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Hello everyone I wanted to give an update on installing a ChargePoint Home Flex for use with the e-tron. One of you reported in an earlier post that Audi confirmed that the car could charge faster via a level 2 home charger than 9.6kW- and- it can. I now charge at 11 kW. I've posted before and after pictures.
From what I've learned- if you're going to do this instead of using the Audi charger, get a circuit rated at
60A, and do a hard-wired installation.
Before- I'd used the plug- and 50A circuit. The max charging rate under this for me was 9.3 kW- the same as the Audi charger. BUT- the circuit was wired with #6 wire (and a short run). Local codes dictate that can handle up to 65A circuit (uncommon)- so we upgraded the breaker to 60A. Also removed the plug and hard-wired it in.
With this- when going through setup via the iOS app for chargepoint- as soon as you select "hard-wired" you can select 50A, 60A, 70A circuit breaker. I was 60A.
I think it's a bit misleading to say it will handle a 70A circuit- since the largest wire ChargePoint will accept is a #6 and code (in So Cal) won't allow a 70A breaker with #6. So 60 it is.
Still, charge rates are great so far. I'm adding 11 kW / hour. Anyway I hope this helps
Great post! This is the charger I'd buy if I go that route. One of the few out there that can actually charge at a full 50amp continuous (provided you have the correct wiring). Good to have confirmation that the eTron will actually accept the higher charge rate of 12kw (minus inefficiencies down to 11kw).
Here's the crazy thing: I just bought this exact charger for a vacation property for a similar (its flexibility), but different reason (lack of overall available power). The vacation property is getting close to maxing out the panel and hence has reduced current available: without a massive electrical overall haul it will safely support ~7kw. That is still more than sufficient for over night charging and the ability to reduce the current draw on this EVSE was the key reason I purchased it.
Unless you "need" a fast charge at higher amps, your battery will appreciate a lower charge rate, its proven that higher charge rate ultimately degrade the battery.
When I come home from work and plug in at 7 p.m. it makes no difference to me personally if its done at 11 p.m. or 2 a.m. I'm not in the car again until 7 a.m at the earliest.
Unless you "need" a fast charge at higher amps, your battery will appreciate a lower charge rate, its proven that higher charge rate ultimately degrade the battery.
When I come home from work and plug in at 7 p.m. it makes no difference to me personally if its done at 11 p.m. or 2 a.m. I'm not in the car again until 7 a.m at the earliest.
I Concur. I charge at 32 amp . an old habit where I should not dial the volume (on a receiver) pass 75/80% mark. Electronics works better (less distortions), not running at max specs.
I googled that- and found numerous articles that say frequent DC fast charges shorten battery life. You know the electrify america etc charges. But a level 2 charge, from the sources I found, at any amperage isn't considered a "fast charge".
But if anyone has found a source on this- either way- it'd be great to see it (-:
I googled that- and found numerous articles that say frequent DC fast charges shorten battery life. You know the electrify america etc charges. But a level 2 charge, from the sources I found, at any amperage isn't considered a "fast charge".
But if anyone has found a source on this- either way- it'd be great to see it (-:
There was an article out there that I believe was referenced here on the forum somewhere as well where a charge rate of 8KW was the best for battery longevity. DC fast charging was bad for the battery and so was charging at 110V. This is all from memory as I have not dug around for it again. But this was a general analysis and there may be differences between different batteries and manufacturers.
There was also another more recent study where they DC fast charged a battery similar to what Tesla is using. The battery got damaged pretty much immediately. However, the battery was just by itself, no cooling or anything. So that does not really reflect reality.
There are a lot of variables here and all these studies provide just a glimpse and cannot always easily be generalized.
Almost constant life for rates well less than 1C. That's 85kW. The EVgo 50kW kinda quick charge and any L2 charge should be mostly identical. 150kW is about 1.7C.
Battery life falls off at very low charge rates, below 0.01C. That would be L1 rates. I don't have a public source for this, sorry.
03-20-2020, 05:18 AM
Recommendations for ChargePoint home install
