The ten most important criteria for an uncomplicated installation and satisfied customers
At first glance, wallboxes differ mainly in their design, but the differences are even more obvious when it comes to installation and commissioning. Product development at Juice focuses on user-friendliness in order to guarantee easy handling. At the same time, the needs of our commercial partners (such as electricians) are also taken into account: installation and commissioning should be as uncomplicated and time- and cost-saving as possible.
What requirements must permanently installed wallboxes meet to ensure that installation is quick and easy? Ideally, they should be based on these ten requirements, all of which our JUICE CHARGER me 3 meets with flying colors. An even simpler solution follows at the end of the article.
Ten must-haves for a permanently installed wallbox:
- Plug & Play: The basic requirement is that the charging station has already been completely preconfigured and thoroughly tested at the factory. It should be enough to connect it to the power cable and the Internet to put it into operation. This saves time and reduces the risk of incorrect use.
- Mounting options: A fixed charging station should have several mounting options depending on the location and usage requirements, such as surface mounting, flush mounting or mounting on a pedestal. In any case, the station should be supplied with a complete mounting kit for quick and easy installation.
- Lightweight design: The total weight of a wallbox should not exceed 10 kg so that it can be easily installed by one person. The JUICE CHARGER me 3 is lightweight at just 6.5 kg including cable. All you have to do to install it is remove the cover. The enclosed installation instructions serve as a template for the drill holes. All you have to do is screw the charging station in place, put the cover on and it is ready for use.
- Weather and shock resistance: Adequate protection of the devices is essential, especially when installed outdoors or in high-traffic areas. The IP67 protection class ensures high resistance to the ingress of dust and water, which extends the life of the product and also protects janitors who use pressure washers.
- Absolute conformity to standards: In the past, it has been shown that some manufacturers interpret the standards as they see fit and label their devices with the CE mark without them actually complying with the standards. It is therefore advisable to ensure that the charger complies with IEC standards. Devices from such manufacturers then contain all safety-relevant components that protect against electric shocks and are tested for safety. This avoids liability cases that could result in high costs for installers.
- Easy onboarding: It speaks highly of the charging station if no special training is required to set it up and it can be easily connected by any professional electrician. It is therefore important that the onboarding is as intuitive as possible. We have provided two videos for our JUICE CHARGER me 3 that explain all the necessary steps clearly and in an easy-to-understand manner. Consequently, it is advantageous to have software that enables simple, efficient registration of the devices with just a few clicks via a user-friendly graphical user interface directly on site, without having to worry about unnecessary planning. This is best done by scanning a QR code with your mobile phone. This means that the devices can be set up quickly, configured and ready for use straight away.
- Online device management: Ideally, an online device management system such as JUICE EXO enables user management, remote maintenance and billing. If the wallbox uses standard protocols to communicate with local energy management systems, this facilitates the integration of photovoltaic systems and integration into an external load management control.
- Dynamic load management: If several charging stations are used in the same network (e.g. by fleet operators, parking garages or tenants), it is important to protect the house connection from overload. This requires dynamic load management that can supply any number of vehicles - but in any case up to 250 - with energy at the same time. If the available power can be distributed efficiently to all vehicles to be charged, a new (and larger) supply line is often not necessary and the cars are still charged during the stationary phase. Nowadays, it is often mandatory that charging stations have dynamic load management. If this is not the case, additional costs arise for activation or additional hardware. But not with the JUICE CHARGER me 3 - dynamic load management is already integrated into the device at no extra charge! Important: For accurate billing of the amount of electricity actually charged, it is essential that every wall charger has an integrated MID-certified electricity meter.
- User-friendliness: The charger should be completely intuitive to use and can be operated without an instruction manual. This also includes a simple user interface, e.g. with easy-to-interpret LED symbols. A fixed cable is also part of a complete package, as no one would think of setting up a pump without a tap. This saves you having to carry a separate Type 2 cable around in the trunk. Last but not least, it is worth taking a look at the standard called ISO 15118. This is the "Plug & Charge" function, which not only increases safety but also convenience. All you have to do is plug the plug into the charging socket on the vehicle to start the charging process through automatic authentication. Prerequisite: The vehicle already supports this function.
- Technical support and security: A manufacturer that offers central technical support after installation simplifies the work of the electrician and thus ensures that the customer is supported in the event of errors or the replacement of components. Thanks to powerful hardware and over-the-air updates, Juice devices will remain up to date and, above all, secure in the future. The area of cybersecurity in particular is neglected by many manufacturers. With the "security by design" and "software-first" approach, Juice not only takes user and mechanical security into account, but also implements security on three levels (3-level concept).
Conclusion
The ideal wall charging station has high-quality workmanship and is easy to install and handle. High weather resistance reduces maintenance intervals, just as a manufacturer as a strong partner simplifies service and support.
Our recommendation: With our JUICE CHARGER me 3, professionals make the best choice for customers who want a stationary solution.
If electricians want to offer their customers maximum flexibility and make installation even easier, mobile wallboxes such as the JUICE BOOSTER 3 air or the JUICE BOOSTER 2 are the ideal choice. To use the full charging power of 11 kW or 22 kW, all you need to do is connect a three-phase industrial socket (CEE16 or CEE32).
