Home charging stations for electric cars: what they are, types, how to choose them

Charging electric cars from commercial charging stations located in the city is not always on the way. They may be far from home. It's convenient to have a home charging station for an electric car installed in your yard. Overnight, you can fully charge the car. Let's consider the features of such equipment, types and tips for choosing.

What is a home charging station for electric cars

This is a device with a capacity of 7-22 kW. It is connected to the power grid at home, but gives a quick charge in 5-7 hours. The charging station is also equipped with overvoltage protection.

Home charging stations for electric cars are installed in the garage, on the wall of the house, in the underground parking lot and other places. If the device is located in the public parking lot of an apartment building, choose a model with identification, so that outsiders can not use the equipment.

Types of home charging stations for electric cars

The main difference between charging stations for electric cars is the speed at which the car's battery is filled. It can be slow, fast, and ultra-fast. Fast charging models are usually installed in public places. Slow chargers are cheaper. They are most often installed at home.

The types of charging are also different. The device can use alternating or direct current from a single-phase network up to 250 V and from a three-phase network up to 480 V. The most popular types of charging stations for electric vehicles are:

• AC level 2 American type connects to the regular electrical grid. The station charges the car in 8-12 hours.
• European standard Mode 2 is the most common type of station used in the home. Charging time is about 8 hours. They are suitable for electric cars of different types with a classic connector and a cable with a protection system.

The model of charging station and types of connectors are chosen according to the model of the car. The standards of the electricity grid in the country are also taken into account. There are charging stations designed for the power system of Europe, the United States, Japan, China.

How to choose a home charging station for an electric car

Pay attention to such factors:

• Is the home power grid designed to install a powerful source of consumption? The mains current should be at least 32A.
• What is the maximum charging power rating of the electric vehicle.
• Is there spare connection capacity when multiple electrical appliances are connected to the mains?.
• Is it required to connect the charging station to the internet? This is usually necessary to monitor the status of the equipment and keep a record of charging cycles.

If only one phase of 220 volts is available, the network must be able to carry 7 kW and be controlled by a 32A breaker. In this case, the charging station capacity should be 3.5 or 5 kW. The most powerful household appliances are switched off while the machine is charging. A 7 kW station can be switched on automatically when all other household appliances are switched off. It is practical when there is an option to adjust the charging power.

If the house has a three-phase power grid of 220 volts and on each phase there is a separate 32A cutoff, then each branch will have a power of 7 kW. In this case, one phase can be allocated to a power station for charging an electric car. The power is enough to charge the car overnight. A three-phase charger with power regulation allows the use of large electrical appliances in the house when the electric car is connected.