Less expensive home charging alternative

[wmself]

If you're cheap like me you can skip the $500 Tesla charger ($750 with install) and buy the Nema 14-50 adapter they sell and just install the plug. I'm getting 30 miles/hour of charge which for me is plenty fast. Total cost was $185. My charger comes on at 12:00am and by 8:00 am I've added 240 miles of range.

 

[Young Phenom]

Congrats, but this isn't really new information.

 

[azentropy]

Nah, if you were really cheap you would just use the 5-15 adapter that came with it and charge with a regular household outlet!

 

[DaveORD]

Or better yet, make sure to keep the referrals coming in and use free SC credits...

 

[Donaldinc]

Also, a lot of water and power companies provide incentives for the level 2 chargers. LADWP, gives you $500 credit.

 

[Tessaract]

If you're cheap like me you can skip the $500 Tesla charger ($750 with install) and buy the Nema 14-50 adapter they sell and just install the plug. I'm getting 30 miles/hour of charge which for me is plenty fast. Total cost was $185. My charger comes on at 12:00am and by 8:00 am I've added 240 miles of range.View attachment 568391 View attachment 568391

Did you get it inspected?

 

[wmself]

Congrats, but this isn't really new information.

For all those who think the only way to charge at home is to use the Tesla charger for $500, it's new.

 

[wmself]

Did you get it inspected?

I asked the licensed electrician who told me a simple plug install from an existing panel does not require permits or inspection. Didn't add any new breakers, done to code.

 

[wmself]

Nah, if you were really cheap you would just use the 5-15 adapter that came with it and charge with a regular household outlet!

I did that for 3 years...

 

[same]

that's what I did.....only thing you don't get is the wifi, which I couldn't find a big need for......

 

[Tessaract]

I asked the licensed electrician who told me a simple plug install from an existing panel does not require permits or inspection. Didn't add any new breakers, done to code.

Really? Here, a new receptacle install requires a permit and inspection. Especially if it requires new wiring. Only a replacement of an existing receptacle with a same type does not require a permit.

 

[SmartElectric]

I did that for 3 years...

People are surprised to find I charge my Smart on 120V 12A for 50000 km of driving since 2013 , most people drive less than they think, and 5 km of range per hour is plenty if you only drive 50 km a day. Nice post, welcome to the forum!

 

[Pluturi]

If you're cheap like me you can skip the $500 Tesla charger ($750 with install) and buy the Nema 14-50 adapter they sell and just install the plug.

To be complete it would be nice for you to include the cost of installing the plug. One could assume it was also $250 or not, but I’m sure it wasn’t free so it would be a better comparison for those considering what kind of connector solution they want.

 

[wmself]

To be complete it would be nice for you to include the cost of installing the plug. One could assume it was also $250 or not, but I’m sure it wasn’t free so it would be a better comparison for those considering what kind of connector solution they want.

The cord of course came with the MY. The 14-50 adapter from Tesla was $35. The parts and labor for my particular plug install was $150. So total cost was $185.

 

[wmself]

Really? Here, a new receptacle install requires a permit and inspection. Especially if it requires new wiring. Only a replacement of an existing receptacle with a same type does not require a permit.

Not in California, the most regulatory-intense place on earth.

 

[Jashev]

The main disadvantage to this is that you don't carry your charging cable with you. If you don't travel much, not a big deal. There have been reports on this forum of folks trying to unplug their charger and take it with them each day who then had problems with the outlet wearing out and shorting.

Other than that, it's fine.

 

[SmartElectric]

Two EV's, 130000 km of driving, brought the EVSE with me 4 times total. I think the plug based EVSE is the way to go (even though I also have a hardwired FLO charger now in my garage).

 

[Doc Brown]

Not in California, the most regulatory-intense place on earth.

That’s bad information. I don’t know of a single jurisdiction in California that exempts new outlets from permitting requirements. Monterey County requires them.

ask any licensed electrician . . . Heck - just google "do I need a permit to install a new outlet in California" and let me know what you find.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Hard to believe that in Pebble Beach you could get a licensed electrician to install that to code for $150. A permit is required for that in most all California cities. Just a commercial quality plug is $40.

 

[Klau2]

Yeah. Check your local rebates. In Maryland, I got my Chargepoint charger and installation almost free due to local rebates.