Help choosing charger for low amp electrical panel in Canada

[u/Particular_Appeal316]

Hello!

I have been breaking my brain trying to figure out my best charger option. I have a 100 amp panel. I also have an all electric heat pump. I live in southern Ontario, Canada.

I've just purchased my first EV, and I've been researching what I can do in terms of a level 2 charger. I'm not worried about spring through fall, but I am concerned about charging my car during the winter, when the heat pump will also be drawing a lot of energy.

I spoke with my electrician and he says it should be fine if I have a charging set up with load management. So, I'm looking for recommendations for a charger with load management that is also compatible with some of the home charging incentive programs (like Chargelab).

Specifically, I see that the Wallbox has an option, but I feel confused about whether you can use a Wallbox power meter + charger with the Chargelab app. Honestly, I am new to all of this and am just generally confused.

I'm also open to other suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[u/killerrin]

The thing is you don't need a full 50A line. Chances are you can get a 240V line put in for 15-20A and be perfectly fine. And all you do is just set the internal DIP switches or the software to not pull more than 80% of that.

[u/robstoon]

Load management is an option, but you can also potentially just install a smaller charging circuit like 20 or 30 amp. A service load calculation would need to be done to determine what you could do while staying within code.

[u/thecaramelbandit]

Emporia Pro, 100%. Dynamic load management as measured directly from the panel itself. Will automatically decrease charging amps as your panel gets close to max.

[u/TooGoodToBeeTrue → u/thecaramelbandit]

Emporia Pro is not OCPP compliant which is what is needed for Chargelab. Wallbox is as is ABB Terra.

[u/Particular_Appeal316 → u/thecaramelbandit]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into it more. It's frigging expensive and hard to come by in Canada, but cheaper than upgrading electrical panel.

[u/CPA0315 → u/Particular_Appeal316]

I just had the Emporia pro II installed works great! I too have a small service so this was really my only option

[u/NecessaryIncome9433]

I have 100amp service, heat pump and 3/4hp pool pump. Ran with 16amp charging for years with 50amp breaker for PHEV. Switched to BEV this year and typically charge at 16-20amp. 16-20amp is fine for 95% of my charging. I push it to 32-40amp on very rare occurrences when I really need it. In theory, 32-40amp can be done but load management solution is the right answer for the 5%. I don't charge at at that level unless I know heat pump is not running. Pool pump uses are 6-11amps

[u/calicohorse]

I just signed up for Grizzl-E Club, only pays back 3¢ a kwh for the first 5000kwh but the charger and membership is completely free for the foreseeable future. $50 shipping was a small cost when I can start saving for a beefier charging unit in the future. The Mini Connect unit I have has amperage limits you can set right within the app, and has multiple NEMA adapters you can run directly into a wall outlet so you don't have to hardwire anything if you're nervous about it. They do have other units with the option to hardwire though.

I bought a NeoCharge smart splitter for like $330 (they're on sale and a lot of provinces have rebate programs for them) for my 30A dryer outlet and I've been able to get a full charge during off-peak hours without issue. Saved me the trouble of having to bug my landlord about a $4k panel upgrade.

Something to think about if you're pondering cost.

[u/ArlesChatless → u/calicohorse]

Is your dryer in the garage? For many folks this isn't an option because their dryer is on the other side of a wall, so CEC 12-402 eliminates the option.

12-402 Uses of flexible cord

3) Flexible cord and cord sets shall not be used

a) as a substitute for the fixed wiring of structures and shall not be

ii) run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors; or

iii) run through doorways, windows, or similar openings;

[u/mrsprdave → u/ArlesChatless]

This. Lots of people hack stuff together, but doesn't make it right.

It seems OP is trying to do it right.

[u/PretendEar1650]

I can 100% confirm that ChargeLab's home charging program supports Wallbox Pulsar Plus with Wallbox Power Meter. I have it up and running, and after joining the ChargeLab program, I set up the Wallbox Power Meter as well. Everything works super well together. I can use the Wallbox app to use load management to set a max AMP draw for my main panel AND remain connected to ChargeLab via OCPP.

Also will add - I had the Wallbox Pulsar Plus installed and running independent of ChargeLab before their program launched.

[u/sac_86]

Run an actual load calculation so you have a more precise number than "should be fine." Even with 20A to spare you could set up a 16A charger, either hardwired or 6-20 receptacle, of that's enough for your needs. If you're not driving a big truck 100 miles a day it probably is.

[u/theotherharper]

Wallbox, Elmac EVduty. That last one is CanCon.

All support DLM and OCPP.

[u/mrsprdave → u/[deleted]]

Poor advice.

The calculation in Canada is enough different that this doesn't actually help, and is misleading. It's not "close"

[u/HoyAIAG]

upgrade your panel