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How would an owner even distinguish the difference? The 2015 Lear versions have a light in the handle? No screws on the back?The lack of button would just make the 2012 and earlier models charge at 12A. If you wanted the car to only pull 8A, you'd need to modify the pilot signal with a switched resistor applied. (Don't ask me to do it. I'm not messing with Lear, again)
Going from modifying the Clipper Creek version for the 13-14 to attempting the Lear for 2015 really is an eye opener. The build quality, unit components, and design are far superior in the CC unit. It really does look like Lear tried to make the cheapest EVSE, right down to the thinnest copper to get the bid. My level of frustration with this little project is tempered with the fact I already have a Clipper Creek version on my Volt (2014) and the EVSE that came with my Tesla is at least as good, if not better, than any Clipper Creek design. If I had one of these Lear versions, I would be mad as hell.
-C
Honestly GM keeps changing the Volt 110 EVSE designs so much over time, and not, alas, for the better. The CC 2013-14 versions, I was told, were originally designed to continue the LED handle flashlight feature from the prior gen versions, but then the feature was intentionally deleted from the production units. Why? How does that help a user and would it even save much of any build costs for GM? And now, going back to Lear as a supplier, why, after all the trouble with the 1st and second gen Lear units (orange pigtail then black pigtail designs) would they trust Lear? Purely price?
GM really should have designed a totally new design retrofit unit for the existing Volts -- smaller, lighter, ideally retractable cord reel, more robustly built boards/wiring gauge, with an amp selector button directly on the unit, so 2013+ users don't have to switch the settings on the dash at each charge.
--Maybe Lear is simply taking the guts out of thousands of old, failed units from Chevy dealers and re-manufacturing and repackaging the boards for these 2015 replacement units? Or, perhaps these 2015 Lear versions were intended to be produced as 'button' versions (hence the extra LED display, which is left visible on new/replacement 'button' EVSE versions from Lear (for 2010-12 Volts) [black pigtail, black cord, black button versions]) but instead they were modified to work with the 2013+'s with no amp button.