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Post by duncan on Mar 18, 2013 21:39:14 GMT 11
I have installed the following meter to track the power usage of the charger: www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MS6165. This meter tracks the power drawn through one (or more) circuits and tracks it against multiple power rates (I needed 3 rates as I have a smart meter)  Cost was $119 from Jaycar. There may be cheaper options elsewhere with equivalent functionality. 1/ Insert the batteries and set up the screen per the provided instructions. frustrating. 2/ Install the clamp over a single wire of the circuit with the car charger. In my case that is simply turning the power off, removing the cover of the sub board and putting the clamp over the wire   Replace the cover and turn the power back on. The wireless sender is mounted to the wall using velcro  3/ Power meter is showing the power drawn by the power circuit, and tracking it on a $$ basis.  This meter also comes with a USB connection and downloadable software, but I was unable to get this running due to a driver problem. I am waiting on the supplier to come back with assistance on that. |
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Post by Brian on Mar 19, 2013 0:20:48 GMT 11
Very interesting, although I am looking for something a bit less sophisticated.
We already have a Cent-O-Meter which covers total household power use. With the LEAF on charge, the m/c on charge, and the electric kettle on, it triggers the alarm on the Cent-O-Meter. ( Memo to self - Must learn how to re-set this alarm to a higher value )
I would have thought it would have been relatively simple for the LEAF to record how many kWhrs it has taken on board with each charge - it would be great if this could be displayed on the central console. After all, the kWhrs consumed are transmitted to Carwings.
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Post by duncan on Mar 19, 2013 18:46:17 GMT 11
I agree, I'd be a lot happier if the car (or the app) could provide this info, it is pretty simple. The cost to charge is tiny compared to a tank of petrol so I think it would be a good sales point for Nissan.
I did look into meters that cover the whole house, but I was specifically interested in what the car was pulling down, and when. As it turns out, this unit can take up to 15 seperate inputs so I can track other specific circuits if I need to in the future
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Post by Brian on Mar 20, 2013 22:11:55 GMT 11
Agreed, Duncan. Evidently there is a group of LEAF owners in, I think, California / Bay Area, who were consulted on their suggestions for LEAF improvements to incorporate in the 2013 LEAF. One of these was for a light under the charge access lid, and Nissan have used this. So, it would seem that Nissan do listen to their customers. It would be good to see in the 2014 LEAF  |
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Post by duncan on Apr 6, 2013 22:11:23 GMT 11
So, an update on this a month later. I downloaded the data today, this is what it looks like for the last 20 days  In total that is 155kw/h, which at our off peak rate of 11.9c is $18.45, or 97c a day. We have used the car every day but don't always charge it (I think most days are showing on the graph because it normal charging goes over midnight for us, starts 10pm) BTW that $1per day compares to about $10pd I used to spend on petrol. |
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Post by Jim Hare on Apr 7, 2013 17:38:42 GMT 11
Fantastic data! Thanks so much for posting.
So it looks like your biggest day was day 18, which used about 18KWh.
Would love to figure out just how much a full charge costs. Assuming it's about 20KWh would make it somewhere in the $2 - $2.50 range for 150KMs. This would be pretty cool.
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Post by Phoebe on Apr 7, 2013 18:26:49 GMT 11
I don't have off peak, so I pay just under 25c per kwh. Even so it only cost me about $4.25 to recharge for about 8.5 hours after doing 162km. All that cost will end when my solar panels are connected, 'cos I'll only charge when the sun's out, then P.S. I will also get a Smart meter with the deal, so hopefully I can charge at a cheaper rate when there is no sun for long periods of time. |
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Post by duncan on Apr 7, 2013 19:52:22 GMT 11
well the battery is 24kw/h right, so 18kw is probably a full charge from on one of those days I got down to 0 bars.
Phoebe, we only have a smart meter because the house is new, but it works out well for the leaf (11c instead of 25c). It might be worth anyone with a standard meter getting a smart one installed...it may even be free from your supplier
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Post by Phoebe on Apr 7, 2013 19:54:51 GMT 11
My smart meter will cost me nothing and will be installed on Wednesday when my solar panels are installed.
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Post by duncan on Aug 16, 2013 12:31:56 GMT 11
Some discussions elsewhere reminded me it was time to update this thread. We have had the leaf a few months now so this should be pretty representative of running costs. This is for NSW, off peak smart meter rates less 22% discount (ie our actual rates)  . Also, over the last 3 months, the average charging cost has been 49c/day. |
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Post by Brian on Aug 26, 2013 22:29:46 GMT 11
After 12 months, and about 8,000 kms with our LEAF, we have a less technical and less accurate result from a different angle.
Pre-LEAF, our average daily house electricity consumption was 18.09 kWhrs per day.
Post-LEAF, that has risen to an average of 22.25 kWhrs per day, or by an average of 4.16 kWhrs per day.
But with an average solar PV production of 23.6 kWhrs per day, we can live with that. If we had to pay the full tariff rate of 26 cents / kWhrs, that would be about $1.08 per day, or $395 per year.
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