[notaguru]

Pun intended...

With our 2012 Volt, I bought the original BLINK station and installed it in my garage. It is a huge unit with wifi, scheduling, energy calculations, intelligence, adaptive circuitry, and much more to go wrong, and once in a while (monthly?) it generates a self-test fault that requires an annoying reset and recalibration.

We just bought a 2017 Gen 2 Premiere (and are delighted with it!). Today there are many smaller and simpler EVSE products ranging from $200 up. We have EV and time-of-use billing, and drive about 35 miles a day, so it's overall a great fit. But perhaps it's time to replace that Blink unit.

Assuming that we will never need more than 50 miles a day, what's the best solution?

(yes, I know this topic has been beaten to death. But that was then and this is now, with new products being introduced constantly).

 

[TSquare]

The cheapest way to go is to use the EVSE that came with the car. Make an adapter and plug it into the 240v socket. If you want to buy one, I would go with ClipperCreek.

 

[notaguru]

Whoa!
I did not know it was possible to fabricate an adapter and use the OEM device on 240VAC. But is anyone making such adapters for lazy owners? I cannot recall the NEMA number of the plug on that Blink unit.

 

[TSquare]

Whoa!
I did not know it was possible to fabricate an adapter and use the OEM device on 240VAC. But is anyone making such adapters for lazy owners? I cannot recall the NEMA number of the plug on that Blink unit.

Yes, the Gen 2 EVSE is 240 volt capable even though GM will not admit it. If you are handy with a screw driver and wire cutters, it is just a straight through adapter. Or if you want to have someone else build it for you, search the forum for member Chris TX. He builds and sells the adapters. You just have to tell him which plug to install on the 240v side. His thread may even show up in the similar threads box at the bottom of this page.

 

[scrambler]

Here is the thread.
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...L2-Conversion-Capable&highlight=gen+evse+240v

Enjoy 240V charging with the stock EVSE, I have been doing it ever since

 

[NickHark]

Here is the thread.
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...L2-Conversion-Capable&highlight=gen+evse+240v

Enjoy 240V charging with the stock EVSE, I have been doing it ever since

I have two of Chris TX's adapters. +10

 

[viking79]

Given low miles per day requirement, the stock EVSE with adapter sounds like a great idea. Depending on the install with the current EVSE, you could probably replace it with a 240V outlet easily, or add a new line if you want to keep it.

 

[2VoltFamily]

If you only go 50 miles a day the the choice between an L1 or L2 EVSE really depends on when you plug in at night and when you leave in the morning. If you plug in at 10pm and leave at 5am then an L1 EVSE will not do it.

Agree with everyone else, use the L1 EVSE that came with the car and buy the adapter from ChrisTX for L2 EVSE conversion.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

If you only go 50 miles a day the the choice between an L1 or L2 EVSE really depends on when you plug in at night and when you leave in the morning. If you plug in at 10pm and leave at 5am then an L1 EVSE will not do it.

Agree with everyone else, use the L1 EVSE that came with the car and buy the adapter from ChrisTX for L2 EVSE conversion.

I charged overnight for 5 years with L1 (the supplied EVSE on 120V). However, the stock market has been generous to me this year (thank you President Trump!), and I decided to splurge on myself by buying a Duosida from China (shudder) and treat myself to L2 (240V) charging. It's fun to know that I can charge immediately from a fully depleted battery and 4.5 hours later be ready to drive another 50 miles on battery.

If you decide to stay with L1, set your charging to commence at a time determined by the car computer to be ready with a full battery at 7 AM (or whenever you need the car for your morning commute). That way you won't have to interrupt charging if you need to run to the store after you have plugged it in.

Or, you can follow the advice of others here and either make or buy a dongle to allow plugging the supplied EVSE into a 240V recepticle (after checking and comparing the P/N with the Chris TX post):

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...nversion-to-L2-L1-combo-DONE!&highlight=chris

 

[llninja]

Keep the US economy vibrant. Buy a big clipper creek to help pay for some guy's salary in the US and avoid the cheap Duosida junk from China.

