Siemens VC30BLKB 30-Amp Bottom Fed VersiCharge Electric Vehicle Charger
From Siemens
| Price: | $849.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
Product Description
The Siemens VersiCharge line of electric vehicle charging equipment is the most versatile, feature rich and easy to use system available to electric vehicle users. The lineup includes amperage control, flexible installation options, and intuitive user controls. The charging station is provided with a mounting bracket and a NEMA 4 enclosure rating for indoor and outdoor use. NEMA 4 ratings provide a water tight enclosure, as opposed to most other manufacturer's NEMA 3R ratings which are only rain resistant. A standard 20 foot cord and J1772 connector, which plugs into all North American electric vehicles, are provided. UL listing provides the highest level of longevity, reliability, and functionality available in the market today.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #14652 in Home Improvement
- Size: Bottom Fed
- Brand: Siemens
- Model: VC30BLKB
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 21.75" h x10.00" w x19.25" l,
Features
- Up to 7.2 kW or 30 A Level 2 charging can cut charge time in half versus Level 1
- 20-Feet long cord extends to hard to reach spots and easy delay feature allows car to start charging when you want it to so you can take advantage of non-peak utility rates
- NEMA 4 enclosure is one step better than the NEMA 3R enclosures on the market and can be mounted indoor or outdoor
- Cord and plug included with both rear and bottom fed versions for easy mounting
- New for 2013 Congress has reinstated a 30-Percent tax credit for the purchase and installation of Level 2 EVSE, call your tax expert to learn more
Most helpful customer reviews
52 of 55 people found the following review helpful.Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R326WFD7J8U5X [Note: Although I mention a 220v circuit in the video review, it is connected to a 208-240v 40amp double pole breaker.]We bought the Siemens 30-A Bottom Fed VersiCharge because it fits our lifestyle better than the 110v charger included in the car. I typically use the car in the morning for some errands and my wife uses it for about a 15 mile r/t to work and back in the afternoon. So I usually have a charging window of a couple of hours to top off our 2013 Chevy Volt before it goes out on the road again. The 110v charger would not get it back up to a full charge in time.Since I did a video review, I'll just mention a few things here I didn't have time to include in the review.What I like:Well made, sealed for outdoor use, although I have an inside installation.Feels sturdy -- the cables are thick and appear well insulated.Relatively quiet. When you're near it you can hear a faint electrical hum, but unlike some other units reviewed here, there is nothing that would ever bother you. It makes a firm electrical "click" when you plug in into the car (you can hear it in the video review) but nothing like an alarming bang that other devices seem to make.The large "halo" surrounding the device lets you see the charging status from a considerable distance. This can be disabled if desired.The charge plug inserts and removes from my Volt firmly, but easily.What could be better:The charging plug is somewhat difficult to remove from the holder in the charger. You have to press very firmly on the rubber-covered button and pull it away with some force. This may get better over time.The wall mounting bracket is plastic! Although it shows no sign of coming loose, hanging a 21 lb. electrical device on this flimsy bracket does not inspire confidence. (The plastic may be due to some requirement related to an outdoor electrical connection, but it should be thicker plastic.)The device wobbles a bit on the wall because it does not quite fit flush, due to the way the lag bolts go into the bracket. There is only a narrow vertical support, nothing horizontal. Not a big deal and it is on the wall securely.I feel this charger is somewhat overpriced, especially compared to the one offered by GM, but it also seems to be a better charger. I personally think they are all overpriced.Summary:A fine charger with a three-year warranty. If there are any problems I'll update this review, but I expect it to work well for a long time. This is a 4.5 star review, but I'll bump it to 5 because Siemens is a reliable company and the warranty is excellent.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful.I purchased the Siemens VC30BLKB bottom feed EV charging station from Amazon. I chose this charger for four reasons. 1) It was capable of delivering up to 30 amps, which makes it somewhat future proof; 2) Unlike most of the other units, it comes with a three year warranty; 3) It comes in a NEMA 4 weatherproof enclosure (even though I am installing it indoors, I think this provides extra protection); 4) At the time I made my purchase, the cost was $200 less than the comparable charger from Leviton (although Amazon has since raised the price by $150).Prior to receiving the charger, I read the manual on-line and installed a 40 amp dedicated circuit with a NEMA 6-50 female receptacle into my garage. Since my Nissan Leaf is only capable of accepting up to 16 amps, and since the Siemens charger has an internal adjustment to reduce the draw to 15 amps, I was hoping to have been able to use my existing dryer outlet. However, after speaking with Siemens Technical Support, I learned that the unit requires a dedicated 40 amp circuit regardless. I don't see any need to open the charger and perform the voltage adjustment since the charger that is built into the electric vehicle is capable of regulating the power.Once the receptacle was installed, mounting the charger was very easy. You must find a stud in the wall capable of holding 20 lbs. A mounting bracket with a built-in template is included. The bracket is mounted to the stud with two lag screws. The charger slips into the bracket and is plugged into the receptacle. Once plugged into the wall the charger has an LED to indicate that power is available. Plug the J1772 connector into the car and charging will begin as indicated by a different LED. A third LED indicates if the charger is in a ready state, such as when it has been plugged in but is set to begin charging at a later time. There is a pause button on the Siemens charger, as well as the ability to delay the charging for 2, 4, 6, or 8 hours. This delay could come in handy if you want to charge at certain times, when the price of electricity is lower, or if you want to wait for your battery to cool down for a couple of hours before charging.The charger is designed so that the cord wraps around it neatly. I look forward to many years of use for this device.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.Great EVSE for our 2013 Nissan Leaf that supports up to a 6.6 kW draw. Car recharges about 24 miles per hour vs 5 mph using Nissan's included 120v trickle charger. A fully depleted battery will recharge to 100% in 4 hours vs 21 with the trickle charger. This makes it great for weekend errand trips throughout the day.I chose this over the GE for the following reasons:1) 20' cord vs 162) Smaller/Lighter3) Charge delay featureI was also pleased that the handle isn't white which will show off dirt over time. It's more of a light gray top with a black bottom.Minor Con:- The connector is a little tight. You need to give it a good push for it to be properly seated to the connector. I'm hoping this'll get better over time.
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