Geek Squad Install of L2 Charger

[pluggedin]

I finally got a call back from a Geek Squad tech, named Chuck, in SW Tucson, with information on how to access the procedure and information concerning how to arrange for the Geek Squad to do a garage site inspection and installation of Ford's/Leviton's (and I assume any other brand you want) L2-240volt charger.

 

A big thank you to Chuck, who could have very easily blown me off. But he contacted his Regional Manager to get this information for us.

 

The easiest way to get to the Geek Squad web page you want is to go to bestbuy.com and click on the Services tab, just under the Search field, and a drop down box will appear. Then click on Car and GPS Installation Services and that will take you to the Geek Squad Services page. In the middle of the page you will see EV Garage Site Survey. Click on that to access that page and its information.

 

Now that I have said all of that, let me tell you the page is down as of Saturday morning (2/16) but should come back up. Fortunately I wrote down the phone number listed on the page yesterday and when I called about the web page this afternoon they said the page was temporarily down but should be up soon.

 

I couldn't believe that after weeks of searching for this information the web site went down the day after I found it. What can go wrong...

 

The phone number to call to arrange for the site survey is (888)219-6747, if you can't find the web page. Even if the you can't access their web page the Rep there will be able to explain the procedure and costs to you. Yes, they will charge you $99 for the Garage Site Survey.

 

This is the way it was explained to me: There are two surveys they will offer you. One is the Garage Site Survey and the other is a Home Energy Survey and if you do both of them the cost is $199. If you do just the Garage Site Survey the cost is $99 and it is NOT applied toward the purchase of the charger.

 

Once the site survey is done the Geek Squad will contact Mr Electric who will then give you a price for any work to be done and the price of the charger.

 

That is as far as I went, so if any of you actually do this and you have more information to share please post it.

 

It would seem to me that this service is aimed at a consumer who is much too busy to mess with this installation or has absolutely no expertise in electrical work and doesn't want to. And I would guess that most of us will prefer to buy our own charger and call a local electrician for the installation, or do the work ourselves...as a couple of you already have.

[meyersnole]

Thanks for the research pluggedin I added this to my summary post on the topic as well.

[pluggedin]

Thanks for the research pluggedin I added this to my summary post on the topic as well.

Thank you meyersnole, I was hoping you would add it to your post.

[shaggy314]

Via Angie's List, with a 10% off coupon, I got my estimate of $325 with the 220 plug, breaker, and illuminated 2 pole switch installed. He handles the city permit, inspection, and files the paperwork for the city rebate (check mailed to me). I just come by in 2 months (or whenever Ford builds my damn car) and plug in the charger and hang it off the mounting bracket.

 

$99 seems a bit steep for what they are doing. Most electricians will give a free estimate anyway.

Edited February 20, 2013 at 10:00 PM by shaggy314

[pluggedin]

Via Angie's List, with a 10% off coupon, I got my estimate of $325 with the 220 plug, breaker, and illuminated 2 pole switch installed. He handles the city permit, inspection, and files the paperwork for the city rebate (check mailed to me). I just come by in 2 months (or whenever Ford builds my damn car) and plug in the charger and hang it off the mounting bracket.

 

$99 seems a bit steep for what they are doing. Most electricians will give a free estimate anyway.

Well there you go, that is about what I would expect the cost to run. Thanks for posting this info shaggy314.

[meyersnole]

I called Geek squad too and asked what they would do, was also unimpressed. I am thinking about taking a trip to homedepot and lowes this weekend to inquire on their install costs.

 

Thanks for posting that shaggy!

[pluggedin]

I had Mr Electric out yesterday to give me a quote on the install of a Leviton Level 2 charger that I purchased from Home Depot. His quote to install Fords Level 2 charger (made by Leviton and has the same specs [32A, 7.68 kVA, see below] as the one I purchased) was less expensive then the quote to install the the one I purchased from Home Depot by about $365. Damn.

 

I had what Mr Electric called a standard install; meaning my charger will be installed inside the garage and my electric panel is on the outside of the back wall of my garage and the length of conduit used was within their standard install parameters. I'm going to guess my charger will be less than 20 feet from the back wall of my garage. The further away you are from your electric panel, the higher the cost of the install.

 

The installer will have to drill a hole in the back wall of my garage to run conduit from my electrical panel to the inside of my garage, which is the most direct line possible for running the conduit and wiring to where the installer will hang my charger. I also had him quote me on a switch to turn the charger off when it was not in use and that ran about $210 and is included in the prices below.

 

One other item before I post the numbers. Since I called Mr Electric directly, the Geek Squad waived their $99 fee and will only be involved in selling the Ford charger to Mr Electric. The cost of which is $800, including the wall mounting bracket. My advice is to try to eliminate the Geek Squad by calling Mr Electric directly and ignore steps 1-4 in procedure below, since that worked for me. There is no upfront charge, by Mr Electric, for their quote.

