Your DockChain questions answered

Can DockChain be added to any DC charger?

In theory yes. Any OCPP compliant charger will be compatible with DockChain. However, as the charger utilization usually increases significantly this charger needs to be a reliable one.

How does DockChain connect to a DC charger?

You can either remove the charger’s existing delivery cable and hard-wire the DockChain backbone cable (which daisy-chains to each DockChain unit) directly to the charger outputs.

Alternatively, the DockChain Connector Box allows the system to connect without modifying the charger. The box provides a female CCS or NACS socket so the charger’s existing delivery cable simply plugs into the DockChain system, avoiding any electrical work inside the charger.​

As you add more Dockchain units does the power to each vehicle drop?

No. We are charging each vehicle in sequence, we are not load balancing. That means each vehicle charges at full power, one at a time. A dual, or quad-output charger can be optimized to deliver the maximum power across the vehicles on each chain.  DC Chargers with two connectors work well for most applications. 

What is the maximum power you can deliver?

This depends on 3 elements. Firstly the power available and the DC charger output. Secondly, what is the vehicle attached capable of taking, and finally, what specification of power rating configured on the DockChain system. Assuming the source charger and vehicle can handle the power, our cables  can be rated to 400 amps. That'll charge up to 160 kW on a 400v vehicle or 320 kW on an 800v vehicle. Most use cases require less and it can be more economical to plan for 250 amp cables.