Best plug-in outdoor charging station

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kellie

New member
Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
3
Planning to purchase a FFE in the next couple weeks while the $6k incentive is in play. I rent, and have permission to install electric for an EVSE, so am looking for the best outdoor plug-in charging station that won't break the bank. I'm not finding too many outdoor-rated EVSEs with plugs.

Recommendations please!

I'm getting excited!! :D
 
Leviton http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/SectionDisplay.jsp?section=37741&minisite=10251
Bosch http://www.pluginnow.com/charging_stations
AV Aerovironment http://www.pluginnow.com/charging_stations
Siemens http://w3.usa.siemens.com/powerdist...le/versicharge/pages/ev-charging-station.aspx

Here are a partial list of outdoor chargers. Just make sure you have enough room to mount the charging station, and the cord will easily reach the charging port on your car (5 to 6 feet to spare).

Note: If you own one of these station please give some feed back.
 
Clippercreek makes rock solid products:
http://www.clippercreek.com/store/product/hcs-40-30a-240v-charging-25-cord-3/
 
I've seen the Clipper Creek units and I love the price point, but all the outdoor rated products are hardwired and I'd like a plug. I could conceivably move in the next year, so it would be much easier.

I also like the current price of the Siemens Versicharge, but I've seen reports here of it faulting with the FFE. Has this issue been resolved?

Thanks!
 
kellie said:
I've seen the Clipper Creek units and I love the price point, but all the outdoor rated products are hardwired and I'd like a plug. I could conceivably move in the next year, so it would be much easier.
If you look at the ClipperCreek site more closely, you'll find the HCS units are available with plugs. I'm sure the unit itself is the same (the HCS-40 and HCS-40P are both described as "fully sealed") but they can't rate the P version "outdoor" when it comes with a plug attached.

Fwiw, I have the ClipperCreek LCS-25 and it works flawlessly with my FFE. I would assume CC's other products would also be just as good with the FFE.
 
If you're looking for a portable solution, get the Jesla. It's a Tesla UMC converted to J1772. While I didn't purchase a converted one (I did the conversion myself), I do use it for all my mobile charging needs. For the first few months of ownership, I used it as my only charging solution. You can get an outdoor RV NEMA 14-50 outlet placed outside your rental, and just plug in with this. Then, when you leave, you only have to leave the outlet. As an added bonus, you can get the adapters for all the different kinds of outlets that are already ubiquitous because of Tesla owners. It is kind of expensive ($999), but it has proved to be invaluable. It allows me to charge at friend's and family's houses with all different kinds of outlets. I have adapters for 14-50, 14-30, L14-30, 6-50, 6-30, L6-30, 6-20, 6-15, 5-20, 5-15, TT-30, 10-50, 10-30, and Marine Shoreline 50. This covers pretty much any outlet I've seen in the wild.



http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JESLA-is-THE-40-amp-J1772-portable-charging-solution-JESLA.htm
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-50-Amp-Temporary-RV-Power-Outlet-U054P/100193650?N=5yc1vZc33aZ1z11wfr
 
The Plug In outdoor part is a code restriction piece. If you are able to get your electrician to install an outdoor plug in a safe manner, weather proof cover etc... that meets code, then you can use the HCS40P from clipper creek. They make 2 pluggable versions and a hardwired version. The challenge is to make the plug-in part weather resistant to rain and snow and ice etc...
Levitron sells a kit with a 6-50 plug plate and clear case that covers the plug. That might be your solution but make sure you are to code.
H
 
sefs said:
If you're looking for a portable solution, get the Jesla.
It looks nice, but it's pricey ($999.. ouch). Also seems to be currently back-ordered.

For almost half the cost ($549) you can get the ClipperCreek LCS-25P (with various NEMA plug options) for portable Level 2 charging, and then just keep both it and the stock OEM Level 1 in the car. Yes, the LCS-25P is less powerful than then JESLA, but can fully charge the FFE in 5 hours (and is safe on all 30-amp dryer circuits).
 
So, if I got something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-50-Amp-120-240-Volt-RV-Power-Outlet-Camper-Motorhome-Receptical-Box-NEW-/161248918345?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item258b2f3b49&vxp=mtr I could safely plug in the Clipper Creek unit?

Is there a huge benefit to the Clipper Creek HCS-40P over the LCS-25P? It looks like maybe 5 miles more charge per hour? Is it worth the extra $100? I will generally be driving about 50miles per day and charging overnight. It would be weekends when I may go out more than once during the day and want to add some charge when I'm home.
 
kellie said:
So, if I got something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-50-Amp-120-240-Volt-RV-Power-Outlet-Camper-Motorhome-Receptical-Box-NEW-/161248918345?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item258b2f3b49&vxp=mtr I could safely plug in the Clipper Creek unit?

Is there a huge benefit to the Clipper Creek HCS-40P over the LCS-25P? It looks like maybe 5 miles more charge per hour? Is it worth the extra $100? I will generally be driving about 50miles per day and charging overnight. It would be weekends when I may go out more than once during the day and want to add some charge when I'm home.

I would suggest the GE outdoor outlet http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-50-Amp-Temporary-RV-Power-Outlet-U054P/100193650?N=5yc1vZc33aZ1z11wfr because it opens from the top and will shed rain better than the side opening one you linked. Go with the 40P. There will come a time when you need to charge up as quickly as possible, and it will all be worth it at that point. Definitely worth an extra $100 in my experience.
 
