Are All Home Electric Vehicle Chargers The Same
This one really depends on how technical you want to be. The tools that we call EV chargers are really known as electric vehicle supply equipment, and simply serve to transfer energy from your home into a vehicle. From there, the vehicles onboard charger will turn that AC current into some DC flow, which it uses to charge up the battery pack. In that sense, the overall function of every home EV charger is identical. That said, there are certainly some real-world differences in how these machines operate, as well as the features they provide owners.
The biggest difference between home charging options is going to come down to the overall output of the charger. These figures are measured in either amps or power . The higher the output of the charger, the faster you will be able to charge.
The second major factor to consider when shopping relates to whether or not youd like a smart charger. Backed by wi-fi connectivity, these chargers tend to offer more features such as charge reports, scheduling features for off-peak charging, and even mileage logs. Those added features tend to bring an added lump to the price tag, so its worth considering your actual use case.
Battery Tender Plus Battery Charge
- Tender Plus Car Battery Charge
When choosing a battery charger, the type of car you drive usually does not play a major role. Most cars, SUVs, motorcycles, trucks and other road vehicles use lead-acid batteries, which are relatively resilient and inexpensive to manufacture. A charger that can power a lead-acid 12-volt battery in an SUV and do the same for motorcycles.
The Tender Plus Battery Charger is the best composite for car lead-acid batteries . It has an automatic charger and a charge controller which means it will automatically shut off when the battery is full, preventing overcharging. It even has a float battery maintenance mode that will keep it at full power during idle time, and compensate for the self-discharge associated with lead-acid batteries.
The 1.25 amps power provided by the car battery charger ensures a low and slow charge, which is optimal for the health of the car battery. It is easy and safe to disconnect, and checks to make sure a connection has been established before transmitting power. It works well in extreme temperatures and has been noted in both hot-cold cases.
The functionality and user-friendliness of Battery Tender Plus made it quite popular. It is currently the sites fourth best-selling car battery charger, with a rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on more than 13,500 customer reviews.
Pros
- Deltran product for fast charging and jump-starting
- The 1.25-Amp model does not have an LED screen for precise readings.
Promoted Product: Flo Home Charger
A striking mix of form and function, the FLO Home is a stylish, smart, and robust home charging system that comes in two versions: the connected FLO Home X5 and the non-connected G5.
Built with a 100% aluminum casing, the FLO Home is a Level 2 charging station , which is up to five times faster than a Level 1 outlet. This means you can charge most electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in approximately eight hours.
The FLO Home offers a sleek and stylish look, while designed to function in extreme temperatures with a certified operating range of -40°F to 122°F. The system connects to your vehicle via a commercial-grade 25-foot cable, which ensures easy connection and charging even in the harshest of weather. The entire package is backed by a five-year limited warranty for added peace of mind. And depending on where you live, FLO Home chargers are eligible for state and local rebate programs.
If you are looking for a connected charger, the brains of the FLO Home X5 really set it apart. This unit boasts network functionality and integration, which means you can schedule your charge to limit power consumption during peak periods so you pay less for your energy. You can also track energy consumption from FLOs user portal. Additionally, the network connection allows for automatic software updates, as well as remote monitoring and real-time technical support.
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What Happens If You Leave A Car Battery Charger On Too Long
From experience, if you leave the charger connected continuously without stopping, even at only 2 amps, the risk of a dead charger is exceptionally high.
Overcharging the battery can cause a lot of gas the electrolyte heats up and then produces hydrogen and oxygen which is dangerous to the user and the vehicle.
Blink Hq 150 Ev Charging Station
US-based Blink has been making commercial charging stations since 2009, and recently started branching out into the home market with their first model, the HQ 150. Its a UL listed and NEC 625 compliant wall-mounted Level 2 charger for indoor or protected outdoor use. Their commercial background shows in the simplified controls and displaythere is no app, internet, or Bluetooth connection, just a few status lights and a long 25-foot charging cable. Unlike some models, it really is 25 feet long, too.
At 32 amps, its not quite as fast as 40 amp chargers, but it also only needs single phase, 240V power with a NEMA 6-50 plug. Output is a good 7.68kW. It comes in a small, 11.14 x 7.56 x 3.11 inch enclosure that is NEMA Type 3R rated for light outdoor use. We wouldnt put this out on a post in the weather, but its good for the exterior wall of a garage protected by the eaves, or in any indoor space that might be wet or dusty.
