Setting up 80-100A home charging: Porsche charger vs Lucid Home Charger

[JRNJTAYCAN]

Hey guys,

I'm currently getting quotes for electricians to do a subpanel run to my garage. I will have the option to wire up to a 100A run (80A charger) and am considering the 2 listed above. I have seen some people saying to avoid the Porsche wall charger, but many of those complaints are from 1-2 years ago.

2 main questions:

1. Which would you recommend and why?
2. Can these chargers be limited to charge speed via apps (not having to open up and change switches, etc)? It'd be nice to be able to only use max charge speed when really needed.

Thanks a ton!

I have the 19.2kw Porsche wall charger hooked up to a 100amp breaker and I really like this charger. My only problem is I do not have the ability to take the full charge on my car as did not buy the option for the higher AC charger (stupid me). Honestly at the time I did not know what that option was!

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[gnop1950]

I've been running the PWCC for a little over a year now with zero issues. Our only EV is the Taycan. If we get another EV it would likely be a Macan EV. If it turned out to be something else I'd probably just install another charger on my wife's side of the garage

Bottom line is I'm very happy with the PWCC but I can't speak to any possible compatibility issues with other EV brands.

 

[dtv852]

page 29 of the Enphase website lists "share2" as an optional feature in their 80 amp (64 amp charge rate) product - it might be worth pursuing. Most people don't understand it - I'm betting they still support it - but given it's a more advanced feature their tier-1 customer support may not be fully briefed…

https://enphase.com/download/enphase-hcs-manual

attached to this posting.

page #29

Just talked to Enphase about the sharing feature. Apparently, you must specify the need for sharing when you order the unit (HCS-80). With a second unit, there is a physical wired connection between the two compatible units to coordinate sharing. I was hoping there was wireless communication between the two chargers. The Enphase tech wanted to transfer me to the sales department because they don't want people buying the unit online without understanding their power needs. I believe Enphase is still in a transitional period "digesting" Clipper Creek.

I am pulling a 100 amp line myself and am anxious to hear solutions to this sharing issue.

 

[daveo4EV]

Just talked to Enphase about the sharing feature. Apparently, you must specify the need for sharing when you order the unit (HCS-80). With a second unit, there is a physical wired connection between the two compatible units to coordinate sharing. I was hoping there was wireless communication between the two chargers. The Enphase tech wanted to transfer me to the sales department because they don't want people buying the unit online without understanding their power needs. I believe Enphase is still in a transitional period "digesting" Clipper Creek.

I am pulling a 100 amp line myself and am anxious to hear solutions to this sharing issue.

you'd pull 80 amp 240V AC wire to both unit's - plus 2-wire thermostat wire for communication - both units would then coordinate "load" - and dynamically adjust it as the EV demand - as one EV ramps down/off the other EV charging would receive 'full' load

I had 3 Tesla Gen2 Wall charger's power shared with a. similar setup - it worked great - plug in 3 EV's and let them sort it out over night

if only one EV is charging it gets full load - if multiple eV's are charging load is split based on actual demand…

for example when my Cayenne & Taycan are charging the Cayenne max load is 30 amps - and Taycan is 48 amps - I have 80 amps of capacity - both vehicles get their full capacity because 30 + 48 = 78 amps - and I have 80 amps capacity

when my Son's Model Y and Taycan are charging (both 48 amp vehicles) - they each get 40 amps - until one stops charging and then the other vehicle gets 48 amps to finish it's charge

it works slick.

wireless power sharing would be cool. and the Tesla Gen3 Wall chargers do it that way - but the simple point to point 2 wire connection between the two EVSE's for load sharing coordination is really really simple - and you're running wire to the other unit anyways just pull some thermostats wire while you're at it (20-16 gauge - I'd pull 4 wire thermostat wire bundle and you'll be good).

 

[dtv852]

you'd pull 80 amp 240V AC wire to both unit's - plus 2-wire thermostat wire for communication - both units would then coordinate "load" - and dynamically adjust it as the EV demand - as one EV ramps down/off the other EV charging would receive 'full' load

I had 3 Tesla Gen2 Wall charger's power shared with a. similar setup - it worked great - plug in 3 EV's and let them sort it out over night

if only one EV is charging it gets full load - if multiple eV's are charging load is split based on actual demand…

for example when my Cayenne & Taycan are charging the Cayenne max load is 30 amps - and Taycan is 48 amps - I have 80 amps of capacity - both vehicles get their full capacity because 30 + 48 = 78 amps - and I have 80 amps capacity

when my Son's Model Y and Taycan are charging (both 48 amp vehicles) - they each get 40 amps - until one stops charging and then the other vehicle gets 48 amps to finish it's charge

it works slick.

wireless power sharing would be cool. and the Tesla Gen3 Wall chargers do it that way - but the simple point to point 2 wire connection between the two EVSE's for load sharing coordination is really really simple - and you're running wire to the other unit anyways just pull some thermostats wire while you're at it (20-16 gauge - I'd pull 4 wire thermostat wire bundle and you'll be good).

