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

Should I correct my 110v situation in the garage or just add a 220v line for a Level 2 Charger?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by grkmalaka, Mar 21, 2014.

  1. grkmalaka

    grkmalaka Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2014
    30
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I picked up a new 2014 Plug-in last weekend and have been charging in the garage.

    My house was built in the 50's and I discovered that 3 outlets in the garage are tied to other outlets in the house while one newer outlet is on its own circuit for the dryer in the garage.

    I've been using the outlet for the dryer for the last week since that 20a breaker doesn't really do much else but my question is:
    Option 1
    Should I spend money trying to segment the other 3 outlets in the garage to their own breaker and use that for charging?
    Option 2
    Spend that money on running a 220v to the garage for a Level 2 charger?
    Option3
    I could just run another dedicated 120v into the garage for the PiP instead. That would probably be the cheapest and easiest solution.

    Obviously, if i take the 220v route, part of it would be tax deductible but i just see the 220v as not needed for this vehicle.

    Thoughts?
     
  2. jfschultz

    jfschultz Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2004
    635
    114
    0
    Location:
    Germantown, TN
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I would suggest running a dedicated 120 outlet, but use wires that could go 220V at 30 amps. That way if you find a need for 220 down the road, only connections need to be changed.
     
    xpcman and Tracksyde like this.
  3. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2008
    1,639
    317
    14
    Location:
    Simi Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    If you were to use the timer function to charge at night, say in the wee small hours, then the dryer wouldn't be running. Then you wouldn't have to spend any money at all, right? Toyota does suggest a dedicated circuit, but from what I read in your post, the only conflict would be if you are trying to charge and also dry clothes. OTOH, if you were spending the money to get 220v, the dryer would probably benefit by working more efficiently and finishing a load in a lot less time, so you would be killing two birds with one stone. Not sure about the tax situation.
     
  4. grkmalaka

    grkmalaka Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2014
    30
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Well the dryer is Gas, just needs 110v for electronics, it's not a 220 electric dryer :)

    I've got the timer in the PiP running from 2am-6am, when the dryer is definitely not running and will save me money all together with not having to change a thing.

    I did pick up an extra charging cable though so I can leave one hanging in the garage and still have the other in the car to charge at work. Trying to maximize my MPGe's!

    Thanks for the help all.
     
  5. firedoug

    firedoug Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2014
    28
    15
    0
    Location:
    Corona, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    grkmalaka
    Something I missed the first time I read the manual is the timer on the PIP is has two functions a start and charge until full time function and a end time full function. So if you use the end timer the PIP sorts out what time it needs to start to accomplish a full charge, and then starts at that time. The two functions are independent of one and other.
     
  6. grkmalaka

    grkmalaka Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2014
    30
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base

    Doh! I did miss that. So I can set it to 6am as the finish time and it'll calculate what time it needs to start in order to get done by 6am. Awesome, thanks for that.
     
  7. firedoug

    firedoug Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2014
    28
    15
    0
    Location:
    Corona, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Exactly

    SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 ?
     
  8. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2010
    751
    219
    0
    Location:
    Raleigh, NC
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The timer will assume the EV battery is without any charge left. If you set it to end at 6AM, it will start about 3AM. It doesn't take into account how much charge is in the battery when starting to charge. Only that it needs about 3 hours to complete the charge.

    Mine usually takes 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete charging from empty.
     
    retired4999 likes this.
  9. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2011
    2,732
    1,703
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I also have the dryer and washer on the same circuit in my garage. When I first purchased my PiP, I decided to do absolutely nothing in terms of changing my electricity rates, buying a new EVSE, or rewiring. I'll just charge at night when there is no interference with washing or drying clothes.

    I suggest you do the same. So that you know what costs are involved with a couple months I actual usage.

