Home charger advice

whodeeny

I'm just after putting a deposit on a 2015 30kwh Nissan Leaf (with the 6.6kw onboard charger). Any advice on the best home charger to install?

I'm in a new build 3-bed semi, it came with a x3 PV panels on the roof. No idea how much they output but ideally would like to be able to charge the car off those during the day and otherwise set a timer so its charging off the night rate.

I came across the Zappi which seems like it's PV compatable but a bit dismayed by the prices. Got quoted today €1400 for a Zappi fully installed, so €800 after the grant. It's nearly twice the price I was expecting. Have a totally over-specced the type of charger I need?

I'd plan on having at least one EV in the family from now on,maybe upgrading in 3 years to something like an ID3, so I'd be ok on spending a bit extra to future proof while I'm getting the grant.

Appreciate any advice people have!

P.s. plan on going untethered as the leaf has a type 1 charger which no other cars are using.

KCross

3 panels wont start a charge session for you so unless you plan to add a whole load of extra Solar PV panels to your roof just stick with a standard charge point.

whodeeny

Thanks, any suggestions on a decent "standard" charger? Any point in getting one that is app enabled? It seems like there's no point getting one over 7kw, is that true?

KCross

whodeeny wrote: »

Thanks, any suggestions on a decent "standard" charger? Any point in getting one that is app enabled? It seems like there's no point getting one over 7kw, is that true?

The only reason to get one beyond 7kW is if you have 3-phase to your house, which you more than likely dont. So, 7kW/32A charge point is what you need to be looking at.

App support is entirely a personal preference. Its useful to see charge session, remote stop/start etc but not absolutely required.

Most cases you will set a timer in the car, plug it in and walk away.

EO Mini is a popular charge point along with cheaper Rolec's.

John_Rambo

I'm in the same boat. Got a hybrid and it seems the source has to come from your fuse box. Of course, my fuse box is miles away from where they car will be. Quotes are in and around there €1400 mark.

KCross

John_Rambo wrote: »

I'm in the same boat. Got a hybrid and it seems the source has to come from your fuse box. Of course, my fuse box is miles away from where they car will be. Quotes are in and around there €1400 mark.

You can wire your charge point off the ESB meter box or the internal consumer unit... whichever is easier.

John_Rambo

KCross wrote: »

You can wire your charge point off the ESB meter box or the internal consumer unit... whichever is easier.

Ok. thanks kCross.

Gumbo

whodeeny wrote: »

I'm just after putting a deposit on a 2015 30kwh Nissan Leaf (with the 6.6kw onboard charger). Any advice on the best home charger to install?

I'm in a new build 3-bed semi, it came with a x3 PV panels on the roof. No idea how much they output but ideally would like to be able to charge the car off those during the day and otherwise set a timer so its charging off the night rate.

I came across the Zappi which seems like it's PV compatable but a bit dismayed by the prices. Got quoted today €1400 for a Zappi fully installed, so €800 after the grant. It's nearly twice the price I was expecting. Have a totally over-specced the type of charger I need?

I'd plan on having at least one EV in the family from now on,maybe upgrading in 3 years to something like an ID3, so I'd be ok on spending a bit extra to future proof while I'm getting the grant.

Appreciate any advice people have!

P.s. plan on going untethered as the leaf has a type 1 charger which no other cars are using.

You most likely have a 1-1.2kw panel array.
Most EV’s require about 1.4kw to start the charge process.

Max charge rate is 7kw in a single phase dwelling (99.9% of houses in Ireland).
Zappi is good in that it can take PV excess so may be handy in the future if you add panels and upgrade invertor etc

Zappi is the top dog though, so it’s a lot more expensive than others.

Gumbo

John_Rambo wrote: »

I'm in the same boat. Got a hybrid and it seems the source has to come from your fuse box. Of course, my fuse box is miles away from where they car will be. Quotes are in and around there €1400 mark.

Can be connected directly to your meter cabinet now under new electrical regulations. Requires additional protection and warning but should be a lot easier than fishing cables through the building or around it.

whodeeny

Gumbo wrote: »

You most likely have a 1-1.2kw panel array.
Most EV’s require about 1.4kw to start the charge process.

Max charge rate is 7kw in a single phase dwelling (99.9% of houses in Ireland).
Zappi is good in that it can take PV excess so may be handy in the future if you add panels and upgrade invertor etc

Zappi is the top dog though, so it’s a lot more expensive than others.

Thanks, that's helpful. So if the solar panel is only generating 1kw (for example) there's no way to have the charger draw that 1kw power plus additional power from the grid to enable charging?

Looking at the EO Mini Pro V2, Electric Ireland offering install for €500 (net of grant) which is closer to my budget. It sounds like it also works with solar panels, although you might need to shell out for some extras.