 

Now for the price of my STANDARD install: the price for the complete install of the Ford charger is $1,699.11, plus tax. The cost to install the Home Depot unit is $1,085.94 + $899.00 + $79.00 (mounting bracket)=$2,063.94, plus tax; or a difference of $364.83.

 

The installer said his office will fax or mail a service order to me and as soon as it is signed and returned to them they will order the Ford charger and set up a date for the install; which he estimated to be about 10 days. Of course, if you want the Home Depot unit installed and already have it in hand they can set up an install date right away.

 

I have also called two additional local electrical contractors for quotes. One of them told me it would be two weeks before he could come out (I declined) and the other has not returned my call yet this morning. So if I get a competitive bid I will post it.

 

Below are copies of the only pages of a Installers Handbook that the installer would let me copy. I'm sorry for the size of them but a copy and paste was the only way I could manage to get the pages into this post.

 

I uploaded the .pdf files to Skydrive. Hopefully you can view them there: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a9cf5f77e2ad295c&id=A9CF5F77E2AD295C!410&Bsrc=SkyMail&Bpub=SDX.SkyDrive&sc=Documents&authkey=!AKvnlvuK7sr_I5E.

Edited March 7, 2013 at 06:12 PM by pluggedin

[murphy]

I am glad that I have 50 years experience installing electrical circuits.

My parts costs for charger, wire, boxes, outlet, switch, and KWH meter were about $980.00.

I had some of the parts (box, cover plate, and 6-20P outlet) on hand.

My service panel is in my basement so conduit was not needed.

Of course if I was charging for my time at $100 per hour it would come out about the same as your estimate.

[pluggedin]

I am glad that I have 50 years experience installing electrical circuits.

My parts costs for charger, wire, boxes, outlet, switch, and KWH meter were about $980.00.

I had some of the parts (box, cover plate, and 6-20P outlet) on hand.

My service panel is in my basement so conduit was not needed.

Of course if I was charging for my time at $100 per hour it would come out about the same as your estimate.

I am okay with messing with most 110V stuff but I have solar on the house and I don't like messing with the electric panel at all. My son could do this for me but I figure that if I have him install the Home Depot charger and it fails, Leviton would have a reason to void the warranty because it wasn't installed by a licensed contractor. But the warranty doesn't matter as much as the electrical part.

 

I really like the looks of the Ford charger so I will likely return the charger I bought from Home Depot. The Ford charger is less expensive to boot.

[shaggy314]

Don't forget to tally that up, save your receipts and file on your 2013 income taxes for 30% of those amounts for tax credit!

[pluggedin]

Don't forget to tally that up, save your receipts and file on your 2013 income taxes for 30% of those amounts for tax credit!

yep, 10-4, good reminder!

[younghov22]

Hey fellas, I'm new here.  I just wanted to make sure that I'm clear about what I'm reading.  

 

1. Purchase the Ford Charging station from Ford.

2. Cut out the middle man and contact Mr. Electric myself.

3. Keep all my receipts, and make sure I claim it on my taxes.

4. Enjoy driving my new ENERGI car. (BTW, I love that car!  lol)

 

If I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.  Thanks in advance for your input.  

[meyersnole]

Welcome to the boards younghov22!

 

That is one of the possible routes. If you have to have the Ford logo on your charger. There are many different options though for L2 chargers. I myself am still using the charger that sold with the car, although I probably will install a L2 charger and am debating the Levitron models against the GE and Siemens chargers. 

 

I do think the consensus is that the Geek Squad offers little value add for their $99 charge.

[pluggedin]

Hey fellas, I'm new here.  I just wanted to make sure that I'm clear about what I'm reading.  

 

1. Purchase the Ford Charging station from Ford.

2. Cut out the middle man and contact Mr. Electric myself.

3. Keep all my receipts, and make sure I claim it on my taxes.

4. Enjoy driving my new ENERGI car. (BTW, I love that car!  lol)

 

If I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.  Thanks in advance for your input.  

 

 

Welcome to the boards younghov22!

 

That is one of the possible routes. If you have to have the Ford logo on your charger. There are many different options though for L2 chargers. I myself am still using the charger that sold with the car, although I probably will install a L2 charger and am debating the Levitron models against the GE and Siemens chargers. 

 

I do think the consensus is that the Geek Squad offers little value add for their $99 charge.

Welcome to the forum younghov22!

 

I bought the Ford L2 charger (over the Leviton at Home Depot) because the cost of the charger and the install through Mr Electric was about $200 cheaper, over all. I am completely happy with my decision.

 

However, there are other chargers listed on this forum that are cheaper than the $800 I paid and those buyers seem happy with their chargers as well. Those that meyersnole listed are worth looking at too.

 

Be sure you all read the posts about the different chargers and good luck on your decision.

Edited May 6, 2013 at 04:21 AM by pluggedin