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In case you don't watch Technology Connections... 1. You probably should, Alec is great. 2. Here's a longer broader video about what goes on in an EVSE: https:

In case you don't watch Technology Connections... 1. You probably should, Alec is great. 2. Here's a longer broader video about what goes on in an EVSE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMxB7zA-e4Y&t=1429s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMxB7zA-e4Y&t=1429s There are too many comments to go sling context left and right, but generally an EVSE is a controller board (what this is implementing), a contactor (this board uses relays), and a GFCI (in North American parlance), which his RCBO provides along with being a current limiting circuit breaker. Contactors are generally better for these use cases for reliability and current handling reasons but it wouldn't surprise me if SCRs and Relays are in use in low cost 16A EVSEs on Amazon.

cduzz 2y ago
I've got one of those cheapo 16a chargers from amazon. It's been outside for 3 years running now and still works as well as it did when I installed it. I'm not 100% comfortable with using a nema 6-20 instead of hard-wiring the connection, but it was cheap and easy to get vs pulling some big new service. I'm kinda puzzled about the system, though -- an EVSE is theoretically about as complex as a smart extension cable, but ... it stays warm even just sitting there not charging and gets to be 20 degrees F warmer than ambient when charging, which seems wrong for "just a relay"
- Moto7451 2y ago
  This is how I charge also. I’m going to eventually have a hard wired EVSE mostly for solar timing but I usually am fine at 12-16A on a NEMA 6-20 or 5-20. My $120 unit off Amazon is more reliable than the $1200 Porsche charger I also have (and that is while ignoring the open and unresolved recall for undersized wire used on the plug tail). My guess is warmth on the unit is a dumb inefficient DC transformer for the controller. There is an Energy Star spec for low standby energy use that most of these inexpensive ones don’t hit.
resource_waste 2y ago
Ever since he was incorrect about his dishwasher video, I havent decided to spend 45 minutes watching this youtuber.
- belval 2y ago
  He's one of those youtubers (everyone seems to have one) that I just don't like, everyone on HN always says his videos are good/educational, but to me he just comes off as confidently incorrect and on the few videos where I am more knowledgeable than the average person his assertions are often wrong which makes me doubtful of his other content. To anyone reading this who likes his content, I'm happy for you, I guess I just don't get it.
  - kibwen 2y ago
    His videos are interesting, and he's got an admirable attitude for doing experimentation and research. But he's not a subject matter expert on any of these things, and it shows. He's more like an independent reporter and/or journalist. Other channels on technical topics often hire experts to check them to make sure they're not making any obvious mistakes, and his videos would benefit from the same treatment.
    - gattilorenz 2y ago
      To both of you: care to elaborate on which videos and inaccuracies you found?
      - burnerthrow008 2y ago
        I'm sure everyone will have their own, but some examples off the top of my head: * In the video about EVs not illuminating the brake light when regen braking, he confidently assumes that the problem is with all EVs, not just the particular brand of EV he drives. * Not knowing that inverter microwaves exist, and confidently asserting that you can hear every microwave cycle on and off. * (Over a series of videos) Letting his hatred for Tesla color his videos about EV charging. For the last bullet: He went on and on about how every other brand uses CSS (with no acknowledgement that more than half of EVs in the US were, and still are to this day, made by Tesla). He ranted that CCS was obviously superior, argued that Tesla was trying to lock in their customers (despite EVgo and a couple others already offering Tesla plugs). After the industry switched to the "inferior non standard", he started parroting the lines "well Tesla is just CCS anyway" and this is "Good For Bitcoin^H^H^H EVs". It's too bad because there was actually a lot of good info in his EV charging videos. They're just so heavily slanted that I can't recommend them to anyone.

cduzz 2y ago

I've got one of those cheapo 16a chargers from amazon. It's been outside for 3 years running now and still works as well as it did when I installed it. I'm not 100% comfortable with using a nema 6-20 instead of hard-wiring the connection, but it was cheap and easy to get vs pulling some big new service. I'm kinda puzzled about the system, though -- an EVSE is theoretically about as complex as a smart extension cable, but ... it stays warm even just sitting there not charging and gets to be 20 degrees F warmer than ambient when charging, which seems wrong for "just a relay"

Moto7451 2y ago
This is how I charge also. I’m going to eventually have a hard wired EVSE mostly for solar timing but I usually am fine at 12-16A on a NEMA 6-20 or 5-20. My $120 unit off Amazon is more reliable than the $1200 Porsche charger I also have (and that is while ignoring the open and unresolved recall for undersized wire used on the plug tail). My guess is warmth on the unit is a dumb inefficient DC transformer for the controller. There is an Energy Star spec for low standby energy use that most of these inexpensive ones don’t hit.

resource_waste 2y ago

Ever since he was incorrect about his dishwasher video, I havent decided to spend 45 minutes watching this youtuber.

belval 2y ago
He's one of those youtubers (everyone seems to have one) that I just don't like, everyone on HN always says his videos are good/educational, but to me he just comes off as confidently incorrect and on the few videos where I am more knowledgeable than the average person his assertions are often wrong which makes me doubtful of his other content. To anyone reading this who likes his content, I'm happy for you, I guess I just don't get it.
- kibwen 2y ago
  His videos are interesting, and he's got an admirable attitude for doing experimentation and research. But he's not a subject matter expert on any of these things, and it shows. He's more like an independent reporter and/or journalist. Other channels on technical topics often hire experts to check them to make sure they're not making any obvious mistakes, and his videos would benefit from the same treatment.
  - gattilorenz 2y ago
    To both of you: care to elaborate on which videos and inaccuracies you found?
    - burnerthrow008 2y ago
      I'm sure everyone will have their own, but some examples off the top of my head: * In the video about EVs not illuminating the brake light when regen braking, he confidently assumes that the problem is with all EVs, not just the particular brand of EV he drives. * Not knowing that inverter microwaves exist, and confidently asserting that you can hear every microwave cycle on and off. * (Over a series of videos) Letting his hatred for Tesla color his videos about EV charging. For the last bullet: He went on and on about how every other brand uses CSS (with no acknowledgement that more than half of EVs in the US were, and still are to this day, made by Tesla). He ranted that CCS was obviously superior, argued that Tesla was trying to lock in their customers (despite EVgo and a couple others already offering Tesla plugs). After the industry switched to the "inferior non standard", he started parroting the lines "well Tesla is just CCS anyway" and this is "Good For Bitcoin^H^H^H EVs". It's too bad because there was actually a lot of good info in his EV charging videos. They're just so heavily slanted that I can't recommend them to anyone.