Blink announced at CES 2022 that theyll be introducing two more home EV chargers this year, and well be taking a look at them when they hit the market. Blink gives you an additional charging credit or discount at their thousands of public charging stations when you register your HQ 150.
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Schumacher Sc1325 Battery Charger
- Schumacher Car Battery Charger
First, get the Schumacher SC1325 out of the way. The best car battery charger weighs about 30 pounds and is about 2 feet long with a handle. This is the most expensive charger on the list, coming in at around $ 200. The SC1325 may feel more like a home in an auto garage than your own home .
If you want to move fast you cant lose the SC1325 because it has wheels, which makes the weight more manageable). Although it has a charging and maintenance mode that delivers 2 or 6 amps of power. It can also provide a boost of 40 amps to revive a battery. A 250-amps jump start that will start even larger engines. These quick charges are a risk to your battery and car, but they may be needed in an emergency.
The Schumacher SC1325 operates a wide range of batteries, including standard AGM, lead-acid, gel and deep-cycle units. However, this does not mean that the charger is the right choice for you. The best car battery charger is tailored to your specific needs. If it doesnt, youll be better off with a smaller, less expensive model. If you need a heavy-duty charger or jump starter that will help you move faster, this might be right for you.
Pros
Cons
- 100-amp car-starting feature . But do not cut the jumper wires.
- The 30-amp boost start feature enables fast powering on a severely damaged battery before use.
- The state-of-charge readout is a flashback.
Recent Reviews & Articles
Siemens VersiCharge VC30GRYU Quick Review
The Siemens VersiCharge is our top pick on this list, and for a good reason. It is an affordable, easy-to-use EVSE with great charging capabilities. The VC30GRYU is a universal unit designed for use both indoors and outdoors. It arrives ready to plug in, but if you want a hardwired option of the VersiCharge you can get the VC30GRYW model for an even cheaper price tag .
We particularly loved the VersiCharge VC30GRYU because of its simplicity to use and a delay charging feature which allows you to delay charging for up to 8 hours manually. With this feature, you can pause charging and set it to resume at a particular time of day when utility rates from your electricity provider are low. For example, if you arrive home at 8.00pm and utility prices are high at this time, you can set the charger to automatically start charging 4 hours later when you know utility rates will be down.
The VC30GRYU is easy to mount on a wall, and it comes with a 20-foot long charge cord , but it isnt too thick or heavy to use. Generally, we think this EVSE provides great value for your money.
Key features include:
JuiceBox Pro Quick Review
The JuiceBox features a 24-foot long, thick and heavy charging cord. This is one of its downsides because the cord can be difficult to handle for some people. We did not find it difficult to mount or unmount the device when checking for portability.
Key features include:
Key features include:
Latest Prices
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Best Value: Lectron 240v 40 Amp Level 2 Ev Charger
Lectron makes so many EV chargers we cant really count them all, and theyre not really big on snappy names. What they do have is a charger for every need and budget, from a 16 amp Level 1 charger you could plug into an outlet in your kitchen , to much faster and more feature-rich EV chargers like this 40 amp Level 2 charger.
Requiring a NEMA 14-50 outlet , it provides 40 amps and 9.6 kWs of charging at 240 volts, which should be up to seven times faster than a Level 1 charger on household current. The always-on LED display shows current, voltage, temperature, and charge time, and the housing is IP66 dust- and water-resistant.
If youre looking for a severe service EV charger to leave outside in the weather, look at the Bosch unit next but youll also be looking at several times the expense. Having the actual charging circuitry located in a module in the cable may be inconvenient, but for an everyday charger to live in a garage, the Lectron is a great choice.
Always Take The Battery Out Of Your Vehicle
Modern vehicles have a ton of electronics and sensors throughout, and the last thing you want to do is pulse electricity through all of them while youre charging your vehicle. But if you leave your battery connected while youre charging it, thats exactly what youre doing.
While all you need to do is disconnect the battery terminals, we recommend removing the battery completely to prevent any accidents. It also makes it far easier to follow our next tip.
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If You Live In An Area With Underdeveloped Infrastructure There’s A Good Chance You’re Going To Have To Install A Home Ev Charger
David Traver Adolphus
After completing a degree project in automotive design, Dave wrote and photographed for almost a decade in print car magazines , before transitioning to digital. He now subjects a series of old high-performance cars to the roads and weather in Vermont and wonders why they’re always expensively broken. Please stop when you see him crawling under one on the side of the road.
