by alozzy (Posted Wed, 01 Aug 2018 14:10:13 GMT+7)
@Charviolon
You asked:
Given your desire to charge at RV sites, I would recommend the Zencar 32A portable EVSE. It will let you charge at both 120V and 240V supply voltages and will also let you set the amperage to match the supply and receptacle...
With my Zencar EVSE, I can charge using:
I have a single adapter cable and some gender changing plugs to make the above possible, all with the Zencar. I saved a bit of money on my home wiring costs by installing a NEMA 14-30R (dryer outlet), as that gives me 240V @ 24A charging (5.76 kW, 90% of full speed is good enough for me). You could ask Zencar to give you a 26A setting, as that would still be pretty safe on a 30A circuit and give you a 95% charging rate. I decided to be more cautious...
You also asked:
Most L2 public chargers will provide full rate charging on a LEAF. In other words, they'll add 6.6 kWh of energy to the battery pack after an hour of charging at full rate. Same goes for an L2 EVSE that you purchase for home, unless you use an amperage setting that's lower than 27A, or buy an EVSE that maxes out at 240V @ 16A (ie Duosida portable EVSEs, which charge at only 58% of full rate).
@Charviolon
You asked:
Before I consult with the electrician, what is a solid, inexpensive way of doing Level 2 charging at home? A portable apparatus would be quite handy, as I could charge at RV sites or similar places that have 240v plugs as well as at my home 240v source. An acquaintance described an adapter to his Volt's 120v charger that enables him to do Level 2 charging at his house. Is there similar equipment in the Leaf world?
Given your desire to charge at RV sites, I would recommend the Zencar 32A portable EVSE. It will let you charge at both 120V and 240V supply voltages and will also let you set the amperage to match the supply and receptacle...
With my Zencar EVSE, I can charge using:
- 120V @ 12A when plugged into a regular outlet
- 120V @ 24A when plugged into an older TT30 receptacle at RV campgrounds
- 240V @ 24A when plugged into a NEMA 14-30R (think dryer outlet)
- 240V @ 32A when plugged into a NEMA 14-50R (think electric range outlet)
I have a single adapter cable and some gender changing plugs to make the above possible, all with the Zencar. I saved a bit of money on my home wiring costs by installing a NEMA 14-30R (dryer outlet), as that gives me 240V @ 24A charging (5.76 kW, 90% of full speed is good enough for me). You could ask Zencar to give you a 26A setting, as that would still be pretty safe on a 30A circuit and give you a 95% charging rate. I decided to be more cautious...
You also asked:
I have noticed from Level 2 commercial chargers in my area that I am getting at least 20 miles of range per hour of charging; the most recent one from today of slightly greater than one hour's charge from a commercial ChargePoint unit yielded 25 miles of charge and added 7.261 kWh to the battery. Will any home unit or portable unit such as an EVSE Upgrade to my included-with-purchase EVSE plugged into a 240 volt outlet provide as much charge/range to the car as these commercial chargers?
Most L2 public chargers will provide full rate charging on a LEAF. In other words, they'll add 6.6 kWh of energy to the battery pack after an hour of charging at full rate. Same goes for an L2 EVSE that you purchase for home, unless you use an amperage setting that's lower than 27A, or buy an EVSE that maxes out at 240V @ 16A (ie Duosida portable EVSEs, which charge at only 58% of full rate).