Level 1 charging

[Electrons]

Hi all,

I'm patiently waiting for the B-Class Electric Drive to come to my state of NC in a few months rather than get it out-of-state (also looking forward to some updates in the 2015 model like standard Range Package). It will be my first electric car so I am still trying to plan the logistics of charging, etc.

I plan on getting a 240v circuit installed in my garage for a level 2 EVSE. However, my workplace parking garage has easy access to a 120v outlet in one of the parking spaces which I plan on using while at work. My question is: how long is the level 1 cord supplied with the B-class? It looks like I will probably need a 20-foot cord to use the outlet. I can't seem to find any specifications on the MB website or elsewhere on the internets.

Also, assuming I can charge at work - is it practical to use only level 1 charging if I can charge both at work and at home? I have a roughly 40-mile total daily commute. I know a lot of Leaf drivers do this, but it sounds like their battery charges a bit faster on level 1.

 

[GRA]

Hi all,

I'm patiently waiting for the B-Class Electric Drive to come to my state of NC in a few months rather than get it out-of-state (also looking forward to some updates in the 2015 model like standard Range Package). It will be my first electric car so I am still trying to plan the logistics of charging, etc.

I plan on getting a 240v circuit installed in my garage for a level 2 EVSE. However, my workplace parking garage has easy access to a 120v outlet in one of the parking spaces which I plan on using while at work. My question is: how long is the level 1 cord supplied with the B-class? It looks like I will probably need a 20-foot cord to use the outlet. I can't seem to find any specifications on the MB website or elsewhere on the internets.

Also, assuming I can charge at work - is it practical to use only level 1 charging if I can charge both at work and at home? I have a roughly 40-mile total daily commute. I know a lot of Leaf drivers do this, but it sounds like their battery charges a bit faster on level 1.

Charging at both work and home for 40 miles/day, L1 would be fine, but get the L2 at home anyway. L1-only is very limiting to spontaneity and utility, and especially so for a battery as big as the B-class has. If you're going to pay extra for the extra battery you might as well get the benefit of it by using it for more trips, and L1 only won't allow you to do that. If you only need 40 miles/day ever the B-Class is overkill, although you may be buying it for other features.

Can't help you with the length of the charging cord. As to the speed of charging on L1, AFAIK it's the same max. rate for the B-Class as for almost all other cars, 12 amps. This is determined by the circuit capacity, not the size of the battery. The typical L1 circuit is 15 amps (kitchen and some garage circuits in newer homes are 20 amps), but because car charging is considered to be continuous use (defined as 3 or more hours at the same rate), the National Electrical Code requires the circuit to be de-rated to only 80% of its nominal maximum capacity: 15 Amps x .80 = 12 Amps (x 120 volts = 1.44 kW). Some L1 EVSEs offer lower charge rates of 6, 8 or 10 amps as well as 12, and may default to the lower rate and need to be reset each time you use the EVSE, which is a pain. This is designed to protect older or poorly constructed circuits, which may get too hot if pulling 12 amps continuously; the best way to test this is to feel the plug, receptacle cover plate and the wall around it after it's been charging for an hour or two; if it's hot, it's probably a good idea to charge at a lower rate from that particular receptacle, or replace it and/or its wiring. I don't know how the portable EVSE of the B-Class is set up, so check the owner's manual for details.

The main reason cars like the LEAF seem to charge faster on L1 (assuming that you're both charging at the same amps) is that they have smaller batteries which take less time to fill, not any other reason. Well, actually there may be a time difference if the B-class battery is being cooled or heated, as the LEAF for one doesn't have that capability (and its hot weather battery longevity and cold weather capacity suffer as a consequence).

Bottom line, if you can afford a $40k+ car, you can afford the L2 circuit at home that will let you use the car to the fullest extent, so IMO it's not worth trying to get by without it. If you want, get the car first and try things out using just L1 to see if it works for you, but being inconvenienced just once by having to wait to go out while the battery charges at the typical 4-5 miles/hour of charge on L1, will convince you that 5-6 times faster L2 is far preferable.

