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... Good luck with yours, Roger Levy</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" > <channel> <title>RSS Innovate Salone</title> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/</link> <description>Innovate Salone</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2025 01:28:11 +0200</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>daily</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <item> <title>Solar Chargers for car batteries</title> <description>As a handyman mechanic, I have been working with car batteries and alternators for about 20 years. Also during the last 8 years, I have been installing solar power systems in houses-4 so far. So, in my experience, I have found ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/solar_car_battery_chargers_best_buying_2.jpg" alt="Solar Car Battery Chargers: Best Buying Tips" align="left" /><p>As a handyman mechanic, I have been working with car batteries and alternators for about 20 years. Also during the last 8 years, I have been installing solar power systems in houses-4 so far. So, in my experience, I have found that car batteries, and deep cycle lead acid batteries can definitely be charged on 13.2 volts and in fact I am doing one right now off a Hard Drive 12 V power pack, putting out 0.2 Amps into my 50 AmpHour battery for my boat. It has been in trickle charge state for 36 hours and is now up to 13.7 volts, having started at 12.4 volts(which means it is only 50% full). When it gets to 14 V, I will turn it off and let it sit for 3 hours and check the voltage. I would like a resting voltage of 12.75 if possible. Batteries in reasonable condition can sit on 13.2 whilst charging at low amps indefinitely, all winter if you want. The problem comes if your charger has no regulation and takes the battery to 14.5 volts and leaves it there. Generally car alternators charge a battery at 14.5 volts and should also drop back to lower voltage after a time (depending on the car, it may only take 15 mins for the alternator to restore full charge after starting). Another feature of batteries, is the Equalising charge which a solar panel array will have built into it in the charge controller. So once a month, the controller will allow the battery pack to be slightly over charged, depending on the type of battery and the charging algorithm. Mine used 15.5 volts for 6 hours, only once a month, and this is intended to stir the electrolyte and reduce sulphation, the big battery killer. As far as I know, car charging doesn't do this. Anything over this is NOT GOOD for starting batteries, not even for fast charging. It is likely to heat the battery, bubble off electrolyte and buckle the plates. Good luck with yours, Roger Levy</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Car Battery Charger]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CarBatteryCharger/solar-chargers-for-car-batteries</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CarBatteryCharger/solar-chargers-for-car-batteries</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 21:28:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Dodge Charger Car Club</title> <description>The Alton, Texas police department is helping to build bridges between citizens of their border town and members of the department by donating a decommissioned 2008 Dodge Charger to a local lowrider club for modification. The ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/swift_car_club_dodge_charger_hemi.jpg" alt="Swift Car Club Dodge Charger HEMI - YouTube" align="left" /><p>The Alton, Texas police department is helping to build bridges between citizens of their border town and members of the department by donating a decommissioned 2008 Dodge Charger to a local lowrider club for modification. The goal, according to Alton Police Chief Enrique Sotelo as quoted in the McAllen area paper, The Monitor , is to help end the stigma that lowrider enthusiasts are criminals, all while building important rapport between the community and the police. We are living at a time when a lot of anti-police movements exist across the country. This is a really good opportunity for us to have a positive impact in our community and a great way to remove that stigma that lowriders are gangster vehicles. The Charger is being donated to the United Cities Car Club for use in their philanthropic efforts, like their upcoming school supply drive for disadvantaged children in the McAllen, Texas area, of which Alton is part. Club President Alfredo Treviño has been dealing with the stereotypes the patrol car will be used to fight since he was a teenager. Just because we rode these cars, people would think we were cholos or gang members. The cops would search our cars looking for drugs or weapons, but we always tried to stay out of trouble. His club, with over a dozen members, is made up mostly of family men with steady employment. Vice president Jaun Lopez works for the Hidalgo County Coroner’s Office and, perhaps unsurprisingly, drives a modified white hearse to various car shows. He seems pretty standard for the club he helps to administrate. When people see us riding our cars, they always assume that we are criminals, but it’s not like that. We have kids and we follow the law, and we actually get along with police. Kudos to the members of the United Cities Car Club, and a great big thank you to the Alton Police Department for working with law abiding enthusiasts to help kick stereotypes to the curb. We could use a lot more outreach like this, because community policing means more community and, well, less policing.