recommend a 11kW home EV charging box and installer (Dunedin)?

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trig42

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#3207797 19-Mar-2024 06:38

I got an MG wallbox with my MG4 (cost just under $2k installed in my garage).

I get 6.4/6.5kW charging out of it, and with a 64kWh battery that equates to 10% battery per hour, which on this car is about 45km per hour. I plug it in at 9pm (the MG4's charging scheduler doesn't really work reliably, so I just plug it in when my power switches to offpeak), and it's at 90% by about 3am (I do about 250-300km a day, get home with about 25% battery usually).

I couldn't do that with the granny charger, so I had to get a wallbox. If I didn't have to drive those km's two to three times a week, I'd be fine on the granny charger just topping up every night.

KrazyKid

1238 posts

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#3207873 19-Mar-2024 10:54

I also charge my car at 16A and have no problems with overloading the house limits.
Personally I would also install a 16A wall socket, or a 32A wall socket with load balancing,

An advantage of faster charging is it can save you more money if combined free/cheap power rates.

For example in Dunedin Contact is now offering Free weekend power (9am - 5pm Sat & Sun) and 24c/kWh at all other times.

With 16A charging I can charge my Leaf & MG4 during the free power periods over the weekends.
I estimate my recent change to this contact plan for car charging and time shifting power use to the weekend day will save me about $1100 this year.

MikeFly

153 posts

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#3207920 19-Mar-2024 11:44

KrazyKid:

I also charge my car at 16A and have no problems with overloading the house limits.
Personally I would also install a 16A wall socket, or a 32A wall socket with load balancing,

An advantage of faster charging is it can save you more money if combined free/cheap power rates.

For example in Dunedin Contact is now offering Free weekend power (9am - 5pm Sat & Sun) and 24c/kWh at all other times.

With 16A charging I can charge my Leaf & MG4 during the free power periods over the weekends.
I estimate my recent change to this contact plan for car charging and time shifting power use to the weekend day will save me about $1100 this year.

Wouldn't you be better off on the Contact or Z Energy plans that give you 3 hours free power per day?

GV27

5897 posts

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#3207925 19-Mar-2024 11:47

MikeFly:

Wouldn't you be better off on the Contact or Z Energy plans that give you 3 hours free power per day?

We're on the same plan and it works well for us as we are able to run full air conditioning as well as laundry when we're actually home on the weekend, as well as charge cars for the week ahead

We had discounted power from 11pm to 5am on our previous plan and it was a pain and we incurred the bulk of our heavy usage from being at home during the summer months.

MikeFly

153 posts

Master Geek

#3207979 19-Mar-2024 11:56

GV27:

We're on the same plan and it works well for us as we are able to run full air conditioning as well as laundry when we're actually home on the weekend, as well as charge cars for the week ahead

We had discounted power from 11pm to 5am on our previous plan and it was a pain and we incurred the bulk of our heavy usage from being at home during the summer months.

Fair enough. We have a new house and new appliances so everything has a timer, washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, hot water, and EV. So our use case is a little different I guess.

KrazyKid

1238 posts

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#3208026 19-Mar-2024 14:02

I also find doing the washing in the weekend and being able to charge up both cars works for me.
Also heat pumps while we are home to pre-warm the house is something I am looking forward to in the winter.

I found that the 9-12pm daily didn't work as well for me, I want to heat the house when I get home from work, not when I'm going to bed.
Also the weekend KWh rates is about 5c cheaper per KWh that the daily free power.

But as I have discovered everyones use case is different.

At an extreme I know people who have batteries and just top up nightly with free power and pay only line charges....

Batman

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#3208071 19-Mar-2024 15:55

KrazyKid:

I also charge my car at 16A and have no problems with overloading the house limits.
Personally I would also install a 16A wall socket, or a 32A wall socket with load balancing,

An advantage of faster charging is it can save you more money if combined free/cheap power rates.

For example in Dunedin Contact is now offering Free weekend power (9am - 5pm Sat & Sun) and 24c/kWh at all other times.

