Charging at home using mobile charger w/ NEMA 14-50 plug?

[PoweRWatt]

Took delivery of my Max pack R1T Saturday, and today is going to be my first day charging it.

We’re planning to use the mobile charger and see how that performs tonight in the NEMA 14-50 plug we had installed.

We’re considering doing an actual charger, but do folks think it’s necessary? We plan to use mostly for local driving (not more than 100 miles on any given day) and 5 or so road trips per year — short one this weekend from HOU to DAL.

Sponsored

 

[ElGuapo]

I’d get a charger. You’ll get 16 miles of range an hour with a 14-50, so you’ll get more than 100 miles of range at night, but if you ever need it faster, the 14-50 is fairly slow…

 

[COdogman]

It’s totally up to you. I think most people who own a house feel it is a worthwhile investment. That being said, I rent so I just use the 120v portable charger in my condo garage and if I need to do a faster charge I have an EA station up the street that works great. So you can definitely get by just fine without an L2 at home.

 

[mikehmb]

Took delivery of my Max pack R1T Saturday, and today is going to be my first day charging it.

We’re planning to use the mobile charger and see how that performs tonight in the NEMA 14-50 plug we had installed.

We’re considering doing an actual charger, but do folks think it’s necessary? We plan to use mostly for local driving (not more than 100 miles on any given day) and 5 or so road trips per year — short one this weekend from HOU to DAL.

This is a power delivery question.

The portable charger is capable of 7.6kW. Other chargers are capable of up to 12kW (hard-wired, 60-amp circuit, 50-amp delivery). My L2 EVSEs are both set up at 40-amp, 9.6kW delivery.

So the question is - does the additional 30% buy you anything, for your planned usage?

Personally, I like having L2 EVSEs mounted in the garage and using the portable charger only when traveling, but there’s no real harm in just using the portable charger all the time, especially for your use case.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I always recommend a hard wired charger for a permanent home charging solution.

The 14-50 outlet is a failure point that I have seen many melt over the yesrs. Plugs also can melt as well. With a 14-50 you need to have a GFCI breaker to meet code and those can cause nuisance tripping which will cause failed charging. If you do decide to do a 14-50 make sure you go with an industrial grade outlet such as the Hubbell.

A permanent charger can be significantly faster as it can change at up to 48 amps vs 32 of the mobile charger. The R1 have large batteries and a faster charger means that you can replenish the charge faster and also if you have a TOU rate with your utility you can get all the charge during the cheapest off peak rate period.

Lastly, check with your utility as many of them offer rebates and lower rates for overnight charging with a permanent L2 charger.

 

[BrentInCO]

I always recommend a hard wired charger for a permanent home charging solution.

The 14-50 outlet is a failure point that I have seen many melt over the yesrs. Plugs also can melt as well. With a 14-50 you need to have a GFCI breaker to meet code and those can cause nuisance tripping which will cause failed charging. If you do decide to do a 14-50 make sure you go with an industrial grade outlet such as the Hubbell.

A permanent charger can be significantly faster as it can change at up to 48 amps vs 32 of the mobile charger. The R1 have large batteries and a faster charger means that you can replenish the charge faster and also if you have a TOU rate with your utility you can get all the charge during the cheapest off peak rate period.

Lastly, check with your utility as many of them offer rebates and lower rates for overnight charging with a permanent L2 charger.

Also worth mentioning the (up to 30%? or some $ amount, $2k?) federal tax credit available toward the labor and materials to install an EVSE. And that local utilities or government authorities may also provide economic incentives / rebates toward the same.

And I assume Rivian’s current incentive is not applicable to the OP. https://rivian.com/support/article/how-do-i-know-if-i-m-eligible-for-the-r1t-home-charging-bundle

Many years ago, I used my Tesla’s portable charger (when I first bought the car) for many months before finally making the investment in a 14-50 outlet, but I should not have waited that long.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Also worth mentioning the (up to 30%? or some $ amount, $2k?) federal tax credit available toward the labor and materials to install an EVSE. And that local utilities or government authorities may also provide economic incentives / rebates toward the same.

And I assume Rivian’s current incentive is not applicable to the OP. https://rivian.com/support/article/how-do-i-know-if-i-m-eligible-for-the-r1t-home-charging-bundle

Many years ago, I used my Tesla’s portable charger (when I first bought the car) for many months before finally making the investment in a 14-50 outlet, but I should not have waited that long.

