructions I followed is that the Chevy didn't have a varistor modification.

I intend to get a used Toyota EVSE for ~$200 and modify it just to see how it works and maybe sell it for $300, but it looks like you'll have figured it out before me.