Does Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger compatible with your electric vehicle? Grizzl-E Classic NEMA 06-50 Plug with 24 Feet Premium Cable is a simple, powerful, heavy-duty and portable Electric Vehicle Charging Station which is suitable for normal and cold weather. Save hundreds of dollars on installation – just install a simple 06-50R outlet and you are ready to plug in your Grizzl-E. Easily transportable. Simple to remove from the mounting bracket and transport between different locations. Reveal many more benefits in Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger review.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Water tight metal enclosure prevents water from seeping inside
- Heavy-duty build makes it suitable for both normal and cold weather conditions
- Detailed user manual makes it easy to install and use
Cons
- Makes a buzzing sound
Specifications – Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger (review)
- Enclosure : Indoor and Outdoor, NEMA 4 aluminum cast robust enclosure.
- Simple, Flexible Mounting Options: Wall Mount with security Pin; Pedestal, Bollard/Pole (Single & Dual Port) available from United Chargers.
- Display & Indicators: LED Charge Status Indicators (Power/Ready, Charging, Fault).
- Electrical Circuit / Input Power Requirements:
- Circuit Requirement: Dedicated Single Phase 208-240VAC, 50/60 Hz;
- Branch Breaker: Double pole;
- Circuit Conductors: Line 1, Line 2, Earth / Ground.
- Internet Connection: ESP32 Extension Board
- EV Connector Type: J1772 Type 1
- Charging Level: AC Level 2
- Adjustable Maximum Output Ratings:
- 40A; 10.0 kW Maximum Output – For use with 50A Circuit Rating;
- 32A; 7.68 kW Maximum Output – For use with 40A Circuit Rating;
- 24A; 5.76 kW Maximum Output – For use with 30A Circuit Rating;
- 16A; 3.84 kW Maximum Output – For use with 20A Circuit Rating.
- Charge Cable Length: 24 ft. (7.2m)
- Portable and Hardwire ready : NEMA 6-50 or NEMA 14-50 Electrical Plug. Can also be hardwired by licensed electrician.
- Safety Features: Over Current, Over Voltage , Under Voltage, Missing Diode, Ground Fault,
- and Over Temperature Protections. Self-Monitoring and Recovery, Power
- Outage Recovery. Built in GFCI.
- Cable & Connector Management : EasyEvPlug™ Holster and cable management system for J1772 or Tesla.
- Energy Star Certified
Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger best price
At $399, the Grizzl-E is a good deal. It’s a high-quality home charger that’s safety-certified (UL Listed), it’s made in Canada, and it’s very well constructed. You can adjust the output from 16-amps (3.8 kW) all the way up to 40 amps (9.6 kW), and do so with internal DIP switches instead of an app for an added level of safety and code compliance. Not many EV chargers allow that flexibility.
It will charge any EV in North America, including Tesla vehicles by using the Tesla/J1772 adapter included with every Tesla sold.
At the $399 price point, most home chargers available today are lower-quality devices made in Asia and sold on Amazon. Many of these units are not safety-certified, have very cheap internal electronics, and aren’t built to last. Many higher-quality chargers are priced $500 and above, so the Grizzl-E delivers a quality unit at a great price and will soon be offering an upgrade so existing owners can turn their Grizzl-E into a smart charger if they wish.
Is a L2 home charger worth it?
Level 2 chargers use a 240-volt electric supply, like an electric clothes dryer. The advantage is they charge the EV 3 to 10 times faster than a Level 1 (120-volt) charger can. Many plug-in hybrid owners can charge on Level 1 just fine, because PHEVs have smaller batteries than do battery electric vehicle cars (BEVs), no more than about 20 kilowatt-hours. Most BEV owners (whose cars have batteries up to 100 kWh) will choose to use a Level 2 charger for daily use so they can recharge their EVs faster, which increases the car’s availability.
Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger review
App
It just charges the vehicle without performing advanced tasks like remote monitoring, the ability to participate in demand response utility programs, or connectivity to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, like the ChargePoint Home and Enel X JuiceBox can. Those devices are typically referred to as “smart chargers,” and the Grizzl-E doesn’t have those features. However, it soon will.
Construct
The Grizzl-E is a tough unit with an aluminum outer case that has a NEMA-4 rating. It’s exceptionally suited for outdoor use, even in the most challenging environments
Design
It is all black in its design, and it features the Grizzl-E blue logo in the top right-hand corner of the charger. The dimensions are 3.54 x 6.25 x 10.25 inches.
Compatibility
Before you purchase an at-home EV charger, it must be compatible with your electric car.