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Compact Car Chargers]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/dodge-charger-car-club</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/dodge-charger-car-club</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:21:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Retractable iPhone 5 Car Charger</title> <description>There’s no reason your traffic-laden commute to work can’t double as the perfect time to charge your Apple device. Although there are plenty of car chargers with Lightning connectors out there that are capable of getting the ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/lightning_iphone_6_5_series_car.jpg" alt="Lightning iPhone 6 / 5 Series Car Charger with USB Port" align="left" /><p>There’s no reason your traffic-laden commute to work can’t double as the perfect time to charge your Apple device. Although there are plenty of car chargers with Lightning connectors out there that are capable of getting the job done, only a select few deserve your attention and hard-earned money. Some may tout a lightweight design or additional USB ports, while others are compact and attempt to save space, but nearly all of them provide a quick and convenient solution for charging your smartphone via the 12-volt socket — aka the circular cigarette lighter — housed within your vehicle’s dashboard or main interface. Below are a few of our current favorites. PowerBear Car Charger MFi Certified: Yes Length: 3 feet Warranty: 24 months Price: $22 PowerBear’s offering is another charger that comes with a built-in Lightning cable and also has two extra USB ports for charging other devices simultaneously. The charger will adjust to the connected device to charge it as quickly as possible. Unlike the Shine Future charger, it is smaller, but depending on where your car’s 12V socket is, the USB ports and cable may be harder to access or, at the very least, the cable will be bent in an uncomfortable-looking direction. Should anything happen to the charger, it’s covered by a 2-year warranty, so you can reach out to PowerBear to get a replacement. Buy one now from: E. T. Pocket Car Charger MFi Certified: No Warranty: Limited Price: $13 The car charger from E. T. Pocket features a retractable Lightning cable that puts out 1.2 Amps. It also comes equipped with one additional USB port in case you need it, and that’s really all this particular charger has to offer. Its design is straightforward and easy to use, which may be exactly what you want from a car charger. Buy one now from: Anker PowerDrive Car Charger Warranty: 18 months Price: $14</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Compact Car Chargers]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/retractable-iphone-5-car-charger</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/retractable-iphone-5-car-charger</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 21:18:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Retractable Micro USB Car Charger</title> <description>Most Useful Customer Reviews Colin Mayes Debenham Samsung Galaxy 7 edge Great Charger Excellent purchess fits easily into lighter compartment retractable so no twisted wires a great buy works fine with HTC desire + satnav Having ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/cellular_line_retractable_micro_usb_car.jpg" alt="Cellular Line Retractable Micro USB Car Charger Reviews" align="left" /><p>Most Useful Customer Reviews Colin Mayes Debenham Samsung Galaxy 7 edge Great Charger Excellent purchess fits easily into lighter compartment retractable so no twisted wires a great buy works fine with HTC desire + satnav Having heard that the Desire absolutely gulps down its battery when using satnav, etc, I was specifically looking for a car-charger that would deliver more juice than the phone was taking out of the battery. I asked about the charging rate but Customer Service couldn't help me with a figure (although they tried hard - please note that neither the packet nor the charger quote a rate in mA or A). Anyhow, I'm using Co-Pilot 8 and even with it running at full-tilt, I still get a net increase in charge. Charger plugs in nicely to my cigarette lighter (I've got a 2005 Renault Modus) - no wobbling, etc. All good :) Read 278 customer reviews | Write a review Why Buy? Retractable cable to avoid tangles Stylish and sleek design Charges at either 12v or 24v so it can be used in cars or trucks LED indicator to show when it is charging 95 cm the length of the lead Stops charging when your phone is full charged Why not ? Description Retractable This fantastic car charger features a retractable wire, which means you do not have excess wires getting in your way. Thanks to its compact size and ergonomic design, it is handy and convenient to use in the car. The sleek and stylish design also means its easy to store away in glove box when its not in use and thanks to the retractable cable, you won't have to keep