1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

L2 Charging: EVSE vs. 240V Charging Cable

Discussion in 'Prime Plug-in Charging' started by Tideland Prius, Mar 11, 2018.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Can someone enlighten me on the differences between charging with a wall-mounted EVSE (colloquially known as the "home charging station") versus using a 240V-capable charging cable and plugging it into a 240V outlet directly (with the other side being the J1772 connector). What are the advantages of each solution? Why is the EVSE (home charging) the preferred method over the cable option?
     
    #1 Tideland Prius, Mar 11, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2018
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,947
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    same thing. if you want something fancy with wifi, or that measures kWh, you need a charging station, and not a basic one either.
    the basics cost around the same, so it's no big deal either way.

    a 240v cable is not that common because there aren't many available.
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    No one else other than bisco has any insight?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,947
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what else is there to say? did i not enlighten you completely?:cool:
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,947
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    and, rereading your question, which is confusing i think because they are the same thing;

    1) charging on a level 2 with an evse.

    2) using a 240v capable charging cable, and plugging it into a 240v outlet directly.

    number 2 is number 1. and number 1 is number 2.

    are you confused by a hard wired evse vs plug in? or portable vs wall mounted?
     
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I knew you might say that ;)

    So I guess the upsell to an EVSE is for all the other features and that it's semi-permanent (rather than hauling a heavy-gauge 240V cable around?

    I can reword my question.

    No, I'm only talking about Level 2 charging - using an EVSE vs. just a 240V-capable cable.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,947
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    they are both evse's, i think that is where the confusion comes in.

    Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment
     
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ohh ok. I'll modify it again.
     
  9. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2005
    2,785
    1,152
    0
    Location:
    Roseville, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I am a little confused here. You cannot just wire a 240V outlet directly to a J1772 plug. You have to have something between them, such as an EVSE or a charging station, implementing the J1772 control logic and switching the 240V to the J1772 plug on and off. Or is this a question of terminology?
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,947
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    clarification coming.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Permanent: less mess, higher amperage more securable, safer (less plugs to go bad, more waterproof) more features

    Cable: reuse outlet, (dryer by day, EVSE by night) cheaper, (parts and labor) same EVSE at home and at work, may not need landlord investments
     
    #11 JimboPalmer, Apr 16, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2018
    jerrymildred likes this.
  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Terminology.

    Basically I'm asking... charging station vs. just buying a cable (like the one that comes with the car but can handle the higher voltage). I ask because the EV charging spots in my condo just have the 240V outlet. I don't know if they plan to install charging stations but there's a Tesla that's using the cable that came with the car with the 240V NEMA adapter.

    Also, the 2018 Nissan LEAF is the first car that I know of that comes from the factory with both a 120V and a 240V charging cable.

    Ahh perfect, thanks!

    (although I think @bisco might say..."well that's what I said!" lol... sorry!!)
     
    HPrimeAdvanced and bisco like this.
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,947
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no problem, i often confuse my self.:cool:

    here's a another iteration? my evse is a station with cable and j1772. but the station plugs in, not hard wired.
    i could take it with me, but a little more awkward than the small brick.

    maybe it's a hybrid.:p
     
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That's another thing to consider when installing an EVSE in your garage - do you want it permanently hardwired or just have the electrician output a 240V outlet and then you can plug in the EVSE. I think the latter is preferred, especially if you want to upgrade the EVSE in the future or move it to a different place.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I think most all the EVSEs I have seen have a plug, usually for a dryer outlet.
     
  17. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If you look on Amazon or Ebay for L2 EVSEs, you'll probably find Duosaidas and their clones for just about every kind of 240V receptacle made. I finally settled on the 10-30, which isn't the best, but matches the already existing dryer receptacle in my garage. I used a new outlet strategically located and wired the center pin to ground rather than neutral. In hind sight, I should have made it more modern and will probably put on/in a new plug and receptacle when I find some time for that.

    Those are the cheapest options. But they have their limits. No wifi communications, so no notifications. Lower amperage limit. My EVSE is rated at 16A, but the PiP throttles it to about 9A. Still way, way faster than L1. And the nice part about that is, since it's lower amperage than the L1, there's lest wasted heat per minute, and since it's quicker than L1, there's less waste per charge. I would guess, about half the waste, but have never calculated it scientifically.

    The wall mounted charging stations cost more, but have some cool features and can provide more current if your car can use it. For my vehicle, the only advantage to the wall mounted station would be the notifications, and the price difference isn't worth it for something I don't really need since I know how long it takes to charge and I have a watch on my wrist.

    If the Prime can take more amps than the PiP, and I had a Prime, I would probably favor the wall mounted units that can charge more quickly. For my PiP, what I have is just about right.
     
  18. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks, Jerry.

    And neither one will work with @Tideland Prius current Prius cars. :D
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  19. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    True, but there's nothing wrong with thinking ahead or with asking questions someone else might be wondering about. ;)
     
  20. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    My daughter is considering a Prime. (My brother just bought one) But more than that, she is considering a larger AWD PHEV when her Forester needs replacing. So a larger amperage EVSE is not out of the question at her house. (They both work graves and it snows a fair amount in winter)
     
    jerrymildred likes this.