Home charging plan

[Luxus]

Now that I have committed to getting a R1T, I am starting the next item on the agenda. Getting and installing a home charger. I'm going to share my plan and those who have gone through this already can let me know if I'm way off base on something.

I've looked around and I will get the Grizzl-E classic 40A charger. I'm thinking a basic unit is all I need as I understand the Truck can do the charge scheduling and whatnot.

I plan to do the installation myself. My main panel is 200A and my rough guesstimate is the charger will be over 50 ft from the panel (thinking of the actual routing of conduit, not a straight line) but definitely less than 100 ft. 50A breaker, 3/4" conduit, #6 solid copper wires, 2 'hots' and 1 ground. My preference is to hardwire it but, if need be, I would get a quality NEMA 6-50 outlet.

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[mkhuffman]

I recommend putting in a 100A subpanel if you can. That way you could easily add another EVSE off that subpanel in the future, or it could be used for a 80 Amp EVSE. I think in the future, 80 Amp EVSEs will become typical as battery sizes grow.

I charge at 48 Amps, and a full change takes a long, long time. If you have a battery the size of the big GM ones that are over 200 kWh, you will definitely want a 80 Amp EVSE.

Otherwise your plan sounds reasonable to me.

 

[Luxus]

Interesting, I thought about a subpanel but didn't think it was worth it for this 1 dedicated circuit. I truly don't see needing a second EVSE in my future. Although you have a good point about future battery sizes. Something for me to think over.

 

[antimatter]

Check with your local electrical utility to see if they have any programs for discount rates, and make sure they don't specify a particular make/model of charger. Case in point- here in MN if you want to take advantage of Xcel's EV program you have to use a Chargpoint EVSE. That particular charger can communicate with Xcel's billing software. If you want to bring your own charger, you'd need to either install a separate meter and/or switch to a new billing plan for your whole house. So, before you buy, make sure you don't have get a specific charger to get a discounted rate-if you want to participate in that program.

 

[mkhuffman]

Interesting, I thought about a subpanel but didn't think it was worth it for this 1 dedicated circuit. I truly don't see needing a second EVSE in my future. Although you have a good point about future battery sizes. Something for me to think over.

If you don't want to put in a subpanel, you could still run 100 Amp wire to the EVSE so it could be easily upgraded in the future.

 

[VSG]

Check with your local electrical utility to see if they have any programs for discount rates, and make sure they don't specify a particular make/model of charger.

Utilities will often also have discounts or even significant rebates for particular charger models (I got $600 back ...). Although they will probably require you to use a licensed electrician. Which IMO is a good idea anyway.

But let me give an alternative POV. Try living with a portable charger on a 120V circuit for a while before you spend the big bucks on a wall charger. Depending on your patterns of use, you may find that sufficient. At the very least, it will give you an idea of how valuable a wall charger is to you. I think far too many people just go ahead and spend thousands of dollars to install the biggest charger, when in reality most people only have to charge for a few hours a week at that rate.

I take the opposite view from @mkhuffman. Higher-powered L2 charging used to be more common, now we have pretty much standardized on 48A max. Partially that is because a lot of (most?) houses don't have room for an extra 100A breaker to support 80A charging, partially because no-one really needs 80A charging except in extreme use cases. I think if SS batteries ever become common, then it will only take 5 minutes to charge at a "gas" station and fewer people will be spending thousands of dollars to install a home charger, let alone thousands more to upgrade their service from the utility. If you want to plan ahead, buy a L2 charger that will power share with a like charger - that way if you buy a second EV you can share the circuit automatically without having to install a new breaker/wiring. To me, that's a better solution than a huge panel that can accommodate multiple 48A chargers running full speed simultaneously.

Regardless, if you only drive ~30 miles a day (which BTW is around *average* for the US), chances are L1 charging will be sufficient. (L1 will give you ~25 miles overnight, or 7*25 = 175 miles a week.) If you try this first and it doesn't cut it for you, then you will view the money spent on the L2 charger as worth it.

 

[mkhuffman]

Utilities will often also have discounts or even significant rebates for particular charger models (I got $600 back ...). Although they will probably require you to use a licensed electrician. Which IMO is a good idea anyway.

But let me give an alternative POV. Try living with a portable charger on a 120V circuit for a while before you spend the big bucks on a wall charger. Depending on your patterns of use, you may find that sufficient. At the very least, it will give you an idea of how valuable a wall charger is to you. I think far too many people just go ahead and spend thousands of dollars to install the biggest charger, when in reality most people only have to charge for a few hours a week at that rate.

I take the opposite view from @mkhuffman. Higher-powered L2 charging used to be more common, now we have pretty much standardized on 48A max. Partially that is because a lot of (most?) houses don't have room for an extra 100A breaker to support 80A charging, partially because no-one really needs 80A charging except in extreme use cases. I think if SS batteries ever become common, then it will only take 5 minutes to charge at a "gas" station and fewer people will be spending thousands of dollars to install a home charger, let alone thousands more to upgrade their service from the utility. If you want to plan ahead, buy a L2 charger that will power share with a like charger - that way if you buy a second EV you can share the circuit automatically without having to install a new breaker/wiring. To me, that's a better solution than a huge panel that can accommodate multiple 48A chargers running full speed simultaneously.

Regardless, if you only drive ~30 miles a day (which BTW is around *average* for the US), chances are L1 charging will be sufficient. (L1 will give you ~25 miles overnight, or 7*25 = 175 miles a week.) If you try this first and it doesn't cut it for you, then you will view the money spent on the L2 charger as worth it.

Good points.