untangling it everytime you need to charge the phone. Once recharging is complete, the cable rewinds completely at the press on a button, so that the car charger can be neatly stored on top of the dashboard or in the glove box, eliminating problems commonly encountered with tangled and twisted cords. The car charger has an automatic cut off which stops charging once your phones battery is full to ensure that your phone doesn't get damaged as a result of over charging. Stylish and sleek design Designed in Italy, this charger is the result of careful design, functionality and ergonomics research. Quality components, construction and the high gloss materials make this one of the most advanced car chargers in the world. The premium finish ensures that it matches the interior of your car. Works in all Cars and Trucks The charger switches between 12 and 24 volt so you can use the car charger either in your car or a lorry. The charger also features an LED indicator to let you know when your phone is charging and when its fully charged. Safety The car charger has an automatic cut off which stops charging once your phones battery is full to ensure that your phone does not get damaged as a result of over charging.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Car Usb]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CarUsb/retractable-micro-usb-car-charger</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CarUsb/retractable-micro-usb-car-charger</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:17:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>USB Car Charger not Working</title> <description>I purchased my iPhone 5S in December. My 2013 Chevy Spark has both a built in USB port that acts as a power supply and I also have a power inverter with a 2A and 1A USB plug, and just for back up, a USB plug for the lighter. For ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/best_iphone_66_plus_car_chargers_2.jpg" alt="Best iPhone 6/6 Plus Car Chargers: Powered up and Ready Wherever" align="left" /><p>I purchased my iPhone 5S in December. My 2013 Chevy Spark has both a built in USB port that acts as a power supply and I also have a power inverter with a 2A and 1A USB plug, and just for back up, a USB plug for the lighter. For one month, I was able to charge my iPhone 5S using the provided cord that came with my phone in either the built in USB, the power inverter or when needed the USB plug when I used another vehicle for work. No problems charging. Then this past Saturday, I got the notice, "this accessory may not be supported" and the phone refused to charge, (although the lightning arrow would appear next to the battery symbol and the phone indicated it was charging) using the provided USB cord in the power inverter. So I unplugged from the power inverter and into the cars USB port and the phone fully began to charge again. So I thought something was wrong with the power inverter. The next day, I went to plug in my phone into the same cord, plugged into the USB port in the car and the message appeared again. Now I could not charge using this method. So, I brought the cord back in the house and plugged it into the white box and into the wall and the phone would charge. Now today, again, the USB lighter adapter would not charge the phone with the same cord. What strikes me is that the phone would charge until I received these notices (for over 1 month) and now I can no longer charge the phone via any USB port. I have a friend who has the same phone and is able to charge his phone using either of the 3 options given above with the same cord.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Car Usb]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CarUsb/usb-car-charger-not-working</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CarUsb/usb-car-charger-not-working</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 21:15:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Peak car battery charger</title> <description>Recharge your battery—with portable, premium power. The PEAK® 2/15/100 12V Amp Battery Charger / Engine Starter comes with 70 amps and 12V vehicle jump-start capability. It manually charges 6-volt battery at up to 15 Amps and ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/amazoncom_peak_pkc0ao_300_amp_jump.jpg" alt="Amazon.com: Peak PKC0AO 300 Amp Jump Starter: Automotive" align="left" /><p>Recharge your battery—with portable, premium power. The PEAK® 2/15/100 12V Amp Battery Charger / Engine Starter comes with 70 amps and 12V vehicle jump-start capability. It manually charges 6-volt battery at up to 15 Amps and is ideal for charging or boosting during winter season. The PEAK® portable battery chargers automatically taper charges and stop charging when the battery is fully charged. The heavy-duty transformer and rectifier provide solid dependability while built-in circuit protection guards against any short circuits. These Linear Chargers automatically check for correct polarity with a minimum of 4 volts DC at the battery terminals. Heavy-duty cables and steel nickel-plated clamps are corrosion resistant for better connections and connect to side or top mount battery terminals all encase in a rugged steel case plus a sturdy handle. PEAK® Marine and Automotive Battery Chargers will charge 12 Volt marine and automotive batteries up to two times faster than comparable standard chargers. Automatic float operation switches from charging to float mode for battery maintenance and resumes continuous charging when the battery becomes discharged. Built in self-resetting circuit breakers protect against short circuits and heavy-duty cables and clamps are corrosion resistant. OLD WORLD INDUSTRIES, LLC warranties this product against faulty manufacture and defective materials. OLD WORLD INDUSTRIES, LLC. will not accept product liability for application or use of this product.