Has anybody tried these portable EVSEs ??

[SparkE]

Out of curiosity, has anybody bought/used these lower cost EVSEs (with plugs)? Yes, I realize that they are 16A and limited to 3.3 kW, but they are also about half the cost ~$300) of most home 220V EVSEs AND they are portable and easily tossed in the trunk. A 12-hour overnight charge would provide around 35-40 kWhs, which is more than enough for a full charge for any car except a Bolt or Tesla (and would provide a better-than-half, ~150 mile charge even for those).

So, has anybody had occasion to use any of these?

EVI Portable Charger V5 ($395): https://www.amazon.com/EVI-Portable-Charger-SMART-screen/dp/B00VIKM62Q/ref=pd_sbs_422_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=DTP21487GBNSYTFR41TG

Ebusbar portable 16A/220V ($300): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TPSP760/ref=pd_sbs_60_2?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00TPSP760&pd_rd_r=V9EKAK9M024D99KZN806&pd_rd_w=wCcX5&pd_rd_wg=hjFoD&psc=1&refRID=V9EKAK9M024D99KZN806

Duosida Portable EVSE ($300): https://www.amazon.com/Duosida-Portable-Electric-Vehicle-220V-240V/dp/B01HH1Z3DS/ref=sr_1_192?ie=UTF8&qid=1479246942&sr=8-192&keywords=electric+vehicle+charger

PS: As I was about to click on 'post', it occurred to me that there's also the 'juice' line of EVSEs. Anybody have experience with them?

JuiceCord (20A, WiFi enabled for control/monitoring) ($450) :
https://emotorwerks.com/store-juicebox-ev-charging-stations/1661-juicecord-pro-20-portable-smart-20-amp-evse-with-20-foot-cable/category_pathway-23

JuiceBox40 (40A, 'portable' only in that it has a plug and is thus movable - it's a box, not a 'charging cable') ($500) :
https://emotorwerks.com/store-juicebox-ev-charging-stations/171-juicebox-40-40-amp-evse-with-24-foot-cable/category_pathway-23

 

[nikwax]

I've got a ClipperCreek EVSE, they start at $379, made in USA, basically bullet proof, excellent customer service, portable.


https://www.clippercreek.com

 

[SparkE]

Yeah, I've considered the Clipper Creek LCS20P which is about $400 - I have heard great things about their reliability and quality. But it is 'a box' (not a 'cord'-type), so a little more awkward to toss in the trunk, and it is 220V only (doesn't do 110V).

The EVI does both 110 & 220 (for $400). The ebusbar & duosida just do 220V, but for $300. All 3 are 'cord'-type (not a big box) and very portable.

I mentioned the JuiceCord (even though it was $450) because it is networked and accessible from your smartphone, and the JuiceBox40 (even though it is a 'box'-type) because it's 40A (so over 7kW) and it is 'portable', for approx $500.

And I didn't mention it before, but there is another 'high Amp' (40A continuous output, up to 8 kW) EVSE from OpenEVSE. You can buy it as a kit and assemble yourself, or buy one already assembled. It also has variable/customizable amp selection. It is 'box'-type, but with plug.

The kit (dual 110V/220V!): https://store.openevse.com/collections/frontpage/products/openevse-30a-charge-station-combo . You also have to buy a power cord and a J1772 cord, so price is ($269 + $150 + ??)

Assembled (just 220V/40A - $480) : https://store.openevse.com/collections/frontpage/products/40a-charging-station-powered-by-openevse


So, does anybody have any experience with the EVSEs that I mentioned? (Or other suggestions for portable ones under $400?)

 

[NORTON]

I bought a Juicebox back when they were in kit form and the cables for 16A service for ~$375. No problems in ~4 years.
It's 120/240V. I have adapters to plug in both ways but it only stays in my garage as a 3.3kW L2.

I can upgrade it with bigger cables, if and when I get a Bolt. (No plans..) Love the Spark EV. Suits my needs perfectly!

If you're handy, kits are easy and J1772 cables are available on amazon and the goes-in cables at the depot.

 

[EldRitch]

I've got the EVI, which comes with a couple of plug-adapters for 240v outlets and a helpful display.
It's only downside is that it has no means to mount it on a wall, so I had to get creative and made some brackets to hold it in my garage.

 

[PhilPen]

I bought a 240 v 16 amp Duosida portable EVSE/charger from Amazon it was under $300 including the expedited shipping. I got the one with a 10-30 240 v clothes dryer plug. I'll make a few adapters so it'll work with other 240 v style sockets and the standard 120v sockets. I only brought home the Spark today so thus far I've only used Duosida EVSE once, but so far so good. It was charging at about ~12 miles/hr. It is a very basic easily portable level 2 EVSE (takes up a similar amount of space as the factory EVSE), red led powered up, green led connected to the car, blue led blinking (charging), blue led on not blinking charged.

 

[NORTON]

All this research will result in:
Plug car in.
Amber, then Green light on dash.
Hours later, flashing Green light.

Networked EVSE are expensive and the main usefulness is having a display for kWh used.
A <$20 kWh meter from amazon/ebay mounted in a box between the wall outlet and the EVSE will provide the same data.

https://smile.amazon.com/bayite-BAYITE-PZEM-061-Multimeter-Voltmeter-Transformer/dp/B00YY1KOHA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480255850&sr=8-5&keywords=kWh+meter
I was able to mount this meter in my Juicebox EVSE.
I used ~$35 of electricity from home last winter. I plug in mainly for TMS for the battery.
I need to reset the meter to count this season.

 

[PhilPen]

I think I'll add one of those gauges, it'll be interesting to see the actual kwh used.

 

[PhilPen]

My cheap 240v 16 amp Duosida portable EVSE from Amazon is still working flawlessly (have used it now for 2000+ miles of driving). However, I saw an article on chargedevs.com today that said many of the cheap EVSEs sold on Amazon haven't been thoroughly and independently checked for safety (see the link below)

https://chargedevs.com/features/amazon-evse-safety/

 

[SciroccoTDI]

My cheap 240v 16 amp Duosida portable EVSE from Amazon is still working flawlessly (have used it now for 2000+ miles of driving). However, I saw an article on chargedevs.com today that said many of the cheap EVSEs sold on Amazon haven't been thoroughly and independently checked for safety (see the link below)

https://chargedevs.com/features/amazon-evse-safety/

I have the Duosida and have had zero issues - it seems quality built, the materials used (at least subjectively) seem far superior to the GM EVSE that comes with the car.

 

[SparkE]

Duoside EVSEs (240V/16A) now available on amazon.com for $199, w/ free shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/Level-Portable-Electric-Vehicle-Charger/dp/B018A6QK7C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517546150&sr=8-1&keywords=Duosida

 

[stpinindy]

I purchased the duoside recently and added the 240 volt outlet last week. It is great!! no longer need to readjust the charge settings every time. Charges 3 times as fast as the stock evse. The cable is long and thick without being overly heavy. Even love the color of the leds that convey cord status. It also worked with the 120 volt adapter cord. At the time of purchase, the cord was less than $200 and menards had 11% off on the parts needed to add the 240 volt outlet. I hope to even use the car for more than one commute on some days because it should charge enough between trips to have range available.