EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) for Home Use

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#2944562 20-Jul-2022 22:43

jonathan18: Thanks, you two have convinced me of a type 2 cable over another UMC.

Is there a better value option than Tesla’s cable? It's $350 for a pretty decent 7.5m.
https://shop.tesla.com/en_nz/product/mennekes-type-2-adapter---7_5m
Edit: a bit cheaper ($314) for an 8m cable from here - it’s also 3 phase, so seems to be all I’d need, yeah?
https://smartevchargers.co.nz/shop/charging-cables/type-2-to-type-2-cable-22kwh/

I'm still interested to know if you guys always carry a T2 cable in the car, or only when travelling or similar. Cheers!

A quick search gives this 5m one for $245 + shipping.

https://shop.driveev.co.nz/products/type-2-to-type-2-ev-charging-cable?variant=16012613189691&currency=NZD

Mennekes are the people that developed the type 2 ev plug, many years ago, so you know their cable will be top quality. Suspect it will be quite a bit more flexible than the cheaper ones.

The 5m cable will require you to Orient the car to match the charger location, But does means a cheaper, lighter and easier to manage cable. Shouldn't generally be an issue at most charger's, but could be at some.

Other option to consider is a cable with a Tesla button.

www.evchargeking.com/en/t2-tesla-charging-cable-single-phase-32a

Don't have a local source, and seems crazy expensive though.

I carry my T2 -> T1 all the time in the leaf. Might as well take the free power when it is on offer (and often the prime carpark that goes with it.) Also, with the short range of the leaf, picking up 20 - 30km or range from a short stop is pritty handy if I am going to be using the car a bit that day. Range unlikely to be much of an issue in a tesla though.

jonathan18

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#2944570 20-Jul-2022 22:55

Thanks, Scott3, for the further info.

Yeah, the free chargers at our mall also come with tethered cables (same mix), so don’t think currently I’ll use the cable much locally; it’ll be primarily when travelling, but given the point it’s now the recommended standard I should expect to see more use in the future.

We already have a 16A caravan socket; it’s outside and is currently used for my wife’s Leaf - I’ve already bought the Tesla adapter to use with that socket if needed. My guess is 10A charging in the garage during our off-peak hours (11-7) will be fine for 85% of the time (we live in a small provincial city so not much of a commute!); the caravan socket for most of the remainder; and on the rare occasion I can use a local DC charger - given this, I feel it’s really hard to justify the cost of over $1k to purchase and install a wall charger (with no assurance at this point the current wiring to our garage would be adequate for 7kW - so upgrading that would be additional). I’ve bought a UMC wall bracket/cable tidy (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003253779520.html) to ensure the UMC is decently maintained, so will see how this goes (My wife’s OEM Audio cable’s still doing fine after daily use for four years; and that’s outside!).

Obraik

2123 posts

Uber Geek

#2944571 20-Jul-2022 22:56

jonathan18:
Thanks, you two have convinced me of a type 2 cable over another UMC.

Would any of these do the job (noting all are three phase and of a decent length)?

Tessories - $308 for 7.5m: https://tessories.nz/product/type-2-charging-cable-22kw/?attribute_pa_length=75-metre

Smart EV Chargers - $314 for 8m: https://smartevchargers.co.nz/shop/charging-cables/type-2-to-type-2-cable-22kwh/

OEM Audio - $335 for 7m: https://oemaudio.co.nz/ev-power-type-2-type-2-lead-32-amp-3-phase-7m-greywhite-handle

Tesla - $350 for 7.5m: https://shop.tesla.com/en_nz/product/mennekes-type-2-adapter---7_5m

I'm still interested to know if you guys always carry a T2 cable in the car, or only when travelling or similar. Cheers!

If I was getting a Type 2 cable today I'd probably get one of those cables at the top of this page that I linked with a Tesla button as that would make using it a lot easier. The one I have is the one from the Tesla store.

I keep mine in the frunk all the time since I have no use for it at home. I used to keep it in the tub of the boot...but that sucks when you've got the boot packed and need to get the cable out

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michaelmurfy

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#2944572 20-Jul-2022 22:57

@jonathan18 I went a little nuts. Ended up buying a Type2 to Type2 cable along with a Commando UMC adapter. I keep my UMC in the car.

I'm actually in Taupo currently and will be coming through Palmy in the next couple of days if you'd like me to pick you up a cable but the one I have got is this: https://shop.driveev.co.nz/products/type-2-to-type-2-ev-charging-cable - only 5m, but if you reverse into a park then you're often fine also the price was right (it is an OEM Audio cable so good quality). Just private message me here if you'd like me to do that.