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Car Battery Charger]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CarBatteryCharger/peak-car-battery-charger</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CarBatteryCharger/peak-car-battery-charger</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:14:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Universal Car Charger for Laptop</title> <description>Laptops are portable devices with their own power supply in the form of a rechargeable battery. These batteries only last for so long before they need to be recharged. Laptops use power adapters that plug into wall outlets for ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/callmate_universal_car_charger_for.jpg" alt="Callmate - Universal Car Charger For Laptop and Cell Phone: Buy" align="left" /><p>Laptops are portable devices with their own power supply in the form of a rechargeable battery. These batteries only last for so long before they need to be recharged. Laptops use power adapters that plug into wall outlets for this purpose. Hundreds of different brands of laptops exist on the market and each one uses its own type and model of adapter. Most manufacturers will provide accessories and parts for their laptops on their retail websites. Other places to find laptop adapters include electronics retail stores, and discount computer hardware wholesalers. It's also possible to find adapters and cables on auction sites like, eBay. When it's time to replace an old adapter with a new one, research is required to find the right kind of adapter. When looking for laptop adapters, owners need to check the model number and the voltage and amperage requirements of their laptop. This information is used to look for a compatible laptop adapter online. The voltage of an adapter needs to match the required voltage of the laptop. However, the amperage of an adapter can meet or exceed the required amperage. Laptop owners also need to get an adapter with the right connector type. The cylindrical connector tips are the most commonly used type for a laptop device. Another option is to look for a universal power adapter, which can adapt its power settings to the laptop and comes with multiple connector tips. Laptops Use DC Power All laptops use Direct Current (DC) power to operate. DC is electrical energy that flows consistently in one direction. Ideally, the power flows into the laptop. Most wall outlets use Alternating Current (AC), which varies constantly, but results in a positive flow of current. Laptops can't work on this kind of power, so an adapter is required to convert the wall outlet's current to DC power. The adapter is the small, heavy black box connected to the cables between the laptop and wall outlet when charging the laptop battery. These devices are what make it possible for the laptop to use the AC power from a standard wall outlet. There are also DC adapters for those power outlets that do provide DC power. Types of Adapters for Laptops Laptops rely on two main types of power adapters for energy: the AC adapter and the DC Adapter. These adapters, also known as chargers, are what help convert the electricity from the wall outlet into a form that's usable for the laptop. AC Adapter The AC adapter converts AC power from a wall outlet found in most homes to the DC power used by most small appliances. Laptops, cell phones, computers, and DVD players all use DC power. This is the kind of power provided by batteries, which most laptops use to keep running when the owner is mobile. DC Adapter Laptops use DC power, so it doesn't seem like a DC adapter is necessary when plugging into a DC power source. However, most sources of DC power provide a voltage that is too low for the needs of a laptop. A DC power adapter is required to take that power and convert it to a higher voltage that the laptop can use to charge its battery or run. DC power sources include cars, in-flight outlets, and solar power panels or batteries. Universal Power Adapters Another option for laptop owners is a universal power adapter. These adapters are more expensive, but can adapt to any power source and voltage. Theoretically, universal adapters can work on any laptop. This makes them quite useful, especially among those who travel frequently and never know where their next source of power is coming from. Universal adapters also come with a variety of connector types to fit a wide range of laptops. Many laptops use different styles of connectors so it can be hard to find the best adapter to fit. Finding the Right Model of Adapter Since there are so many different adapters on the market, it's essential to check which type of adapter a laptop requires before purchase. Most adapters are marketed