2023-05-09: Article updated with test by Wallbox Pulsar Max.
If you have the opportunity to install a charging box at home, it makes electric car ownership much easier. Always having the car fully charged when you set off is a big advantage. Another is that it will be cheaper to charge at home than via a charger in town. But what should you consider when choosing a box?
Tested charging boxes
At home you charge with an AC charger which is usually marketed with how much power they can deliver. From 11 to 22 kW and sometimes even higher. However, these figures are misleading. On the one hand, your car must be able to receive the same high power, which is not always the case, especially when it comes to charging hybrids (the so-called on-board charger), and on the other hand because your electrical center and your cabling at home is limited. It is about simple mathematics – in two steps.
The main fuses set the limit
If we start with your electrical cabinet and your main fuses. If you have 3 x 16A in, the maximum power you can take out (the entire property) is 3 x 16 x 230 = 11 kW. In other words, if you charge the electric car at full speed with 11 kW, you have to have everything else switched off in order not to blow a main fuse. With 3 x 20A (the next step in the power station, which also costs more in your electricity subscription) gives you 3 x 20 x 230, i.e. 13.8 kW for the entire property. As you understand, hardly anyone comes close to being able to use 22 kW for the electric car at home. Even if you have 25 A in (like the highest most people choose in a normal villa).
Read also: Test of electric cars
To address the challenge of blowing fuses while charging (for example if you want to run the water heater and maybe the oven at the same time) load balancers are used to prioritize power down to the charging box when needed. Some boxes support wireless load balancing, others require a separate cable for this.
The second part is about the cable routing to the box. Even if you have 25A or more in the electrical cabinet for the house, it may be too thin cables stretched out where you want to set up the charging box. Sometimes running new cables is doable, sometimes it’s too big of a project, depending on where you live. The total sumaroom is 11 kW, what you should realistically expect to get out of an AC box at home. Therefore, it matters less if you buy one that promises more than that.
At the time of writing, you can make a deduction for both the installation job and the hardware when you get a charging box for the home. The deduction “Green Technology” means that you avoid half the cost when you hire a qualified installer. You cannot buy a box in town, but need to hire a company for both hardware and labor, in order to benefit from the deduction. The prices listed in the test are after deduction of the boxes and include “standard installation”. As with all handicraft jobs, however, you should request a quote based on your specific conditions. The work can be more expensive if, for example, there are long cable runs, drilling holes in a concrete wall, etc.
So we tested
We contacted the largest charging box manufacturers, directly or through dealer contacts. The boxes were then installed by M3’s authorized installer Niclas Hallin in various properties.
In assessing the boxes, we have looked at the quality of the hardware, what is included in the box and the installation (load balancer), functions and ease of use. But also design, as it is not only about the purely aesthetic, but not everyone may have room for a large and clumsy box next to the garage door. Another important aspect has been how easy/difficult the boxes have been to install, as this also affects the installation time (and thus the cost).
We will continuously update this article as we receive new boxes for testing.
Charge Amps Aura: Maxed double box for two cars
A box with double charging contacts for those who want to be able to charge two cars at the same time.
Rating 4 out of 5
Opinion
Charge Amp’s double box has bragging rights, but if you have two electric cars at home, it’s definitely interesting. Even if you don’t get anywhere near the effect it boasts, it is above all better looking than two separate boxes.
Positive
- Handsome
- Double outlet
- Good app
- Prepared for V2G
Negative
- Big and heavy
- More expensive than two separate boxes
- 4g only optional
Tested: June 2022
Manufacturer: Charge Amps
Maximum current and charging power: 2x22kW at 63 A/3-phase (TN network)
Connection: Wifi, ethernet, 4g (tillval)
Measure: 367 x 159 x 405 mm
Lowest price: SEK 14,950 at Elbilsvaruhuset.se (after deduction)
Read the full review of Charge Amps Aura
Charge Amps Halo: Stylish and flexible with good charging
Charge Amps Halo is a small, stylish and flexible charging box with fixed cable and an extra 230 volt outlet.
Rating 4.5 out of 5
Opinion
Charge Amps Halo 11 kW is a stylish and modern charging box for those who want a fixed cable on the box. We like the design and features, which make it slightly more expensive than the Norwegian models, but also have some other features.
Positive
- User friendly app
- Extra 230-volt outlet on the box
- Stylish and robust
- IP66 rated
Negative
- No 4g connection
- Hard-to-reach 230-volt socket (when the cable is coiled up)
Tested: June 2022
Manufacturer: Charge Amps
Maximum current and charging power: 11kW at 16 A/3-phase (TN network)
Connection: Wifi, bluetooth (for configuration)
Measure: 262 x 159 x 203 mm
Lowest price: SEK 6,985 at Laddboxbolaget (after deduction)
Read the full review of the Charge Amps Halo
Ctek Chargestorm Connected 2: Robust and clumsy
A substantial charging box that you have probably seen in public environments. For home use, however, it is not as interesting.
