100 amp home

[AvLegends]

See if they will match the prices down here. I think Carson Toyota for blue is $48,200? Worth a shot!
http://priuschat.com/threads/diannes-socal-inventory-and-deals-for-the-2012-rav4-evs-in-march-april-2013.123058/#post-1778339

 

[snoltor]

The Leviton affilated electrician checked out my home, said the only option is installing a switch to split the 40amp breaker my oven is on. I'm fine with that, not planning on using the oven overnight when I'd be charging the car. Anyone else out there have to do that?

 

[snoltor]

Ordered a Rav4 EV, it is scheduled to arrive the beginning of next week. Can't wait.
But still no progress on the home charging front. I suppose one option would be to buy a unit online (I noticed someone here pointing out that Amazon is currently selling the Leviton 32amp charger for $999), and simply plug into my existing clothes dryer plug at night. A bit of a hassle, but the Leviton affiliated electrician quoted me $2600 for the work (that includes a ten year warranty on the charger but does not include permits).

 

[Dsinned]

I suppose one option would be to buy a unit online (I noticed someone here pointing out that Amazon is currently selling the Leviton 32amp charger for $999), and simply plug into my existing clothes dryer plug at night. A bit of a hassle, but the Leviton affiliated electrician quoted me $2600 for the work (that includes a ten year warranty on the charger but does not include permits).

If your 230V outlet for an electric clothes drier is like most older homes, that outlet will only be rated for 30A, not 32A. Which means if you get a 32A (7.7kW) charger, or even 30A, the circuit breaker for that outlet will trip and cause a lot of grief. If the drier outlet is rated for 40A, or even as high as 50A, then you will be okay.

However, another factor is the length of the input power cords to the charging station, which is usually only 12" long. This is VERY short and may not allow you to mount it in an appropriate (useful) location. Also, the output cord will generally be no longer than 25' long, so you have to be sure you have enough "reach" from where you mount it.

Have you checked with any other Electricians? $2600 sounds quite high for the work involved unless your AC Mains service and load center distribution panel(s) need to be upgraded. If there is an empty slot for, or a spare 40A double pole circuit breaker in the panel, to wire in and connect a new 240V outlet for a L2 EVSE charging station, then the Electrician's work should cost around $500 or less, assuming he works for about $100/hour.

 

[snoltor]

2100 for a 3 year warranty on the Leviton charger, 2600 for 10 year warranty. The work was considered 'non standard'. 100 amp service, and would be drawing over 100 amps if everything was running at the same time. Their (IES) cheapest solution would be to install a splitter switch in the garage... I'd be switching back and forth from using the oven or charging the car.

And, yes you are right, my dryer is on a 30 amp circuit so I'd have to consider a 25 or 20 amp charger for the plug in as is solution.

Have you checked with any other Electricians? $2600 sounds quite high for the work involved unless your AC Mains service and load center distribution panel(s) need to be upgraded. If there is an empty slot for, or a spare 40A double pole circuit breaker in the panel, to wire in and connect a new 240V outlet for a L2 EVSE charging station, then the Electrician's work should cost around $500 or less, assuming he works for about $100/hour.

 

[Dsinned]

I am in the same situation . . . 100A Service. In theory, 100A may be inadequate for the average single family home, "if" all electrical equipment is operating at the same time. Unless you have a very large family. do a lot of cooking, washing, cleaning and operate a HVAC all at the same time, while also charging an EV, a 100A main breaker may still be just fine.

I'm NOT saying an overload trip will never happen - that is certainly still possible - just unlikely, especially if you get into the habit of charging your EV from late at night till early morning. I am doing that with a 7.7kW (32A) Leviton L2 EVSE, and have never tripped my 100A breaker.

Here's a partial list of what I have in my main circuit breaker panel, excluding all 120V circuits consisting of six smaller, single pole, 15A breakers, (and an additional double pole, 20A breaker for a dedicated 240V branch circuit to my PV system):

100A MAIN, plus:
50A Electric Range
40A L2 EVSE
40A A/C Compressor
30A Electric Drier

As you can see, just these larger load circuilts alone, add up to 160A if all were operating at the full load rating of their circuit protection breakers. Actually, the total load for all AC loads combined, including all the other 120V protected circuits in the same panel for lighting and convenience outlets, garbage disposal, washing machine, and electric controllers for a NG fired central air furnace and 40 gal water heater, add up to an additional 90A! So, the actual full load current capacity of everything as a whole is 250A!

I recently had a city permit inspection of this very same AC panel, for the addition of a new solar system, and nothing was said about the "adequacy" of only a 100A Mains. I guess, if any breakers trip, including the 100A for the main power supplied from the grid, that's my problem, not the city's or utility company, so long as every individual circuit is properly overload protected.

 

[snoltor]

Thanks for the info. I went ahead and ordered a ClipperCreek LCS-25, which I should have next Monday. I'm either going to have it wired into the dryer plug or a bit more inconveniently, just unplug the dryer and plug in the car each night. My Rav4 is supposed to be delivered to the dealership next Monday... All in all hoping to have the car by next Wed!

I am in the same situation . . . 100A Service. In theory, 100A may be inadequate for the average single family home, "if" all electrical equipment is operating at the same time. Unless you have a very large family. do a lot of cooking, washing, cleaning and operate a HVAC all at the same time, while also charging an EV, a 100A main breaker may still be just fine.

I'm NOT saying an overload trip will never happen - that is certainly still possible - just unlikely, especially if you get into the habit of charging your EV from late at night till early morning. I am doing that with a 7.7kW (32A) Leviton L2 EVSE, and have never tripped my 100A breaker.

Here's a partial list of what I have in my main circuit breaker panel, excluding all 120V circuits consisting of six smaller, single pole, 15A breakers, (and an additional double pole, 20A breaker for a dedicated 240V branch circuit to my PV system):

100A MAIN, plus:
50A Electric Range
40A L2 EVSE
40A A/C Compressor
30A Electric Drier

As you can see, just these larger load circuilts alone, add up to 160A if all were operating at the full load rating of their circuit protection breakers. Actually, the total load for all AC loads combined, including all the other 120V protected circuits in the same panel for lighting and convenience outlets, garbage disposal, washing machine, and electric controllers for a NG fired central air furnace and 40 gal water heater, add up to an additional 90A! So, the actual full load current capacity of everything as a whole is 250A!

I recently had a city permit inspection of this very same AC panel, for the addition of a new solar system, and nothing was said about the "adequacy" of only a 100A Mains. I guess, if any breakers trip, including the 100A for the main power supplied from the grid, that's my problem, not the city's or utility company, so long as every individual circuit is properly overload protected.