for specific brands and models of laptops. They will also list the voltage, current, and polarity of the adapter. This way, laptop owners can select the appropriate adapter for their devices. Finding the correct adapter for a laptop means checking the laptop's model number and power requirements. Get the laptop's model number. This is usually printed on a small sticker affixed to the underside of the laptop. Get the power requirements for the laptop. This is also printed on a small sticker affixed to the underside of the laptop. It may also be printed near the laptop power port. Look for the amperage and the voltage required. Look up the model number online to find if there are compatible adapters available. The voltage and amperage of the adapter need to match the requirements of the laptop. Compare the connector type of the laptop adapter to any available adapters found online. They need to match to ensure that the adapter can plug into the laptop. About Voltage Voltage is what pulls electrical energy into the laptop. It's kind of like the wheels on a paddleboat, which turn and push the paddleboat across the water. In this case, the paddleboat is actually a bunch of electrons. If the voltage of the laptop is different from that provided by the adapter, it won't be able to create the correct charge needed to pull the electrical energy into the laptop. Finding the right voltage for a laptop adapter is also important to keeping the power from shorting out the laptop. A voltage that's too high will overload the laptop's circuits. Owners will end up needing to buy more than just a new adapter at that point. About Amperage Amperage, also known as current, is what gives the laptop enough power to run. It is the amount of electrical energy that flows into the laptop at any single moment. Laptops need the right amount of consistent energy flow to power all the circuits within the device. Usually, voltage is a measure of how much potential energy the laptop can use. The amperage on laptop power adapters needs to match or exceed the amperage required by the laptop. Connector Types When looking for a replacement laptop adapter, check that the connector is going to fit the laptop's power port. All laptops use DC power connectors, but not all connectors are going to be the same. Laptop Connector Types Description Cylindrical Connectors Known as barrel connectors, sleeve connectors, tip connectors, and coaxial power connectors; they are an insulated, hollow cylinder that connects to the laptop power port</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Compact Car Chargers]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/universal-car-charger-for-laptop</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/universal-car-charger-for-laptop</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:12:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Third Brake Light Decal</title> <description>AmericanMuscle has partnered with UPS &amp; I-Parcel for orders shipping outside the United States (including PR, GU, VI, and APO/FPO) and Canada. International shoppers now get the benefit of seeing product prices in their local ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/mustang_third_brake_light_decal.png" alt="Mustang Third Brake Light Decal - Mustang Evolution" align="left" /><p>AmericanMuscle has partnered with UPS & I-Parcel for orders shipping outside the United States (including PR, GU, VI, and APO/FPO) and Canada. International shoppers now get the benefit of seeing product prices in their local currency, guaranteed order totals, cost-effective international shipping, and much more. You can use the flag icon at the top of the screen to select your destination country and local currency if it has not been done automatically. If you do not see the icon, please click the link below. All international orders must be placed on our web site. Note: AmericanMuscle only supports international shipping to those countries listed as options in the international link. If a country is not listed as an option, then we do not offer shipping to it at this time. Unfortunately not all products AmericanMuscle sells can be shipped to internationally, such as out of stock and pre-order or any other items which cannot be fulfilled immediately will be removed from your order once placed and an appropriate refund issued.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Compact Car Chargers]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/third-brake-light-decal</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/third-brake-light-decal</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:12:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Car battery Solar charger</title> <description>While car solar battery chargers work, the charging amperage typically isn't very high. imagenavi / Getty Question: Do solar battery chargers work? Been thinking about getting a battery charger to have one just in case, and I ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/solar_car_battery_chargers_best_buying.jpg" alt="Solar Car Battery Chargers: Best Buying Tips" align="left" /><p>While car solar battery chargers work, the charging amperage typically isn't very high. imagenavi / Getty Question: Do solar battery chargers work? Been thinking about getting