Rating 3 out of 5
Opinion
Ctek Chargestorm Connected 2 is a solid charging box for those who want to be able to charge the electric car quickly and stably at home. The box is connected (but not wireless by default) and we like the associated app. But it is certainly large for a neat installation by the garage of the villa, compared to the new, more flexible options.
Negative
- Wireless connection is not standard
- The format
Tested: June 2022
Manufacturer: C-tek E-mobility
Maximum current and charging power: 11kW at 16 A/3-phase (TN network)
Connection: Ethernet, 4g as an option
Measure: 449 x 282 x 160 mm
Lowest price: SEK 10,195 at Laddboxbolaget.se (after deduction)
Read the full review of the Ctek Chargestorm Connected 2
Ctek Njord: Smart portabel laddbox
Ctek Njord is a charging box that you plug directly into a standard three-phase outlet. It has good features but it lacks one important feature.
Rating 3 out of 5
Opinion
Ctek Njord is a smart solution for those who need to use the box in several different places. I like the features in the app and the box delivers as it should, but the lack of load balancing support means you have to keep a close eye on the output when plugging it in so you don’t blow fuses.
Positive
- Portable and easy to use
- Built-in residual current device (type A) with dc protection
- Good app
Negative
- Lacks support for load balancing
- A bit clumsy with the integrated cable
Tested: April 2023
Manufacturer: C-tek E-mobility
Maximum current and charging power: 11kW vid 16 A/3-fas
Protection class: IP65
Lowest price: SEK 6,485 with installation in existing CEE_outlet (incl. Green Technology deduction)
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Read the entire test by Ctek Njord
Lektri.co: Cheap single-phase box for the country house or charging hybrid
This single-phase box is perfect for those who have not highlighted three phases or who prioritize low price over high power.
Rating 3.5 out of 5
Opinion
An interesting box for those who do not have the opportunity to use a 3-phase box. Lektri.co’s charging box is small, flexible and easy to use, while being fairly cheap.
Positive
- Stylish and flexible
- Supports wireless load balancing
- Cheap
Negative
- Limited power with one phase
- No cloud service
Tested: June 2022
Manufacturer: Lektri.co
Maximum current and charging power: 7.4kW at 32 A/1-phase (TN network)
Connection: Wifi, bluetooth
Measure: 190 x 190 x 88 mm
Taken: SEK 4,995 at Elbilsvaruhuset.se (after deduction)
Read the full test by Lektri.co
Zaptec Go: Small thing that delivers
Zaptec Go is one of the smoothest boxes we’ve tested, while being modern and easy to use.
Rating 4 out of 5
Opinion
A really small and flexible charging box with important advantages such as free 4g connection, support for wireless load balancing and an easy-to-use app that lets you keep track of the charge at home. We also appreciate that it can be purchased in several different colors. Recommended.
Positive
- Small and discreet
- Available in several different colors
- Eco Mode
- 4G (with free connection)
Negative
- Advanced settings are only made at the box
- Plastic
Tested: June 2022
Manufacturer: Zaptec
Maximum current and charging power: 22kW at 32 A/3-phase (TN network)
Connection: Wifi, 4G (free), bluetooth (for configuration)
Measure: 242 x 180 x 75 mm
Taken: SEK 6,545 at Elbilsvaruhuset (after deduction)
Read the full test of Zaptec Go
Wallbox Copper SB: Simple and discreet charging box with convenient app
The Wallbox Copper charging box costs more, but is it really worth the money?
Rating 3.5 out of 5
Opinion
A stylish and reasonably flexible charging box with an easy-to-use app. However, as it does not support wireless load balancing and does not have 4G connection as standard, we think the price is on the high side.
Positive
- Stylish and easy to install
- Rfid card included
- Good app
Negative
- Does not support wireless load balancing
- 4G connection costs extra
- Relatively expensive
Tested: June 2022
Manufacturer: Wallbox
Maximum current and charging power: 22kW at 32 A/3-phase (TN network)
Connection: Wifi, bluetooth (for configuration), 3G/4G as an option
Measure: 192 x 260 x 113 mm
Taken: SEK 8,750 at Elbilsvaruhuset.se (after deduction)
Read the full review of the Wallbox Copper SB
Wallbox Pulsar Max: Modern and flexible charging box
The Wallbox charging box is a neat little thing with a built-in charging cable and a unique function for you with plans for solar cells.
Rating 4 out of 5
Opinion
A stylish and solid charging box that does the job gallantly, and which also offers a unique new function for you with solar cells on the roof. The installation is smooth, which allows for low cost, while the box itself is not more expensive than other corresponding models. Really good, we say, and when wireless load balancing is in place, it gets even better!
Positive
- Eco Smart mode
- Stylish and solid
- Good app
Negative
- No wireless load balancing (yet)
- Slightly strange contact holder
Tested: Maj 2023
Manufacturer: Wallbox
Max current and charging power: 22kW at 32 A/3-phase (TN network)
Load balancer: Not included, does not currently support wireless load balancing
Protection class: IP55
Taken: SEK 8,395 with standard installation (with Grön Teknik deduction)
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Read the full review of the Wallbox Pulsar Max
