A Level 1 charger is the most basic charging station of the three. The charging cable that comes with an electric vehicle when it is purchased or leased is a Level 1 charger. These chargers simply plug into a typical grounded wall socket using a common configuration plug and operate on standard household electrical current (110–120 volts AC).
Although Level 1 chargers are convenient and inexpensive, their main drawback is the lengthy, sometimes excruciatingly long, battery recharge times. A Level 1 charger should be able to provide 5 to 6 miles per hour of charging for an electric vehicle (EV). If your car has a 200-mile range, it may take 35 to 50 hours to fully recharge.
Level 1 solutions should only be used to charge plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). In a typical PHEV, the battery can be recharged in a few hours.
What is a Level 2 Charging station?
The Level 2 charger is next on the EV charging station ladder. Level 2 chargers use 240-volt circuits, which are the same type used to charge electric clothes dryers.
Some Level 2 charging stations can be carried and use the multi-pronged plug with associated outlet for clothes dryers. Many households have such an outlet and circuit in their laundry rooms. It is not convenient to unplug the dryer in order to plug in your electric car tesla charger.
The vast majority of Level 2 charging stations are installed in homes by people who hire electricians to run a 240-volt circuit to the garage. Consumers can “hard-wire” the charging station into the circuit once the garage is powered. They can also plug in a Level 2 portable wall charger to the 240-volt socket in the garage and take the tesla wall charger with them.
It can be costly to hire an electrician and change the existing electrical system in your home. The big advantage is the faster charging rates, which speed up recharge times. An EV battery can be charged at Level 2 in half the time than it takes with a Level 1. This makes it the most convenient charging station for those who own an electric vehicle.
A PHEV with 200 mile range can be charged in 10 to 15 hours. A Level 2 charging station can be used with a PHEV to recharge the battery in less than four hours.
What is a Level 3 Charging station?
A Level 3 charging station for electric cars is the third. It is intended for commercial use, or to be used by those who need to stop for a few minutes before returning on their journey.
At Level 3 filling stations, DC fast chargers (DCFC) are offered. As a result, charging times can be accelerated. In less than an hour, some Level 3 fast chargers can fully charge a Battery pack from its fully charged state. With a 350-volt or 750-volt charging system, the most recent EV models can recharge high-power batteries from 10% to 80% in as little as 20 minutes. The charging times for Level 3 devices will be even shorter, despite the apparent lightning speed. You could contrast Level 3’s charging time with that of a typical gas station.
A Level 3 car charging installation can easily cost $50,000. Although it is highly improbable that your energy utility would approve the installation of a Level 3 charging cable in your home, even if you had that kind of cash to spend, because many residential areas don’t have electrical panels that can support it.
Connecting to a Wall
The third generation Tesla Wall Connector was designed to be easy to install. The third generation Tesla Wall Connector features an open wire box that has integrated terminals. This allows for plenty of space to land wires. Entry points can be made from the top, bottom, and rear. To commission Wall Connectors and connect to customers’ internet networks, installers can use their smartphone.
Wall Connector Commissioning
Wall Connector hosts Wi-Fi networks for configuration of breaker sizes, Wi-Fi connectivity and power sharing. The Wi-Fi network broadcasts for five minutes after the Wall Connector has been energized. It can also be re-enabled for another five minutes by pressing the button on the charging cable’s handle.
Cost
Prices for installation can vary depending upon your electrical system.
An installation that is simple can cost anywhere from $750 to $1,500. If you require additional items to complete your installation, the cost will be increased accordingly.
