1. The Difference Between Tethered and Untethered EV Chargers
Tethered EV chargers represent a common type of EV charger on the market. They come with a dedicated cable, and this cable cannot be disconnected from the unit. In contrast, untethered EV chargers do not have a permanently attached cable. When you use an untethered EV charger to charge your electric vehicle, you need to connect the charging cable to the unit’s socket. Then, this action completes the charging process. Ultimately, the main difference between tethered and untethered EV chargers is whether they have a permanently attached cable.
2. Comparison of Pros and Cons Between Tethered and Untethered EV Chargers
2.1 Safety
First, the cable of a tethered EV charger connects permanently to the unit. Therefore, external impurities such as rain and dust cannot easily interfere with its operation. This greatly reduces the risk of short circuits. Clearly, tethered EV chargers offer much higher safety in harsh weather than untethered ones.
Additionally, you need to plug in the cable when charging an electric vehicle with an untethered EV charger. Frequent plugging and unplugging increase wear and tear on the electric car charger. This may cause the insulating layer on the cable’s exterior to peel off. This could lead to electric shock accidents.
Notably, the integrated design makes tethered EV chargers relatively bulky and conspicuous. This can greatly reduce the possibility of theft and safeguard security to some extent. In contrast, the separate design of untethered EV chargers is obviously less secure than tethered ones.
2.2 Flexibility
Untethered EV chargers offer higher flexibility than tethered ones. Due to their unique design, you can replace the cable with different lengths or different types of connectors based on your needs. If your household has multiple electric vehicles from different brands, you only need to equip suitable cables and connectors. With these, you can charge any of the electric vehicles. For tethered EV chargers, however, you may want a longer cable or to use other types of connectors. In this case, you can only replace the entire EVSE charger.
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2.3 Long-term Maintenance Costs
For tethered EV chargers, if the cable gets damaged and needs replacement, you can only replace the entire tethered EV charger. This is because the cable and unit cannot be separated. As a result, this costs a significant amount of money.
For untethered EV chargers, however, if the cable gets damaged, you only need to purchase a suitable cable. This new cable will replace the damaged one. The price of a single cable is far lower than the price of an entire EV charger set. Therefore, if you prioritize the long-term maintenance costs of EV chargers, untethered EV chargers represent a wiser choice.
2.4 Convenience
Convenience represents one of the main advantages of tethered EV chargers. For tethered EV chargers, you only need to park the electric vehicle next to the ev car charger. Then you connect the vehicle to the power source to start charging. This is very simple.
For untethered EV chargers, however, you first need to find a suitable cable. After that, you must connect the cable to the charging unit before you can start charging.
3. Common Questions About Tethered and Untethered EV Chargers
3.1 What Should You Note When Using Untethered EV Chargers?
First, you need to check whether you have brought the compatible cable for the untethered EV charger before traveling. This is very important because an untethered EV charger without a cable cannot work, and this will cause unnecessary trouble for you. To avoid this, you can put the cable in the designated box in your electric vehicle after each charging session. This way, you can avoid forgetting to bring the cable.
Second, you need to check whether there are foreign objects at the interface before assembling the untethered EV charger. These include rain, gravel, and other elements. These foreign objects will hinder the charging process. In serious cases (for example, rain can cause short circuits), they can even damage the electric vehicle charger. Therefore, this is what you need to watch out for.
3.2 Must You Hire Professionals for Tethered EV Charger Installation?
The answer is yes. Installing a tethered EV charger requires assessing household power capacity, wiring, etc. These tasks involve professional electrical knowledge. You cannot complete them independently. Moreover, in some areas, unauthorized changes to household electrical systems may violate regulations. Professionals can help you obtain relevant permits and ensure compliance during installation. In summary, hiring professionals is the best choice to ensure safety and compliance during the installation of tethered EV chargers.
4. Summary
When choosing a suitable electric auto charger between tethered and untethered options, several factors should be considered. These include safety, flexibility, and long-term costs. Of course, you should carefully read the user manual before using them and pay attention to relevant matters. Additionally, if you want an EV charger with excellent performance and good after-sales service, you can consult brands such as JMHPOWER, which enjoys a good reputation globally.
