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Join Date: Mar Location: Bangalore Posts: 333 Thanked: 510 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car Thanks for a lovely write up. So, does the sanctioned load always have to be upped by the amount that the charger needs? If I have 15KVA sanctioned load and want to add a 11KW charger, will I have to go to 26 sanctioned load? In Bangalore if you cross 25 they ask you to have a transformer in your premises. BHPian  
Join Date: Feb Location: Mumbai Posts: 41 Thanked: 153 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car Quote: Originally Posted by nidhikapoor Thanks for a lovely write up. So, does the sanctioned load always have to be upped by the amount that the charger needs? If I have 15KVA sanctioned load and want to add a 11KW charger, will I have to go to 26 sanctioned load? In Bangalore if you cross 25 they ask you to have a transformer in your premises. Not necessary, but provided you have an electrician who knows what's he doing. You likely need to just add the capacity after accounting for unused capacity. But a new dedicated meter will make it better anyway - monthly average cost per unit savings and simpler load planning.

In my experience, they tested the situation thoroughly. Got us to switch on all geysers and ACs and tested for load. Then confirmed one of the 3 phases have sufficient capacity to add my single phase 7.2 KW charger without requesting an increase in sactioned load. It was a professional team from Mahindra Powerol and had to do a detailed documentation even before they could alot my car or start wiring. BHPian  
Join Date: Jul Location: Kottayam,Kerala Posts: 156 Thanked: 1,007 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car Quote: Originally Posted by Evyas Just came across this video by YouTube Gagan Choudhary about installing an EV charger at home.

Exicom has started directly selling these to consumers: SPIN Home Chargers. 7.5 KW AC Charger.

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=NkF0EPjXSkU Currently, the wall chargers are being supplied free of cost by the car companies.
Installation is also free.
The only cost comes from upgrading the electricity load at home.
But when companies start charging for these services( will start in the near future), these direct selling options will find a better market BANNED  
Join Date: Apr Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,399 Thanked: 148 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car Small question on the Exicom Chargers that are being installed which comes free with the Car.
What do we do in case of power cuts?

say I set charging (after plugging in and scanning the RFID) and in the middle of the night power goes.

Will the charging reset and I have to wake up and go and scan the machine again?
The vehicle in question is the New Nexon EV Senior - BHPian  
Join Date: Sep Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,257 Thanked: 4,812 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car To all EV owner who have got the charging setup done at their homes (an in high rise complexes):

1. What are the safety controls in place during the EV charging? Does anyone keep a Fire extinguisher nearby?
2. In High rises, what precautions should an EV owner take when installing the EV charging set up in the parking slot where 2 cars are parked? Has anyone checked if the next car owner is comfortable with the EV charging set up or Society permission is sufficient and its Society's headache to look after the safety part?

Reason for asking above queries is the parking slot neighbor in the society basement parking next to my parking is asking for a go ahead from me as well. BHPian  
Join Date: Jul Location: Kottayam,Kerala Posts: 156 Thanked: 1,007 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car Quote: Originally Posted by ghodlur To all EV owner who have got the charging setup done at their homes (an in high rise complexes):

1. What are the safety controls in place during the EV charging? Does anyone keep a Fire extinguisher nearby?
2. In High rises, what precautions should an EV owner take when installing the EV charging set up in the parking slot where 2 cars are parked? Has anyone checked if the next car owner is comfortable with the EV charging set up or Society permission is sufficient and its Society's headache to look after the safety part?

Reason for asking above queries is the parking slot neighbor in the society basement parking next to my parking is asking for a go ahead from me as well. Regarding point 1, if you have obeyed all criteria before installing a fast charger, it is safe.
The chance of a fire is not any higher than the existing fire risk at your house.