Gumbo

whodeeny wrote: »

Thanks, that's helpful. So if the solar panel is only generating 1kw (for example) there's no way to have the charger draw that 1kw power plus additional power from the grid to enable charging?

Looking at the EO Mini Pro V2, Electric Ireland offering install for €500 (net of grant) which is closer to my budget. It sounds like it also works with solar panels, although you might need to shell out for some extras.

Some will go to the house load. Probably about 200-300w depending on set up.
You could have the charger plugged in and drawing 7kw but 6.8kw may be coming from the grid.

The EO is a nice Charger alright.

KCross

whodeeny wrote: »

Thanks, that's helpful. So if the solar panel is only generating 1kw (for example) there's no way to have the charger draw that 1kw power plus additional power from the grid to enable charging?

There is. It’s a setting to say you want, for example, 80% green energy so as long as 80% is from the panels it will keep going.

You need alot more panels though to make it remotely worth the premium.

whodeeny

Thanks Gumbo and KCross, really helpful. Another silly question - if I get an untethered unit will it accept both Type 1 and Type 2 cables?

The car I'm getting will be Type 1, but want to know will I need to buy a new unit in the future if I upgrade to a newer car with a Type 2. Or is the socket in new chargers universal?

slave1

Yes, untethered can take either type 1 (US standard/Leaf24/30) or type 2 (everything nowadays) cables

Down South

I'm expecting my id.4 in a few weeks and have decided I'll go with the vw charger. What are the real daily benefits of paying the extra for the WiFi connected version?

slave1

Nothing, smart chargers only really worth it when used with PV system and then Zappi2 the clear leader

KCross

slave1 wrote: »

Nothing, smart chargers only really worth it when used with PV system and then Zappi2 the clear leader

Well, there’s the load management stuff as well. It depends on how smart it is!

Solar integration is usually just one element of it.

Down South

slave1 wrote: »

Nothing, smart chargers only really worth it when used with PV system and then Zappi2 the clear leader

Is the PV integration only of benefit if your car is plugged in during the day when the solar elec is being generated?

slave1

Down South wrote: »

Is the PV integration only of benefit if your car is plugged in during the day when the solar elec is being generated?

Yes, the Zappi2 has settings to automatically divert any solar generation from 1.4kWh and above into the car, in this case the car is 100% being charged by the sun and your solar panel.
It also has a flexible setting where you can charge during the day with a balance of sun and grid/battery.
It can also just charge 100% from the grid like a traditional charge point.

Due to lockdown I've 100% charged my Leaf from solar since mid February, I've given it the equivalent of a full charge purely from my PV array and all from surplus PV i.e. after the house load being satisified

ConorF

I'm in the same position, with an ID.4 on the way, and I went for the Charger Connect on the basis that it would handle load management in the event that I get a heat pump (which I intend to do). I reasoned that that feature, along with the other benefits of it being online, were worth the extra 200 euros over the basic charger.

You can probably get the same features for a bit less elsewhere, but I imagine the VW smart features will link up better with the car.

ConorF

Down South wrote: »

I'm expecting my id.4 in a few weeks and have decided I'll go with the vw charger. What are the real daily benefits of paying the extra for the WiFi connected version?

Meant to quote this above.

Summer8181

Does the vw connect charger have load management built in or is it only prepared for load management.

If it is only prepared can my local electrician wire load management or what is involved?

TheBigEvil

Just wondering, (in same capacity as Summer8181 above) has anyone gone with the VW charger and if so what are your thoughts?

Just looking at chargers now, and would prefer a neat one on the house, and one that has load balancing. Have been looking at the Wallbox Pulsar Plus range. They look nice and neat. https://wallbox.com/en_nl/wallbox-pulsar

Itchyness

KCross wrote: »

Well, there’s the load management stuff as well. It depends on how smart it is!

Solar integration is usually just one element of it.

Have a quote for a zappi2. Does the solar integration require any additional work? I have 8 panels but not sure of output. Does the harvi have any significance to get the maximum functionality from the charger?

Felexicon

Summer8181 wrote: »

Does the vw connect charger have load management built in or is it only prepared for load management.

If it is only prepared can my local electrician wire load management or what is involved?

There is no manufacturer approved load management for the VW charger at the moment so you might be better off with a priority switch or external CT clamp covering the house

slave1

Itchyness wrote: »

Have a quote for a zappi2. Does the solar integration require any additional work? I have 8 panels but not sure of output. Does the harvi have any significance to get the maximum functionality from the charger?

You will likely need CT clamps on both your PV array and Grid supply, one CT clamp will be included in your Zappi2.
If your Zappi2 is close to these clamps then you simply feed these via cable into the Zappi2 and that's it.
If the Zappi2 is not close or a bitch to get to then you can feed the cables into a Harvi unit which will transmit the required data to the Zappi2 over radio signal.

None of the above are much effort.