Long cable
The cable that you will need to use is included with this charger. It is a Grizzl-E Classic NEMA 14-50 plug. The cable is 24 feet and is the regular size.
These cables are particularly heavy-duty and durable. Given that they are 24 feet, this ensures that you have enough cable available to charge your car with ease.
As it may not be possible to place your car right next to the charger at home, the length of the cable allows for this.
DIP switches
Inside the Grizzl-E, there are three DIP switches that can be set to make sure the unit only delivers as much power as your home’s circuit can handle. The Tesla Wall Connector also has interior DIP switches to limit the power output when needed. Some of the EV chargers available today allow the user to limit the power output through an app, but that can run afoul with North American electrical codes because the user can accidentally change the power limit in the app and possibly overload the circuit.
Power
This classic Grizzl E classic is rated is a 240 volt level 2 EV charging station which is capable of delivering a power of about 40 amps to your electric vehicle. This is such a good feat since most of the level 2 home chargers available in the market currently are only capable of delivering about 32 amps to deliver 18 miles per hour of charge.
Therefore, it is fair to note that the Grizzl E classic EV charger is just about the most powerful chargers that you can currently find in the market. But, this cable charger can be used to supply powers of 16 amps, 24 amps, or 32 amps (16a 24a 32a) as the case might be. This means that people might be limited to a certain power delivery if the circuit which they are installing will be limited to a charge rate below 40 amps – which could be 16a 24a or 32a. This means that you get a different output, per hour at 16a, per hour at 24a, per hour at 32a, and per hour at 40a.
Connecting
The Grizzl E comes with a plastic remote connector holster which can be wall mounted wherever you choose to mount it, This is called the – Easy EV plug by United chargers. This is because the device charger is designed to allow the owner to easily connect the holster, even if you have a dark garage. It is able to do this with its tapered inlet. This means that you will not need to perfectly align your J1772 connector with the holster whenever you need to connect it.
Speed charging
When you purchase an at-home electric vehicle charger you will want it to charge quickly.
While the time it takes to charge is not as important as when you are waiting for your car to charge in a parking space, you still want the process to be quick and hassle-free.
The Grizzl-E charges a car particularly quickly.
Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger Installation
When it comes to the installation of the charger, this is simple. To install the Grizzl-E charger all you will need is a 14-50R outlet and the charger will connect to this.
It comes with a mounting bracket, so you can secure the charger to the wall. This makes using and installing the charger hassle-free.
In addition to this, the charger is easy to transport and move if needed. It comes with a classic Grizzl-E charger that uses a J1772 charging plug. It also features the 14-50p or 14-inch 6-50P plug input cable.
The mounting bracket features a security pin to keep the charger safe and secure when in use. The bracket is quick release and is not difficult to remove if needed.
Weather resistance
The Grizzl-E has two cable options: regular and premium. The premium cable is made to withstand outdoor weather conditions and extreme weather. It’s specifically designed to remain pliable in freezing cold conditions. Some EV charging cables get stiff like a frozen garden hose when it’s cold outside, so you want to avoid those if you live in a cold-weather climate.
Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger Performance review
The Grizzl-E scored 87 points on the ChargerRater, which translates into 4.35 stars out of 5. I then gave it my personal score of 4.75 stars and the combined final score was 4.55 stars. That’s an extremely high score for a non-smart charger and confirms to us that our decision to list it as a top-pick for 2020 was justified.
Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger Customer review
Five stars to this company for customer service! I originally planned to purchase a 32 amp charging unit, but after meeting with my electrician, it was obvious that the simplest way to install the charger where I wanted was to tap into my existing 30 amp dryer outlet that I wasn’t using. Figuring I would have to settle for a 16 amp charger, I found the Grizzl-E on Amazon and realized that the it would allow me to use the 24 amp setting. My electrician agreed and I ordered the unit.
Everything went smoothly in the installation until my electrician got to the instructions on setting the dip switches. He noted that the switches were upside down based on the photo in the manual, and that the settings in the manual weren’t correct. Through trial and error, he was able to set the charger to 24 amps and it appeared to be working fine.
Three days later I noticed the light on the charger was red instead of blue.Using the instructions in the manual, I switched off the circuit breaker and then switched it back on. That appeared to work, but the charger later spontaneously went to the red light again. Contacting the company and explaining what had happened, the CEO instructed them to send me a replacement unit with a shipping label to return the malfunctioning unit. The second unit had the same problems, but I couldn’t even get that one to work by switching the breaker off and on.
