Stupid previous owner = $$$ L2 installation

[antimatter]

I'm Excel as well. Yes, there is a rebate. Helps some. Though our new, handy-dandy Minnesota EV tax erases it and then-some. A friend just renewed his tags on his id4. Last year it was under $200. This year north of $800.

Yeah, I got dinged for just over $1,000 for my '23 R1T. That EV surcharge is some serious BS.

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[Mos Eisley]

Yeah, I got dinged for just over $1,000 for my '23 R1T. That EV surcharge is some serious BS.

I'm not opposed to an EV charge to offset the gas tax, but there's a big difference between paying a few pennies at the pump and one lump sum.

Anyway- Had another electrician visit this morning; good conversation, he's personally a fan of Rivian, his wife has had three Teslas and he's a big fan of Emporia chargers. Estimate coming later today.

 

[TXSchnee]

Yeah, I got dinged for just over $1,000 for my '23 R1T. That EV surcharge is some serious BS.

Taxes is why I stuck to looking at places in WI when moving back up from TX (even though I would prefer to live in MN). The surcharge is $175/year for full BEV, $150/year for PHEV. So I get stuck paying that on 4 vehicles, but all 4 add up to $800 total. Right on the border so minimal additional drive time.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Taxes is why I stuck to looking at places in WI when moving back up from TX (even though I would prefer to live in MN). The surcharge is $175/year for full BEV, $150/year for PHEV. So I get stuck paying that on 4 vehicles, but all 4 add up to $800 total. Right on the border so minimal additional drive time.

Hudson? If so you're near-ish me.

 

[TXSchnee]

Hudson? If so you're near-ish me.

Yup, we ended up in Hudson.

 

[Weck]

Had I known this 24 months ago when we replaced the main panel I would have. A load balancer should be ok for the 100A. But I’m going to ask the next electrician that. In maybe 3 years we may add a second EV so the 200-250 makes sense. But just charging on alternate days would be fine as neither of us put on that many miles daily.

I get by just fine L2 charging at 40A with 100A panels at two different locations, no issues ever with tripping the main breaker. Only other major load is AC 30A breaker which also doesn't pull that full amount, so likely maybe pulling 65 amps if charging with the AC on, which only happens a few times a year. That still leaves plenty of room for lights and the fridge.

Both locations the driveway runs past the house to a detached garage, so I just mounted a 14-50 on the driveway side of the house rather than spend huge money to run wiring out to the garage. My R1T won't fit in my garage anyway.

 

[Supratachophobia]

I'm in the process of getting estimates to install an L2 (likely Emporia) ahead of the R2's arrival this Fall.

My crazy garage has a total of just north of 50 outlets/sockets due to a previous owner using the garage as his workshop. There are four plug panels all over the walls, on the ceiling... guy liked to plug things in. The garage has a small dedicated panel including a two pole 60A circuit and a 240V socket which got me excited that installing an L2 would be inexpensive.

But, as I suspected based on the past miswiring adventures from this previous owner who did all his own wiring that I have uncovered over the years I should have known better. Example: The downstairs bathroom, the laundry room and one socket in the family room were all connected to... the microwave oven's cove/socket, the dishwasher and one socket in a bedroom 30 feet away.

Turns out the Romex to the panel in the garage is only 20A, with two 30A breakers on the circuit and only 15A capable wiring to the 240V plug I'm told he used it for a welder. How he didn't burn down the garage I don't know.

So now we'll have to pull a dedicated line with a load balancer from the main panel (100A just installed two years ago) across the house and into the garage, a run of new copper of about 250ft Got an estimate yesterday for... $3900. I am getting other estimates but

Probably a good reminder for anyone doing their own electric, you can. But you better make damn sure you memorize the NEC code year for your AHJ. Not doing so could literally mean life and death.

Just because you "know" how it's wired, doesn't guarantee that not-you will come along and try to use it as it's labeled/intended.

 

[ElGuano]

Emporia Pro comes with a Vue 3 that acts as a power monitor and throttle for the EVSE. When it approaches a threshold you set (~100A), it starts to drop the charge rate to keep your current flow under the service limit.

That's the only way I could get a permitted EVSE installed on our 100A service (upgrade to 200A would be 12+mo and $20-30k here).

 

[justinkitswa]

Something to consider on all EV charging equipment installation - there is a huge difference between intermittent loads (like an electric dryer or a welder) and sustained loads. This is why I always tell folks to NOT install a NEMA 14-50 outlet for their EVSE- always hardwire them.

Eventually thermal cycling on the contacts in the outlet will increase resistance and generate heat and melt the plug. I believe in the next few years NFPA guidance and NEC code will be updated to not allow EVSE's on outlets anymore because of it.

Good that you found your issues before setting your place on fire - #12 Romex could handle the short duration loads from a welder - a sustained 40+ amp load over hours would have melted the insulation and started a fire.

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