Are There Alternatives to Rivian Level2 Charger?

[MaskedRacerX]

Yes, I understand but I do not recommend them as they require a NEMA outlet of some sort. I cannot account for the quality of NEMA outlet or the electrician used by the person who is need of recommendations on this or any other forum. So I always recommend permanently hard wired connectors vs. anything with a plug for home use.

There are countless, numerous, never ending stories of improper outlet installs that result in fires and burned up outlets. I have yet to see any posts in my 7 years on these EV forums of a botched hard wired connector job.

When done properly with a industrial grade Hubbell outlet, proper wiring, stripping, and lug attaching, a NEMA plug in charger is perfectly safe. Unfortunately they are so often not done safely and are done cheaply. The cost of a properly done one is more than a Tesla wall connector anyways.

There is certainly potential for poorly done work, and cheap components. I supplied the receptacle / plate for my install, high quality (Bryant industrial spec), and including the cost for that part and the install, it was < $300

Also, and I'll say this without getting into, well, "it", but some people just do not want any Tesla products (I say as a former M3P owner ...)

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[VSG]

Your post says J1772 or NACS, I was just correct the J1772 portion.

I said either will work, and I said

Choose one with a NACS plug so you don't need to use an adapter.

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

https://shop.tesla.com/product/universal-wall-connector

Save yourself time and just buy this.

 

[Jeremy3292]

Save yourself time and just buy this.

That is the unverisal one for $600 which is unnecssary now that Rivian is NACS only.

The $450 is cheaper and is NACS only.

https://shop.tesla.com/product/wall-connector

 

[Jeremy3292]

There is certainly potential for poorly done work, and cheap components. I supplied the receptacle / plate for my install, high quality (Bryant industrial spec), and including the cost for that part and the install, it was < $300

Also, and I'll say this without getting into, well, "it", but some people just do not want any Tesla products (I say as a former M3P owner ...)

I was including the mobile charger in the cost as well for an apple to apple's comparison with a wall connector.

I actually have a Hubbell NEMA 6-20 (16a 240v) installed at my parents house on a dedicated 12-2 line. Works great for when I visit them so I am not opposed to using them. Just hard wired is easier to recommend unless of course like you said, Tesla

 

[MaskedRacerX]

I was including the mobile charger in the cost as well for an apple to apple's comparison with a wall connector.

I actually have a Hubbell NEMA 6-20 (16a 240v) installed at my parents house on a dedicated 12-2 line. Works great for when I visit them so I am not opposed to using them. Just hard wired is easier to recommend unless of course like you said, Tesla

Oh, a N6-20 is interesting! So ~3kW? Heck, that's not terrible. That's why I tell people even a 14-30 with a nice smart switcher (between the dryer and the EV) is still a decent 6kW.

Funny, we're making a big move, I've been ruminating over the EVSE install, currently using our BMW, umm, semi-mobile It's a full 40a, runs great, cool, N14-50, so my inclination was an outlet, but the iX does support 48a ... so maybe I'll walk my whole position back

 

[hammick]

If we didn't already have two L2 chargers in the garage I'd buy the Tesla universal charger. As much as I hate giving muskrat any money that charger can do a lot, especially for a two ev household. If I ever find a great deal on a used one I'll just slap a sticker on it so I'm not reminded of that douche every time I'm in the garage.

 

[NitroNick]

I'm a fan of emporia products. I have the pro version of their level 2 charger, but the classic version is very well received. Emporia Home Level 2 EV Charger | NACS (Tesla) or CCS (J1772) – Emporia Energy

 

[Jeremy3292]

Oh, a N6-20 is interesting! So ~3kW? Heck, that's not terrible. That's why I tell people even a 14-30 with a nice smart switcher (between the dryer and the EV) is still a decent 6kW.

Funny, we're making a big move, I've been ruminating over the EVSE install, currently using our BMW, umm, semi-mobile It's a full 40a, runs great, cool, N14-50, so my inclination was an outlet, but the iX does support 48a ... so maybe I'll walk my whole position back

Yeah so my dad built a pretty big workshop next to his house (with parking in between) and we ran the electrical for the whole thing. I didn't have any charging there when I visited and the superchargers weren't that close so it was a PITA. So we ran a dedicated 20 amp 240v breaker and line to the front of the workshop so the mobile charger can reach the parking right in front.

