Tethered, load balancing, type 2 EV chargepoint

WattsUp

What is the best value tethered 7kW charger available that does load balancing. I'm not looking for solar capable etc. Basically a dumb charger that does load balancing.

Gumbo

Wallbox Plus.

€1199 from carcharger.ie

Rusky rusky

Second that. Have wallbox for the last 2 years, was pretty much faultless throughout. Had only one glitch after an updated but it was fixed by wallbox within a week.

WattsUp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119370183#Comment_119370183

Thanks. More looking to just by the charger and get my own electrician to install it. I think the wallbox is a bit too good and feature rich for my use case. Just looking for dumb charger with load balancing.

VikingG

With Wallbox are the Charger and Load Balancer separate units? Just see this comment on carchargers google reviews.

mailforkev

Going to hazard a guess that guy thinks that the isolator switch is something else.

cython

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119371682#Comment_119371682

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119371755#Comment_119371755

I'd imagine something similar. I had a Wallbox Pulsar Plus installed by Ecoplex in the last month and while the isolator is a big lump of a thing (about the same size as the charger, such is how small the charger is!), there's nothing outside of the meter cabinet barring it and charger itself, and it's a requirement of the install. The load balancing is accomplished by a CT clamp back in the meter box, and the cabling to link that to the charger runs through the same conduit as the supply for the charger. Presumably if the charger were connected at the consumer unit similar would be done just to it instead.

cromelex

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119371682#Comment_119371682

Yes, they are. The load balancer is a standard DIN type thing that goes on (a/the) fusebox, connected to the CT and then to the Wallbox. It is not built in.

My installer did hide that cabling though.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119371635#Comment_119371635

Dumb charger and load balancing are opposite. Smart chargers have load balancing.

You may be able to fit an external priority switch and buy second hand on adverts.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119371682#Comment_119371682

The guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The load balancing is a CT clamp that’s installed within the Consumer Unit.

VikingG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119372288#Comment_119372288

Thanks ... someone else mentioned that he is probably talking about the isolater switch, which I agree is pretty big and ugly and never features in the flashy docs despite being mandatory.

WattsUp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119372284#Comment_119372284

Smart is features like mandated by SAEI from September to allow network load management etc. Load balancing is different, can be on dumb charger, but agree that a priority switch would do the trick too.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119375518#Comment_119375518

Network load management can be achieved by load balancing. By reducing the current draw to the car during peak demands etc

The fancy V2G is a different Charger and costs about €5k.

Eireann81

To have load balancing with a Wallbox, do you need to add a Power Boost device at either the fuseboard or meter cabinet?

https://wallbox.com/en_ie/power-boost-monofasico

cython

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376806#Comment_119376806

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure the powerboost device you've linked is just their branded CT clamp?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376806#Comment_119376806

No, they can simply run a CT clamp from the cable within the Consumer Unit.

EasyGo installed my father in laws and there’s no additional boxes, boost devices etc

Eireann81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119377433#Comment_119377433

That's good to know, thanks! Are there only specific chargers that you can add a CT clamp to (like a Wallbox or Zappy), or could you add a CT clamp to the likes of a Tesla charger if you require load balancing?

WattsUp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119375574#Comment_119375574

Network load management can only be achieved if somehow the network can interact with the charger. They are the smart features been mandated by SEAI so that ESBN can schedule different cars to charge at different times etc to make sure they don't all start at midnight and cause a demand spike etc.

A dumb charger can load balance, smart chargers have other smart features

V2G is something completely different.

Example of smart features below. Load balancing does not mean smart charger.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119377612#Comment_119377612

Im not sure to be honest. The Tesla charger can daisy chain with other Tesla chargers and share the load but I’m not sure if it’s load management is built in the same way as the others.

MojoMaker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119370183#Comment_119370183

Is that a fitted price? If not it has jumped up a good whack since they were first available.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119378079#Comment_119378079

Yes that’s the supplied and fitted price for the plus including load balancing. I got it in my father in laws in October.

Another poster on here for it done last week for same price so still active.

I also seen on FB that Ecoplex now supply and fit it for €1150 so that’s a slightly cheaper option.

MojoMaker

Good stuff. I see the basic Pulsar box is then €999 installed. Seems reasonable if you just want a basic charge point.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119378146#Comment_119378146

Yes exactly. €200 extra for the load balancing and the Plus.

Gumbo

From their FB page