Are you facing difficulties in charging your electric vehicle at home? According to the United States Department of Energy, 80% of electric car owners prefer to charge their vehicles at home. In other words, when we are talking about home charging it means Level 1 EV Charger comes into play because it is used in home charging.
It does not matter whether you are living in a villa or, an apartment Level 1 is used in home charging and is the most convenient and simplest. Thus in this article, ChargeEco extensively covers EV Level 1 charger, their working, advantages, drawbacks, installation, Level 1 charging speed, and the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers.
What is a Level 1 Charging?
Level 1 Charger is one of the best and most economical solutions for home charging. If you have a parking spot or garage at your home then a type 1 charger proves useful. To be more precise, you do not need to visit a charging station and public charging spaces for charging when you have a Level 1 charging option.
Level 1 charger is plugged into a standard 120 Volt AC household outlet with a J1772 charge port. When it comes to level 1 charging speed then Level 1 EV chargers fall behind as compared to level 2 and DC fast chargers.
How does the Level 1 EV Charger work?
Level 1 working is just as simple as charging a Laptop or any other appliance. It comes with a nozzle cord or cable which is given by car dealers at the time of purchase. In the United States, all Level 1 chargers come with a J1772 charge port.
Therefore, to charge your electric car plug your charging cable into a household outlet. Then plug the cable into the J-plug of your car. As soon as the charging starts it will be easily visible on your monitoring dashboard screen. You can easily see on this screen how much time is required for charging, current flow, and all.
You can also check it out on their EV apps for charging details of cars. Thus, this way, you charge your EV at home or build up your charging station at home with the help of a Level 1 charger.
Level 1 EVSE
EVSE stands for Electric vehicle supply management which is a device that is used in the recharging of the EVs. According to the Department of Energy of the United States level 1 EVSE refills or recharges the electric car for 5-6 miles in one hour.
Advantages of Level 1 EV Charging?
- The Level 1 charger is very easy to use because it’s very convenient to use charging an EV is just as simple as charging a laptop. What you need is just a household outlet and a J-plug to charge the EV.
- When you switch on the button of the household outlet, the current flows as an Alternative current, which is converted into a direct current with an onboard charger. An onboard charger helps in charging the battery of the electric vehicle.
- As we know, the EV level 1 charger provides very slow charging as compared to level 2 and level 3 charging. Level 3 chargers or D.C fast chargers are very slow but they still charge your vehicle for daily use.
- Level 1 charging level is more beneficial for that kind of EV owners who travel less but at regular intervals. There is no need to buy expensive instruments and technical knowledge to install and set up.
- Thus, this modesty engages more budget-conscious people to use EV level one charger.
Limitations of EV Level 1 Charger
- Apart from lots of advantages, there are a few limitations of this Charger. The main flaw of the EV level 1 Charger is that it fulfills the requirements of people who do not frequently go for the commute.
- People who are always in a rush to travel a lot whether inter-city or intra-city need fast charging but when it comes to the charging speed it’s speed it quite slow as compared to level 2 and DC fast charging.
- According to EV charging Infrastructure experts if someone mostly relies on level 1 charging, then it would destroy the battery in the long term.
- The charging rate of an EV Level 1 charger is quite slow if your EV charging state is low then it would require approximately 20-24 hours of charging for full charging.
Tools or equipment required for the charger:
To charge your EV with a Level 1 charging there are requirements for a few things:
- A Charging Cable: The main important equipment used when it comes to charging an electric vehicle is a charging cable. A standard charging cable is designed by the manufacturers of electric vehicles which is fit to use with 120V AC. On one side is the charging connector and on the other hand is a plug.
- Proper Outlet: Apart from the standard charging cable there is another equipment which is known as an outlet. A standard NEMO outlet is required for proper safety in which 5-15Ampere current can easily flow. Proper grounding is necessary for overheating, fire, and short circuits.
- GFCI Protected: GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is one of the other levels of protection used for proper safety from overheating short circuits and shocks. GFCI provides another level of security to the charger.
Thus, before using Type1 EV Charging ensure that all pins outlets are properly in working condition, and if anything is not as per standard then contact only licensed electricians.
How do you set up and install a level 1 charger at home?
Installing and setting up an Electric charging station or Level 1 charger at home is simple. What you need is just a standard 120 Volt charging cord which comes with EV. Then you require a particular outlet that is merely used for electric vehicles to prevent overheating and excess flow of current.
On the other hand, relying on these batteries in the long term puts strains on the battery although these days new electric vehicles are compatible with all levels of chargers. Hence with a charging wire, a decent outlet, and all requirements you can set up and install a level 1 charger at home very easily.
Level 1 vs Level 2 EV chargers: Difference explained
Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers are both used for charging the battery of electric vehicles. Today we will discuss the difference between EV Level 1 vs EV Level 2 charger.
EV Level 1 Charger
- Uses a Standard 120 Volt AC household outlet.
- Level 1 Charger is slower than Level 2 and Level 3.
- It is better for the person who frequently travels.
- There are no additional installations of equipment just like level 2 and level 3 charging.
Level 2 EV Charger
- EV level 1 charger is more faster than level 1 charger.
- It requires 240 Volt of electricity which is a high power output for the charging.
- It is useful for people who always prefer quick charging and longer trips.
- It required a huge amount of Cost for maintenance and installation.
Thus, Level 1 EV Charging is beneficial for less commuting people, and Level 2 and DC charging is preferred by frequent long rides persons.
Bottom Line
Level 1 Charger is used for charging electric vehicles at home. Use a standard charger of 120 volt AC outlet use all the necessary safety measures and select it as a charging mode which is useful for the less frequent commuters. In the end, there are various advantages and limitations of using level 1 chargers but it is useful according to your use and work.
FAQ’s
Is level 1 charging bad for EV batteries?
No, level 1 charging is overall beneficial for the long-term health and life of the battery.
How many kW is a level 1 charger?
Level 1 charger output is 1.3 to 2.4 Kilowatts.
Can I use a level 1 charger at home?
Yes, you can use a level 1 charger at home you have to plug it into 120V A.C.
Fastest Level 1 EV charger?
If your car is at a low state of charge then it takes approx 20-24 hours to fully charge.
Can I plug a Level 1 charger into a 240V outlet?
No, you should not plug your electric vehicle into a 240 Volt outlet.
Is it worth installing an EV charger at home?
Yes, charging your EV at home is beneficial in terms of cost as compared to charging stations. You can charge your electric vehicle at home while you sleep at night.