WattsUp said:
sefs said:
If you're looking for a portable solution, get the Jesla.
It looks nice, but it's pricey ($999.. ouch). Also seems to be currently back-ordered.

For almost half the cost ($549) you can get the ClipperCreek LCS-25P (with various NEMA plug options) for portable Level 2 charging, and then just keep both it and the stock OEM Level 1 in the car. Yes, the LCS-25P is less powerful than then JESLA, but can fully charge the FFE in 5 hours (and is safe on all 30-amp dryer circuits).

Using the adapters that plug onto the UMC, the pilot signal is changed to advertise the safe level of current. For instance, if you plug in the 14-30 adapter, the UMC will only advertise to the car to allow 24A to be pulled. But yes, I can see this option may be a bit expensive for some.
 
kellie said:
Is there a huge benefit to the Clipper Creek HCS-40P over the LCS-25P?
Other than somewhat faster charging (3.5 hours at 6.6 kW with the HCS-40 versus 5 hours at 4.8 kW with the LCS-25), there's portability. The faster charging may not really be important if you intend to charge overnight (when the difference between 3.5 hours and 5 hours won't matter while you sleep for 8).

The LCS-25 is quite compact and therefore more portable. The HCS is "portable" as well (if you get one with a plug), but it looks to be over 2x the size of the LCS, and probably a lot heavier. My LCS-25, with the J1772 cord wrapped around it, is about the size of a pair of shoes. I can easily stow it in one of the two "side nooks" in the back on my FFE.

Btw, if you're considering the LCS-25, you may be interested in the following topic (contains photos) I created a while back:
http://www.myfocuselectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1004
This was before CC introduced the LCS-25P, and so I attached a plug myself and also created a set of interchangeable adapters for my LCS-25.
 
Since we are in search of an EVSE, I decided to check JESLA and saw that there is a recall http://www.myrav4ev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=13957

sefs said:
If you're looking for a portable solution, get the Jesla. It's a Tesla UMC converted to J1772. While I didn't purchase a converted one (I did the conversion myself), I do use it for all my mobile charging needs. For the first few months of ownership, I used it as my only charging solution. You can get an outdoor RV NEMA 14-50 outlet placed outside your rental, and just plug in with this. Then, when you leave, you only have to leave the outlet. As an added bonus, you can get the adapters for all the different kinds of outlets that are already ubiquitous because of Tesla owners. It is kind of expensive ($999), but it has proved to be invaluable. It allows me to charge at friend's and family's houses with all different kinds of outlets. I have adapters for 14-50, 14-30, L14-30, 6-50, 6-30, L6-30, 6-20, 6-15, 5-20, 5-15, TT-30, 10-50, 10-30, and Marine Shoreline 50. This covers pretty much any outlet I've seen in the wild.



http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JESLA-is-THE-40-amp-J1772-portable-charging-solution-JESLA.htm
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-50-Amp-Temporary-RV-Power-Outlet-U054P/100193650?N=5yc1vZc33aZ1z11wfr
 
Yesim-Mike said:
Since we are in search of an EVSE, I decided to check JESLA and saw that there is a recall http://www.myrav4ev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=13957

sefs said:
If you're looking for a portable solution, get the Jesla. It's a Tesla UMC converted to J1772. While I didn't purchase a converted one (I did the conversion myself), I do use it for all my mobile charging needs. For the first few months of ownership, I used it as my only charging solution. You can get an outdoor RV NEMA 14-50 outlet placed outside your rental, and just plug in with this. Then, when you leave, you only have to leave the outlet. As an added bonus, you can get the adapters for all the different kinds of outlets that are already ubiquitous because of Tesla owners. It is kind of expensive ($999), but it has proved to be invaluable. It allows me to charge at friend's and family's houses with all different kinds of outlets. I have adapters for 14-50, 14-30, L14-30, 6-50, 6-30, L6-30, 6-20, 6-15, 5-20, 5-15, TT-30, 10-50, 10-30, and Marine Shoreline 50. This covers pretty much any outlet I've seen in the wild.



http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JESLA-is-THE-40-amp-J1772-portable-charging-solution-JESLA.htm
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-50-Amp-Temporary-RV-Power-Outlet-U054P/100193650?N=5yc1vZc33aZ1z11wfr

Yeah, I got my replacement 14-50 adapter in the mail direct from Tesla.
 
twscrap said:
sefs said:
Yeah, I got my replacement 14-50 adapter in the mail direct from Tesla.
There was a fair amount of concern that Tesla wouldn't replace for non-Tesla owners - did they give you any trouble?
I built my own. So I bought the UMC from the Tesla store online. I was first concerned that I wouldn't get one, but completely unprompted by me, they shipped the adapter to my address. Just requested the faulty one be sent back with a prepaid label.
 
kellie said:
... Is there a huge benefit to the Clipper Creek HCS-40P over the LCS-25P?
Possible benefit: the connector + cord of the higher-current model may work better as months go by.
Reasoning: for first year or so, my SPX worked fine at 24A., but eventually I could feel the connector at the car getting quite warm (so I dialed the spx down to 16A.). I guess the contacts got looser (or corroded?). I feel no such heat when charging at much higher power via public EVSE.
 
The Clipper Creek HCS line (40A, 60A versions, as well as the LCS 20A) are all NEMA 4 enclosures, and when using the pigtail flex are outdoor rated.

I have a 40A and 60A version. They are wonderful EVSEs, and decently priced.
 
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