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Charger Cable Price Increase


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I decided that I don't need a Level 2 charger at home.  I'd have to add a subpanel and run a new outlet.  I mostly charge overnight anyway, so I decided that I could get by with an extra L1 charging cable mounted in the garage.  Apparently, Ford raised their prices on July 1.

 

For an OEM cable, Ford part number FM5Z10B706A:

Ford Parts was $510. 23   now $701.49

Varsity was $408.18    now $561.19

Levittown was $420.94  now $578.73

 

Ouch!  I'm thinking of going with the Leviton EVC11-300 at Amazon for $497.88.  Has anybody had any experience with this cable?

Are there any other options other than making up my own cable or the ClipperCreek permanent install?

 

Thanks

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If you have a 20A 120V circuit in your garage, Clipper Creek makes a charger that can take advantage of that.  Instead of being a 1500 watt charger (the one the car comes with), it does 1900 watts, so you may be able to get a bit faster charge and slightly better go time performance.  However, I have no idea if the car can utilize that or not.  I don't see why it can't.  It can do 16A at 240 for both legs... don't see why it can't do 16A on one leg.

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The cable and J1772 plug is why this stuff is so expensive.  You can buy just the cable and plug and just that runs 150 - 175 bucks (saw that on the 'build your own L2 charger' site that was in another thread).  I'm sure BUILDING that and selling it runs the company 30 bucks, but due to royalties on the patent of the charging connector, it's insanely expensive.

 

Plus there's the fact that they're probably not selling a huge number of these just yet.  All cars come with a charger and the L2, in my opinion, is a luxury, as is any additional chargers.  Heck, laptop power supplies for my ancient machine were 130 bucks... but 7 years later, now they're 20.  I'm sure with time, they'll come down.

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Yes, I've looked at the Clipper Creek, but it's a permanent install. I just want a second cable that I can leave in the garage for overnight charging without having to dig into the trunk every time.  I guess I'll go with the Leviton.  According to the Leviton web site, you can select slow (12 amp, 1.4 KW) or really slow (7 amp, 0.8 KW) charge settings so you don't overload the circuit.  I'm using a non-dedicated 120v plug in the garage, so that's probably the best way to go.

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I could be wrong, but the 120v draw is not a real big deal.  I definitely do not have an isolated circuit for the outlet that I use.

 

R

I also do not have an isolated circuit that I currently use for charging the car, but if I were to plug my blower into that circuit while the car is charging I will pop the breaker (from experience).

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I could be wrong, but the 120v draw is not a real big deal.  I definitely do not have an isolated circuit for the outlet that I use.

 

R

 

Normally it's not a big deal, but today I learned that you can't charge your Energi and run a Shop Vac at the same time on the same 20 amp circuit.  Strangely enough, the breaker didn't pop when I turned on the Shop Vac.  I was using it for about 30 seconds before the breaker went. So far, I haven't had any problems with the garage door opener which is also on the same circuit. In any event, the 7 amp setting on the Leviton should make sure I don't have a problem, so long as I'm not in a hurry to recharge.

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Yes, I've looked at the Clipper Creek, but it's a permanent install. I just want a second cable that I can leave in the garage for overnight charging without having to dig into the trunk every time.  I guess I'll go with the Leviton.  According to the Leviton web site, you can select slow (12 amp, 1.4 KW) or really slow (7 amp, 0.8 KW) charge settings so you don't overload the circuit.  I'm using a non-dedicated 120v plug in the garage, so that's probably the best way to go.

 

The Cripple Creek PCS-15 is a portable L1 unit not unlike the one that came with the car

 

http://www.clippercr...reek PCS-15.pdf

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

L2 charger is a much more convenient so just to make sure you have looked into all your options. I assume you need a sub panel because you don't have any spaces left in your main panel for a 240V breaker. However, consider:

 

1) Depending on the model of your panel, you may be able to combine 2 120V breakers with a single 240V breaker in a space of two sockets. This type of breaker is called a "quad". You would pull out two single breakers and replace the open slots with a single quad. For more info, you can search "quad circuit breaker" on Home Depot. This is the case with my panel and I will need a quad if I install another L2 charger when I get a second EV.

 

2) Even if you end up having to install a sub panel, keep in mind there is a federal tax credit of up to $1,000 (33% of the cost of equipment plus installation) for installing a level 2 car charger. You may be eligible for even more rebates from your city/state or utilities provider. That can ease the pain of that sub panel cost.

 

 

 

 

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Well lets think about this...I'm a big corporation and people MUST buy chargers (especially EV only vehicles):  "Why do I want the customer to get a 30% rebate, I designed this and I have health benefits to pay.  I'm going to raise the price of this because I want a cut of that government money."

 

Free money, stock prices up, woot!

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  • 2 months later...

Dag, what kind of electrical service do you currently have in your garage?  Just one 120v circuit or do you have 240 out there already?  If you're JUST connecting a charging station to a dedicated line, then you shouldn't need a sub panel unless you want to distribute power through your garage (I ran 50A 240v service via a 6 gauge cable to a sub panel, and I have 3, 20A 120v circuits, 1 30A 240V circuit, and 1 15A circuit).  Sub panels are essentially just distribution panels.

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My garage has just a few 120 outlets. My panel is as far away as possible in my basement on the other side of the house. The panel appears full, but perhaps we can combine some stuff. A future project would be to run outside lighting so a sub panel would make that project easier.

 

I guess I'll find out soon enough.

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