Official California PG&E Thread

[garygid]

It appears that going down to the appropriate "Building Department" and discussing THEIR requirements for a hard-wired EVSE ... would be a helpful thing to do.

Perhaps duscussing 120v plug-in EV charging, then 240v plug-in, could also be useful.

[Spies]

Not sure if there is anyone else in Pleasanton on this thread, but just in case....I'm getting my EVSE installed today and the city REQUIRES a 200 amp service on the main panel to install any EVSE.

Ouch! If Foster City had the same requirement when I got my EVSE installed I would not have done the install and that in turn would have meant no EV for me. I am certainly glad they did not. I have a 100 amp service and it is simply not practical for me to upgrade.

[Ready2plugin]

Yes, not sure what I would of done if I knew all the costs upfront.

[planet4ever]

Yes, not sure what I would of done if I knew all the costs upfront.

You might have done what I did. I went down to the local Home Depot, bought something less than $50 worth of parts, and put in my own new 120v circuit complete with a subpanel and 20A circuit breaker. I didn't bother mentioning it to the city.

[greenleaf]

Yes, not sure what I would of done if I knew all the costs upfront.

You might have done what I did. I went down to the local Home Depot, bought something less than $50 worth of parts, and put in my own new 120v circuit complete with a subpanel and 20A circuit breaker. I didn't bother mentioning it to the city.

Probably something I will consider doing too when the Leviton 240V/16A units are out next year. Parts (other than the EVSE) should be less than $100:

25' of #10 wire (oversized in case I want to go 24A in future)
6-20R outlet
MP22020 breaker

[Ready2plugin]

Yes, not sure what I would of done if I knew all the costs upfront.

You might have done what I did. I went down to the local Home Depot, bought something less than $50 worth of parts, and put in my own new 120v circuit complete with a subpanel and 20A circuit breaker. I didn't bother mentioning it to the city.

Probably something I will consider doing too when the Leviton 240V/16A units are out next year. Parts (other than the EVSE) should be less than $100:

25' of #10 wire (oversized in case I want to go 24A in future)
6-20R outlet
MP22020 breaker

I don't think I would have had a problem for a 120v.....it's the 220v line of EVSE's that the city must have a problem with. I'll clarify with my contractor once he comes back on Thursday to finish.

[garygid]

You could just install two 120v sockets, each on a 20A breaker, but one on Line1 and one on Line2. That should pass inspection OK.

Then, with the right adapter, plugging into both sockets, you have 240v ... but might not have been forced to upgrade your panel.

Perhaps these circuits would need to be just conveniently located "utility" plugs, with no mention of their possible later use for EV charging?

Or, perhaps better, if L1 (120v) EVSE use is OK, you might specify that one socket is intended for 12 to 16 amp charging, and the other for convenience?

[EVDRIVER]

You could just install two 120v sockets, each on a 20A breaker, but one on Line1 and one on Line2. That should pass inspection OK.

Then, with the right adapter, plugging into both sockets, you have 240v ... but might not have been forced to upgrade your panel.

Perhaps these circuits would need to be just conveniently located "utility" plugs, with no mention of their possible later use for EV charging?

Or, perhaps better, if L1 (120v) EVSE use is OK, you might specify that one socket is intended for 12 to 16 amp charging, and the other for convenience?

It's easier to run two dedicated circuits in one single box. In fact, those with even an existing 120V dedicated circuit could make a 240 EVSE work for a Leaf, particularly those with a 12/3 wire run. People install 240 outlets all the time for compressors you buy at home depot, if one runs 10 or 8G and puts a pigtail and the outlet for a low current 240V compressor it does not cause as much concern. One reason permits is high is because the call it an EV charging station and not a simple outlet, inspectors make a big deal out of ignorance. Putting in a 240 outlet is as routine as it gets.

[DeaneG]

I "repurposed" a 240V/20A compressor outlet in my garage for the Leviton 16A EVSE, which is all that Leaf 1.0 can handle. Any electrician should be able to add a circuit like that without too much headache, unless you have 100A or smaller service.

***********

My "rate comparison" letter arrived from PG&E. After all the calls about having just added 3kW solar PV and planning to add an EV, what they gave me was a rate comparison between E1 and E6, using the prior 12 months' consumption data, with a guess as to TOU bucket fractions. They would not add E9A to the rate comparison until I have an EV.

The rate comparison did not include any adjustment for the PV I just added (which triggered the rate comparison), or the Leaf I'm waiting for.

I'll calculate PV production and EV consumption modifications to their usage assumptions, revise their TOU bucket estimations, and write them back with the results asking them to use my figures re-calculate the rate comparison.

[Rat]

We got our first full month bill for E9A. Despite a slightly longer billing period and higher usage, our bill this year was lower than the same month last year. It averaged out to $1.66 a day for electricity. During the winter this is definitely a bargain rate. When the summer rates come and I have the Leaf, we'll see if that holds true.