2011 Nissan Leaf modifications (efficiency and utility)

[ldjessee00]

Mine has heating, just not cooling.

One of the things I seriously consider adding a dedicated charger in the garage for (and not just the 120v outlet) is for plugging it in to precondition the car and battery before leaving. Cold outside, pre-heat the car. Hot outside, crank the AC.

[redpoint5]

I wonder if the Lizard batteries actually hold up better?

Originally Posted by ldjessee00

Mine has heating, just not cooling.

One of the things I seriously consider adding a dedicated charger in the garage for (and not just the 120v outlet) is for plugging it in to precondition the car and battery before leaving. Cold outside, pre-heat the car. Hot outside, crank the AC.

Super easy and cheap depending on how far away your outlet is from the breaker. I spent about $75 to install a 50 A dedicated circuit.

[ldjessee00]

Unfortunately, the opposite corner of the house and it cost me nearly $1,000 to have the dryer plug put in the basement (due to needing to re-organize an already badly laid-out breaker panel).
I have thought about splicing the dryer plug cable, putting a mechanical switch with one position feeding the dryer and the other feeding the EV charger in the garage, but I do believe that after a few times of getting frustrated because someone has to go to the basement to switch the plug...

[oil pan 4]

>You need to find a electrician with out a cocane and hooker addiction.
In 2010 I added a nema 10-30 plug to the side of my dryer that was energized all the time.
Used it for air compressor, plasma cutter and welder.
Then in 2018 I briefly used it for EV charging, just don't run the dryer and charge at the same time.
You probably need a sub panel.



My 200 amp main panel was over loaded, breakers doubled wired and stuff.
I added the 8 circuit panel on the bottom fed it with 4 gauge wire and a 70 amp breaker, filled it up then added a 12 breaker 24 circuit panel on 2 gauge wire and a 125 amp breaker on the opposite outside wall.
Now there are 9 free spaces in that main.
My solar panel tie in breaker has to go in the main panel, can't go in the sub.

I have done a ton of electrical work here, probably thousands of dollars worth, only cost me a few hundred dollars in materials.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by ldjessee00

Unfortunately, the opposite corner of the house and it cost me nearly $1,000 to have the dryer plug put in the basement (due to needing to re-organize an already badly laid-out breaker panel).
I have thought about splicing the dryer plug cable, putting a mechanical switch with one position feeding the dryer and the other feeding the EV charger in the garage, but I do believe that after a few times of getting frustrated because someone has to go to the basement to switch the plug...

You could get a premade product like the Dryer Buddy Plus Auto. It automatically switches the EVSE outlet off when the dryer runs, and energizes the circuit when the dryer is not running.

https://www.bsaelectronics.com/colle...volt-amp-meter

I'm sure there's cheaper options you could make yourself too that serve the same function.

[Piotrsko]

Just run parallel plugs and only charge after midnight on a timer. I don't know many people drying clothes after midnight. Just don't charge car during day.

[oil pan 4]

I was able to use a 12 amp evse and small apartment dryer together just fine.

I used a 16 amp evse and full sized dryer together just to see what would happen. The breaker buzzed and the dryer cord got warm. It was drawing 38 amps on a 30 amp circuit. Don't do that. I did it so you don't have to.

According to national electric code clothes dryer circuits are specifically listed. They are to be a dedicated circuit, which means only 1 receptacle is allowed to be on the circuit and only one thing ran off it at a time.
The continuous load is not to exceed 24 amps.
So even if you run 2 things off your dryer circuit and those 2 things only draw 24 amps when ran together, you still can't do it.
You can unplug the dryer and plug in an evse that does not exceed 24 amps. If you plug in a 32 amp charger, nope not a good idea. If you run that 32 amp charger on a 30 amp circuit for a few hours that 10 gauge wire will get pretty warm.

For my 16 amp evse I have a 12 gauge wire circuit on a 20 amp breaker.
For anything bigger I have my 125 amp welding circuit on 4 gauge, say if I find a 20kw home chademo.

[oil pan 4]

I ordered a obd2 dongle and I will be getting leafspy.
Don't know why I didn't do this earlier.

[ldjessee00]

Since I have a 2017 Leaf, what would be the advantage of the LeafSpy and the dongle?

I see lots of information about older Leaf's, but since I have a recent Leaf, not sure what the advantage for me would be...

[oil pan 4]

It tells you everything going on inside the battery.