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      10-22-2016, 09:59 AM   #1
SriRamJaiRam
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Best home charging units

I currently have the BMW level 2 home charger but the handle is broken. Need to replace it. Any suggestions on best & most cost effective level 2 home chargers? Juice Box vs. Clipper Creek? We have a 2014 BMW i3 Rex. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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      10-22-2016, 10:21 PM   #2
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I have a charge point at home so that I can better keep track of my energy usage. It updates to your app on how much energy you use and estimates the cost expenditure based on your local power company's rates.

I considered the others, but the app features won me over.
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      10-22-2016, 10:34 PM   #3
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Doesn't BMW have a new charger out this year?

I know they had the charger with the digital display but I thought they have a smaller one now as well.....
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      10-24-2016, 07:34 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by PRUVEIT View Post
I have a charge point at home so that I can better keep track of my energy usage. It updates to your app on how much energy you use and estimates the cost expenditure based on your local power company's rates.

I considered the others, but the app features won me over.
Will totally vouch for the Charge Point. Love mine and I use the app features a lot more than I initially thought I would. Quality just feels a lot closer to commercial then some other home units I've seen.
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      10-25-2016, 07:12 PM   #5
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      10-26-2016, 12:09 AM   #6
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Chargepoint home station offers 16A or 32A units, JuiceBox comes in 40A or 75A. Both have mobile apps to monitor charging, etc. Your i3 can't take advantage of 40A or higher outputs on J plug, but the next generation most likely will. You may want to future proof your charging station if you're planning to stay electric.
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      10-26-2016, 04:18 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skier View Post
Chargepoint home station offers 16A or 32A units, JuiceBox comes in 40A or 75A. Both have mobile apps to monitor charging, etc.
Your i3 can't take advantage of 40A or higher outputs on J plug,
That is the key - the max i3's onboard charger can utilize is 32Amp current. Anything less than that, and you will be charging your batteries at a slower rate (longer time) than otherwise possible.

Anything more than that, and the i3 wont be able to utilize it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by skier View Post
but the next generation most likely will. You may want to future proof your charging station if you're planning to stay electric.
We have no data to assume what the max charging current might be in future BMW EVs.
Gen2 i3 was launched with the same standard L2 7.7kW onbaord charger, so there is no reason to assume that will change for the current vehicle lineup.

As to future proofing, it remains to be seen whether BMW will continue investing into the i* model range, or refocus on hybrids (current trend). Even if there is an i5 in 2020+ timeframe, it may, or may not, rely on an L2 charger as we know them to do, or utilize Nissan/Renault-style 43kW Chameleon AC three-phase charger.

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      10-30-2016, 03:43 PM   #8
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Whatever BMW does in EV space is speculative, and has no impact on my choice of a home charger. My next EV may not be a BMW, NIssan has problems with batteries loosing capacity in hot climes, so right now Tesla has my attention in a 2 year timeframe. I have a 50A outlet in my garage, and want a charger which can take advantage of it to power 10KW or better onboard charger. I may install 75A circuit if I go the Tesla route, but based on my driving, 10KW charger is all I need.
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      02-24-2017, 01:05 PM   #9
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I just placed an order for a Juicebox Pro 40.
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      02-24-2017, 05:17 PM   #10
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I suggest buying the tesla HPWC and replacing the charging cable with a standard J1772 type to work with the i3. It is 100 amp rated (80 amp max continuous) and can be set to any current level all the way down to 12 amps depending on the wire/breaker or plug you install with it by setting a rotary switch inside. It is $500 making it the best deal/most capable by far and you can always switch the charging cable back if you get a tesla which makes it more future proof as well.
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      03-05-2017, 10:50 PM   #11
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I'm looking to buy a home charging station. Don't really care if it's hardwire or plug. I'm between ChargePoint, Siemens, Bosch and maybe ClipperCreek. I'm not sure about the app and wi-fi features on some units; seems a little redundant since a lot of the "stuff" can be set with the car, so I'm still debating on that. Don't mind spending more money if needed. Any opinions on those?
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      03-06-2017, 03:35 PM   #12
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Juicebox 40. Best bang for the buck.
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      03-06-2017, 05:51 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by copmagnet82 View Post
I'm looking to buy a home charging station. Don't really care if it's hardwire or plug. I'm between ChargePoint, Siemens, Bosch and maybe ClipperCreek. I'm not sure about the app and wi-fi features on some units; seems a little redundant since a lot of the "stuff" can be set with the car, so I'm still debating on that. Don't mind spending more money if needed. Any opinions on those?
More info here:

http://bmwiforum.bmwusa.com/thread/7...eries-charging

http://bmwiforum.bmwusa.com/thread/7...arging-station

http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...hlight=charger

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      03-06-2017, 06:45 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by VacMan1 View Post
Juicebox 40. Best bang for the buck.
I was looking at those, too. The one feature I like is that it shows you how many kW the car is accepting. Is there any other charger that does that? I know both ChargePoint and Siemens have the apps, but do you guys know if those will show you that? I was thinking it would be good to have it just to know if the onboard charger is working fine ...or am I just being paranoid?
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      03-06-2017, 06:47 PM   #15
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man... I gotta tell you... you are like an i3 encyclopedia ...and I mean it genuinely
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      03-07-2017, 12:02 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by copmagnet82 View Post
I was looking at those, too. The one feature I like is that it shows you how many kW the car is accepting. Is there any other charger that does that? I know both ChargePoint and Siemens have the apps, but do you guys know if those will show you that? I was thinking it would be good to have it just to know if the onboard charger is working fine ...or am I just being paranoid?
You're being paranoid. You said it yourself, 90% of what the wifi ones will do the car will do for you. Ultimately I didn't care about what the car is taking or tracking consumption...I just wanted to plug it in, have it charge overnight when rates are the cheapest.
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      03-10-2017, 07:30 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by copmagnet82 View Post
Don't really care if it's hardwire or plug. I'm between ChargePoint, Siemens, Bosch and maybe ClipperCreek. I'm not sure about the app and wi-fi features on some units; seems a little redundant since a lot of the "stuff" can be set with the car, so I'm still debating on that. Don't mind spending more money if needed. Any opinions on those?
Some power company rebates require it to be hardwired. My power company gave me $600 rebate for installing it. So in my case I wanted to spend at least $600 to get the max rebate.

I haven't played with JuiceBox app but the ChargePoint app is top notch. Its easy to use, clean ux, and gets regular updates. What made the decision for me was that it works with Nest. And every month I get an email from Nest showing how much HVAC/Electricity/Water I used in one nice presented email. One arrived to day actually...
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