Good point. Also, I can tell you that when we were looking at homes 3 and a half years ago an EV charger and the location of the main load center were major considerations for us. A hard wired 48 amps EV charger would have put a house at the top of our list.

 

[jjswan33]

I for one only have a Nema 14-50 but rather than using the included mobile charger I have a 40A charger (Chargepoint Home Flex that can also be hardwired for higher amperage).

So your options summarizing what others have said:

1 - Stick with the included mobile charger and 32A charging
2 - Upgrade to a 40A charger that can plug into a Nema 14-50 ($200-600). You would gain 20% charging speed and have a backup charger just in case of issues. If you buy a nicer one like the CP Home Flex it could be hardwired in the future if you want to get the full 50A.
3 - Upgrade to a full hardwired charger as others have suggested and get full 50A charging

 

[mkg3]

Took delivery of my Max pack R1T Saturday, and today is going to be my first day charging it.

We’re planning to use the mobile charger and see how that performs tonight in the NEMA 14-50 plug we had installed.

We’re considering doing an actual charger, but do folks think it’s necessary? We plan to use mostly for local driving (not more than 100 miles on any given day) and 5 or so road trips per year — short one this weekend from HOU to DAL.

I charge both of my EVs with 14-50 portable charger provided by Rivian.

Both vehicles get charged, on a different nights, overnight and it's just fine. If I need more charge than what overnight provides, because of a roadtrip, then I just break up the charing into two nights.

Just takes a bit of forethought and it works just fine.

I've owned and been charging my Tesla for 5 yrs using only Tesla provided portable charger, now with R1S, I just changed the portable Tesla for portable Rivian charger. Tesla provides J1772 to NACS adaptor so this way, I don't have to switch the portable chargers depending which vehicle.

 

[SANZC02]

If you are looking for a decent EV charger I can recommend this one. It is able to plug in or hardwire, can do up to 40 amps plugged in an 48 amps hardwired. Has an app with decent features. I have one at 2 different locations, one is almost 2 years old and I have been happy with it. Also only $399 at Amazon.

 

[PoweRWatt]

Thanks all! This is super insightful actually!

I’m going to look into a few chargers that can plug into NEMA 14-50 with higher 40A.

 

[HaveBlue]

If you charge outside then a permanent one is less likely to get stolen. Either way you should look at the breaker supplying your 14-50. If it is 40A instead of 50A, then buying another unit may not be worth it as you will only get 32A delivered like the portable one.

 

[defcon888]

Took delivery of my Max pack R1T Saturday, and today is going to be my first day charging it.

We’re planning to use the mobile charger and see how that performs tonight in the NEMA 14-50 plug we had installed.

We’re considering doing an actual charger, but do folks think it’s necessary? We plan to use mostly for local driving (not more than 100 miles on any given day) and 5 or so road trips per year — short one this weekend from HOU to DAL.

We have a 32a Lectron portable charger. We have it hooked to a 240 - 14-50 outlet with a 50a circuit. The Lectron lives outside 24-7 - 365 and it has been outside for 2-1/2 years. We use it for our Totota Rav4 Prime and now the R1T. Unless you have the need to have a "station", it really isn't necessary.

I can't remember, but I think there are some that are hybrid meaning that you can use it as a station and then disconnect it and then use it as a portable one....I think it is a JuiceBox...can't be sure.

Our Lectron cost us $350 2-1/2 years ago....the thing is a work horse.

This is ours
Amazon.com: Lectron NEMA 14-50 Level 2 EV Charger - 240V 32 Amp with 21 ft Extension Cord & J1772 Cable - for J1772 EVs… : Automotive

 

[shamoo]

Personally, I don't feel it is necessary to have a separate higher amperage charger in 90% of cases.

If a NEMA 14-50 plug gives you what you need on a daily basis, then why do you need more? You don't save any money on electricity by charging faster since it is the same amount of power ultimately delivered.

There are only a few reasons I can think of why you need it:
- You just want it because it is cool/fast. And that's a perfectly good reason, because you want it.
- You need more range than you can get on a daily basis charging at home.
- To expand on that, maybe you only charge from 9pm onward for cheaper rates and that doesn't get you enough by the next morning.

 

[DaveA]

I have used my portable charger as my only charger for 18 months. 13-14 mph for me as I have a looong run from my main panel to a detached garage. Works great and is better for the pack in the long run to charge at lower amps (32). Gets 165-180 miles over night charge (my commute is only 36 miles, so overkill for me)

Sponsored