do they make any portable 30 amp EVSEs?

[johnrhansen]

I've searched around, and found nothing. What I need is a 30 amp portable EVSE that will allow my car to charge at it's absolute maximum capacity. The only time I need it is when I am on my annual road trip to see my sister in Spokane. I have to stop a few times to do a level 2 charge at rv parks along the way. I have the EVSE upgrade unit already, and it's great, but still slower. Using the 4400 watt unit instead of the 6300 watts my car is capable of charging at would add 3 or more hours to the trip. What I use now is a Bosch Power Max Charging station mounted to 2 hinged pieces of plywood fashioned as a stand. It has a L6-30 plug on it, but I do not intend to repeat that for my next unit. I will just put a NEMA 14-50 electric range cord on instead. I'm going to re purpose the Bosch to install in the parking lot of a apartment building I am having constructed. Free electric car charging for all tenants. I need to replace it with a more portable EVSE. Any ideas?

 

[davewill]

A little pricy, but it fits the bill:

Jesla


Another possibility, although it's not technically "portable":
Juicebox

 

[Graycenphil]

Build one from OpenEVSE, if you are comfortable with that. It probably won't be as small as the Nissan brick, but it can be pretty small. And you can make the cables only as long as you need.

 

[Elephanthead]

Open evse is the ticket. How do those units stand up to being constantly in the car? Are they vibration and bounce resistant? I am sure you can solder all the connections to make them more mobile reliable.

This guy looks kinda big but will fill the requirements also.

http://www.clippercreek.com/store/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/HCS-40.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[arnolddeleon]

Soldering is often NOT the answer to making connections more vibration resistant. I'm assuming you are talking wires undergo some mechanical stress/flex. Brittle connections are not more robust. Notice that wiring harnesses and connectors in your car are crimped not not soldered. You will generally only find soldered connections on circuit boards.

arnold

 

[johnrhansen]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I'm a aircraft electrician so I know a few things about building things to stand up to vibration. I think I'll give that open evse a try. One trick I used if I didn't have crimp tools for what I needed to solder, was to rigidly secure the solder joint from a few inches on one side of the joint all the way to a few inches on the other side of the joint so no flex occurs, and to solder the joint properly so the solder doesn't wick too far up the wire. But of course with aircraft, what you do is stop until you have the tools you need! Not a lot of soldering on aircraft except for a few very old obsoltete connectors.

 

[cwerdna]

http://evsolutions.avinc.com/products/at_home/plug-in_charging_station" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is another.

 

[TonyWilliams]

http://evsolutions.avinc.com/products/at_home/plug-in_charging_station is another.

Yes, I like that one. However, it's not as easy to make portable as JESLA, and not any cheaper either. Plus, it's only 30 amps instead of 40 amps on JESLA.

Finally, portability need variable voltage and amperage, and this AV unit has neither. JESLA can go from 12 amps to 40 amps, 100 volts to 250 volts.

 

[kubel]

OpenEVSE will fit snugly into a 4x4 junction box. Even with a 25' 30A cable, it will still coil up and fit into the stock Nissan EVSE carry case. It's also one of the cheapest options and can be built to whatever quality standard and form factor you decide.

I wouldn't encourage it as a consumer option, but if you like taking on small projects and appreciate the rewards of tasting the fruit of your labor- check out OpenEVSE.

https://code.google.com/p/open-evse/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Graycenphil]

I am a recent convert, and now a huge fan of OpenEVSE, but can you really fit it in a 4x4 box?

 

[GlennD]

I am a recent convert, and now a huge fan of OpenEVSE, but can you really fit it in a 4x4 box?

With the surface mount Plus unit you could get a displayless unit in there and it would function but it would not be pretty.

 

[dhanson865]

A little pricy, but it fits the bill:

Jesla


Another possibility, although it's not technically "portable":
Juicebox

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is also 30a and $1000, I do think the Jesla is a better option if you want to buy one outright but if you already have the Nissan unit I'd have to say that saving a few hundred by upgrading is a better route.

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[davewill]

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=5 is also 30a and $1000, I do think the Jesla is a better option if you want to buy one outright but if you already have the Nissan unit I'd have to say that saving a few hundred by upgrading is a better route.

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think you misread that page. It says it is limited to 20a and needs a 30a circuit.

 

[kubel]

I am a recent convert, and now a huge fan of OpenEVSE, but can you really fit it in a 4x4 box?

Yes, it's not as much fun to work on since it's really cramped, but it will all fit.

With the surface mount Plus unit you could get a displayless unit in there and it would function but it would not be pretty.

I have a July 2012 build of OpenEVSE, so it was a little more bulky (double stacked, the Plus is now a single board), but everything still fits snugly.

 

[dhanson865]

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=5 is also 30a and $1000, I do think the Jesla is a better option if you want to buy one outright but if you already have the Nissan unit I'd have to say that saving a few hundred by upgrading is a better route.

http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think you misread that page. It says it is limited to 20a and needs a 30a circuit.

Good catch, I did misread it.

 

[hpver]

Clipper Creek just came out with a 30 amp plug-in EVSE for around $600.