[JohnMann]

Hey everyone, I'm Brand New to the PHEV and BMW worlds. We just purchased an x5 45e PHEV. I have a 50A, 6-50 outlet in the garage. Any recommendations for type of Level 2 charger to use for quicker charges?

TIA John

[eelnoraa]

They are all about the same for charging. 50e takes 32A, make sure you get one that is greater or equal to 32A, below or equal to 40A due to your circuit limitations. Other than that, it is brand name is features.

Is there any particular model you have in mind? Any specific features you are looking for? Or any specific budget to fit under?

[nZtiZia]

make sure to include NEMA 6-50 in your searches as the most popular connection is 14-50. doing so will keep the extraneous hits down. it’s difficult to recommend unless we know what features you want.

[khakimi]

Moved to our house a few years ago. I have a NEMA 6-20 plug in my garage that I have never used that I wanted to use for charging. How would I know how many amps are in my circuit? Also new to the PHEV world.

This is the one I found on Amazon that I thought would work and seem to have good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079NTXNK7...t_details&th=1

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by JohnMann

Hey everyone, I'm Brand New to the PHEV and BMW worlds. We just purchased an x5 45e PHEV. I have a 50A, 6-50 outlet in the garage. Any recommendations for type of Level 2 charger to use for quicker charges?

TIA John

If you are talking about the 45e (not 50e) - it can only draw 16A max so any charger with the right 6-50 outlet plug will do; you can basically just search for a used one on marketplace and grab anything cheap from a reputable brand.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by khakimi

Moved to our house a few years ago. I have a NEMA 6-20 plug in my garage that I have never used that I wanted to use for charging. How would I know how many amps are in my circuit? Also new to the PHEV world.

This is the one I found on Amazon that I thought would work and seem to have good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079NTXNK7...t_details&th=1

"page not found"

i'm not familiar with 6-20, but i'm assuming it's for a 240V circuit? the max amps you can run through it is 16A, so the level 2 EVSE you purchase can't be higher than that, or if it is, you need to be able to decrease it to 16A in its settings.

[khakimi]

here is the link again. It does look like it is 16A and 240V.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079NTXNK7...t_details&th=1

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by khakimi

here is the link again. It does look like it is 16A and 240V.

that'll work

[Flying Ace]

45e charges at max 16amps. So any 16amp 240v charger will work for you. If don't care about smart or data collection features, what you linked works and is as cheap as these get.

Many of us "future proofed" and installed 50amp but also purchased fancy evse. Many people have chargepoint and juicebox. Some also have BMW branded chargers. It's all overkill, but some of us geek out on data collection and other features like dual vehicle charging etc.

For now, for your 45e, just buy the cheaper 16a 240v, and later decide if you need a higher amp.charger with more features. If you end up in a BEV, a 50e or need dual charging, you'll the need to upgrade

[jad03060]

For probably less than $40, if you're handy, you could add something like this prior to the box for the plug, or make it a two or three gang one, and put it in the same box. That 2.9W is the standby load of the Clipper Creek EVSE that powers the interlock signals and the status LEDs. That power represents about 8-years for my i3, and maybe a year for the X5 45e...don't remember exactly when I took that picture. Amazon has a bunch of panel mount meters, and some of the newer ones are cheaper and have a clearer display, but this one still works.

[jkramerXXX7]

I have a couple of ChargePoint level 2 chargers. One at home and another at work. I use the app which allows me to control the charge and monitor the daily and monthly electricity cost. BMW app also does this but for some reason seems to miss some of the charging sessions. I'll admit it's pricey but I just bought an 86K car so it's all relative.

[nZtiZia]

going with JuiceBox saved me several hundred dollars on additional electrical work. with its load-sharing feature, we can charge both vehicles at the same time using a single 240V circuit. I didn’t have to spend money to have a second circuit installed for the second JuiceBox.