 

[timoshev]

I leased my Gen 1 and used the 120 v evse. I thought was enough. But for my Gen 2 I decided to go whole hog with solar and Level 2 charging. What I especially like is that when I am home during the day (weekends, etc.) I can top off -even an hour adds welcome miles- and the power is "free" with the usual sunny S. Cal. days. Even fewer gas stops than Get 1. Love it.

 

[notaguru]

If I've read this guidance properly, one gets Level 1 charging via the OEM cable connected to a 120VAC source, and Level 2 by adding Chris' adapter connected to a 240VAC source. True?

In our situation, cheapest power is between 1AM and 5AM, and the car usually needs only 30-35 miles. Over the Gen1 years I've used the Blink's internal clock to set the charge time, but with the OEM EVSE plus Chris' adapter I will use the Gen2 car's system to set driveaway time to 5AM, and the car will pick the start time based upon battery charge state. Correct?

Thanks for the help, gurus.

 

[llninja]

If I've read this guidance properly, one gets Level 1 charging via the OEM cable connected to a 120VAC source, and Level 2 by adding Chris' adapter connected to a 240VAC source. True?

In our situation, cheapest power is between 1AM and 5AM, and the car usually needs only 30-35 miles. Over the Gen1 years I've used the Blink's internal clock to set the charge time, but with the OEM EVSE plus Chris' adapter I will use the Gen2 car's system to set driveaway time to 5AM, and the car will pick the start time based upon battery charge state. Correct?

Thanks for the help, gurus.

Yes, and yes, (and no, we're not gurus, just fans who spend too much time on this forum absorbing the collective knowledge)

 

[TSquare]

If I've read this guidance properly, one gets Level 1 charging via the OEM cable connected to a 120VAC source, and Level 2 by adding Chris' adapter connected to a 240VAC source. True?

The OEM EVSE is actually more like Level 1.5 instead of Level 2. It is still limited to 12 amps while a proper Level 2 will go to 16 amps. The charge time will be a little longer on the OEM one. I think it is closer to 5.5 hours instead of the 4.5 hours with a proper Level 2.

 

[notaguru]

Got it! I've ordered Chris' adapter, and will compare the OEMEVSE+adapter to the 2012 Blink. And by the way, the Blink has never delivered 12 amps.

Thanks again

 

[TSquare]

Got it! I've ordered Chris' adapter, and will compare the OEMEVSE+adapter to the 2012 Blink. And by the way, the Blink has never delivered 12 amps.

Thanks again

Really? I have the same Blink unit. I've had it sense December 2012 and it has always done 16 amps. I get a full charge from empty in 4.5 hours. The instructions that I got when they installed it said it is configurable to 12, 16, or 24 amps. However I have no idea how to change the settings. I imagine that there might be a jumper setting inside the unit.

 

[jayoldschool]

Just use your Blink. You own it already, no need to spend more money.

 

[Chris TX]

The OEM EVSE is actually more like Level 1.5 instead of Level 2. It is still limited to 12 amps while a proper Level 2 will go to 16 amps. The charge time will be a little longer on the OEM one. I think it is closer to 5.5 hours instead of the 4.5 hours with a proper Level 2.

It's actually Level 2, because of the voltage. It doesn't matter what the amps are, even though the OEM EVSE delivers 12 amps at 100-250VAC, due to the fixed pilot signal.

The car sees it as Level 2, and there is nothing in between Level 1 and Level 2. Hell, my Tesla's EVSE can do 5 amps at 240VAC and it's still Level 2.

 

[flyingsherpa]

Just use your Blink. You own it already, no need to spend more money.

I second this (though I don't have one so I don't know how annoying it might be). It also sounds like yours is not configured correctly if you're not getting >12 amps (should be 13.75 max for gen1).

Also, while I agree with others that using the stock gen2 EVSE with an adapter is a good choice, just be aware of the math. Since it maxes at 12 amps, you only get 2.88 kW charge rate. Your blink should have given you 3.3 kW on your gen1, and if it can truly do 16 amps then it can max out gen2 (15A) at 3.6kW. Charge time at 2.8 vs 3.6 kW is 22% slower, which may interfere with staying in your TOU window if you are completely empty.

 

[obermd]

Just use your Blink. You own it already, no need to spend more money.

OP stated in his opening post that the Blink unit he has keeps having to be reset. It sounds to me like it needs to be replaced for other reasons.