'20 SV 40kWh charging speeds/standards

[jjeff]

Is there a setting in the menus for a '20 SV 40kWh Leaf to limit the maximum 120v charging current? and also what is the maximum 120v charging for this model? My '12 Leaf would max out at 12a @ 120v and 16a @ 240v but my '13 would draw up to 27.5a on either voltage so any limiting would have to be done with the EVSE.
My brother purchased the above '20 Leaf but unfortunately, it didn't come with an EVSE of any kind. He'd kind of like to get a cheaper dual voltage portable EVSE but unfortunately many have a fixed 15a or 16a @ 120v and if the Leaf can't be set to less than that it wouldn't work for him as his garage only has a dedicated 15a outlet, which can only supply 13a max for continuous use. I know there are EVSEs with adjustable 120v charging current but the adjustable ones I was looking at only limited the 240v charging speed, not the 120v, hence the question about how much the Leaf can limit the charging speed on 120v. I know the Leafs can't limit the 240v charging speed, unless they've added such a setting but that won't be an issue for him.

 

[nlspace]

Take a look on craigslist for "EV charger", i've found and bought several of both L1 and L2 in really great condition and price.

It's hard to believe anyone would sell a L1 intended on 120vac service with a current rating greater than allowed for the typical 15A wall outlets, but ???

 

[Kenny]

Any L1 EVSE your brother purchases will max at at 12 amps. There is no menu in the Leaf to change that nor will you need to.

 

[Steve52]

My '12 Leaf would max out at 12a @ 120v and 16a @ 240v but my '13 would draw up to 27.5a on either voltage so any limiting would have to be done with the EVSE.

In North America, no Leaf draws more than 12 amps at 120 VAC. This allows them to work on any standard 120 VAC, 15 amp circuit.

 

[cornbinder89]

According to Wiki, it doesn't look like the L1 current is set by the OBC but rather by the EVSE, as they list 16 amp at 120 as being in the J1772 Protocol. The also say that higher current (from 30 amp TT type supply) while not in the J1772 protocol, is being made available.
I don't have any 1st hand experience with 120 volt charging at higher current rates, but between the protocol allowing both 12 and 16 amp @120 and the mention of higher current, it would seam the EVSE used sends the same signal to the OBC to limit the current via the PWM signal like it does for 240 volt L2. In other words, when the EVSE is connected to a 120 volt supply either the PWM signal is fixed and built into the EVSE (early OEM EVSE's) or fixed at 12 amp setting on later duel voltage EVSE's.
I have an aftermarket that claims it will work on 120 volt, I may test that and see if when it is, I can still adjust the current setting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

 

[jjeff]

Thanks guys, unless things have changed on the newer(not 24kWh) Leafs my '13S with the charger package would pull up to 27.5a on either 240v or 120v, didn't matter the voltage. I used that feature to charge at 24a when I had access to a 30a 120v outlet(TT-30). My dual voltage adjustable EVSE had a 24a setting, making charging higher 120v charging possible. Just want to confirm if the newer Leafs still allow more than 12a charging at 120v.

 

[jjeff]

Take a look on craigslist for "EV charger", i've found and bought several of both L1 and L2 in really great condition and price.

It's hard to believe anyone would sell a L1 intended on 120vac service with a current rating greater than allowed for the typical 15A wall outlets, but ???

Most of the cheaper dual voltage EVSEs sold on Amazon and probably Ebay charge at 16a on either 240v or 120v, making them too much draw for a standard 15a 120v outlet, hence the need for the car to limit the charge if plugged into a 15a outlet, either by the car or EVSE. Our Rav4 Prime(PHEV) will only draw 12a max at 120v(16a max at 240v) and even has a car menu setting to limit the 12a 120v to 8a, so using one of the 16a 120v EVSEs would result in just 12a or 8a draw but that's the car limiting the current, not the EVSE. My daughter's Hyundai Ionic PHEV is similar to our Rav4 in that it maxes out at 16a @ 240v but only 12a @ 120v oh and our old '12 Leaf was the same but not our '13S with the charge package or also my mothers old '13SL that would happily charge at 27.5a @ 120v, which is really more than any standard 120v outlet of any type. I believe the maximum 120v outlet of any type is 30a or 24a continuous draw.
Trust me, I've been purchasing cheap dual voltage EVSEs for years and had older Leafs for years, if your Leaf can draw more than 12a @ 120v, you don't really want a dual voltage fixed 16a EVSE, well unless you only plug into a good dedicated 20a outlet.

 

[cornbinder89]

Not that I'd recommend it, but 14-50 and 10-50 outlets can supply 50 amps at 120 volts. This is obtained by connecting between one "hot" and the neutral. The 10-50 has no ground, so would likely kick the GFI in the EVSE.

Keep in mind that even at 27.5 amps at 120 volts is still 1/2 the power of the same current at 240 volts.

 

[jjeff]

Not that I'd recommend it, but 14-50 and 10-50 outlets can supply 50 amps at 120 volts. This is obtained by connecting between one "hot" and the neutral. The 10-50 has no ground, so would likely kick the GFI in the EVSE.

Keep in mind that even at 27.5 amps at 120 volts is still 1/2 the power of the same current at 240 volts.

Actually, thats how I tested my '13S Leaf to verify it would draw 27.5a @ 120v continuous. I jury-rigged 120v out of my 14-50 outlet as drawing 27.5a out of my L14-30 outlet would be too many amps and possibly trip the breaker
Yes 240 or even 208v is the way to go but you can still get some decent charging speed just using 120v but you've got to have the right EVSE and a vehicle(like the older 6.6kW charger Leafs for sure) that can draw higher current at 120v.

 

[cornbinder89]

Well, if you have done it successfully, then I will not go though the trouble!

 

[jjeff]

I'm not sure what model year Leaf you have but yes I can say for sure that a 24kWh older Leaf with the 6.6kWh charger should pull full charging amps(27.5a) at both 240v and 120v, I'm just not sure about newer Leafs, specifically the 40 or 62kWh batteries......but I'd assume it might be the same but not sure, hence my original question.
When my brother swings by at some point with his 40kWh '20 SV I can do some testing and let everyone know what I find out.
Not many people seem to care or use high current 120v charging but for some it could be handy, with the right outlet and EVSE.

 

[Wrench7747]

I have a 120V 20A circuit in my garage, so I added a 5-20 outlet to it. I bought a 16A Duosida EVSE on ebay. It had a 14-50 plug, which I replaced with a 5-20 plug. It definitely works great, and charges at about 2kw as expected.

This is a 2015 Leaf SL. Since it doesn't have any dashboard controls for setting charge current, I personally am glad it just uses dumb mode and accepts what the EVSE provides. I'd be unhappy if it limited current like the Rav4 Prime mentioned.

One of these days I'm going to add a 240v 30a circuit, but until then this works good enough.