Home Level 2 chargers—seeking basic guidance

[godfodder0901]

Hi All,

I’m looking to select a home charger (okay, an EVSE). A few questions:

Is there any advantage to getting the Rivian home charger? Will that reduce number of apps on my phone or otherwise simplify anything? (It’s pricey, I notice.) Do people like the Rivian charger?

Is there an advantage to a “smart charger”? Does having an app for the charger give me benefits I can’t otherwise get via the Rivian app?

Regarding specific brands, I’m looking for an alternative to Tesla products. (I respect different views but I dislike Elon so much I don’t want that brand in my home.) What are some favorites? I prefer products made in the US or allied countries. (I’m eyeing the Grizzl-e products which people seem to like.)

THANK YOU.

Also, check with your energy provider and see if they offer a discount on a specific model. While there, check for ToU incentives and compatibility.

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[Spork8]

Hi All,

I’m looking to select a home charger (okay, an EVSE). A few questions:

Is there any advantage to getting the Rivian home charger? Will that reduce number of apps on my phone or otherwise simplify anything? (It’s pricey, I notice.) Do people like the Rivian charger?

Is there an advantage to a “smart charger”? Does having an app for the charger give me benefits I can’t otherwise get via the Rivian app?

Regarding specific brands, I’m looking for an alternative to Tesla products. (I respect different views but I dislike Elon so much I don’t want that brand in my home.) What are some favorites? I prefer products made in the US or allied countries. (I’m eyeing the Grizzl-e products which people seem to like.)

THANK YOU.

I have the Rivian wall charger only because at the time it was $500 and roughly the same cost as comparable wall chargers that could handle 48A with the same features.
If your vehicle cannot schedule charging to times when there are off peak rates (yes, I know the Rivians can), then the Rivian wall charger is not for you. It's a pretty simple charger but it's been reliable.
I would not purchase it now for the current price as there are more affordable options that do the same thing.

As other have noted, check with your electricity supplier. My supplier had rebate programs of $500 towards a few chargers ($700 and $800 before rebate) but it required giving access to those chargers via internet. My supplier also participated in a Bring Your Own Charger (BYOC) program that gave me $10/mo for I think 20 months if I only charged during off-peak times.

 

[R1Thor]

Something not to overlook when you're checking out chargers: what does their support/warranty look like and how specific is it?

Rivian has a 5-year warranty on theirs, BUT they have VERY specific installation requirements and will require proof that your install was done to spec to honor any troubleshooting (I may have experience with this).

I *believe* the last I'd checked Tesla has a 15 year warranty on their wall charger. However, I have friends with Teslas who haven't had the best experience even getting through to Tesla for basic problems, but in that way it's much like Rivian insofar as depending on who you talk to, the experience varies.

If you're having your charger professionally installed (you should unless you have a very high level of electrical skill), I'd really suggest talking to your proposed Electrician/electrical contractor and understand what they recommend and why.

 

[Count Orlok]

Hi All,

I’m looking to select a home charger (okay, an EVSE). A few questions:

Is there any advantage to getting the Rivian home charger? Will that reduce number of apps on my phone or otherwise simplify anything? (It’s pricey, I notice.) Do people like the Rivian charger?

Is there an advantage to a “smart charger”? Does having an app for the charger give me benefits I can’t otherwise get via the Rivian app?

Regarding specific brands, I’m looking for an alternative to Tesla products. (I respect different views but I dislike Elon so much I don’t want that brand in my home.) What are some favorites? I prefer products made in the US or allied countries. (I’m eyeing the Grizzl-e products which people seem to like.)

THANK YOU.

smart chargers might help if you live somewhere with differential eclectically rate times. Frankly I see no other reason for a "smart" charger other than having one more whiz-boy app to waste my time with.

I have two rivian chargers and they are okay.

if I were to install another L2 charger it would be on a 100 amp circuit. The new bidirectional option Rivian is developing looks interesting.

If you have access to 3 phase, call ZEF and get a small L3 charger.

 

[Davethadog]

The short story is that the Rivian charger is overpriced and dysfunctional even compared to its lower cost competitors. Charge point is one of the most popular, Autel is the most feature rich, the others all slot in somewhere inbetween. Pick your poison, just don’t bother with the Rivian one.

