Garage charging stations

Do you really want to spend the money for it? If I had a PiP, I wouldn't bother. ~3 hours isn't that long to wait for a full charge.

 

Congrats on the PiP.. I followed your build thread from before.. cant wait to see what you have in store for the PiP.

I bought Mitch's OpenEVSE (EVSE_by_mwolrich - open-evse - A portable EVSE built with an Open EVSE board. - Open Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) - Google Project Hosting ). Those are his pictures.. but its now hanging on my garage wall. I need to figure out a few things still since I dont park my car in the garage but the EVSE is in the garage..

 

It's not even a full 3hrs to charge- it's really closer to 2.5hrs for a full recharge on 120vac...

 

Here in Northern California, I keep my car in the driveway. With the PiP, I've become good at backing into the driveway to charge.

I installed a dedicated, weatherproof outlet myself, as you can see below. I installed some simple hooks into the stucco, which look fine. It's been very easy to use, taking only about 15 seconds to plug in when I get home at night.

 

If you only need to charge at night (for your morning commute) and in the afternoon (for your commute home), then I'd say 120V is fine.

But getting 1 hour's worth of juice after you get home is a pretty big difference between 120V and 240V.. its like 4 miles of range versus 8 miles. I can make it to the friends house/store/shopping center and back with 8 miles, but not with 4 miles. Additionally, since I kind of live on a hill, that trip home uphill from the store on gas is painful.. that's probably the main reason why my HV MPG is the worst out of everyone on the spreadsheet.

It really depends on how you use your car.

 

Here are a couple photo's of my charging setup. Very simple but very efficient. Takes about 30 seconds to plug in or disconnect and the charge cable. Rolls neatly on hook (already in garage). I did have a 20 amp dedicated charging circuit put in. It cost me about $350 and that included one other job that the electrician did while he was here. For the first couple of weeks I just used one of the garage outlets with no issues. However I do have a battery powered lawn mower that I charge after each use as well as other things so decided to get a dedicated circuit. Also, the garage door opener used the non dedicated circuit. The charge time from the outlet is about 2 hours and 20 min. I have timed multiple times - must have good current flow. I use velcro to hold the CCID (black box on charging cable) to the table so it does not pull off. My wife pulls her 2000 Honda Accord beside my car with no issues. I think it will save you time in the long run to think out an efficient way to set yours up. Makes life easier!!

Rob

 

still haven't painted the wall yet I see, lol

 

nice setup! i like the velcro idea too. i really wish they had made that box much smaller and lighter, is it is, it needs some sort of "shelf" because you can't just leave it hanging – very annoying.

 

Hoping to post a picture, if I can remember how.
img_9004_46557.jpg

 

Tracksyde, I built a new high power OpenEVSE, 75A capable @ 240V (18KW), obviously the PiP can't take advantage of this, but the Tesla Model S arriving next summer can


Here's the build, it's only on a temporary circuit now for testing, will be soon wired to the 100A breaker with #3AWG wiring.

75AOpenEVSE - open-evse - A 75A EVSE built with an Open EVSE board. - Open Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) - Google Project Hosting

 

My charging cord stays in the car.

I have some different 240v outlets around my house. Does that open any low/no cost faster charging options? I have a dryer plug where an electric dryer used to be, and one of those round twist lock outlets in the den. Could I just stick an adapter on and get a faster charge with the OEM evse for example?

 

NO, not without modification, you will destroy the EVSE unless its modified to handle 120-240
Checkout EVSE Upgrade - Products $239.00 + $20 return shipping EVSE Upgrade - Order

This has some specifics mentioned about the Toyota EVSE: EVSE Upgrade - Products

 

Mitch, I was actually looking at that today. Your new one looks crazy .. It will match your Model S well.

I finally got my outlet on Monday. So Tuesday morning was my first charge using your EVSE. Everything worked great, thanks again for all your advice.


Also, something others may find interesting regarding charge time. The first night I charged on 240V, I set the timer to end at 830AM. When I went to check on it at 715AM, it was already done. However, today (day 2 on 240V), with the timer set to finish at 830AM again, I went to check on it at 8:00AM and it was still charging. When I went back to check at 8:10AM, it was finished already.

So maybe the charge timer kind of adjusts? Or maybe switching between 120V and 240V, the charge timer needs to take a charge or two to "figure things out".

 

Here's pics of my EVSE install and how the car is plugged in. Note, I don't actually park in the garage, but in the driveway.
AV/Nissan EVSE install pictures | PriusChat

 

The EVSE brick has a li'l hole in a corner, perfect for a long zip-tie or for a piece of string or wire to make a permanent loop, so that the user can hang the brick off of whatever is handy next to the outlet.

 

Try the Evse Upgrade (on Google and in many older posts here). It'll give you automatic 120 - 240 charging.