a battery charger to have one just in case, and I came across these “solar battery chargers” while I was looking. Seems like it could be a really handy thing to have, but it sort of tickles my “too good to be true” sense, like those “jump starters” you plug into your cigarette lighter. Cool in theory, but less so in practice. Do these solar battery charger things really work, or should I save my money for the real deal? Answer: Solar battery chargers do work, so long as you don’t expect them to be something that they aren’t. Unlike regular battery chargers that often have multiple amperage settings, solar battery chargers typically put out a very small amount of current that is more useful in maintaining a charge than charging a dead battery. And you’re right to be a little suspect of any charger that only comes with a cigarette light socket adapter, many solar battery chargers also come with alligator clips. How Solar Battery Chargers Work Solar battery chargers work by converting energy from the sun to electricity that your battery is capable of storing. This is accomplished by a photovoltaic solar panel, which is the same basic technology you may have seen used in residential and commercial settings to provide off-grid or grid-tied power. In fact, home solar power systems often use lead acid batteries to store power for use at night or on overcast days. Before you get excited, the solar panels used in solar battery chargers are nothing compared to the ones used in residential and commercial solar power systems. While the technology is the same, the solar panels used in solar battery chargers are typically only capable of putting out between about 500 and 1, 500 mA. And while you can technically tie multiple chargers together, doing so is dangerous if you aren’t familiar with the technology. Solar battery chargers typically aren’t equipped with regulators, either, which means that if you hook one to a load, it will happily provide whatever it is capable of providing whether it’s actually a good idea or not. Can Solar Battery Chargers Charge Car Batteries? The amount of amperage that a solar battery charger puts out will depend on a variety of factors, including the build quality, how sunny it is, and your latitude. However, they typically put out somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 to 1, 500 mA. You can find solar chargers that put out more, and panels designed for recreational vehicle use are often capable of putting out a lot more, but a reasonably priced solar charger for car batteries will be in that range. If you’re familiar with trickle chargers, it will be readily apparently that solar battery chargers are indeed capable of charging car batteries. Since that is the general range that trickle chargers typically operate in, there shouldn’t, in theory, be any issue with charging a car battery with a solar charger. One issue is that most of these chargers don’t include a voltage regulator or any way to modify or shut off charging, which means that you may not be able to set and forget it like you can with a trickle charger that includes built-in float monitoring.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Car Battery Charger]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CarBatteryCharger/car-battery-solar-charger</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CarBatteryCharger/car-battery-solar-charger</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:10:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>240V Electric Car Charger</title> <description>A lot of people have asked me whether installing level 2 charging is worth it for their Chevy Volt, (Or any electric car for that matter) . The answer to that is a function of several things. How you use the car, and how much it ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/electric_car_charging_the_basics_you.jpg" alt="Electric Car Charging: The Basics You Need To Know" align="left" /><p>A lot of people have asked me whether installing level 2 charging is worth it for their Chevy Volt, (Or any electric car for that matter) . The answer to that is a function of several things. How you use the car, and how much it costs you to install the charging equipment. This article will cover the basics, from what Level 2 charging really is, how much you should realistically expect it to cost to install, whether you’ll find it useful, etc. If you’re looking to buy your first electric car (or plug in Hybrid) this will answer your basic questions about level 2 charging. The Basics: What is Level 2 Charging? Simply put you have two ways of putting electricity into your car while you are at home. The way to think about it is this. Your regular appliances in your house run on 120 volt electricity. A regular “house” socket. Think vacuum cleaners, TV’s, toasters etc. These plugs can only provide so much electricity (power) at once. If you’ve ever tried to use too much, you’ll notice your house circuit breakers shut down the circuit for safety reasons. Specifically, the maximum power that most of these circuits will allow is about 1300 watts or 1.3 Kilo-watts (1.3 thousand watts). These types of plugs are what we broadly call “Level 1 Charging”. For most electric cars, this means that you can put about 3-4 miles of range into the car per hour of