yeah it was a pretty food deal. the seller had mislabeled it as a wall connector so it didn't turn up in a search for umc. They still occasionally pop up for <$250, though.
$450 for a couple of feet of wire and labor sounds high to me.
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Just ordered Model 3, need to set up charging, recommendations?
- Thread starter ml678
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yeah it was a pretty food deal. the seller had mislabeled it as a wall connector so it didn't turn up in a search for umc. They still occasionally pop up for <$250, though.
$450 for a couple of feet of wire and labor sounds high to me.
I think you shouldn't limit it based on the current model 3. If you get a wall charger later on, or even a few years down as more EV options become available, you may limit your charging ability. I installed 50amp 5 years back so I could charge at 40amp (the charger that came with Model S then allowed you to), but I'm already wishing I would have gone higher
UMC Gen 1 is actually better than Gen 2. Gen 1 provides up to 40amps and I think it has a bit longer cable too, 20 feet if I'm not mistaken. Gen 1 only provides 32amps and the cable is 18feet (I believe). Gen 1 are going for more money than Gen 2.
I recently bought a Gen 2 Wall Connector that can provide up to 80amps (only using it at 48amps) and it has a 24 feet cable, black (not signature) for $350 + shipping on OfferUp. I'm looking for a low profile bracket if any one has one laying around.
The permit is actually $150 extra, and 120V outlet also $169 extra, the tandem break is $69 extra. So total was $490+69+169+150 = $880. The $490 was for NEMA alone.
garth_angst
Member
Realize also that you would lose 10-40% range in the winter. I live on Long Island, am a very cautious driver, and I was down about 25% in the winter last year.
Form 8911 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8911.pdf, instructionshttps://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8911.pdf
It's for all equipment including install - also it's retroactive so if you've installed a charger in previous years (up to 2018) you can claim the tax credit.
4 things you need to know about the EV Charging Tax Credit | The Environmental Center
@garth_angst Winter indeed has a big effect. That's why I was thinking of Tesla a couple years ago but ended up buying Prius Prime instead, cheaper and no range anxiety. One beef I had with Prius Prime was how slow and battery bleeding heating the cabin was during winter. Probably 3-5x slower to heat up compared to ICE. How's Model 3?
@augkuo Cool, thanks for the link! Seems that only 30% is covered up to $1000. Still, it helps.
@augkuo Cool, thanks for the link! Seems that only 30% is covered up to $1000. Still, it helps.
JBHemlock
Member
I just want to throw this out there, because it's easy to assume you've got to put in high amperage 220 circuits for charging an electric car - there isn't a lot of information out there about just what it takes to keep an EV charged up.
When I bought my SR+, I also assumed I would have to wire in a 40-60A 220 circuit for a level 2 charger, considering I mainly drive a 50 mile round trip for my weekday commute. Out of sheer laziness, I didn't end up doing that before I picked up the car last December, figuring I'd just use 110 and the trickle charger that comes with it, using superchargers until I could schedule an electrician.
It's been nearly a year, and I still charge off of my 110V 15A circuit. I normally leave home at about 8:30 am, and get home around 6:30 pm, so the car is on the charger for 14 hours on week days. That's enough to *almost* keep up with the weekly drive. Including extended charging times on the weekend, I'm able to keep it charged up just fine on my level 1 charger.
I'm not saying "Bah! Don't get a better charger!" - I'm still planning on getting a 220V circuit put in when my wife gets her Tesla so that we can both charge from that. Depending on how much you drive, though, you might be able to get by just fine with a regular outlet and your level 1 charger.
For the record, by the way: I live in Seattle, so winters aren't as cold as in some places, but they *are* extended and chilly. Depending on where you live, you might not get enough power through a level 1 charger to do more than just break even.
When I bought my SR+, I also assumed I would have to wire in a 40-60A 220 circuit for a level 2 charger, considering I mainly drive a 50 mile round trip for my weekday commute. Out of sheer laziness, I didn't end up doing that before I picked up the car last December, figuring I'd just use 110 and the trickle charger that comes with it, using superchargers until I could schedule an electrician.
It's been nearly a year, and I still charge off of my 110V 15A circuit. I normally leave home at about 8:30 am, and get home around 6:30 pm, so the car is on the charger for 14 hours on week days. That's enough to *almost* keep up with the weekly drive. Including extended charging times on the weekend, I'm able to keep it charged up just fine on my level 1 charger.
I'm not saying "Bah! Don't get a better charger!" - I'm still planning on getting a 220V circuit put in when my wife gets her Tesla so that we can both charge from that. Depending on how much you drive, though, you might be able to get by just fine with a regular outlet and your level 1 charger.
For the record, by the way: I live in Seattle, so winters aren't as cold as in some places, but they *are* extended and chilly. Depending on where you live, you might not get enough power through a level 1 charger to do more than just break even.
Here is what I have done.
First, think about how much you will normally be driving. On a normal day I drive about 50 miles, the most I will drive would be 100 miles (not including any long trips out of town)
Then think about how long your car is normally in the garage and will be plugged in. I am normally home before 8pm, and rarely leave the house before 9am.
I have found I have no problem at all charging with a nema 5-20 20 amp outelt which I already have several of in my garage. You just need the $35 adapter from tesla and thats it.
So far, the lowest my charge has gotten just driving around the city is about 39%. This took around 17 hrs to recharge to 80%. However, on a normal day it only takes 7-8 hours to recharge. I honestly have no need given my current driving patterns to install any faster charging.
As I said, the key is how much will you drive, and how fast do you need to recharge.
First, think about how much you will normally be driving. On a normal day I drive about 50 miles, the most I will drive would be 100 miles (not including any long trips out of town)
Then think about how long your car is normally in the garage and will be plugged in. I am normally home before 8pm, and rarely leave the house before 9am.
I have found I have no problem at all charging with a nema 5-20 20 amp outelt which I already have several of in my garage. You just need the $35 adapter from tesla and thats it.
So far, the lowest my charge has gotten just driving around the city is about 39%. This took around 17 hrs to recharge to 80%. However, on a normal day it only takes 7-8 hours to recharge. I honestly have no need given my current driving patterns to install any faster charging.
As I said, the key is how much will you drive, and how fast do you need to recharge.
@SAR in NJ Can you let me know your electrician's info? The one place that replied to me so far was quoting $490 (NEMA) + $69 (breaker) + $150 permit to install, even though I specified that the outlet should be right at the panel (so it should be the cheapest kind of install). Sounds like yours is less expensive.
@ShaolinJ @JBHemlock Unfortunately our driving won't fit such solutions. But otherwise indeed I'd go for minimalistic approaches.
@lolder Will try to go for that.
I totally agree. Just went through this entire process and the Hubbell outlet is DEFINITELY the way to go. More expensive for sure, but you're getting what you pay for.
yerEVan
Active Member
I bought a Milwaukee laser temp gun just for this reason. I have another post somewhere here about super hot connectors, overheating big time. And it came down to my not torquing the connections to spec. Finally did that and temps dropped ridiculously (in a good way). I check the temps all the time but finally I’m not scared that it will overheat.
garth_angst
Member
Because it is electric heat, it is pretty much immediate and heats up quick. Out winter (like yours) last year was milder than normal, so I mostly went with the heated seats over the heat. It was my only winter I had the car. Since I will be working from home at least until Feb 21, there will not be much winter driving this year either.
Maybe I will be much more rich by winter 2021-2022, so that heating and lowering my range will be an afterthought.
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