Level 2 charger

broosth · Sep 12, 2018

Any opinion regarding level 2 home chargers? Wirecutter.com likes the Siemens unit. Are there any good ones that are BOTH level 1 and 2? I don't want to pay for a 240v line to my carport, but a permanently mounted charger seems like a good idea. I spoke with a friend who had is charger stolen out of his driveway!

One related question: does anyone know the max charge rate for a level 2 charger?

TheCyberKnight · Sep 12, 2018

For the related question, a level 2 charger usually pushes about 7.2 kW where a level 1 is limited to about 1.4 kW.

WetEV · Sep 12, 2018

broosth said:
Any opinion regarding level 2 home chargers? Wirecutter.com likes the Siemens unit. Are there any good ones that are BOTH level 1 and 2? I don't want to pay for a 240v line to my carport, but a permanently mounted charger seems like a good idea. I spoke with a friend who had is charger stolen out of his driveway!

One related question: does anyone know the max charge rate for a level 2 charger?

J1772 is limited to 80Amps or 19.2kW for L2.

The Bolt is limited to 7.2 kW.

The lowest of the car's charger and the station's specifications limit the total.

7.2kW is the most common, however many public stations are 208V 30 Amp or 6.240kW. There are lots of others, some stations I have used a few times are 208V 20A or 4.160 kW.

L1 is usually 12A 1.440 kW. L1 can be 15 Amps or 1.920kW on a 20Amp circuit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

Somewhat off spec, some charging cables and some cars can use an RV outlet TT30 to charge at 24A 120V which is 2.880kW.

I have a Siemens, and am generally pleased.

GetOffYourGas · Sep 12, 2018

WetEV said:
L1 is usually 12A 1.440 kW. L1 can be 15 Amps or 1.920kW on a 20Amp circuit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

Somewhat off spec, some charging cables and some cars can use an RV outlet TT30 to charge at 24A 120V which is 2.880kW.

Does anyone know the maximum current the Bolt can pull from 120V? I would guess 12A based on the 8A/12A settings in the infotainment screen. But it sure would be nice to pull up to 24A from a 30A RV outlet.

SeanNelson · Sep 12, 2018

GetOffYourGas said:
Does anyone know the maximum current the Bolt can pull from 120V? I would guess 12A based on the 8A/12A settings in the infotainment screen. But it sure would be nice to pull up to 24A from a 30A RV outlet.

12A is the maximum on 120V. But if you make an adapter for the EVSE ("charge cord") that comes with the Bolt then you can plug it into a 240V outlet and it will charge at 12A - which is the same amount of power you'd get from 120V at 24A.

BarfOMatic · Sep 12, 2018

broosth said:
Any opinion regarding level 2 home chargers?

There are many, many threads on the subject of "which EVSE should I buy" ? (most of them in the "charging" area of this site)

For example (there are others) :
http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7760

http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7272

http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6770

http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6086

Lastly, there are some Bolt owners that have a pigtail ("very short extension cord") that allows them to use the default OEM EVSE that Chevy delivers with a 240V socket, turning the EVSE into a 240V/12A (i.e., ~2.8 kW) charging solution. You can search for info on that here as well.

GetOffYourGas · Sep 12, 2018

SeanNelson said:
GetOffYourGas said:

Does anyone know the maximum current the Bolt can pull from 120V? I would guess 12A based on the 8A/12A settings in the infotainment screen. But it sure would be nice to pull up to 24A from a 30A RV outlet.

Click to expand...

12A is the maximum on 120V. But if you make an adapter for the EVSE ("charge cord") that comes with the Bolt then you can plug it into a 240V outlet and it will charge at 12A - which is the same amount of power you'd get from 120V at 24A.

Yes, I am aware of this trick, although I refuse to do it myself. If that adapter falls into the wrong hands, bad things will happen.

I was asking because of the availability of 30A RV outlets. I have a family member or two that has one installed and I'd love to take full advantage of it when I visit.

tomofNV · Sep 13, 2018

You can charge from a 30A or 50A outlet, but you will need a portable EVSE and the correct adapter plug (30A dryer) to do so. You can get both at:
https://emotorwerks.com/store/residential
For those of us that travel to areas with no public EVSE the above permits charging at RV parks.

WetEV · Sep 13, 2018

tomofNV said:
You can charge from a 30A or 50A outlet, but you will need a portable EVSE and the correct adapter plug (30A dryer) to do so. You can get both at:
https://emotorwerks.com/store/residential
For those of us that travel to areas with no public EVSE the above permits charging at RV parks.

30 Amp RV is a "TT-30", which is 120V 30 Amps. It is NOT a 30A dryer.

Some cars can charge at higher rates than 1.440kW on 120V if the EVSE advertises more. Some cars do not. I don't know about the Bolt.

tomofNV · Sep 13, 2018

The 30A outlets I used to charge at RV parks 5-9 years ago in my converted car were 240V, verified by my energy meter which reads out AC voltage, current, power, and accumulated energy. I don't know much about RVs themselves.

WetEV · Sep 13, 2018

tomofNV said:
The 30A outlets I used to charge at RV parks 5-9 years ago in my converted car were 240V, verified by my energy meter which reads out AC voltage, current, power, and accumulated energy. I don't know much about RVs themselves.

