GM Volt Forum banner
1 - 14 of 14 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
28 Posts
Discussion Starter · #3 ·
I don’t think the 11 and 12 have it in the menu. I think it might be on the stock charging cable. Click the button and it changes it between 2 green lights to 4 green lights. Can anybody verify this? Thanks
 

· Administrator
Joined
·
23,691 Posts
I don’t think the 11 and 12 have it in the menu. I think it might be on the stock charging cable. Click the button and it changes it between 2 green lights to 4 green lights. Can anybody verify this? Thanks
Correct, yes, and yes.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,364 Posts
The default 120-volt charging setting for the 2012 Volt I’ve been driving for the past 6+ years is 12 amps. To reduce it to 8 amps I must press a button on the EVSE (the charge cord), not on any screen inside the vehicle (same for the 2011 Volts). The manual describes these button choices as Normal or Reduced charge levels.

My understanding is the default setting was changed to 8 amps with the 2013 Volt model, and the ability to select the Charge Level Preference (i.e., 8 or 12 amps) was moved from the EVSE to the vehicle’s center console’s display screen.
 

· Registered
2014 Volt base
Joined
·
381 Posts
Are these earlier 12 amp default, 8 amp optional, 110 volt EVSEs convertable to 220 volt input?
Would they then be 24 amp (12 amps per hot leg) as default when supplied with 220?
Or, would a later car, like my '14 with the on-screen current selection, still limit me to 16 amps (8 per leg) whenever feeding grid power at 220 volts?
 

· Administrator
Joined
·
23,691 Posts
Are these earlier 12 amp default, 8 amp optional, 110 volt EVSEs convertable to 220 volt input?
No. But the ones that come with the Gen 2 cars are. There is a whole thread on it.
 

· Registered
2014 Volt base
Joined
·
381 Posts
Thanks to that thread, I've already modified the EVSE that came with my gen1 car to be dual voltage capable. Now that one stays in the garage, plugged into an adapter and then into a 20 amp (per leg) 240 volt dedicated outlet. The cord and plug are snaked outdoors where the car stays.
I'd rather not use gasoline if it can be avoided. I can always remove my modified dual input EVSE from the adapter and use it in a 120 outlet when I travel further than the battery alone will get me back home, but I'm considering buying a second EVSE to keep in the trunk for those possible situations. I wanted to know what benefits, if any, exist between vintages and models of EVSE as I choose from the offerings that pop up from time to time.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
388 Posts
Correct, yes, and yes.
So, does that mean IF our EVSE has a button to change the charge rate that it came from an 11 or 12? I have one in my 14...it's the one it came with, I'm second owner. It is Voltec, not a Clipper.
 

· Registered
2015 Red Volt
Joined
·
2,328 Posts
So, does that mean IF our EVSE has a button to change the charge rate that it came from an 11 or 12? I have one in my 14...it's the one it came with, I'm second owner. It is Voltec, not a Clipper.
Yes, if your EVSE has orange cables, it's from an '11 or '12. I think those were all supposed to be recalled and replaced by the dealership for free.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
388 Posts
Yes, if your EVSE has orange cables, it's from an '11 or '12. I think those were all supposed to be recalled and replaced by the dealership for free.
Mine does NOT have orange cables, black only. Says Voltec on front and NO screws in the back. Any way to modify these for 220?
 

· Registered
2015 Red Volt
Joined
·
2,328 Posts
Mine does NOT have orange cables, black only. Says Voltec on front and NO screws in the back. Any way to modify these for 220?
And you're saying it has a button on the housing to change the charge rate from 8 amps to 12 amps? It sounds just like my 2015 which has no button. I would like to see pictures of that one.
 

· Registered
2014 Volt base
Joined
·
381 Posts
Mine does NOT have orange cables, black only. Says Voltec on front and NO screws in the back. Any way to modify these for 220?
I just bought a used Lear EVSE from a former 2015 owner (car totaled, driver OK). This has a black cord, no screws, one horizontal display, label in English only, smooth on the back side of the handle, metal inserts for wall mount holes and is factory dual voltage ready except for the plug.
The Clipper Creek EVSE that came with my 2014 (black cords, Torx screws, two individual LED one above the other, label in English and French, 'waffle' pattern on the back of the handle, holes in the plastic for wall mount) had to be opened and rewired internally to be dual voltage.
 
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top