I find having the Gen3 charger on the house handy as mine is installed with a dedicated 32a circuit so charges nicely overnight - this allows me to always be ready to just leave without worrying about putting chargers or cables in the car. Also the Gen3 is about to link in to the Tesla app and can charge any Type2 car: https://www.notateslaapp.com/software-updates/upcoming-features/id/845/you-ll-soon-be-able-to-connect-your-wall-connector-to-tesla-s-app

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jonathan18

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#2944573 20-Jul-2022 23:00

Scott3:

A quick search gives this 5m one for $245 + shipping.

https://shop.driveev.co.nz/products/type-2-to-type-2-ev-charging-cable?variant=16012613189691&currency=NZD
Mennekes are the people that developed the type 2 ev plug, many years ago, so you know their cable will be top quality. Suspect it will be quite a bit more flexible than the cheaper ones.

The 5m cable will require you to Orient the car to match the charger location, But does means a cheaper, lighter and easier to manage cable. Shouldn't generally be an issue at most charger's, but could be at some.

Other option to consider is a cable with a Tesla button.

www.evchargeking.com/en/t2-tesla-charging-cable-single-phase-32a

Don't have a local source, and seems crazy expensive though.

I carry my T2 -> T1 all the time in the leaf. Might as well take the free power when it is on offer (and often the prime carpark that goes with it.) Also, with the short range of the leaf, picking up 20 - 30km or range from a short stop is pritty handy if I am going to be using the car a bit that day. Range unlikely to be much of an issue in a tesla though.

Cheers! Yeah, I’ve seen that EV Charge King cable, and just can’t justify spending that sort of money.

I had seen that $245 cable previously, but had been convinced it makes sense to buy a decent length - sure, it’ll take up a bit more space, but given the potential for it to allow charging in a situation where a shorter cable won’t reach, it seems a worthwhile trade off. If the storage in the MY is as decent as reported I should be ok for space! (That small second under-boot space seems ideal for this.)

everettpsycho

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2944579 20-Jul-2022 23:22

Scott3:
I carry my T2 -> T1 all the time in the leaf. Might as well take the free power when it is on offer (and often the prime carpark that goes with it.) Also, with the short range of the leaf, picking up 20 - 30km or range from a short stop is pritty handy if I am going to be using the car a bit that day. Range unlikely to be much of an issue in a tesla though.

This is really the issue with the chargers, wspwciywith the leaf that's called at 3.6kw charge rates. When that's all you can add you have to park up for hours at time and often the parking bay has a 1 hour limit. I know at least 3 in Christchurch do, which limits me to less than 20km range on them. If you're on the line of not getting home with your charge state it's worth it but it's rare I use them as a necessity and more for the oarning and to save 30c of power.

We also have 1 charger to share at work, with about 6 leaf owners you don't get long on it if you're being fair and with a 100km round trip 20km isn't really going to make much difference for me to bother with the musical chairs game. It does make me wish the bigger charger was more common in the leafs as doubling that charger rate would be pretty handy and mean I could practically get my charge paid for with stops at them. Does make me think abtd atto 2 might be a worthy upgrade if they hit the price and battery specs to get me through a week with only 1 charge on my own supply.

morrisk

364 posts

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#2944606 21-Jul-2022 07:04

I have had an EV for 5 years now (Ioniq).

I have always carried a T2 cable so that I can use those chargers without cables. Also a Charge Amps charger that allows different amps settings plus the miniplus adapter that allows using the charge amps charger with a commando plug. Also a 10 amp rated extension cord.

https://bluecars.nz/shop/mini-plus-caravan-adapter/

5 years ago there were not as many chargers available and I was very keen not to find myself unable to charge somehow if needed. Today with so many more public chargers available it seems perhaps overkill. However some 3 years back there was a power cut in Taupo that lasted some time and I was able to drive slowly onto to a camp ground further south on the lake where the power was still on and then charge enough to get me to Turangi for a full DC charge and onwards to Wellington.

Taupo had only the one non Tesla charger then so was very pleased to have the extra cables with me. Also to note that the petrol pumps in Taupo could not pump gas either so there were ICE cars queued for petrol waiting for the power to come back.

