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Really considering putting in a DC fast charger at home

5261 Views 97 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  R.I.P.
The L1 charging rate is pathetic and understandable. Capping the L2 charging rate at pretty much the L1 rate is not. So at this point I've been really considering putting in the Setec 10kW fast charger for home.


Theoretically this would give me the ability to charge from 0-100% in about 90 min. Maybe a bit longer if the charge rate starts to taper when near full.

What I find happen with my usage is I go out for a spirited ride, come home, and my battery level is low enough it really inhibits my ability to use the bike until the next day unless I just want to putter about locally and keep the speeds low. So basically the bike becomes a one and done for me unless I seek out an L3 charger which I don't have near me and sitting around for 40-50 min the hot Texas sun, is not how I want to spend my day.

So I've been seriously looking into the Setec. It has the ability to dial back the max charge rate from 10kW down to almost nothing. So I can balance how quickly I need to charge with the additional wear of the battery pack. Regardless it will still be less stress than going to a normal L3 charger which from what I understand the LW can only take a max of 25kW charge rate anyway.

So basically I could add about 1% charge per minute at max input. Or basically about a mile for every minute of charge based on my overall riding energy usage. This is a game changer for how I could use the bike. At home all I would need to do is replace one of my Tesla charges with this Setec and use my CCS adapter to charge the smaller Tesla. It would charge faster than the mobile charger I am using so a win/win.

The price is $2790 shipped to my door with a 2 year warranty. Even that isn't as bad as it seems. The electric vehicle charging station credit is back in the IRA bill that just passed. So I can deduct 30%, up to $1k, off my taxes. That puts me at about $1953 net to do this. I won't have to do any rewiring of my existing install. I already have a 60 amp circuit in place.

So it seems like a good option to circumvent the lack of faster L2 charging without a lot of additional stress on the battery pack. I can dial it up or down as I need it. This should significantly expand the usability of my bike by reducing the charging window when needed. When I have time, I'll just dial the charge rate back to 2kW or so. When needed a quicker top off, just dial it up.
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I hope the connection is stable given all the issues with the public charging system. Be really cool if this was a real option for slow level 3. Looking forward to hearing what your performance is like.
This unit does not mesh with or replace L3. It takes the juice from L2's and converts it to L3 to overcome the limits of vehicles with a small L2 onboard charger. I am using it with a Chevy Spark EV, which has a pathetic 3.3Kw L2 onboard. This makes for extremely slow L2 charging. The Setec unit allows me to take everything a 7kw L2 station can put out, stuffing it into the L3 pins on the vehicle instead of the slow L2 pins. It is no replacement for real L3, but more than doubles my L2 charging speeds.
But have you tested on the LW yet? I don't know if the spark is as picky as the LW is about L3 charging connections. Oddly I did have my dad's leaf fail at the free airport L2 charging. But I presume that could have been poorly maintained charging stations.
But have you tested on the LW yet? I don't know if the spark is as picky as the LW is about L3 charging connections. Oddly I did have my dad's leaf fail at the free airport L2 charging. But I presume that could have been poorly maintained charging stations.
No, I do not know anybody with a LW right now to test it with.
No, I do not know anybody with a LW right now to test it with.
you know us! :D Where you at?
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Azalea, Oregon.
ok, so your only 400 miles away. 😁
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Only 212 for me but i5 f that. More like 350 down the coast...
ok, so your only 400 miles away. 😁
But when it warms up if you want to come spend the day on it mine is listed on twisted road. And the dealer her almost always has one in stock and they have demo bike.
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ok, so your only 400 miles away. 😁
Nice afternoon ride. I am on Plugshare, drop by for a charge if ever coming through. 😎
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I don't know what happened to Setec. They've gone silent or maybe closed down for some holiday. I've been trying for several days to get the 10kW charger ordered without luck.

The weather has been good enough that I can ride quite a bit each day and the slow L1/L2 charging is really irritating me again. It was about 70F today and a lot of fun to ride.

They told me about a week to build, another week to ship to the US from the time I ordered. So maybe, if they come back online so to speak, I might have it by the end of the month.
I don't know what happened to Setec. They've gone silent or maybe closed down for some holiday. I've been trying for several days to get the 10kW charger ordered without luck.

The weather has been good enough that I can ride quite a bit each day and the slow L1/L2 charging is really irritating me again. It was about 70F today and a lot of fun to ride.

They told me about a week to build, another week to ship to the US from the time I ordered. So maybe, if they come back online so to speak, I might have it by the end of the month.
Chinese new years. I got some parts from them a couple of weeks ago, so they are alive & well. I talked with Angel day before yesterday.

These dcfc's are a side gig for them, so there can be a week at times with delayed communication.
Check this out

This looks promising for fast charging at home. It's says coming soon.
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Check this out

This looks promising for fast charging at home. It's says coming soon.
It does, but they have been teasing it now for about 3 years. I am on their email list for information, but cricket's about when it's going to be available. 🫤
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It does, but they have been teasing it now for about 3 years. I am on their email list for information, but cricket's about when it's going to be available. 🫤
I learned about it from this YouTube channel just now
Looks interesting but probably will cost more than it is worth to me. The LW is just a specific use case I am trying to find a solution for at a price point that is worth it to me.

If it has faster L2 charging, I'd be happy, even if it I had to give up L3 charging. This is not a bike I plan to ride 500 miles in a day. The Experia would be a much better option for something like that.

The lack of fast L2 charging is my main area of buyer's remorse about the bike. That and the crappy rear shock annoys me more every day.
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Looks interesting but probably will cost more than it is worth to me. The LW is just a specific use case I am trying to find a solution for at a price point that is worth it to me.

If it has faster L2 charging, I'd be happy, even if it I had to give up L3 charging. This is not a bike I plan to ride 500 miles in a day. The Experia would be a much better option for something like that.

The lack of fast L2 charging is my main area of buyer's remorse about the bike. That and the crappy rear shock annoys me more every day.
Grumpy Grumpy! My guess is the DelMar will better fit your use case if the range is good enough. I think it would have me for sure though because of the PNW the full rain fenders are possibly a good thing.
Heard back from Setec, Should have it ordered soon.

I like how the LW looks better than the DelMar. Also it is an unknown quantity at this point. Pretty much most of the warts of the LW are well known by now. There is a lot to like about the bike and I find it I ride it despite its flaws far more than my other bikes (if the range is enough).

As soon as there is a better shock available for it, I am replacing mine. The slow L3 charger will resolve my other complaint. With any luck I'll be using it by the end of the month.
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The Setec is finally ordered. I'll let you all know when it arrives and when I can finally get it installed.
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It does, but they have been teasing it now for about 3 years. I am on their email list for information, but cricket's about when it's going to be available. 🫤
For those interested, I emailed Autel about availability for the V2X and they responded with anticipated availability of July.
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This unit does not mesh with or replace L3. It takes the juice from L2's and converts it to L3 to overcome the limits of vehicles with a small L2 onboard charger. I am using it with a Chevy Spark EV, which has a pathetic 3.3Kw L2 onboard. This makes for extremely slow L2 charging. The Setec unit allows me to take everything a 7kw L2 station can put out, stuffing it into the L3 pins on the vehicle instead of the slow L2 pins. It is no replacement for real L3, but more than doubles my L2 charging speeds.
My Setec is finally being built and with any luck I might have it next week. Did you wire yours with a NEMA- 14-50 plug on it? If so, what one did you use?

I am excited to finally get this and try it out of the weather will stay enough above freezing to ride.
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