Re: New home charging station soon on li

[LEE A HART <XURQ03A@PRODIGY.COM>]

Mark Bahlke asked:
>...how to control the time of use circuit so it doesn't run during
>the day, or "on-peak" times, but turns on during the "off-peak" times.

Ask your utility if there are any additional penalties for using on-peak
power. My Lester charger already has a timer, but it draws its power (3 watts)
from the AC line all the time. My utility company (Northern States Power)
charges 15 cents / KWH for on-peak power *but* will discontinue off-peak
service if I use more than 10 KWH on-peak per year! A 3w timer uses 26 KWH per
year.

The utility can supply a timer; ask about cost and see if it is worthwhile. Or
you can power a timer from a separate line, as you suggest.

Or, get a battery operated timer, like those used for sprinklers or furnaces.
I have used a programmable setback thermostat (Robertshaw/Lux TX-series).
These thermostats are powered solely by batteries, and have an output relay
that is UL listed for up to 1amp at 120vac. I replaced the thermistor with a
fixed resistor so it read 70 degrees all the time, and programmed the setpoint
temperature to 80 deg. when I wanted the relay on, and 60 deg. when I wanted
it off. The 1amp output was adequate for my charger's control circuits, but
you might need to have the thermostat control a power relay for your charger.

Lee Hart                     If you would not be forgotten
4209 France Ave. N.          Soon as you are dead and rotten
Robbinsdale, MN 55422 USA    Either write things worth the reading
phone (612) 533-3226         Or do things worthy of the writing
e-mail XURQ03A@prodigy.com   (Ben Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac)
Re: New home charging station soon on li