He is planning to do the install himself, so it really won't cost that much.

I did mine myself and I wish I had run 100 Amp wire instead of 60 Amp wire. The installation was a PIA and if I ever want more than 48 Amps, i will have to run a new wire. The cost difference with the wire isn't that significant since he is doing it himself.

I put a subpanel on my 60 Amp circuit. I wired the Emporia EVSE directly to the subpanel, and also wired a NEMA 14-50 outlet so I could use that in case the Emporia fails (it never has). The outlet is on a separate breaker in the subpanel and is turned off since I am not using it. It is just backup.

We keep waiting for that "five minute" SSB. They keep promising and promising and promising. One day it will probably happen, and when it does, I am still going to want to charge at home. Home charging will always be better than public charging. Always.

On my long term "to do" list is to replace that wire with wire that can handle 80 Amps. I may never need it, but if I do, it will be there.

Edit: BTW - run four wires: two hot, neutral and ground. Then when you install the subpanel you can install a 120V out there as well. I did that too. It is pretty sweet and all possible because I ran four wires and installed a subpanel.

 

[mkhuffman]

Here is what I did.

The subpanel is on the top.
The EVSE is directly under it.
And then under that is the Milwaukee Tool Super Charger, plugged into the 120V outlet to the right of the subpanel.
And below the Super Charger is the 14-50 outlet.

Do the subpanel!

 

[Time2Roll]

In my experience get what you need today. Rarely or never has future proofing actually worked for me and I end up redoing everything anyway. Not hard to keep two EVs charged with a 40 amp connector.

Solid #6 is a bit feisty to work with. Get at least course stranded but it is up to you.

May as well hardwire it and avoid the extra connections.

 

[Luxus]

Yea not looking forward to pulling that #6 wire. Didn't think stranded would be OK for this service, that's good news.

 

[Rade]

I recommend putting in a 100A subpanel if you can. That way you could easily add another EVSE off that subpanel in the future, or it could be used for a 80 Amp EVSE. I think in the future, 80 Amp EVSEs will become typical as battery sizes grow.

I concur. The sub-panel will allow for future expansion; things like additional 20amp wall outlets near the vehicle (I use a shop vac in my R1T frequently), or a second EV down the line.

 

[Rade]

Here is what I did.

The subpanel is on the top.
The EVSE is directly under it.
And then under that is the Milwaukee Tool Super Charger, plugged into the 120V outlet to the right of the subpanel.
And below the Super Charger is the 14-50 outlet.

Do the subpanel!

Nice looking rig! I have two garage doors, but the spacing between them would be too tight to do something like that.

 

[mkhuffman]

Nice looking rig! I have two garage doors, but the spacing between them would be too tight to do something like that.

Between the doors is a good location for reaching most of the garage, and the driveway in case I need to charge there (I have a few times). The problem for this location is the bay to the right of the charger (the left bay when standing in the driveway and looking at the house) for vehicles with the charging port where Rivian put it in the R1.

The R1 charging port is on the driver front corner (as you know) so the EVSE cord barely reaches when I park in the left bay. I have to drape it across the truck, which isn't viable for daily use. I got an extension cord from A2Z and routed the longer cord through hooks in the ceiling. Now it reaches just fine but is a little janky with the routing.

I would park in the right bay (like I did with the Mach-e), but it is harder to fit over there because of the position of the water heater in front of that space. The R1 fits (barely) but then I cannot walk behind the truck with the door closed, which is a huge PIA for my wife when she parks in the left bay.

First world problems. LOL.

 

[Rade]

Between the doors is a good location for reaching most of the garage, and the driveway in case I need to charge there (I have a few times). The problem for this location is the bay to the right of the charger (the left bay when standing in the driveway and looking at the house) for vehicles with the charging port where Rivian put it in the R1.

The R1 charging port is on the driver front corner (as you know) so the EVSE cord barely reaches when I park in the left bay. I have to drape it across the truck, which isn't viable for daily use. I got an extension cord from A2Z and routed the longer cord through hooks in the ceiling. Now it reaches just fine but is a little janky with the routing.

I would park in the right bay (like I did with the Mach-e), but it is harder to fit over there because of the position of the water heater in front of that space. The R1 fits (barely) but then I cannot walk behind the truck with the door closed, which is a huge PIA for my wife when she parks in the left bay.

First world problems. LOL.

Our garage is JUST deep enough that I can walk around the back of the R1T when the doors are closed. Having to navigate dangling cords would be problematic. I got the charger / splitter used for both vehicles center / rear in the garage, with the charging cord to the Rivian along the foundation wall to the left side of the truck (stays out of the way), and have a cord hanger near my rig for the Model Y cord. It reaches the rear charging port on the Tesla. But I am always looking for ways to improve on the layout...

 

[mkhuffman]

Our garage is JUST deep enough that I can walk around the back of the R1T when the doors are closed. Having to navigate dangling cords would be problematic. I got the charger / splitter used for both vehicles center / rear in the garage, with the charging cord to the Rivian along the foundation wall to the left side of the truck (stays out of the way), and have a cord hanger near my rig for the Model Y cord. It reaches the rear charging port on the Tesla. But I am always looking for ways to improve on the layout...

I think a ceiling mount in the center of the garage would be best except, well, it is on the ceiling.

If I get a second EVSE, putting both in the center of the garage on the ceiling may be what I do. The drawback then is reaching the cord into the driveway...

Right now we are a one BEV household. My wife has so far refused to consider a BEV. So my setup is probably the best location. I may see if I can replace the cord with a longer one instead of using an extension.

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