Regarding point 2, cant comment since I stay in an independent house BHPian  
Join Date: Nov Location: Kottayam Posts: 223 Thanked: 953 Times Re: How to set up EV Charging Infrastructure at Home - Part 2 Quote: Originally Posted by sushanthys Part 2
I had to use DC Fast charging on consecutive days during the first month of my ownership as we had to travel to Kottarakkara (180 km round trip) suddenly for a family emergency. The second time, I ended up charging the car to 100% (wanted to stop at 95% but app issues meant I could not disconnect in time). In the first 5 km of travel after charging, I lost 5%. After that, the battery behaved normally. I checked with MG during my first service regarding this matter. They said that when DC Fast charging is done, all cells may not get equally and completely topped up, hence a bit of sudden battery discharge is common. This problem does not happen with slow charging/AC Fast charging. Dear Dr Sushanth, Thank you so much for this hugely informative write up. We got our ZS EV in December and since then this thread of yours has been my bible for all charging related doubts. I had initially thought of installing the wall charger but after going through your post I have so far decided to do slow charging using the portable charger. Once in a week we have been using the GO EC fast charger at the Ettumanoor area, so if you see a black ZS excite parked there with KL36 plates, it could be us

I have also recently noticed this unexpected fall in SOC after fast charging. My wife was horrified seeing the SOC dropping by 28% after her round trip to work and back (which usually takes just about 20-21%). I am hoping your explanation will calm her down.
Thank you once again for sharing your experience and please keep this thread going on. BHPian  
Join Date: Jul Location: Kottayam,Kerala Posts: 156 Thanked: 1,007 Times Re: How to set up EV Charging Infrastructure at Home - Part 2 Quote: Originally Posted by Night Raven Dear Dr Sushanth, Thank you so much for this hugely informative write up. We got our ZS EV in December and since then this thread of yours has been my bible for all charging related doubts. I had initially thought of installing the wall charger but after going through your post I have so far decided to do slow charging using the portable charger. Once in a week we have been using the GO EC fast charger at the Ettumanoor area, so if you see a black ZS excite parked there with KL36 plates, it could be us

I have also recently noticed this unexpected fall in SOC after fast charging. My wife was horrified seeing the SOC dropping by 28% after her round trip to work and back (which usually takes just about 20-21%). I am hoping your explanation will calm her down.
Thank you once again for sharing your experience and please keep this thread going on. Hi Night Raven,

Thank you.

I travel by that GO EC Fast charger 3-4 times a week, so will surely keep an eye out

Its been almost a year since I got my ZS EV. Lately, I have been using the wall charger much more. Mostly when I have to charge the car from a SOC in the mid 20s. The charging will get over in around 5 hours compared to > 12hrs with the slow charging. It is also very useful when you have to charge to 100% prior to a long trip. Not a bad idea to have the wall charger installed.

I have noticed that the consumption of charge from 100 to 95% SOC is generally fast. The efficiency will usually be around 5-6 km/kWh.
Maybe also because regen takes place only after SOC drops below 95%.

Hope this helps! BHPian  
Join Date: Jan Location: Kottayam Posts: 168 Thanked: 678 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car Quote: Originally Posted by sushanthys
-The KSEB Service line from the electric post to the energy meter should be changed to 16 sq mm Aluminium (It was currently 10 sq mm Copper wire).

Attachment Do you remember the cost for this cable/meter? Is it a 4 core cable? KSEB guys hadn't given proper gauge service line for my 3 phase connection (just a set of two 2.5 sqmm) sighting supply shortage. After pestering them for a long time they asked me to just buy the cable spec I want as they aren't going to be able to provide the right spec for my connected load requirement.

My service line is going to be overhead (can't do under ground as it will require lot of work), so not sure if that matters. Newbie  
Join Date: Feb Location: Mumbai Posts: 12 Thanked: 4 Times Re: Guide & Pictures | Setting up an AC Fast Charger at home for your electric car Not sure if this might be off topic but is there anyone here who has an EV has not installed charger at home and relies entirely on public charging infrastructure?

Today I saw a post on X regarding a guy having to charge his car for almost 2 years because his housing society is not permitting installation of charger.

