Smart EV charger

EV smart charger

An EV charger with dynamic load balancing, also known as a smart EV charger, measures the total energy consumption in your home or network during car charging. This is a technology in a charging station that prevents overcharging. Moreover, it prevents sudden power outages at home while charging your electric car, while at the same time ensuring optimal charging power.

Advantages of load balancer EV charging station

The advantages of a load balancer charging station are clear. Less overcharging, efficient use and strong cost savings.

1. Prevents overloading: load balancing dynamically adjusts the charging rate to avoid peak load on the power network. This minimises the risk of power outages and other network problems.
2. Efficient use of resources: it ensures more efficient use of available electric resources by distributing them evenly among the connected electric vehicles, optimising the overall load on the network.
3. Cost savings: by avoiding excessive demand for electric power, utilities can reduce costs for network upgrades. This also leads to lower electricity costs for users, as tariffs are often based on peak load.

Disadvantages of charge post with load balancing

The disadvantages of charge post with load balancing are rather limited. Nevertheless, it is important to know them so you can make the best decision for your specific situation.

1. Complexity and cost: Charge posts with load balancing require sophisticated hardware and software to function effectively. This can increase the initial cost of purchase and installation. Maintenance and possible repairs of these complex systems can also be more expensive.
2. Highly dependent on the internet: Load balancing charging stations depend on a reliable internet connection to communicate with the central management system. If this is interrupted, the management system may not be able to adjust load rates effectively.

Buy an EV smart charger

Planning to buy an EV smart charger? At Wallbox Discounter, you've come to the right place. This is because charge posts with load balancing often require specific hardware and software to work effectively. Not all charge posts are equipped with load balancing functions as standard, but ours are. Check out the various low-cost models we offer:

All our load balancing charging stations are excellent value for money and are delivered quickly and safely to your home. Curious about which load balancing charging stations we have? View our complete range for Smart EV chargers here. If you would like to know more about load balancing and how exactly it works, read the extensive blog on the subject here or contact us without obligation.

Load Balancing accessories

To ensure that your EV charger does not consume more power than is available, certain charging stations require a ‘load balancer.’ This smart device measures how much electricity is being used in the household and adjusts the charging current. This prevents your fuse box from becoming overloaded and causing a power outage. Not all EV chargers have this function as standard. Brands like Easee, Smappee, Tesla, Wallbox and Zaptec require a separate load balancer to enable Dynamic Load Balancing.

There are various load balancing devices, each with its own way of functioning and connecting. The Easee Equalizer, Wallbox Power Boost, Zaptec SenseandTibber Pulse connect to the EV charger via Wi-Fi and cable to the smart meter in the fuse box using the P1 port. These models are easy to install and work directly with your smart meter to regulate the charging current.

The Tibber Pulse is a universal device and can be used with Easee, Wallbox and Zaptec, whereas the other load balancers only work with their respective brand’s EV chargers.

If you don’t have a smart meter, the Smappee Infinity Kit and Tesla Neurio meter are available. These do not use Wi-Fi and the P1 port but measure power consumption using CT clamps that are placed around the power cables in the fuse box. This makes them suitable for more complex installations or older fuse boxes without a smart meter.

Frequent asked questions

What is dynamic load balancing EV charger?

A Dynamic Load Balancing EV charger automatically adjusts how much power your car receives based on the real-time energy use in your home or building. If other appliances (like a heat pump, oven, or washing machine) are using a lot of power, the charger temporarily reduces its load to avoid overloading the system. When demand drops, it increases charging again.

Do I need load management for EV charger?

Yes, in many cases load management is recommended. Especially when you have a limited grid connection (such as a single-phase connection or a 3-phase connection with 3x16A or 3x25A), the risk of overloading your electrical installation is higher. This risk increases when you use several appliances that require a lot of power at the same time, such as a heat pump, induction hob or washing machine.

Without load management, the charging station can demand too much power at times when there is already a lot of consumption in the house. The result? Fuses can blow, or worse: the main fuse shuts down the entire system to prevent damage.

Do EV chargers need load management?

Not every EV charger needs load management. It depends mainly on the charging power and capacity of your electrical installation. Charging posts with a lower capacity (such as 3.7 kW or 11 kW) require relatively little power. In most cases, the total power consumption remains well within the limits of what your distribution board can handle. As a result, the risk of overloading is small and load management is usually not required.

It is different with higher-powered charging stations, such as 7.4 kW or 22 kW. These chargers often use the maximum power your grid connection makes available. Especially if you simultaneously switch on other large consumers in your home (such as a heat pump, induction hob or tumble dryer), the total consumption may be too high. This can lead to fuses blowing or even the main switch tripping.

In such situations, Dynamic Load Balancing offers a smart and safe solution. The system monitors the total power consumption in the house and automatically adjusts the load capacity of the car. This prevents overloading and keeps your electrical system stable and safe.

What is the difference between static and dynamic load balancing?

Load management is a way of matching the power consumption of a EV charger to the available power. This can be done in two ways: static or dynamic. With static load management (also known as Manual Load Balancing), a fixed maximum is set as charging power, regardless of how much power is consumed elsewhere in the house at that time. This is easy to set, but does not take into account varying loads in the home or building. Dynamic load management (also called Dynamic Load Balancing) goes a step further. Here, the EV charger automatically adjusts the power output based on the current power consumption in the house. This prevents overloading the meter box and uses only the available power.

In households with higher energy consumption due to, for example, a heat pump, cooker, washing machine and dryer or several electric cars, dynamic charging is often the best choice.

Wallbox with load balancing?

Get your EV charger with load balancing from Wallbox discounter now and get more control over your energy bills. Our charge posts are not only budget-friendly, but guarantee years of high efficiency. Order now from Wallbox discounter and receive your load balancing charging station at your home within a few days.

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