Thanks so much for this information.

I have a new 4S CT being prepped now for delivery, hopefully later today. I have an older home, built (1950s) when no one conceived of electric cars. I didn't do my homework before ordering the car and just now solved my power issue by grabbing unused circuits on a sub-panel. So for the time being, I will be mooching off my son's 50 amp line he installed for his Tesla.

Given my 100 amp discovery, I want to future proof my home as best as possible with this installation, especially if my wife eventually moves to an EV Macan.

Are Tesla chargers (Gen 2 or 3) viable options or should I stick with the Enphase HCS-80 and call it a day?

Thanks again.

 

[Slappy_G]

Are Tesla chargers (Gen 2 or 3) viable options or should I stick with the Enphase HCS-80 and call it a day?

I'm no expert, but have seen tons of folks recommending the Tesla chargers. There are services that will even take the Tesla charger and convert it with a modern J1772 cable. That would probably be the easier way to do load sharing, if that was a requirement. Enphase support it too, but you have to call them and special order a set that's configured that way.

 

[daveo4EV]

I'm no expert, but have seen tons of folks recommending the Tesla chargers. There are services that will even take the Tesla charger and convert it with a modern J1772 cable. That would probably be the easier way to do load sharing, if that was a requirement. Enphase support it too, but you have to call them and special order a set that's configured that way.

Tesla makes a J-1772 wall charger for $550 - 48 amp (60 amp breaker) w/Power sharing for up to 6 other chargers sharing upto 300 amp circuit

it's a great and 100% compatible charger for a great price.

 

[daveo4EV]

Thanks so much for this information.

I have a new 4S CT being prepped now for delivery, hopefully later today. I have an older home, built (1950s) when no one conceived of electric cars. I didn't do my homework before ordering the car and just now solved my power issue by grabbing unused circuits on a sub-panel. So for the time being, I will be mooching off my son's 50 amp line he installed for his Tesla.

Given my 100 amp discovery, I want to future proof my home as best as possible with this installation, especially if my wife eventually moves to an EV Macan.

Are Tesla chargers (Gen 2 or 3) viable options or should I stick with the Enphase HCS-80 and call it a day?

Thanks again.

EVSE capacity is a difficult question there are a few sizes to consider

breaker/charging-amps
50/40 amps - 9.6 kW charging - 11 hours for 100% charge
60/48 amps - 11 kW charging - 9 hours for 100% charge
80/64 amps - 15.x kW charging - 6 hours for 100% charge
100/80 amps - 19.2 kW charging - 5 hours or less for 100% charge

Standard Equipment Taycan max charge rate is 11 kW (48 amps)
Optional 19.2 kW charger is $1680 factory option or a $5000 retrofit - neither are worth it unless you have a specific use case in North America - since there is not a lot of 19.2 kW chargers "in the wild" - so you'll most likely only use it with your home setup - and frankly it doesn't matter how fast you charge overnight while you're asleep.

most people the Taycan is their 1st EV and not their last - so I recommend "overdoing it bit" and only do it once.

the best setup in my opinion is a dual EVSE system with split load capability - i.e. two EVSE's sharing a single circuit - if you're going to be splitting the load it's best to have more amps to charge faster when you're charging more than one EV - but honestly most of the time even splitting a 50 amp breaker is fine.

• ClipperCreek has their "share2" capabilities
• the "easiest" shared load EVSE the ClipperCreek HCS50 w/two EV charging cables - single install split load for 2 EV's - honestly super simple
• Tesla Wall Chargers J-1772 can be configured to share up to 6 chargers on a single shared circuit
• Wallbox zi believe can be configured to load share as well
• and I think JuiceBox can do it

the amount of capacity should be dictate by your electrician and your budget - if you can have a 100/125 amp dedicated circuit for the garage this will allow you to install two 50/40 or 60/48 amp EVSE's which should serve you well for years if not decades.

for my money the $550 Tesla J-1772 Wall Gen2 Chargers are hard to beat for quality, feature set, design, price, and split load abilities.

next on my list is ClipperCreek in any size you can afford, nearly all their models can be configured w/Share2 feature for two chargers to share a single breaker.

keep in mind most daily use of an EV will have less than 4 hour charge session overnight on a 50/40/9.6 kW charger - so "faster" charging doesn't really matte unless you care about how fast your eV charges while you sleep…

60 amp breaker w/48 amp charge rate is a pretty affordable "middle ground" and match the max charge rate of the Standard Taycan/Cayenne '24 eHybrid/Tesla and other EV's (Bolt EUV)

so two "60 amp" chargers sharing a 100 amp circuit would be a pretty good setup IMHO.

