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

Best aftermarket charger

Discussion in 'Prime Plug-in Charging' started by Gianni I, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. Gianni I

    Gianni I Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    58
    35
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Need to get a 2nd level 1 charger. Best experiences from some users? I’ve seen th ClipperCreek one which I’m leaning towards even though it’s $400. Found some others in the $225 range but not sure if the quality and standards are the same. Also the ClipperCreek is the only one I found that’s 12amp. The others all say 16am and require a dedicated 20amp to run. Rather not have to make that a necessity.

    Thoughts?
     
  2. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    1,014
    485
    0
    Location:
    Nh
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Do a search, I remember one member saying she sold on amazon, good place to start, I picked up one for 125$ ish, the first one I bought for less than 100$ had no converter? Box thingee, just a plug and chord.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    the charger in the car regulates the amperage. the ability of the evse only requires a larger circuit if you're going to charger a car higher than the prime's ability.
    are you interested in the best, or best bang for the buck? do you want a basic unit, or something with phone connectivity and data monitoring?
     
  4. Gianni I

    Gianni I Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    58
    35
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Looking more for best bang for buck. Looking for 25ft to keep as my installed home charger since I need the length. Will be using it with my 10 gauge extension cords I made yesterday. Will take pics of those and post shortly.

    What WiFi options are there. I can still monitor from the entune app with any charger right?

    So I don’t have to worry about the ones that say 16amp bc the car can only pull 12amps max?
     
  5. Gianni I

    Gianni I Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    58
    35
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Ended up going with the Clipper Creek one even though it was more expensive. Not that I'm made of money, but the fact that they are saying it's rated for outdoor use gave me more of a warm and fuzzy. I plan on having this car for a very long time and using this charger literally every day, so i went with that one.
     
    bisco likes this.
  6. princeprius

    princeprius New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2018
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Can you please post the link for the charger you purchased? Also, how is it working out for you?
     
  7. Gianni I

    Gianni I Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    58
    35
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    This is the one I purchased:
    12A Level 1 EVSE PCS-15 Portable| ClipperCreek

    Been using it since I got it as my home "installed" charger. No problems with it. Charging time is the same as the factory supplied one. I do notice that the plug to plug into the car is a little snug. You do have to wiggle it a bit to get it in and out but not a deal breaker for sure. The handle doesn't feel as high quality as the factory supplied one but still good. The 25' cord is certainly longer than the factory one. The wire itself feels a little thinner and easier to manage. It comes with a holster to put the charger in when not in use. I haven't installed that yet.

    Overall I'm happy with it. It does exactly what it's supposed to do. I have it connected to the extension cord that I made so I have a longer run when needed. My extension cord is like twice the thickness of this cord to make sure it's a safe connection.
    I would purchase again from them even though they are a little pricy and the plug is a little snug. All the safety certs that they have vs others that don't give me a little more confidence.
     
    benagi likes this.
  8. ct89

    ct89 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2010
    323
    266
    1
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I went with this one:
    16A Level 2 EVSE LCS-20 | ClipperCreek

    No issues so far. It lives in a garage so relatively well protected from the elements.
    I went with hardwired as I already had 220V in the garage and was comfortable connecting the unit myself.
     
  9. Gianni I

    Gianni I Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    58
    35
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Good stuff.

    I don't plan on staying in my current house. Plan on moving in the next year/2. Being I don't have any available space in my breaker panel for a decidated 220v line I would have some serious expense to put one in. Not worth it for my current house. I will, however, make sure I get a 220v line for my next (and what will be my final) house.
     
  10. Skapruisprime

    Skapruisprime Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2018
    122
    49
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    ----USA----
    for the pcs-15...how long is the cord end (from the unit to outlet)?

    Any pics as there website only have like 1. Thanks
     
  11. Gianni I

    Gianni I Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    58
    35
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Should be 25 feet. I haven't actually measured it but it's certainly longer than the factory supplied cable.
     
  12. dlegate

    dlegate Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2008
    30
    16
    2
    Location:
    SF Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
  13. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    2,567
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2013 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Duosida EVSE is $150 factory direct and works as an L1 or L2 EVSE
     
  14. benagi

    benagi Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2012
    525
    280
    4
    Location:
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Just went to their website and it is $224. Amazon price is $199. Can’t find your $150 price. Do you have a link?
     
  15. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    2,567
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2013 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Gotta talk to miss dream, work out the price with shipping and order it right factory direct

    Duosida EVSE Just Arrived. - My Nissan Leaf Forum

    アクラポビッチ チタンリンクチタン AKRAPOVIC スリップオンマフラー 【イベント開催中!】 (ヘキサゴナルサイレンサー) ZX-10R

    Should never pay more than $150 shipped
     
  16. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    2,567
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2013 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Also why do links that go through
    Go.priuschat turn into Chinese?
     
  17. pilotgrrl

    pilotgrrl Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2017
    891
    1,796
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoan in TX
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  18. stuyguy

    stuyguy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2012
    160
    123
    0
    Location:
    Lakewood, CO
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I'm waiting for the Siemens VersiCharge to go on sale at Costco
     
  19. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2014
    1,373
    1,044
    0
    Location:
    VA, BMW Race Car, BMW R1200R, BMW 330Ci, Ford F350
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Screenshot 2018-03-29 at 1.48.41 AM.png Is anyone concerned about these give or take ~$200 dollar price point chargers like Duosida & Zencar Only showing a 50Hz
    input & output ?


    Rob43
     
  20. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    2,567
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2013 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Given these get sold into Japan which is 100 volt and 60hz in many areas...

    I think there are other issues to be more concerned with.

    Like it says 220vac but gets sold into 100 volt and 240 volt countries.

    Given their track record, they really have had no more failures than some bigger names and their price is much lower.

    Main problems have been
    1. Incompatibility with the car
    2. Incompatibility with your home wiring
    3. Too tight of a fit to the car inlet.

    A pig and a poke maybe but usually not