Are you sure these were not 50 Amp outlets? Almost all RVs use TT-30 or NEMA_14-50.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_TT-30

Three connectors: Hot, neutral and ground.

Most RVs are wired for 120V 30 Amp. Large RVs use 240V 50A.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_14

Four connectors: Hot phase x, Hot phase y, neutral and ground.

SparkE · Sep 14, 2018

http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/30amp_Service.htm

30 Amp, 240V "Old Style" electric dryer plug, circa 1960s-1970s (NEMA 10-30) - 3 holes, one is an 'L' shape :

30 Amp, 120V RV socket, (TT-30) - 3 holes, NO 'L' :
Note that you should never exceed 80% of 'rated' amps, so a max of 24 amp constant load on this one.

50 Amp, 240V electric oven (and RV) socket, (NEMA 14-50) - 4 holes :

And for the hell of it, 30A/240V "New Style" electric dryer socket, (NEMA 14-30) - 4 holes, one is an 'L' shape :
These are found in some garages. Note that you should never exceed 80% of 'rated' amps, so a max of 24 amp EVSE on this one.

------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------

tomofNV · Sep 14, 2018

I usually used a 50A site, NEMA 14-50, but a few times those were all taken so I used a 30A site, and it was 240 VAC. Maybe not common, dunno. Only used one at one RV park.

broosth · Oct 24, 2018

Slightly off topic question: I read on another website that the US stock EVSE can be operate safely on 240 v, with a proper plug adapter, delivering 12 amp at 240 v for double the charge rate (not Level 2, but faster than 120 v). That makes sense to me, BUT the nameplate only says 120 v. That is, of course, true with the stock plug.

Does anyone have an official Chevy reference that says 240 v is OK?

SparkE · Oct 24, 2018

There is no "official GM reference" for it, but it does work. Several people here have used it so (with a "converter pigtail"). If you look through the site, you should quickly find a description of how it works (and maybe why). Search for 'pigtail'.

SparkE · Oct 24, 2018

http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7760&p=32039&hilit=pigtail#p32039

http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7469&p=28648&hilit=pigtail#p28648

broosth · Oct 24, 2018

Thank you for those links. They did not show up in the search I did. My caution relates to the warning here:

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=faq_info&fcPath=4&faqs_id=24

I do understand that they are not specifically referring to the EVSE Chevrolet ships.

winterescape · Oct 27, 2018

broosth said:
Thank you for those links. They did not show up in the search I did. My caution relates to the warning here:

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=faq_info&fcPath=4&faqs_id=24

I do understand that they are not specifically referring to the EVSE Chevrolet ships.

Correct. They are in the business of removing and replacing the input cord, and would like to protect that business. In addition, as you point out, they are discussing a circa 2011 Nissan EVSE, which I have not seen the internals of.

We do know what the internals are for the 2017 and 2018 GM Volt / Bolt included EVSE. Pictures shown here. (Potentially 2019 too, but I have not yet seen verification of the same GM part number EVSE )

http://imgur.com/a/vFkP5

From the pictures, and the great work done by this individual, we can conclude:
1) GM sourced the PCB from Clippercreek
2) GM desired a single part number PCB that could be sold worldwide and used from 90-265VAC.
3) The input components are rated for "high line" AC (Up to 265VAC)
4) Many folks have made or purchased "pigtail" adapters and are currently using them.

Although removing the cord and replacing it is an option, I am not crazy about that as there is no indication they use a thermal sensor in the new cord to detect overheating, caused by a bad connection. The best solution would have been for GM to have put a 220V plug on the included EVSE and also included a 120V plug adapter, IMHO.

https://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?218442-2016-Volt-120v-EVSE-is-L1-L2-Conversion-Capable

broosth · Oct 27, 2018

It would have been great if they had equipped it with replaceable plugs as Tesla does, or at least a 240 v plug and provide a pigtail for 120.

One thing I have not found is the actual wiring for the four contacts of, say, a Nema 14-50 to the three pins of the 120 v plug. I should be able to guess, but guessing is a good way to ruin it.

BoltDriver29 · Oct 27, 2018

One thing I have not found is the actual wiring for the four contacts of, say, a Nema 14-50 to the three pins of the 120 v plug. I should be able to guess, but guessing is a good way to ruin it.

I just completed the task of making a pigtail for 14-50 to 3 pin 120v. I thought I'd do it the 'easy way' and buy a pre-made oven plug. That was a mistake. The oven plug uses #8 wire and I failed to realize that I don't need #8 wire on the pigtail. At least not on a pigtail that is for 220v in my house that is going to connect to the portable charger that came with the Bolt. Since the portable charger maxes out at 12a then you should be able to use #10 wire and that would have fit very well into the 3 pin socket I used.

So the #8 wire did not connect very easily to the 120v 3 pin 20a socket I attached.

For the price of that pre-made oven wire and a 20a socket I would have been better off buying "Adapter A - NEMA 14-XX plug to NEMA L6-20 receptacle" from quickchargepower.com

You don't need the neutral for the connection. Connect the ground and 2 hots. And if you look at the product I referenced above you will see the neutral prong missing in the photo.

Level 2 charger

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