I have shortlisted an ev as an option for buying new car (will provide more details in a seperate thread I create for my car choices) however this reason is holding me back.

A complete guide to finding the best home EV charger for your electric car

With so many home EV chargers on the market, it can be tough to determine which one suits you best. Whether you’re waiting for your shiny new EV to arrive or still mulling over the perfect model, home charging is about to become an important part of your day-to-day as an electric vehicle owner. That’s why we’re breaking down everything you need to know when buying an electric car home charger!

Goto Sunplus to know more.

A few home charging basics

There are a few EV charging terms you might want to get familiar with before jumping into your research. We’ll even throw in a quick math equation to illustrate a typical charging flow (pun intended). But don’t worry, you won’t be tested on this later!

• Kilowatt (kW): This is the rate of energy that flows from the charger to your vehicle, similar to gallons per minute from a hose. You’ll see home chargers that range from 7 kW to 19.2kW (we’ll explain what this means for charging time below).
• Kilowatt hour (kWh): This is the quantity of electricity that can be stored in your battery, just like gas in a tank.

There are many factors that contribute to how fast your car will charge, but if you are able to match your onboarding charging speed with the output of your charger, you can wake up to a fully charged EV each morning!

Here are a couple more key terms that are specifically related to home charging:

• Amperage: This is determined by the capacity of your home’s wiring and electrical panel. Modern chargers usually range from 30 A to 80 A, and the higher the amperage, the more kW it will produce. However, your home’s electrical panel will be the limiting factor in terms of which charger you will be able to get (or how much it might cost to upgrade your panel).
• Voltage: Most North American home EV chargers will require a 208 – 240 volt circuit and while most prefer to hardwire their chargers, there are plug-in options for those that might have an outlet similar to the one you use for your electric clothes dryer.

Determine how much power your EV needs to charge at home

Fast and furious or slow and steady? When shopping for a home charger, first-time EV drivers can get caught up in the marketing messaging surrounding charging speed. In reality, most people don’t actually need the fastest charger out there, meaning they can save money on installation.

Step one is to understand the difference between level 1 and level 2 chargers. We recommend reading our detailed article on charging station types if you are not familiar with the concept, but here’s a quick breakdown in the meantime.

Level 1 chargers use a regular wall outlet and deliver the lowest power output (approximately 1.2 kW). They’re often supplied with your EV or plug-in hybrid and can take over 24 hours to deliver a complete charge, meaning they are usually too slow for drivers who want to be able to charge their vehicle to 80% overnight.

Level 2 is the way to go if you’re looking to increase efficiency. Some models can hit 19.2 kW, but the truth is, most modern EVs don’t need that much power for overnight charging. The majority of vehicles can’t even accommodate more than 12 kW of alternating current (AC), although some larger vehicles like pickup trucks are on the higher side of 19.2 kW, so check your vehicle, and have an electrician tell you how much capacity your home electrical panel has.

Why faster isn’t always better

• Electrical upgrades: Installing an EV charger at home incurs additional costs if you need to upgrade your electrical panel. The faster the charger, the higher the amperage it needs, so you need to check with an electrician to understand what your existing capacity is, and what it might cost to upgrade.
• Charging habits: Even if your car can handle a high charging speed, you likely won’t need it if you typically charge overnight. A 50 A charger (12 kW) will take most EV batteries from 20% to 80% in just a few hours!

Hardwired vs. NEMA: what’s the difference?

The next consideration will be installation options. Hardwired chargers must be installed by certified electricians and are directly connected to your electrical panel. Plug-in chargers use a standard NEMA plug and a wall outlet, just like any electrical appliance in your home.

• Hardwired: These chargers are permanent. They’re connected to your electrical box through a direct line (like your central air conditioner). Hardwiring level 2 chargers is often the preferred approach, as it limits the potential points of failure and provides better protection from the elements for outdoor chargers.
• Plug-in: These chargers require a 240-volt outlet, like an oven or dryer. If you already have one installed where your charger needs to be – in your garage, for example – going plug-in might be a good idea. Plug-in chargers also offer the flexibility of being portable, making them a good option for renters.