 

[daveo4EV]

my current setup is:

1xTesla Gen2 Wall Charger on a 100 amp circuit - 80 amp 19.2 kW max charge rate

3xTesla Gen3 J-1772 Wall Chargers - 60/48 amp max charge "each" - sharing a 100/80 amp circuit

the 100 amp circuit is the _SAME_ circuit as the 100 amp 19.2 kW Tesla Gen2 Wall Charger - so I can either use the 3xTesla J-1772 wall chargers _OR_ the single Gen2 Tesla Wall Charger - I can't use all 4 at once - so I manually "load" balance if I'm using the Gen2 Tesla Wall charger - it stays "off" 99% of the time - I _ONLY_ use it when I have a 19.2 kW capable EV to charge and when I'm doing that I make sure not to use the other 3 Tesla chargers at the same time…

the 3xTesla Gen3 Wall J-1772 EVSE's handle 99.9% of my charging - and routinely charge: Taycan, Cayenne eHybrid, Teslas, Audi eTron SUV's, BMW i3, Bolts, Prius, Leaf, EQS, BMW hybrid, etc…I have 1 to 3 EV's charging all the time and just let the load balancing sort it out sharing the 80 amps of available capacity.

 

[daveo4EV]

the _EASIEST_ split load EVSE for install simplicity and will cover 85-90% of your needs for a mutliple EV/PHEV household is this one from ClipperCreek/enphase

https://enphase.com/store/ev-charge...percreek-hcs-d50-dual-ev-charger-hardwired-40

plugs into your existing NEMA 14-50/6-50 or hardwire into the existing NEMA plug box - done!

charge 2 EV's at once and no hassle, or complex install.

what ever "extra" cost this unit represent will be "offset" by the plug&play nature and what you save in not having the electrician install two full drops for two separate EVSE's - you can order this unit as: hardwired, 6-50, 14-50 - so it is LITERALLY plug&play with any exiting Mobile EVSE install you already have in your garage

full 40 amps when charging a single EV - or split load when charging 2 EV's - no muss no fuss.

 

[dtv852]

At the present time, I only have the need to charge one car. My supervisor (wife) isn't keen on an EV so she may be difficult to move off an ICE. We won't be in the house forever so I want to have a charging infrastructure compatible with someone with EVs. So for now, I'm looking for a single charger capable of load sharing. Sounds like the Tesla Gen 3 J-1772 may be the way to go.

 

[daveo4EV]

At the present time, I only have the need to charge one car. My supervisor (wife) isn't keen on an EV so she may be difficult to move off an ICE. We won't be in the house forever so I want to have a charging infrastructure compatible with someone with EVs. So for now, I'm looking for a single charger capable of load sharing. Sounds like the Tesla Gen 3 J-1772 may be the way to go.

https://shop.tesla.com/product/j1772-wall-connector

 

[dtv852]

I was looking at the Tesla J-1772 charger page when you replied to my post. I have my Tesla Tap to charge at my son's home until my setup is completed. The HCS-80 may be overkill for my needs, but I sure would love to use its charging capability. I'm afraid sensibility may win out here. Thanks again.

 

[satchurator]

Thanks so much for this information.

I have a new 4S CT being prepped now for delivery, hopefully later today. I have an older home, built (1950s) when no one conceived of electric cars. I didn't do my homework before ordering the car and just now solved my power issue by grabbing unused circuits on a sub-panel. So for the time being, I will be mooching off my son's 50 amp line he installed for his Tesla.

Given my 100 amp discovery, I want to future proof my home as best as possible with this installation, especially if my wife eventually moves to an EV Macan.

Are Tesla chargers (Gen 2 or 3) viable options or should I stick with the Enphase HCS-80 and call it a day?

Thanks again.

The Juicebox 80 Pro was another option mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[dtv852]

I haven't been able to find a lot of options for the Juicebox 80, even on the Enel site (which I assume owns Juicebox). I can see a number of other Juicebox products, but the 80 is tough to find.

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