The good thing about a 6-20 outlet is it only requires normal/cheap 12-2 NM-B (ROMEX) cable, same as you would use on a household outlet. But when used with a 6-20 outlet you can get 16 amps continuous (80% of 20) and 240 volts which is 3.8 kW. It is the most underrated solution IMO for those who need some sort of L2 charging and have constraints, e.g. cost, small panel box, etc. It really is a cheap install for solid overnight L2 charging. Hubbell industrial grade 6-20R is like $30 (HBL5461). 12 gauge copper is very cheap compared to 6 or 8 gauge. And then of course Tesla sells just about every NEMA outlet adapter there is for the mobile connector.

Hubbell 6-20R

Tesla NEMA Adapters

 

[jeeden]

Check out the charging forum of this website also, specifically this thread: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/show-off-your-level-2-home-charger-installs-here.7940/

 

[R2D2TOO]

IS there some advantage to using the Rivian charger that is app-related?

 

[TemporarilyOutofStock]

I have the Autel Maxicharger NACS. App works well, plug and charge available as well as turned off for security.

 

[JeepEVer]

Plug in chargers are not necessarily "mobile" see my post above. And I've been using plug-in style EVSEs for going on 6 years now, on two EVs, without a single issue.

I used the term "mobile" because that is what both Tesla and Rivian call these "plug in" chargers.

And because they can be unplugged they are mobile, but I have never had a reason to take my charger with me anywhere. Also most have both 120-volt and 240-volt attachments. The 120 only adds a few miles per hour of charging, but does not require any electrical changes or costs.

 

[sparked]

Yes, I understand but I do not recommend them as they require a NEMA outlet of some sort. I cannot account for the quality of NEMA outlet or the electrician used by the person who is need of recommendations on this or any other forum. So I always recommend permanently hard wired connectors vs. anything with a plug for home use.

There are countless, numerous, never ending stories of improper outlet installs that result in fires and burned up outlets. I have yet to see any posts in my 7 years on these EV forums of a botched hard wired connector job.

When done properly with a industrial grade Hubbell outlet, proper wiring, stripping, and lug attaching, a NEMA plug in charger is perfectly safe. Unfortunately they are so often not done safely and are done cheaply. The cost of a properly done one is more than a Tesla wall connector anyways.

Very much agree. Most people should go hardwired due to the unevenness in the quality of installs and improper selection of the outlets. You might not find the issue until 5 or 10 or 20 years down the road.

In a recent video, Tom at State of Charge is noticing these poor install problems starting to show up with increasing frequency.

If you have a top notch electrician who really knows his stuff and has a lot of experience, then sure go ahead and put in a regular nema outlet if you need one. But hardwired should still be the default recommendation until there is some positive shift in this trend.

Here's some examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ci7HSET7rA

 

[MaskedRacerX]

I used the term "mobile" because that is what both Tesla and Rivian call these "plug in" chargers.

And because they can be unplugged they are mobile, but I have never had a reason to take my charger with me anywhere. Also most have both 120-volt and 240-volt attachments. The 120 only adds a few miles per hour of charging, but does not require any electrical changes or costs.

Right, my point was that "Can be moved without disconnecting a hardwire" is a lot different than mobile, as in "portable" charger.

Our Grizzl-E was this super heavy all metal box with a huge bracket, a fixed N6-50 plug and a 25 foot cable that was like 2" thick.

Companies like Emporia don't use the term mobile at all for their plug-in options, and companies like Grizzl-E don't use it either (for their hardwired vs. plug-in) they've adopted the more accurate "portable" EVSE for products that can easily be tossed in the trunk storage.

But really, I just wanted to point out that there are 1000s of people who have plug-in chargers, that never unplug them - it's simply a choice for the electrical connection vs. the desire to take it with you on the road.

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