Review: Wattsaving Level 2 Home Charger

"Level 2 EV Charger does have a few drawbacks to consider. One limitation is the absence of built-in WiFi functionality. It lacks the convenience of wireless connectivity for monitoring and control. Additionally, there is no dedicated app available for remote monitoring of charging status or adjustments."

Jim, I see this mentioned in a lot of reviews, but I do not understand the desire to have Wi-Fi on a charger. In my experience over the past 12 years of using L2 chargers, wi-fi has lots of disadvantages (below) and no practical advantages. Every electric vehicle is already connected so you can schedule charging times, monitor usage, etc. on the vehicle app. 

Disadvantages of Putting Wi-Fi on the charger:

• Added cost
• More stuff to break, and some chargers will not function if they lose the wi-fi signal (ask my $3,000 POJ Blink boat anchor still on the wall from 2010)
• Vehicle already has all the controls built-in to manage charging schedules, rates, etc. 
• Tinfoil hat: You are giving yet another company detailed data about your life that they will sell for a profit

Advantages of charger wi-fi:

• Detailed monitoring of power usage including charger losses (vs vehicle measuring excluding power losses) so more accurate but not sure what practical value? 

Am I missing something? 

@bayoubob ...Umm you know you don't have to get it right! It's just another choice that for SOME, is just fine for their needs. I would image that whoever get that or any other ones out there, they looked into it. Freedom of choices is great ain't it! 😎

@seancallahan ..Appreciate the info! Always useful to know and have choices. Key word there for others is choices! 😉

@bayoubob In addition to monitoring (which is great if you are a data geek), many cars just have scheduled charging start but could continue charging beyond the off-peak period or have the same scheduled start time regardless of the day.  The Wi-Fi EVSE will let you program the schedule to match 100% the off-peak schedule.  In addition Wi-Fi will let you lock the unit if the unit is out in public/shared garage and can take advantage of OCPP.  While not many utilities use OCPP now, this will get more popular and utilities will offer discounts to use OCPP (similar to how LADWP pays me to be able to adjust my thermostat).

I don't know which unit you have, but the Wallbox connects with both WiFi and Bluetooth and works just fine even if not connected.  

Posted by: @bayoubob

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Jim, I see this mentioned in a lot of reviews, but I do not understand the desire to have Wi-Fi on a charger. In my experience over the past 12 years of using L2 chargers, wi-fi has lots of disadvantages (below) and no practical advantages. Every electric vehicle is already connected so you can schedule charging times, monitor usage, etc. on the vehicle app. 

Forgot to tag Jim on this one @osrgarage !!

@bayoubob You aren't missing anything. Some people like to have it connected. Sometimes the app for the charger can give you different information about the charger itself, throttle up or down some chargers, etc.

It's just a preference for some, not a necessity. I don't have any wifi connected EVSEs.

Posted by: @ttrinchi

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@bayoubob In addition to monitoring (which is great if you are a data geek), many cars just have scheduled charging start but could continue charging beyond the off-peak period or have the same scheduled start time regardless of the day.  The Wi-Fi EVSE will let you program the schedule to match 100% the off-peak schedule.  In addition Wi-Fi will let you lock the unit if the unit is out in public/shared garage and can take advantage of OCPP.  While not many utilities use OCPP now, this will get more popular and utilities will offer discounts to use OCPP (similar to how LADWP pays me to be able to adjust my thermostat).

I don't know which unit you have, but the Wallbox connects with both WiFi and Bluetooth and works just fine even if not connected.  

Thanks for the clarification. The weaknesses in the car software aside (man, these OEMs really need to learn how to write and update software!) I appreciate your point on the OCPP. Personally, I think it is a super clumsy way to do this. Again, the vehicle is a much better system for managing this but you need to go through the OEMs or give the Utility direct access to your vehicle. A smart panel would be even better. But I appreciate that if there is actual value for someone today to get paid by a utility it would make sense.

For me there is no value in a wi-fi based system, but you make a good case for why there is value for you and others. Thanks.

(To answer your question, we currently have a 2010 Aerovironment charger that was the original Nissan Leaf charger. We got the charger but cancelled the car in 2010 after it became clear they were not doing liquid cooling on the battery and the battery warranty was not good - lucky bit of caution as it turned out - and we bought a second chevy volt). That little charger - no wifi - has been working perfectly for 12 years through the Chevy Volt era and the Model 3 era and is about to enter the post-model 3 era. We also have a blink that came at same time but was much fancier, with wifi, and broke almost instantly. It got repaired under warranty a couple of times (had software issues out the wazoo) and suffered from endless connectivity problems. It died but is big, bulky, and heavy so still hangs on the wall disconnected. We replaced it with a Tesla mobile charger which has been great for five + years.)

It's ok SeaSalter ..sorry the truth bothers ya 😉