 

[Electrons]

The main reason cars like the LEAF seem to charge faster on L1 (assuming that you're both charging at the same amps) is that they have smaller batteries which take less time to fill, not any other reason.

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely plan on getting a level 2 EVSE.

I guess what I meant to say was that owing to the slightly higher efficiency of the Leaf, they get a couple more miles of range per hour of Level 1 charging. I realize that the circuit and maximum charging capacity of level 1 will be the same between the two cars.

Regardless, it would be nice to know if I could top off a bit with level 1 at work. The owners manual I found online does not have the cord length detailed. Any Electric Drive owners available to comment on that?

 

[mddg]

I looked at this yesterday, and I think it is 21 feet. It's a coiled cord, so I'm not sure how long that will really reach.

 

[joneng22]

The cord length of the level 1 charger that came with the car is not very long, plus it is coiled.

You are better off going with a JESLA.

http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JESLA-is-THE-40-amp-J1772-portable-charging-solution-JESLA.htm

With this you have both options (120V/240V outlets). Plus it has a lock for when you are charging in public areas.

Another option is:

http://www.clippercreek.com/store/product/pcs-15-portable-level-1-evse/

With this I would recommend purchasing a "connector protector" for security purposes in a public area.

https://www.connectorprotector.com/

 

[padamson1]

You'll no doubt get some good advice from this blog, but I think this article covers all the bases:

http://www.plugincars.com/quick-guide-buying-your-first-home-ev-charger-126875.html
http://www.myelectriccarforums.com/electric-vehicle-charger/ - comparison added

I have a EVSEUpgrade 3.3kW EVSE from my LEAF which I plan to replace later with a Siemens VersiCharge, solely based on the price and charging timer feature (I want to charge on off-peak hours). http://w3.usa.siemens.com/powerdist...le/versicharge/pages/ev-charging-station.aspx.
There were early reports of problems with the first rev of the Siemens, but apparently those issues are fixed in the newer revision.

 

[TonyWilliams]

JESLA was designed specifically with the unique 40 amp Tesla onboard charger that is in your Mercedes B-Class ED, Toyota RAV4 EV, and of course Tesla cars. It is ultra flexible, light weight, and portable, PLUS it automatically adjusts to the correct voltage and amperage. You don't have to know anything about electricity; just plug-n-play!!! No other J1772 charge cable on the market does this!!!

The JESLA 40 amp J1772 portable charging cable works at up to full power on every known J1772 equipped vehicle in the world:

http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JESLA-is-THE-40-amp-J1772-portable-charging-solution-JESLA.htm

JELSA ships with high power NEMA 14-50 and NEMA 5-15 normal household plugs. Additionally, you may want to buy the correct plug for your dryer (handy for visiting friends or relatives at their house) or for motel air conditioners:

......................................................VOLTS / AMPS.......kW
*NEMA 5-15 .......Standard Outlet.. 120 V / 12 A...... 1.4 kW
NEMA 5-20 ...... Motel air conditioner 120/16A....... 1.9 kW
NEMA 10-30......Older Dryers...... 240 V / 24 A...... 5.8 kW
NEMA 14-30......Newer Dryers..... 240 V / 24 A...... 5.8 kW
*NEMA 14-50......RV Parks ........... 240 V / 40 A...... 9.6 kW

http://shop.quickchargepower.com/searchquick-submit.sc?keywords=adapter



Be sure to get a 50 amp circuit installed at your charging location with a NEMA 14-50R receptacle. We sell the receptacle here for just $5.99:

http://shop.quickchargepower.com/14-50R-Outlet-14-50R.htm


Finally, make sure you get a JLong with your purchase. It is the perfect compliment for JESLA, which can extend the length of JESLA by 20 or more feet. Plus, it helps when you're at a public charge station and it's blocked, and also for charge stations where the cord won't easily reach the back of the car to plug in.

http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JLONG-40-Amp-J1772-extension-cable-JL40A.htm

Tony Williams
R&D Manager
Quick Charge Power LLC
TonyWilliams ((@)) QuickChargePower.com
http://www.QuickChargePower.com
Twitter: QCPower
1-844-EVPARTS
1-844-387-2787 ext 701