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      03-28-2016, 02:35 PM   #110
fsdks
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Drives: 2011 328i xDrive Sports Wagon
Join Date: Oct 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HansRobert View Post
Does anyone know if a charger larger than 10 amps is available without installing a level 2 charger?
No. It has to do with the max load that particular set of wiring can handle. That the breaker panel is a 20amp circuit for that particular outlet doesn't matter. The wiring from panel to outlet is not designed for the higher amperage.

watts (aka power) = volts x amps

So going from 120v to 240v doubles the power at the same amperage. That's why, in continental Europe where it's 240v, on a 10amp outlet an electric vehicle will charge faster than in the US.

A rough guide is you can only take 80% continuous amperage of a circuit breaker's rating. For example, a 20 amp circuit can only charge using 16 amps. Your X5's computer will tell the charger the correct amperage to pull from a specific type of receptacle. That's why in the iDrive charging settings you can tell the X5 if you're using L1 or L2.

A few rough numbers:
120v, 12 amp yields :3 miles per hour of charge
120v, 16 amp yields :4 miles per hour of charge
240v, 40 amp yields :31 miles per hour of charge
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Old: 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i (hers), 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e (hers), 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD, 2008 Subaru Outback AWD, 2001 Dodge Dakota 4WD, 2000 VW Golf, 1991 Dodge Ramcharger 4WD, 1988 Mercury Topaz AWD, and 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
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