Production Review: Clippercreek Hcs-40P Evse

My i3 charging from the HSC-40p. You tin tin can come upwardly across my older ClipperCreek CS-xl all the agency on the left.

When it comes to electrical vehicle charging equipment, at that place’2nd for certain no shortage of choices. Even though it’s a relatively novel marketplace, at that place are dozens of manufacturers selling products that allow owners to safely equally good every bit conveniently accuse their electrical cars. Although this equipment is unremarkably referred to as a "charger" or "wallbox", the proper term is truly EVSE, which stands for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. 

These devices don't actually accuse the auto; they render the electricity to practise together with so. That's because the actual charging equipment is built into the motorcar. The EVSE'sec employment is to safely deliver the right amount of electricity to the onboard charging equipment. 

Now that electrical cars are outset to striking momentum inwards the market place, at that identify are a lot of companies jockeying to become a marketplace percentage of the EVSE concern. The vast mass of these companies hold been manufacturing too selling EVSEs for less than one-half dozen years. However, at that place is i EVSE manufacturer that has more experience than any other order, with roots that acquire dorsum into the early 1990s, also every flake supplying the habitation charging equipment for the Tesla Roadster. ClipperCreek, has been making EV charging equipment for over xx years like a shot, together with manufactures all of their products inward the USA.

I’ve been using ClipperCreek products to accuse my electrical cars since 2009, every bit BMW convey ClipperCreek every chip their partner to furnish the charging equipment for the MINI-east Trial Lease Program.  I’ve never had whatsoever problems amongst whatsoever of my ClipperCreek equipment too I however part my chief CS-twoscore EVSE that came amongst my MINI-E.

However, I likewise have got a version of the latest generation of EVSEs from ClipperCreek, an HCS-40p.  The HCS-xl & the HCS 40p tin furnish 32 amps at 240v, together with deliver upwardly to 7.7kW to the vehicle.  The alone EVs currently on sale that tin accept more than than than than vii.7kW at 240v are the Tesla Models due southward & X, in add-on to the Mercedes B250e (which uses a Tesla-made onboard charger). So the HCS-xl line of EVSEs is more than than powerful plenty for the vast bulk of today’2d electrical vehicles. 

For case, my 2014 BMW i3 tin tin only convey up to 7.2kW, every bit good equally the rest of BMW’s business arrangement of PHEVs, including the i8, the X5-40e, the 330e, the 530e inwards improver to the 740e, are all limited to a maximum of charging at iii.7kW. This is because plug inwards hybrid electrical vehicles (PHEVs) take smaller batteries than total electrical cars make, together with thence accuse quicker equally skillful every bit don’t need such high speed charging.

ClipperCreek uses high character connectors amongst a rubberized traveling handbag for added comfort when plugging inwards.

However, if yous practice want more than than mightiness, for example to future-proof your garage, ClipperCreek has yous covered. They too sell the HCS-50 & HCS-50p, which both deliver 40amps of might, which translates to a maximum of ix.6kW. The HCS-lx steps upwardly the delivery to 48 amps inwards improver to a total xi.5kW. For the ultimate inwards home EV charging, the CS-100 tin deliver lxxx amps to the vehicle, which is a whopping xix.2kW.  This power delivery rivals the speed that precisely virtually of the lower-powered DC Fast chargers, only currently alone Tesla vehicles tin can have got such high a grade of mightiness from a plane 2, 240v EVSE. I believe that'second going to modify inwards the coming years, too many EVs will come upward touchstone amongst higher might flat ii charging capabilities of at to the lowest grade ix.6kW.

I received my HCS-40p virtually a twelvemonth agone too it’2d lived upwards to the reputation that by ClipperCreek products accept earned.  Made from airline-course of didactics plastics they are belike the toughest EVSEs on the marketplace. There’s 50-fifty a video of ClipperCreek employees beating an HCS-twoscore alongside a baseball game bat, inward add together-on to the bat broke earlier the station did:

The HCS job comes inwards both hard-wired equally skilful as plug-inwards models. The plug-inward offerings are distinguishable yesteryear the “p” at the complete of the model advert. If it has the “p”, than it’2d the plug inward version. You tin tin tin can order the plug-inward versions amongst either a NEMA xiv-fifty or NEMA half-dozen-50 plug.  Therefore, yous tin take your electrician install the 240v y'all bring earlier you lot lot 50-l purchase the EVSE. 

Two screws & it's done!

Personally I prefer having the plug inward pick, which is why I got the HCS-40p. It’2d a niggling more than than expensive, ($589 compared to $565 for the HSC-twoscore) but it offers the flexibility of boring installation – yous lot only screw it into the wall in addition to plug it inwards. Having the plug every bit good way it’2d not permanently installed inward 1 place.  If the accept arises, yous tin unplug it, withdraw the ii screws inwards improver to relocate it. This tin can every bit good acquire rattling well if yous need to have the unit of measurement of measurement of mensuration to a minute place, similar a summertime menage. All you lot postulate to make is install the outlet inwards the minute position together with just have the unit of measurement of mensuration at that position when yous postulate to.

I examine electrical vehicle charging equipment too review novel products, together with so you tin run across how the HCS-twoscore compares inward size to many other EVSE options available today inwards the motion-pic demonstrate below. It is ane of the larger packages available today, equally adept every bit the trunk of the unit of measurement is used for cable direction, yous just coil the cable around it. There is a assort connexion holster included that you tin tin can locate where it’sec virtually convenient, as good as a lock together with primal so you tin deter somebody from unplugging your motorcar.

My "Power Wall"

ClipperCreek has an extensive list of electrical vehicle charging equipment together with probably offering more than options than whatsoever other companionship. All of their Level ii, 240v EVSEs come up measure alongside a 25 human pes cable, which is optional on the products of many of their competitors. Many EVSE purchasers don't opinion the cable length when they buy 1. I mean some may assume they all are a mensurate out length, only that's not true. Some EVSEs come up up touchstone amongst a xv or xviii pes cable, as skilful every bit that may come up upwards upwardly brusk inward certain circumstances. With a measure 25 human foot cable, you lot lot are pretty much assured yous tin can reach whatsoever betoken inwards your garage, as well as l-l outside the garage if yous common shut plenty. 

Note: I received the HCS-40p from ClipperCreek for free for the role of testing, feedback too production review. No other compensation was made.

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