If you don’t have an existing 240-volt outlet and do have the ability to permanently install a charger on your property, most electricians recommend hardwiring.  

Contact us to discuss your requirements of AC Fast Charger for EV. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

“Location, location, location” also applies to home charging!

Where do you park your electric car? The answer will lead to a variety of factors to consider.

Attached or detached garage

You’ll need to consider the length of your charging cable and the ease of cable management. A shorter cable might require you to rethink how you park your car. You’ll also want to make sure there is an easy way to wrap the cable when not in use so kids aren’t tripping over it and the dog doesn’t take off with the connector (it’s happened…)

Shared garage

There’s an additional security element to shared parking spaces that’s worth exploring. If you’re worried about other people using your charger without permission (and racking up your electricity bill), you might want to consider a smart charger. These allow you to set a charging schedule and restrict access to your charger from your , no matter where you are.

Driveway or dedicated outdoor parking near your house

If you have a convenient place to install a charger right next to your home parking spot, here are five key factors to consider:

• Weather: You’ll need a charger that is built for the outdoors. Each EV charger will have a NEMA enclosure rating (3, 3R, 4, or 4X). These ratings measure the electrical enclosure’s ability to withstand various conditions and protect users/electrical components from environmental hazards. EV chargers with a 4X rating offer the highest degree of protection, making them ideal for outdoor use and harsh climates.
• Safety: Most certified electricians will suggest a hardwire installation for outdoor use because it provides a watertight seal. Plug-in chargers that are not properly shielded can pose shock and fire hazards. Local building codes may also require a hardwire installation so it’s best to ask a licensed electrician for more information.
• Installation: If you can’t attach your charger to your home, or if your parking spot is too far away for the cable to reach your car, you might want to opt for a pedestal installation. Make sure the charger you choose is compatible with this type of installation.
• Aesthetic: Your charger may be visible from the road or your front yard. Design might not be the first thing on your mind, but finding a charger you actually enjoy looking at is a nice bonus. After all, you’ll be using it every day! A sharp design might also be easier to get approved by HOAs or condo associations.
• Cable management: Outdoor installations expose cables to the elements. If they’re left on the ground, they can get damaged or become a tripping hazard. Look for a charger that offers easy cable management, which is especially important if your parking spot is in a shared space.

Do you need a smart EV charger or not?

Who doesn’t love a little bit of smart tech in their life? Smart chargers give you the ability to schedule your charging around lower utility rates (if applicable in your area) and track your energy usage. Some utility companies are even starting to require smart chargers if you want to take advantage of lower “time of use” rates – i.e. off-peak usage hours. 

If you park in a shared or public area, you may want to restrict access to your charger. Some smart chargers have the ability lock out unauthorized use in their app for confidence in your charger’s usage. 

Look for certifications as proof of quality

Some certifications, like UL, ensure the products you’re using are safe and have undergone rigorous testing. For EV chargers, this can mean being equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters, surge protection, or heat sensors to protect both your vehicle and your home if something goes wrong. 

Making sure the highest safety requirements are met is crucial for electrical equipment, especially if it’s installed outdoors. ENERGY STAR is another crucial certification that ensures your new EV charger meets higher standards of energy efficiency and possibly qualify for local incentives. 

Looking into the certifications listed on a charger’s spec sheet, or even looking up a product on trusted certification websites, can help you make an informed choice. 

Go the distance

You want a charger that will be with you for the long haul. Warranties typically range from one to five years, so be sure to inquire about a charger’s buyer protection policy before you buy. The cheapest chargers on the market might seem enticing at first, but if you have to replace that charger more frequently than a well-made one, the costs will add up fast!

Want more information on AC EV Charging Station? Feel free to contact us.

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