Help with home ev charger

[Taycanmd]

Hello,

Just bought a taycan and getting quotes to get one installed in my garage. I know nothing when it comes to electrical so looking for some guidance on what I need as far as what charger to get, make sure can handle level 2, whether it should be hard wired, amps, price ect...

Here is the first quote I have...

"Wire and install a dedicated 50am circuit from the electrical panels in the basement to a nema 14-50 in the garage (30' total run/dropped ceiling). Provide and install breaker, wire, 14-50 receptacle, mount charger, and terminate all electrical terminations"

Trying to charge $895 (seems high but getting other quotes)

Thanks in advance.

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[raharris]

Plenty of material on this forum on this topic - you’ll want to be specific on the outlet brand (Hubbel) as this is recommended by Porsche and many on here. Should also verify what gauge cable they are running.

look for a thread by DaveEV on here - lots of detail….

 

[Tooney]

Home charging. See https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/us-home-charging-recommendation-this-is-as-simple-as-i-can-make-it…honestly-bare-bones-least-amount-of-text….11745/
and:
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/us-over-the-top-the-well-equipped-ev-home-garage…for-those-that-wish-to-over-do-it-….2343/
and:
https://www.youtube.com/@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney

 

[Tooney]

Also, don't buy or depend on Porsche-branded EVSE (for North America): https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...uide-to-the-porsche-evse-pmc-pmcc-pwcc.13886/

 

[RBGtaycan]

Hello,

Just bought a taycan and getting quotes to get one installed in my garage. I know nothing when it comes to electrical so looking for some guidance on what I need as far as what charger to get, make sure can handle level 2, whether it should be hard wired, amps, price ect...

Here is the first quote I have...

"Wire and install a dedicated 50am circuit from the electrical panels in the basement to a nema 14-50 in the garage (30' total run/dropped ceiling). Provide and install breaker, wire, 14-50 receptacle, mount charger, and terminate all electrical terminations"

Trying to charge $895 (seems high but getting other quotes)

Thanks in advance.

sounds reasonable based on my experience (in New York). As noted, specify Hubbel outlet. You are lucky that you don't need a sub-panel installation..which would raise the cost considerably.

 

[Taycanmd]

sounds reasonable based on my experience (in New York). As noted, specify Hubbel outlet. You are lucky that you don't need a sub-panel installation..which would raise the cost considerably.

Should I request hard wired 60amp?

 

[DougFrisk]

Hello,

Just bought a taycan and getting quotes to get one installed in my garage. I know nothing when it comes to electrical so looking for some guidance on what I need as far as what charger to get, make sure can handle level 2, whether it should be hard wired, amps, price ect...

Here is the first quote I have...

"Wire and install a dedicated 50am circuit from the electrical panels in the basement to a nema 14-50 in the garage (30' total run/dropped ceiling). Provide and install breaker, wire, 14-50 receptacle, mount charger, and terminate all electrical terminations"

Trying to charge $895 (seems high but getting other quotes)

Thanks in advance.

Components, you're looking at $250-$300 for what was quoted. Labor, who knows. That's not including the EVSE which it sounds like the electrician is expecting you to provide.

A hardwired EVSE removes several intermediate connections that can be an issue. If you hardwire it, the wire goes from the circuit breaker to the EVSE. One connection on either end. If you install a 14-50 the wire terminates at the receptacle. When you plug in the EVSE plug, that's another connection between the plug blades and receptacle. Inside the plug itself is another connection that goes to the wire in the power cord before the power cord terminates inside the EVSE (assuming the EVSE doesn't have swappable plugs which add two more connections.)

Each connection is a potential failure point, any failure point could start a fire.

I'm a huge fan of hardwired EVSEs.

As for amperage, if you can support a 60 amp circuit you might as well have a 60 amp circuit installed. Go for the biggest circuit you can get that doesn't require a service upgrade. You're going to have to go for the hardwired option at 60 amps though. A service upgrade will likely add $2000 or more to the cost.

Here's my little chunk of spreadsheet with charging rates. Net KWH, Battery and Miles/night assume 90% charging efficiency, charging during a 6 hour window, and the car getting a very conservative 2.1 miles/KWh. For me, I looked at that and decided I really didn't need anything more than a 30 amp circuit but since I had the capacity to do 60 I did.

 

[Taycanmd]

Components, you're looking at $250-$300 for what was quoted. Labor, who knows. That's not including the EVSE which it sounds like the electrician is expecting you to provide.

