Just had my EVSE Installed today. I am a EV Project participant so install was no charge to me. The Clipper EVSE was installed to be replaced by a Blink in 30 days after NRTL listing is received (UL in this case). Photos in the link below came from two cameras (HTC EVO cellphone and Fujifilm FinePix E900). The E-900 are far better. Seals it for me, cell phone cameras are just vanilla.
The installers were absolutely FANTASTIC ! (Sunwest Electric). These guys (Matt and Chris) were knowledgeable, courteous, prompt and professional. As a registered electrical engineer in California and Washington states, I've designed more than 200 low voltage (under 600 volts) commercial and industrial power systems on my own and have seen many installations in the past 30 years. This one is as clean as they get. They came in, we discussed the installation, told them my plans and interests, they listened, we discussed two possible wiring methods (NM - often called romex since they are a well known manufacturer of NM cable - and flex cable - steel flexible conduit) and decided on the flex for superior damage resistance. Conduit on the outside of the house was not necessary since I had an exposed inside garage wall to work with (see photos). The outside conduit would also have worked fine ever since science came up with a fantastic product to help out (paint). We worked around my future concerns for mounting closets in my garage, settled on a plan and they went to work. The cordoned off the work area with plastic chains and red cones for safety and even had a fire extinguisher they brought into the garage with them for quick access. They worked as a team for safety purpose and are both CPR certified. Seems they were well prepared +.
An additional meter was chosen by me (not required for the ECOtality EV Project) in order to get the 2 yr vehicle transportation experimental SDG&E time-of-use rate. The meter is installed in the 240v, 1 phase, 40a EVSE branch circuit to eliminate the need for dual service entrance metering equipment (thank you SDG&E for solving that one for us). For the record, a dual service would have cost me about $4,000. In addition, a non-fused lockable disconnect is installed along side the new EVSE meter (see photo link below) to allow safe maintenance of the EVSE without having to open the 40a panelboard circuit breaker. This was done to prevent power from being removed form the meter for normal EVSE maintenance. Ya don't want the meter battery dying any sooner than necessary since it's needed to power communications to the main house meter for ultimate billing purposes.
With a 1600 sf home with no air conditioning, I was able to remove my 30a dryer circuit and install the 40a EVSE branch circuit in its place and sill not exceed the NEC service entrance bus rating of only 100a !!! That's right, 100a main bus. If you are in the 100a service entrance equipment boat you need to do the code calculations to see if it fits. You can start with NEC 2008 Art 220.83 if you are so inclined. Your AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) may want a PE stamp on the design but then again, maybe not... usually not since designs are very standard for most residential power systems.
Now I'm just waiting on the AHJ to do the inspection, SDG&E to install the meter and the boat to land in Los Angeles harbor on the 20th (or 23rd??) with my red LEAF. In any case, it's coming on fast...
Malcolm
photos can be seen here:
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/15670224/1/LEAF%20ME%20-%20EVSE%20Install?h=548d8a