The ability to change the amps on the charger is a benefit that I have found worthwhile as if I am using an overnight charge from a plug in a house/bach where I am not sure of the state of the wiring I select low amps (6 amps) to reduce chance of any overheating - increases charging time but I feel its safer.

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SaltyNZ

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2degrees

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#2944623 21-Jul-2022 08:28

jonathan18:

Thanks, you two have convinced me of a type 2 cable over another UMC.

Would any of these do the job (noting all are three phase and of a decent length)?

Tessories - $308 for 7.5m: https://tessories.nz/product/type-2-charging-cable-22kw/?attribute_pa_length=75-metre
Smart EV Chargers - $314 for 8m: https://smartevchargers.co.nz/shop/charging-cables/type-2-to-type-2-cable-22kwh/
OEM Audio - $335 for 7m: https://oemaudio.co.nz/ev-power-type-2-type-2-lead-32-amp-3-phase-7m-greywhite-handle
Tesla - $350 for 7.5m: https://shop.tesla.com/en_nz/product/mennekes-type-2-adapter---7_5m

I'm still interested to know if you guys always carry a T2 cable in the car, or only when travelling or similar. Cheers!

I have the one from Smart EV Chargers, it's fine. To be honest they probably all are going to be, it's quite standardised. I keep it and the mobile charger both in the froot, but the Type 2 cable is the only one I ever use. As you say, it's insurance.

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jonathan18

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#2944637 21-Jul-2022 09:22

Thanks, all, for the further feedback. I'm now thinking that, given I've bought this car to own for a decent period of time, I may as well get the cable now and have it available from day one. And, in the end, I think I'm ok with the shorter length, given it saves a bit of space,weight and coin - and I really don't know how much I'm going to use it... Thanks, Michael, for your offer; will PM you on this.

Will happily live with using the UMC as the daily cable, and think about whether the cost of a faster charger is worth it at a later date (or even the cheaper option of upgrading to a 16A socket - that's still a lot more charging for potentially little outlay). It's not like we have a double garage where both our EVs could easily make use of a flash charger- the commando socket is next to our second driveway, where the previous owner put a parking spot for a caravan or similar (and had the commando socket wired into an existing 10A circuit - kinda explains why the circuit breaker popped every time we tried to charge at 16A!).

@morrisk: I happen to have one of those Amphibians sitting unused in the garage (but it could be the original kind that no longer meets charging standards); it dates back to when we also had a ChargeAmps Ray for the Leaf. Apparently, it's a good quality product (and, agree, it was great to be able to select amps), but ours crapped out after only a few months - the dealer said he'd had a number that had gone kaput, which be believed related to the NZ-based work to replace the EU plug with an AU/NZ one. Now we have both the 16A caravan and 10A 3-pin cables for the Leaf, but only the former gets used.

morrisk

364 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2944674 21-Jul-2022 11:11

Yes i read a number of reports relating to the failure of the Charge Amp charger a few years back and crossed my fingers that I wouldn't strike any problem - pleased to say that it is still functions without any problems on a regular basis when I am staying out of town.

JonoNZ

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2961108 30-Aug-2022 13:06

What kind of charging performance do people typically see from their EVSE?

We have an ABB Terra Wallbox, 32A * 230V = 7.36kW theoretical max charging ability.

I see it draws about 30.6A typically, and voltage sometimes rises to 234V, so get 7.16kW charging, but also can see regular voltage drops to about 222V giving me 6.8kW.

Does EVSE equipment typically draw less than the max rated 32A, in our case around 30.6A? Is this some kind of safety margin built into the EVSE?

Is this normal?

Obraik

2123 posts

Uber Geek

#2961119 30-Aug-2022 13:23

The EVSE has very little to do with it but rather it's whatever the car and its onboard charger is requesting - generally the EVSE is fairly dumb. What car are you charging?

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JonoNZ

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2961123 30-Aug-2022 13:30

I'm charging a BMW iX which can charge up to 11kW on AC (200kW on DC). The main factor that seems to affect kW charge rate is the variability in the line voltage which seems to go up and down a lot (between 220-238V). I have a voltage meter on another socket and can see the same voltage change that the EVSE is reporting.

Obraik

2123 posts

Uber Geek

#2961124 30-Aug-2022 13:33

Yes, if the input power is sagging then the kW will be reduced. Additionally, if the car detects that things are getting warm, it will also reduce the current that it draws

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JonoNZ

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2961127 30-Aug-2022 13:51

Cool, thanks, do others experience similar performance with their EVSE or vehicle charging?

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