A hardwired EVSE removes several intermediate connections that can be an issue. If you hardwire it, the wire goes from the circuit breaker to the EVSE. One connection on either end. If you install a 14-50 the wire terminates at the receptacle. When you plug in the EVSE plug, that's another connection between the plug blades and receptacle. Inside the plug itself is another connection that goes to the wire in the power cord before the power cord terminates inside the EVSE (assuming the EVSE doesn't have swappable plugs which add two more connections.)

Each connection is a potential failure point, any failure point could start a fire.

I'm a huge fan of hardwired EVSEs.

As for amperage, if you can support a 60 amp circuit you might as well have a 60 amp circuit installed. Go for the biggest circuit you can get that doesn't require a service upgrade. You're going to have to go for the hardwired option at 60 amps though. A service upgrade will likely add $2000 or more to the cost.

Here's my little chunk of spreadsheet with charging rates. Net KWH, Battery and Miles/night assume 90% charging efficiency, charging during a 6 hour window, and the car getting a very conservative 2.1 miles/KWh. For me, I looked at that and decided I really didn't need anything more than a 30 amp circuit but since I had the capacity to do 60 I did.

Great explanation. Thanks! Do you have a recommendation on a charger?

 

[DougFrisk]

Great explanation. Thanks! Do you have a recommendation on a charger?

I'd recommend a call to your utility to find out if they have any rebate programs for an install and if they have specific requirements. My utility required an EVSE that supported OCPP 1.6 for a $500 rebate.

OCPP will enable your utility to do demand management (essentially when demand is high they would be able to shut off the charger) which could result in lower electric rates for you.

I went with the Wallbox because it's on my utility's list, it's petite, and the holster is separate from the base unit.

The "State of Charge" guy on Youtube has quite good reviews.

Electric vehicle charging equipment reviews - YouTube

 

[Archimedes]

Paging Daveo to the batphone…

Personally, I hard wired a JuiceBox 40. Works great.

 

[daveo4EV]

if you can get a 60 amp hardwired connection with out a dramatic increase in cost 100% go for it. The quoted price is reasonable these days for a 50 amp install, makes sure to require the Hubble socket as REQUIRED by Porsche in this document authored by them…

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...-related-porsche-ntsb-article-analysis.13902/

good choices for an alternative EVSE to the included Porsche EVSE is/are:

• Enphase/Clippercreek HCS-50/HCS-60
• Chargepoint Flex (check if they have 60 amp support)
• Wallbox Pulsar + (adjustable 20-60 amp)
• Tesla J-1772 Wall Charger
• juicebox
• others…

 

[RBGtaycan]

I'd recommend a call to your utility to find out if they have any rebate programs for an install and if they have specific requirements. My utility required an EVSE that supported OCPP 1.6 for a $500 rebate.

OCPP will enable your utility to do demand management (essentially when demand is high they would be able to shut off the charger) which could result in lower electric rates for you.

I went with the Wallbox because it's on my utility's list, it's petite, and the holster is separate from the base unit.

The "State of Charge" guy on Youtube has quite good reviews.

Electric vehicle charging equipment reviews - YouTube

My utility paid for most of my charger (Juicebox) and gave me a special rate for after 11pm charging while using it..hard to beat a deal like that ..so, as @DougFrisk noted, this is really worth a check w/ the utility!..btw, a lot of the expense of your installation can be rebated on your taxes..I was amazed how little net cost there was to the process.

 

[Tooney]

Couple of points:
--Understand the difference between max amperage of the charger you buy and amperage of the supply circuit and circuit breaker required for that charger. A 50 amp supply circuit minimum is required for a 40 amp charger.
--One possible advantage of having a circuit with a plug-in receptacle is that it is easier to switch to a different plug-in charger should the need arise. If you ever need to replace or switch out a hardwired charger, the house supply wiring will need to be disconnected from the charger and reconnected, by you or an electrician.

 

[Taycanmd]

Couple of points:
--Understand the difference between max amperage of the charger you buy and amperage of the supply circuit and circuit breaker required for that charger. A 50 amp supply circuit minimum is required for a 40 amp charger.
--One possible advantage of having a circuit with a plug-in receptacle is that it is easier to switch to a different plug-in charger should the need arise. If you ever need to replace or switch out a hardwired charger, the house supply wiring will need to be disconnected from the charger, by you or an electrician.

Without hardwiring I'm worried on catching fire. How rare is it?

 

[daveo4EV]

Without hardwiring I'm worried on catching fire. How rare is it?

this is not a major concern - any more than it is for any major appliance.

electric dryers are hardwired or plug based
water heaters are hardwired or plug based
ovens can be hardwired or plug based

it is no more of less of a concern vs. any common 240V home appliance.

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