Is the Charging Station Pro worth it or a waste?

Hey Lightning owners, I need some advice. My private electrician quoted me $7500 to install the Charging Station Pro. I knew it wasn’t going to be a standard install because my main panel is nearly full, but I didn’t think it would be this expensive! I don’t even want to know what Qmerit will quote me, but I’ll probably ask just for fun.

Does anyone know of better options for home charging? I really don’t want to be stuck using the level 1 trickle charger forever.

I’m thinking of just using a 14-30 to 14-50 adapter on my dryer plug for now and settling for 30-amp charging. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.

Lane said:
I’m thinking of just using a 14-30 to 14-50 adapter on my dryer plug for now and settling for 30-amp charging. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.

Honestly, that’s enough for most situations. You’ll be fine.

Lane said:
I’m thinking of just using a 14-30 to 14-50 adapter on my dryer plug for now and settling for 30-amp charging. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.

Be careful with that. If your dryer outlet is on a 30-amp breaker, you should only pull 24 amps for safety. Modern code follows the 80% rule, meaning you shouldn’t max out the circuit.

The cord that comes with the truck might pull 30 amps, which could trip the breaker or cause overheating. If you want to play it safe, look into chargers like the Grizzl-E Mini, which lets you adjust the amperage to stay within safe limits.

@Zion
Thanks for the heads-up! I’ll double-check everything before using it.

@Zion
Yeah, a 14-30 outlet can only handle a 30-amp breaker. Using anything higher would be unsafe and against code.

Bliss said:
@Zion
Yeah, a 14-30 outlet can only handle a 30-amp breaker. Using anything higher would be unsafe and against code.

You’re absolutely right. I’ll edit my earlier comment to clarify. Thanks!

Lane said:
I’m thinking of just using a 14-30 to 14-50 adapter on my dryer plug for now and settling for 30-amp charging. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.

I’ve been driving EVs for over five years, and my 7.2 kW charger has always been enough. Even after a long trip, I can charge enough in an hour to run errands. You really don’t need anything faster at home unless you’re constantly road-tripping.

Lane said:
I’m thinking of just using a 14-30 to 14-50 adapter on my dryer plug for now and settling for 30-amp charging. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.

When I had a Chevy Bolt, I used its small 32-amp charger for months before upgrading. It worked fine, especially if you can plug in most nights. It’s way faster than the level 1 charger.

Did your electrician explain what’s included in that $7500 quote?

Aeron said:
Did your electrician explain what’s included in that $7500 quote?

Yeah, it includes a full upgrade to a 200-amp panel. My current panel is maxed out.

Lane said:

Aeron said:
Did your electrician explain what’s included in that $7500 quote?

Yeah, it includes a full upgrade to a 200-amp panel. My current panel is maxed out.

If that’s the case, $7500 could be reasonable depending on how much work is involved.

Lane said:

Aeron said:
Did your electrician explain what’s included in that $7500 quote?

Yeah, it includes a full upgrade to a 200-amp panel. My current panel is maxed out.

That price sounds high. A new panel and breakers shouldn’t cost more than $1500. Are they charging $6000 for labor?

Lane said:

Aeron said:
Did your electrician explain what’s included in that $7500 quote?

Yeah, it includes a full upgrade to a 200-amp panel. My current panel is maxed out.

What’s your current panel rated at? You might not need a full upgrade, just some creative breaker rearranging.

If you’re adding the backup power option, that quote sounds about right. But if it’s just for level 2 charging, it seems way too high. Are they including a panel upgrade in that price?

Ridley said:
If you’re adding the backup power option, that quote sounds about right. But if it’s just for level 2 charging, it seems way too high. Are they including a panel upgrade in that price?

Yep, they said I need a full panel upgrade to a 200-amp box.

@Lane
What’s your current panel size? Do you have a lot of other high-power stuff running?

Paz said:
@Lane
What’s your current panel size? Do you have a lot of other high-power stuff running?

It’s a 150-amp panel. I’ve got a big house with a pool and landscaping, so it’s pretty loaded.

@Lane
I’ve got a 150-amp panel too, and I’m adding a 100-amp breaker for my EV charger without upgrading the panel. You might be able to do the same.

If you’re getting a panel upgrade and the charger installed, $7500 might be worth it.