charging. The alternative is to plug into 240v power, which is the types of plugs that your large appliances use like your washer / dryer or dishwasher. These kinds of plugs provide more electricity, up to 6, 600 watts or 6.6 Kw. (Roughly up to 5x more electricity). To use this type of power however, requires that you install a special charging station. These charging stations are an additional appliance that handles the extra juice and pipes it into your car. Cars like the Chevy Volt and current Nissan Leaf however, can only accept charging up to 3, 300 watts, or roughly 10 miles per hour of charging due to limitations on the car’s side. (This may change in the future however) Where do I buy the charging station and how much does it cost to install? There are two key costs installing a Home Level 2 EV Charging station. 1.) Buying the actual Home EV Charge Station -The actual equipment itself costs between $450 and $1, 000 at today’s prices. You can buy these online through several retailers and they will ship to your doorstep. Bosch Automotive (recently acquired SPX Service Solutions) now offers low-end charging stations at $450. Most of the cost savings come by shortening the cables down to 12 feet if you don’t need the long ones and by reducing the maximum electrical capacity to those demanded by a car like the Volt. (3, 300 watts instead of the full 6, 600 that other stations can handle) Check out their Power Max Stations Here. 2.) Hiring the Electrician to install it. -Depending on how much “work” needs to be done to add the additional circuit and how expensive an electrician you hire, you should expect between $500 and $1, 500 in labor. To give you perspective, when I did it, it cost about $1, 400 in labor, but that involved replacing my entire circuit panel and paying “full prevailing wages” which is at the high end of a non-competitive market. You can read more about it at my level 2 installation article here. Luckily, I had a lot of federal and state subsidies to help offset the costs, but many of those are no longer available. Simple installations like just running an additional circuit may be a lot less. That seems like a bunch of work, is there an easier way? Bosch offers turnkey services to install your EV Charging station, you can check out their site here (Remember they bought SPX who used to do this). It is more expensive than doing it yourself, but can be more convenient especially if you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the process of hiring an electrician. When I did it, SPX definitely had some growing pains (problems with scheduling, service, etc.) but that was almost 2 and half years ago and I am told things have gotten better. I would mention that once you have your appointment scheduled however, that the electrician they sourced did a fantastic job. Is all this expense really worth it? It really depends on how much you drive your car and whether you have a plug in hybrid like the Ford C-Max / Fusion Energi or the Chevy Volt. vs. a full electric car. For a full electric car, it is pretty much a requirement; otherwise you’ll never have enough electricity to get around (no gasoline backup!). For a 20 mile plug in hybrid like the Fusion Energi, the total charge times and total battery capacity is only 5 hours. For something like the Volt, fully charging the battery after a trip can take up to 12 hours! If you commute everyday with the Volt, you’ll find that the 12 hour charge times really get to you as it’s hard to every “fully” catch up with your charging needs. Also, with 12 hour charging, it can be a lot harder to make full use of “Time of Use Electricity Rates” Where you get the cheapest electricity between certain hours of the day. Where I live it is between midnight and 7 AM. The difference in electricity cost can be 3x! However, you should think that the biggest savings will be the times when a level 2 charge could have saved you from burning gas. The good news with most plugins is that you can start of just using your regular plug and see how it goes, then add up all the times you didn’t leave with a full battery and started to use gasoline. While personally I hate burning gas and would pay extra to not have to do it, many buyers today are thinking about it from strictly a cost angle. One way to look at it is that to save the $1, 000 or so minimum you’d spend on installing the charge station, you would need to save about 250 gallons of gas at today’s gas prices. Roughly speaking, that buys you 9, 000 miles of driving in a Volt. (250 x 35 mpg) So if displaced about 20 miles of driving each day with the level 2 charge station it would make up for the cost in about 450 days of driving. (Think 2 years). This would mean you are driving a lot and quite frequently though.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Compact Car Chargers]]></category> <link>http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/240v-electric-car-charger</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://innovatesalone.org/CompactCarChargers/240v-electric-car-charger</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2025 21:06:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> </channel></rss>If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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