[tdlutz24]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

going with JuiceBox saved me several hundred dollars on additional electrical work. with its load-sharing feature, we can charge both vehicles at the same time using a single 240V circuit. I didn’t have to spend money to have a second circuit installed for the second JuiceBox.

Wallbox has the same. Very nice interface and you can find deals on-line if you have the time to look.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by tdlutz24

Wallbox has the same. Very nice interface and you can find deals on-line if you have the time to look.

wallbox is a nice unit, but I got a discount on the JuiceBox in addition to annual rebates on my electricity account by going with JuiceBox, so make sure to check with your electric company for offers/rebates

[tdlutz24]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

wallbox is a nice unit, but I got a discount on the JuiceBox in addition to annual rebates on my electricity account by going with JuiceBox, so make sure to check with your electric company for offers/rebates

Good point. Duke Energy offers rebate on install, State of NC offers rebate on unit.

[khakimi]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

45e charges at max 16amps. So any 16amp 240v charger will work for you. If don't care about smart or data collection features, what you linked works and is as cheap as these get.

Many of us "future proofed" and installed 50amp but also purchased fancy evse. Many people have chargepoint and juicebox. Some also have BMW branded chargers. It's all overkill, but some of us geek out on data collection and other features like dual vehicle charging etc.

For now, for your 45e, just buy the cheaper 16a 240v, and later decide if you need a higher amp.charger with more features. If you end up in a BEV, a 50e or need dual charging, you'll the need to upgrade

I actually have a 50e I am picking up Monday. i assume I can use the 16 amp cable but it will be slower. Is this where I would go into the charging setting and set the AC limit to 16amps when I charge at home. Sounds like to get faster charging I would need to do some electrical upgrades at my house.

I also saw this BMW NEMA 6-20 adaptor. I assume this would be another option to use with the cable that comes with the car.

https://parts.bmwnorthwest.com/p/BMW...448490524.html

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by khakimi

I actually have a 50e I am picking up Monday. i assume I can use the 16 amp cable but it will be slower. Is this where I would go into the charging setting and set the AC limit to 16amps when I charge at home. Sounds like to get faster charging I would need to do some electrical upgrades at my house.

I also saw this BMW NEMA 6-20 adaptor. I assume this would be another option to use with the cable that comes with the car.

https://parts.bmwnorthwest.com/p/BMW...448490524.html

if you purchase that Lectron 16A level 2 EVSE, there's no need to limit the charge rate in the vehicle settings. the on-board charger won't pull more than what the EVSE can provide which in this case is 16A

BUT

if you purchase the 6-20 adapter to use with the included flexible fast charger, or if you buy a level 2 EVSE that's rated higher than 16A, then you will need to limit the charge rate in the vehicle settings

BUT

i believe doing the latter is an electrical code violation if you connect an EVSE that's rated higher than what the circuit can safely handle, which in this case is 16A. (IIRC, the flexible fast charger can provide up to 40A on level 2.) eelnoraa jad03060 can you verify?

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

if you purchase that Lectron 16A level 2 EVSE, there's no need to limit the charge rate in the vehicle settings. the on-board charger won't pull more than what the EVSE can provide which in this case is 16A

BUT

if you purchase the 6-20 adapter to use with the included flexible fast charger, or if you buy a level 2 EVSE that's rated higher than 16A, then you will need to limit the charge rate

BUT

i believe doing the latter is an electrical code violation if you connect an EVSE that's rated higher than what the circuit can safely handle, which in this case is 16A. (the flexible fast charger can provide up to 40A on level 2 IIRC.) eelnoraa jad03060 can you verify?

I can confirm that BUT is correct. The code basically requires you to have an EVSE must not be able to pull more than the circuit limit, or capability to cap the current matching the circuit capability. Using the car to cap the current doesn’t count. Because there is one day, another car plug the that EVSE without the cap, bad thing can happen.

[jad03060]

I'm not positive, but that 16A adapter cable is PROBABLY for the version 1 of the flexible fast charger, and likely won't work on the version 2 box that comes with the 50e.