    I found out my increased cost of electricity was roughly equal to the cost of using gasoline in the vehicle instead. This meant any additional cost on plugging in the vehicle is a direct added cost. I changed my electricity rate plan to offset cost a little but the math still said I saved $100 a year using electricity. The cost for a 220V EVSE Is just too high. I plan to upgrade or rewire when they come down in price. I believe the tax credit ended last December.


    iPhone ?
     
    Hi Burrito! likes this.
  10. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2005
    2,783
    1,151
    0
    Location:
    Roseville, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    My electric bill actually went down significantly when I got the PiP. Two reasons:

    1) I changed to a time-of-use electric rate plan, and charge in the middle of the night. I also try to run the dish washer and electric clothes drier during the cheaper off-peak time whenever practical.

    2) I used a Kill-a-watt and found and eliminated a bunch of "vampire" devices that were each pulling a few watts 24/7.
     
  11. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2008
    1,639
    317
    14
    Location:
    Simi Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I apologize for assuming that just because you mentioned a dryer on the 110 circuit that it was all electric- my bad. Was that extra EVSE cord expensive? A second done would be handy to have, but they were pretty pricey before.
     
  12. grkmalaka

    grkmalaka Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2014
    30
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I bought the Leviton EVC11-300 from someone that no longer needed it for $349.00.

     
  13. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    1,507
    491
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    I think the cost of a 240 line would be very close to the cost of a 120 line. The only real difference is the gauge (and therefore cost) of the wire.
     
  14. ftl

    ftl Explicator

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    1,812
    790
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    The gauge wouldn't change for the same current capacity, but a 240 V circuit has four wires instead of three. Both 120 and 240 use black (live), white (neutral) and bare copper (ground); the 240 circuit has an additional red (live) wire.
     
  15. iluvmacs

    iluvmacs Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2005
    280
    104
    0
    Location:
    Madison, WI, USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Incorrect. 240V devices do not necessarily need neutral. Some devices use neutral as well to run a secondary low-voltage internal supply or offer both 120V and 240V downstream outlets. L2 EVSE's are pure 240V (or 208V) devices and do not need neutral. Some use a NEMA 14-50 plug which has neutral (though they may not actually use it internally), just to be cross-compatible with modern dryer outlets and RV parks. Plenty of others use a NEMA 6-50, which does not have neutral.

    Many people "convert" a 120V 20A circuit to a 240V 20A circuit by moving (and relabeling) the neutral wire in the breaker box to a 2-pole breaker, and then change the outlet type on the other side. Perfectly valid for a pure 240V device.
     
    ftl likes this.
  16. iluvmacs

    iluvmacs Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2005
    280
    104
    0
    Location:
    Madison, WI, USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    If you're thinking of the federal tax credit for EV charging equipment, that expired at the end of 2013.
     
  17. ftl

    ftl Explicator

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    1,812
    790
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Agreed for the Level 2 chargers - I was thinking of appliance circuits, which use the 240V for heating elements but also need 120V for fans, lights, etc. In the OP's case, if the new circuit would be used only for charging the car it could be run as 120V and switched later to 240V, as you describe.
     
  18. crewdog

    crewdog Acting Ensign Prius Prime

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2009
    492
    388
    6
    Location:
    Woodstock, GA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I had a house at one point that was built in the 1950's, and most of the wiring was cloth insulation.

    I ended up rewiring the entire house and updating the fuse box to current codes.

    Not sure where you are and what type of wiring, but having a certified electrician scope it out would be well worth the $.

    When having electrician install separate 120v gfi outlet in current house garage 2 years ago for Pip, (built in 80's), had them use wire gauge that would handle 240v if we ever decided to go that route, which we did in December. Same electrician used and we had space in our fusebox for the 240 breaker.

    Good luck,

    Bill
     
  19. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2014
    3,002
    480
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I think it would be worthwhile getting the level 2 charger installed if you can. You never know when you'll appreciate a 90 minute charge time.
     
  20. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,534
    581
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Time of use is expensive when you need to run air conditioning during the day.