E**S
Simple, Small, Inexpensive, Dependable
I've used this for about two months now with my 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Plug-In. Have been quite pleased with it.1) Its operation is simple. You just plug the J1772 connector into your car and it just works (i.e., the car actually controls the charging process).2) There are four LEDs on the unit. One is on all the time ("POWER"). The other only goes on (with an audible, "click") when actually charging ("CHARGING"). The other two lights ("POWER FAULT" and "CHARGING FAULT") have not (yet) gone on for me.3) I had it installed by an electrician. I can't tell you how much it cost since the electrician also did a few other things while he was here (i.e., he didn't break out the labor for this from the other labor on the bill). But suffice it to say that it would cost at least a few hundred dollars to install professionally.4) The electrician made a big deal about needing to have space in the breaker box for two additional breakers. I just barely had room. If there isn't room for the additional breakers, he said that the job would be dramatically more expensive -- as he'd have to install a new (larger) breaker box and do associated re-wiring.Getting 240 Volts was trivial. Nothing special had to be done -- didn't have to install a transformer or anything like that. When I asked how it was done, the electrician just said that he needed to use two lines rather than one. I don't understand it, but it definitely is working at 240 Volts!5) While the picture shows the cord tightly wound around the unit, that seems like a REALLY bad idea (and it says so in the owner's manual as well). I found pictures on the web of setups like this where the tightly wound coils heated up and actually melted the cord's insulation while charging. So you want them loosely coiled -- at least when you are actually charging.6) It also came with a plastic holster (not shown in the photo) which you can attach to the wall and the J1772 connector fits into it from the side (i.e., you slide the connector into the holster parallel to the wall). I didn't install the holster and just let the connector hang. Actually, I let it hang on nearby stuff in the garage when not in use. I felt that inserting the connector into the holster in a parallel to the wall fashion was an inconvenient motion for my setup in my garage.7) It also came with a small brass padlock with a key. This is apparently to lock the connector in the holster when the unit is used outside your garage (i.e., in public). I haven't used that feature, as I have it installed in my garage.Overall, this is a very simple device. Really, it is largely just a fancy, very expensive, extension cord for charging plug-in cars. That said, among its peers, this is among the least expensive (i.e., best value) units available. I also like that it is among the smallest models available.I've had no "buyer's regret" about my purchase.
M**N
If you are charging off 120v and are willing/able to move to 240v you want this
I got this installed a few days ago. I bought the hardwired version thinking it would be a cleaner behind the unit install for the power but it's essentially the same in term of cabling as the one with a plug, minus the actual NEMA plug at the end :) This was my mistake not Clippers.In any case my electrician was able to install it for the same time/materials cost as a plug w/outlet so no loss there. Or you could just install your own plug for the outlet, which might make sense if you have a NEMA outlet Clipper doesn't have a plug for - otherwise just buy the one that does.I got it for my wife's BMW 40e. Using the supplied phase 1/120v charger it comes with (also made by Clipper, incidentally) a full charge from empty using a dedicated 15a 120v outlet and "maximum" power charging set in the BMW came out to about 9 or so hours. So basically plug in overnight.With this charger, on a 240v (the BMW will only max charge at 16a but I had a 50a installed for future proofing as the cost was the same and I had headroom in my box) total time is down to slightly under 3 hours. Which is not merely a significant improvement - with the BMW and other hybrids it changes how you can use the hybrid mode on a daily/weekend basis completely.Install was quite easy and so far, though it's only been a few days, has worked well with no faults/etc. I think my electrician did a decent clean job mounting too (local company I've worked with before that I didn't get through Amazon).So be aware of the cable length of the hardwire - if you are mounting in a garage like I did (near my panel) the version of this with the correct NEMA plug is probably the better option - but other than that, very pleased.
B**N
charging at 240 volts!
I ordered this to upgrade my home charging capability (for my 2015 Chevy Volt - which I was charging overnight at 110 volts) - and received my charging station within the published shipping timing. Installation directions and process were straightforward. The unit allows for hanging the 25' cable on it - whether tightly looped or more loosely - with the cradle providing a nice way to insert (it clicks in) and protect the connector...which also helps to hold up the remaining cable. The charging station has been online for a couple of weeks - and works as expected. The car charges at 240 volts - decreasing the time from 10 hours to about 4 hours (starting on an empty battery) - which allows me to control better when the charge happens overnight (I have time of use billing - so ideally between 12am-8am I pay a small fraction (a little under 1/3) of what it would normally cost during the day - but I also have solar panels so sometimes with a surplus during the day I want the charge to complete after work before 12 midnight)...I can also recharge quicker on weekends if I am in and out during the day. The charger is simple...not many bells and whistles...plug in and it charges...simple lights indicating the current status of the station but no metrics on how much power was used during that charging cycle or how long it was, etc...for me that wasn't essential...I just need the car charged. This model will support the needs of the Volt easily...if you are planning on getting a larger capacity car in the near future this could also work for you - although you should evaluate your driving/charging requirements to see if you should consider a bigger model.
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