I am hoping that my condo board will approve a proposal I am working on for charging. If so, I would be charging at an outdoor spot in a surface lot, adjacent to a small office building where I can get the power. (The power would be run underground in conduit from the building to a post or low wall where the outlet or charger would be mounted.)
But I have a couple of practical questions about the equipment.
Looking for practical experience from people who have outdoor charging, especially in a condo or apartment lot, and especially in northern areas.
First, what do you think of the relative advantages/disadvantages of a plain 240V outlet vs. installing a charger such as type made by Siemens? The outlet would be cheaper. But if I use an outlet, then I would need to get the charging cable out of the car and hook it up. If there is snow or rain while I am charging, it could be messy putting that gear back into the car. And I am not sure I'd want to leave the Tesla charging cable outdoors unattended (although the charger might be about as expensive if damaged by vandals or something). If I buy a commercial charger, it would cost more, but it comes with cable I could leave outside, and simply use my level 2 adapter. It would be almost like using a charger at a public level 2 station. (I might be required to lock the charger or outlet somehow, to reduce danger from tampering.)
Second, I wonder if the charger cable would become encrusted with snow and ice and might become so frozen it becomes unusable (rather like a garden house left outside in winter, maybe?). So does anyone put their charging cable and outlet or charger under any sort of cover? I can't imagine getting permission for anything too big or fancy, though.
Thanks for any input!
But I have a couple of practical questions about the equipment.
Looking for practical experience from people who have outdoor charging, especially in a condo or apartment lot, and especially in northern areas.
First, what do you think of the relative advantages/disadvantages of a plain 240V outlet vs. installing a charger such as type made by Siemens? The outlet would be cheaper. But if I use an outlet, then I would need to get the charging cable out of the car and hook it up. If there is snow or rain while I am charging, it could be messy putting that gear back into the car. And I am not sure I'd want to leave the Tesla charging cable outdoors unattended (although the charger might be about as expensive if damaged by vandals or something). If I buy a commercial charger, it would cost more, but it comes with cable I could leave outside, and simply use my level 2 adapter. It would be almost like using a charger at a public level 2 station. (I might be required to lock the charger or outlet somehow, to reduce danger from tampering.)
Second, I wonder if the charger cable would become encrusted with snow and ice and might become so frozen it becomes unusable (rather like a garden house left outside in winter, maybe?). So does anyone put their charging cable and outlet or charger under any sort of cover? I can't imagine getting permission for anything too big or fancy, though.
Thanks for any input!