 

[Mathme]

An L2 charger is basically an L2 Charger and most of them on the market will work similarly. I have a Wallbox at my main home, and an an Enel X at my vacation house. That being said however, ...

Check with your power company. Last year I was adding a L2 charger to our vacation house and got one through the power company rebate program. That program offered $1500 toward the purchase and install of a L2 charger but they only had four specific chargers in their program. Total cost for the install was about $1700 so it was about $200 out of pocket when all said and done.

 

[jeeden]

Love my Autel charger here. As mentioned, they all provide power, it is just about how much power, if you can lock them, share them, track spending, schedule them, have a remote holster, are all weather or not, etc.

Search for the thread "show me your home charger installation" and you can see a lot of them in action.

 

[SwampNut]

I had a Tesla for years before trading it for the Rivian. I used the Tesla portable EVSE on a 30a outlet that I had installed for my welder (shared outlet). It was perfectly fine, and I never wished for more.

The Rivian has a much larger battery, and I have sometimes used more of it because of towing. So I kind of found the 30a slightly limiting. Not hugely. I had been thinking about putting in a 14-50 outlet for this, but then happened upon a free Rivian wall EVSE. It's nice having that convenience and speed. I'm also confident that the 50a would also be plenty.

The apps and whatever really don't matter because the car tells everything. My Zero charges from a pretty dumb L1 and it doesn't matter. The bike's app tells me what I need to know.

I bought a L2 portable EVSE on eBay for $100, and it's perfectly fine. I wouldn't bother spending more; these things are ultra simple and should stay dumb.

 

[beatle]

Though a 14-50 install has the appeal of simplicity since you can just use the supplied mobile Rivian EVSE and easily take it with you, keep in mind that a 14-50 costs more to install since it needs a more expensive GFCI breaker, an extra conductor for the neutral, and obviously a box, receptacle., and plate. A good receptacle is also not cheap, and a cheap one can melt. I used a cheap 14-50R from Home Depot and it melted after only a couple of years of regular use. You're also limited to 40A on a 14-50 (32A with the Rivian EVSE) so you'll charge a bit slower. 32A at 240v is still plenty of juice to charge overnight unless you plug in while on fumes.

 

[zipzag]

I used a cheap 14-50R from Home Depot and it melted after only a couple of years of regular use.

Many people hate to hear this, but its a real problem. The proper receptacle is considerably more expensive and beefier that what is commonly available at the big box stores. Low efficiency vehicles charge for many hours.

 

[HaveBlue]

Another vote for an autel maxicharger as it has more features than anyone else's. It's basically has commercial grade functions from a home charger. I use them at apartment buildings for shared use as well.

 

[Armeniandave]

Am I the only one using the one that came with the truck?
Seriously it works great and charges plenty fast overnight
and it was free with the truck. Had to put in a 14-50 outlet
but that was super simple.

 

[CBRacerX]

Hitching a ride on this topic. If the charger has an option to purchase either NACS (Tesla) or CCS (J1772) is the CCS the better choice for a 2024 R1T? I will never have a Tesla so this seems like an easy choice, but am I missing anything?

 

[CBRacerX]

Am I the only one using the one that came with the truck?
Seriously it works great and charges plenty fast overnight
and it was free with the truck. Had to put in a 14-50 outlet
but that was super simple.

How long is the cable that is included?

 

[Supratachophobia]

Hi All,

I’m looking to select a home charger (okay, an EVSE). A few questions:

Is there any advantage to getting the Rivian home charger? Will that reduce number of apps on my phone or otherwise simplify anything? (It’s pricey, I notice.) Do people like the Rivian charger?

Is there an advantage to a “smart charger”? Does having an app for the charger give me benefits I can’t otherwise get via the Rivian app?

Regarding specific brands, I’m looking for an alternative to Tesla products. (I respect different views but I dislike Elon so much I don’t want that brand in my home.) What are some favorites? I prefer products made in the US or allied countries. (I’m eyeing the Grizzl-e products which people seem to like.)

THANK YOU.

No benefit to a smart charger IMO. It's something you just want to work and doesn't need any additional input from you to provide electricity.

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