With 16A charging I can charge my Leaf & MG4 during the free power periods over the weekends.
I estimate my recent change to this contact plan for car charging and time shifting power use to the weekend day will save me about $1100 this year.

thanks, what charger do you have and who is the installer?

cheers

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

KrazyKid

1238 posts

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#3208129 19-Mar-2024 18:42

@batman

I installed a caravan plug and a 16A portable charger (EVSE) about 6 years ago. I also had to intall a type B RCD.

Probably cost $400 for the EVSE, another $4-500 for the RCD and $600 for the install. It was an easy install with the plug put right next to the house meter.

Doing it again I just buy a dedicated wall unit with a build in RCD.
I would buy a 32A unit with load balancing.

Probably either the Tesla, or something from Smart EV or OEM Audio in CHCH.

This one requires a seperate cord which may be of use when travelling (not that I have never needed one to charge in the last 8 years but you never know:) )
https://smartevchargers.co.nz/shop/wall-mount-ev-chargers/smart-ev-wall-charger-with-dlb-and-wifi/

Or one of these.

https://oemaudio.co.nz/product-category/electric-vehicle-charging-products/ev-wall-chargers/smart-wall-chargers/

If you have solar EVNEX has a good name, and is NZ made

Oh I believe I use aotea electrical when doing the install.

Batman

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#3208152 19-Mar-2024 19:38

i think i've missed something -

you're saying the Tesla wallbox has 32A and load balancing?

if so that sounds like the one to go for?

boosacnoodle

963 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3208158 19-Mar-2024 20:05

I got a "free" EO Mini EVSE (RRP: $1299) when I bought my BYD Dolphin. Took well under an hour to install. Most of the time was spent deciding where to put it and the pros & cons of each location. No separate RCD required because modern garage / wiring and the EVSE has built-in DC leakage protection. Does 7.2 kWh. BYO cable. I signed up with Meridian and got a "free" cable there, which I can also use when travelling at AC chargers.

KrazyKid

1238 posts

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#3208231 19-Mar-2024 21:50

Batman:

i think i've missed something -

you're saying the Tesla wallbox has 32A and load balancing?

if so that sounds like the one to go for?

Not sure that the Tesla Charge does have DLB - looks like it has load sharing which doesn't really seem that useful to most people.
I am sure Tesla owner or Tesla themselves will know more than me.

Sorry if I have gotten your hopes up.

johno1234

2806 posts

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#3209427 22-Mar-2024 08:51

trig42:

I got an MG wallbox with my MG4 (cost just under $2k installed in my garage).

I get 6.4/6.5kW charging out of it, and with a 64kWh battery that equates to 10% battery per hour, which on this car is about 45km per hour. I plug it in at 9pm (the MG4's charging scheduler doesn't really work reliably, so I just plug it in when my power switches to offpeak), and it's at 90% by about 3am (I do about 250-300km a day, get home with about 25% battery usually).

I couldn't do that with the granny charger, so I had to get a wallbox. If I didn't have to drive those km's two to three times a week, I'd be fine on the granny charger just topping up every night.

Wow, your EV must be saving you a fortune with that sort of usage.

trig42

5814 posts

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#3209529 22-Mar-2024 11:45

johno1234:

trig42:

I got an MG wallbox with my MG4 (cost just under $2k installed in my garage).

I get 6.4/6.5kW charging out of it, and with a 64kWh battery that equates to 10% battery per hour, which on this car is about 45km per hour. I plug it in at 9pm (the MG4's charging scheduler doesn't really work reliably, so I just plug it in when my power switches to offpeak), and it's at 90% by about 3am (I do about 250-300km a day, get home with about 25% battery usually).

I couldn't do that with the granny charger, so I had to get a wallbox. If I didn't have to drive those km's two to three times a week, I'd be fine on the granny charger just topping up every night.

Wow, your EV must be saving you a fortune with that sort of usage.

Yeah - it's getting a thrashing. RUCs will make a dent on those savings.

Batman

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#3210741 25-Mar-2024 19:16

thanks guys most of the posts are now starting to make sense, (i'm sure the rest will make sense eventually). i will chew over the options ...

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