David Traver Adolphus
After completing a degree project in automotive design, Dave wrote and photographed for almost a decade in print car magazines , before transitioning to digital. He now subjects a series of old high-performance cars to the roads and weather in Vermont and wonders why they’re always expensively broken. Please stop when you see him crawling under one on the side of the road.
One of the main benefits of owning an electric vehicle is never having to go to the gas station to refuel, but public EV chargers can be hard to find or very busy. If they can, EV owners are going to want to install a home charger so they dont end up out of power. Not only is having an EV charger at home convenient so you can charge any time you want, youll also never have to worry about waiting in line if public chargers are all being occupied. Plus, it adds to the value of your home if you sell.
Lastly, if you arent installing your charger inside a garage, make sure to purchase one that is outdoor rated for exposure to sun, wind, dirt, and water.
Electric Car Charging Station Network Operators
To be able to properly use public chargers, youâll have to learn which charging networks are available in your area. There are many different public charger operators across Canada and the United States. Most of them are specific to certain areas, but there can be several of them in the same area. There are two categories of station network operators:
Networked Smart Charging Stations
To use a networked charger, also known as smart public charging stations or connected stations, you must subscribe to the network. In most cases, registration is free and fees only apply when you use of their chargers, although some of them can be used free of charge. Youâll need the RFID card or the mobile app of the network to activate and use the charger. SemaConnect stations can be activated directly from the ChargeHub app without any subscription needed.
ChargePoint
USA + Canada
Independent Public Charging Stations
Independent public chargers are installed by local businesses or by individuals who want to make charging available on their property. Itâs not necessary to be a member of a network to use those chargers. Some conditions may apply to some of them.
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The Pros Of Workplace Charging
A longer electric range
When combined with home charging, workplace charging can double your daily electric range. This is particularly interesting for plug-in hybrids, as you can use the electric motor for longer distances and therefore save money on fuel.
Level 2 charging allows you to charge faster, which is particularly interesting for part-time employees or for workplaces where employees are not in for the entire day.
Large Savings on Transportation Costs
The electricity costs of workplaces charging are often taken on by the employer, which means employees can charge at work for free. In other cases, the employer charges fees to use the charger, but the cost is usually lower than charging at a public charger.
Government Incentives for Workplace Chargers
In order to encourage employers to install charging stations for their employees, many governments have put in place programs that reduce purchasing and installation costs, as well as different advantages for the employer. However, many employers are unaware of the existence of these programs, and it falls on the shoulders of interested employees to talk to them about it.
- British Columbia incentives for electric car home chargers
- For the United States, we suggest you check your government website.
Are There Tax Breaks For Electric Car Owners Who Buy A Home Charger
You better believe it! As far as the federal government goes, you are eligible for a tax credit of as much as 30 percent of the purchase price of your EV home charger, up to a total of $1000. A huge portion of the States also offer their own cost-saving benefits for installing an EV charger, the most common of which involved lowering utility costs for owners.
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Evocharge Level 2 Ev Charger
A U.S.-based company located in California, EVoCharges Level 2 charger is fully compatible with all electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada. This charger offers maximum 7.68kW charging, meaning it charges up to 8 times faster than a standard AC Level 1 charger. It delivers an estimated 25 to 35 miles of range per hour of charging.
Its an easy to install home EV charger with a standard NEMA 6-50 plug and comes with a universal mounting bracket for wall mounting, as well as post mount or the ability to mount to any other structure. You can choose between models with and 18- or 25-foot charging cable, and the charger is available with or without WiFi.
It supports multiple current ratings so you can adjust the maximum output current . The charger is NEMA 4 outdoor and indoor rated and can also be hardwired.
Features To Look For In A Car Battery Charger
To get the best automotive battery charger for your vehicle, we suggest paying attention to the following features.
Amperage Battery chargers come in a variety of amperages which determine the amount of current they can handle. In general, the higher the amp, the faster the charging will be. However, this doesnt mean that you need to go for the highest amperage you can find its safer to use a slower charging rate for some batteries. The good news is, if you opt for an automatic charger, the device itself will detect what amp and charging mode is best for your battery.
Voltage Before you purchase a car battery charger, its essential that you check your own vehicles battery voltage. Most car batteries are 12 volts, so its a good idea to look for 12-volt chargers. This said, if you want a more versatile device, you may need a different voltage.
Safety Features Whether youre a beginner or have decades of experience, we recommend looking for auto chargers with a wide range of safety features as it can be easy to overcharge and even ruin your battery without them. At the very least, you want reverse polarity and over-heating protections, as well as spark-resistant cables.
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