By this time, my electrician and I had already talked to several people at United Chargers, including the CEO, and it was obvious that they wanted to solve my problem and determine what was going wrong with the first two chargers. Before sending me the third charger, they forwarded an instruction sheet on calibrating the unit before setting the dip switches. The third time was the charm, and my newest charger is working perfectly!
For future purchasers who plan to set the dip switches to a setting other than the factory default, do not use the printed manual that comes with the charger. There is an online version that does have the correct settings for different amps. Also, I would suggest that you make sure to get the calibration steps and follow the instructions carefully. Doing that resulted in a successful installation. I have recommended to the company that they make sure to instruct buyers correctly.
But the bottom line is that everyone at United Chargers, including the CEO, was willing to do whatever it took to get this right for me, and that’s service you don’t find often, particularly for a product purchased online.
Make sure to watch the YouTube video on the Grizzl-E website that shows the CEO running over the charger with a truck! My electrician told me he’s installed a number of chargers, including Tesla’s, and there’s no way any of them would survive that challenge.
By Elaine Kalin at grizzl-e.com on Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger review
Alternate of Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger
ChargePoint Home Flex
The ChargePoint Home Flex is a 50-amp smart-charger that is compact yet powerful. It has an integrated connector holster that is back-lit and swivels for easy use. It is available in plug-in or hardwired form and come standard with a 23-foot cable. It’s a WiFi connected smart-charger that’s packed with features, as it should be for about $700, and uses the ChargePoint app to control the unit and review past charging history.
Pros:
- Sleek design
- Adjustable power delivery
- Many smart-charging features
Cons:
- Expensive
- Cannot power-share
- Not as durable as some other units
Enel X JuiceBox 40
The Enel X JuiceBox 40 is a 40-amp smart-charger that is loaded with smart-charging features. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, it can schedule charging time, send you reminders and notifications. It can load-balance between multiple units, allowing the owner to charge two cars from a single circuit. It can participate in utility demand response programs to save money and is Energy Star certified.
Pros:
- High power output that’s adjustable
- 25-foot cable is standard
- Good for outdoor use
Cons:
- Cable is not very flexible
- Connector holster isn’t the best design
- Expensive
Buying guide for Grizzl-E Level 2 EV charger
Cutting your charge time in half with an EV charging station has clear benefits. However, not all EVSEs are the same, and installing them isn’t free. Here are a few criteria that you might want to consider when buying an EV charging station.
Volts, amps, and kilowatts
In very general terms, higher volts, amps, or kilowatts will mean more electricity. But buying an EV charging station can be complicated and you should understand the differences between the terms.
It’s easiest to think about volts, amps, and kilowatts as if you were moving water instead of electricity:
- Volts are like the water pressure. A Level 2 ESVE will use a 240 volt outlet (like the outlet for your clothes dryer).
- Amps measure flow rate. You can think about it like the volume of water that comes out of a hose at a given point. Most EVSEs provide somewhere between 20 and 40 amps of electricity.
- Kilowatts measure how much power you get when you multiply the volts (pressure) and the amps (volume). Because all Level 2 EVSEs use 240 volts, the kilowatts delivered by two different 40 amp charging stations will be the same.
Plugged-in vs. hardwired EVSEs
A plugged-in EVSE describes a charging station that plugs into a 240 volt wall outlet, just like your clothes dryer unit. A plugged-in station is usually slightly more expensive, but is portable and easier to repair or replace. Any EV driver that has two homes and hopes to use the same EVSE at both locations will want stations that plug into an outlet.
Location: outside vs. inside
Not all EV owners have garages or room to store their cars inside. In those cases they will need to research charging stations that have outdoor functionality. A holster that protects the plug on the end of a charging cord, called the J1772 connector, is recommended for outdoor installations.
Wi-Fi connected capabilities
EVSEs connected to Wi-Fi typically also include an app from the manufacturer that allows you to control scheduling, remote starting and reminders. For EV drivers with time-of-use (TOU) metering, this functionality can allow you to program your charge for the time of day when your electricity is cheapest.
Charging station cable length
Twenty-five foot chargers come with the convenience of extra mobility and may help you save money on installation if less electrical work inside the wall is necessary as a result. Also remember that you’ll likely charge your vehicle every night – the added convenience of mobility can be worth the premium.
Most EVSE manufacturers sell both 16 and 25 foot chargers, with the longer chargers usually priced a little bit higher. When considering EVSE cable length, imagine where your car and the charging station will be positioned. Ask yourself: How far from the charging station will the car’s outlet be?
