Specifications

Basic specifications for the ChargePoint Gateway are shown in the table below.

Specification

Details

Input Power

< 4 W

Input Current

< 0.4 A using single phase 110/120 V, or

< 0.2 A using single phase 208/240 V service

Input Terminals

100-240 VAC, universal

Physical Placement

0.6-1.2 m (2-4 ft) from CPF charging station(s) 1.8-2.4 m (6-8 ft) above floor level

Connectivity

Supports 1-9 CPF charging stations

Connectivity Placement

< 30 m (100 ft) line-of-sight to associated charging stations

For detailed specifications, refer to the ChargePoint Gateway Datasheet at: ChargePoint Product Reference Documentation.

Requirements

A ChargePoint Gateway consists of a cellular LTEClosed Long Term Evolution modem for wide area networking, and built-in Wi-FiClosed Wireless Fidelity for local communications to and from CPF charging stations.

Before installing the ChargePoint Gateway, choose an appropriate location by considering the following:

  • Power must be available at the installation site.

  • The Gateway relies on an external device for overcurrent protection. The installer must ensure the Gateway is protected by a maximum 20 A branch circuit breaker.

  • All charging stations must be located within 30 m (100 ft) line-of-sight.

  • The location must receive consistently available LTEClosed Long Term Evolution cellular coverage.

  • Wi-FiClosed Wireless Fidelity signal strength between the ChargePoint Gateway and the charging stations must be strong. Avoid installations where concrete walls are located between the ChargePoint Gateway and the CPF charging stations.

ChargePoint recommends permanently installing the ChargePoint Gateway by running service wiring into the bottom of the Gateway through 12 mm (1/2 in trade size) conduit and attaching it to a wall using the supplied screws and wall anchors.

Cellular Connectivity

A consistently strong cellular signal is needed before installers can activate the station(s). Do not rely on cell phone applications to measure cellular signals when conducting site surveys. Take cellular readings at the exact location of the proposed Gateway installation.

Ensure the Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) measurement is -90 dBm or better and the Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) measurement is -10 dB or better. It is important to have both appropriate signal strength and signal quality. Note that these numbers are all negative, so -70 dBm is stronger than - 90 dBm, and -100 dBm is weaker. Use a cellular signal detection device (such as a Snyper-LTEClosed Long Term Evolution GraphyteTM (USA) by Siretta) to take signal strength readings at the exact proposed Gateway location.

RSRP

RSRQ

Signal Strength

Greater than -80 dBm

-3 to -10 dB

Excellent

-80 dBm to -90 dBm

-3 to -10 dB

Acceptable

-90 dBm to -140 dBm

-10.5 to -19.5 dB

Remediation required - install cell repeater

If the RSRP measurement is worse than -90 dBm or the RSRQ measurement is worse than -10, take cellular readings at the location where a cellular signal booster outdoor antenna will be installed to ensure enough signal exists to be boosted. Install repeaters to boost the strength of the cellular signals. Repeaters are often required when installing the charging station in an underground garage or enclosed parking structure.

ChargePoint recommends using a multi-carrier cellular repeater system. Do not use microcells or femtocells; they are inadequate for this use case. Options for cellular signal boosters include:

  • Wilson Pro 70 Plus with automatic gain management up to 20,000 square feet of coverage area

  • Wilson 1100 with automatic gain management up to 35,000 square feet of coverage area

  • SureCall Fusion 5 for all carriers in North America, supports voice, 3G and 4G, average gain of 65 dB & max 72 db for up to 6,000 square feet of coverage area

  • SureCall Force 5 for all carriers in North America for up to 20,000 square feet of coverage inside parking structure

Consult an expert in the cellular repeater industry for additional guidance. ChargePoint O&M partners can validate acceptable cellular signal strength at the site using a cellular strength reader. Weak or sporadic signal can affect crucial aspects of the charging station, including: accuracy in reporting, ability for drivers to use their mobile app, ability for customer support to troubleshoot problems, and support for advanced features such as Power Management or Waitlist. Strong signal is also required for the Assure maintenance and management program.

The Gateway supports 4G/LTEClosed Long Term Evolution for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint in the United States and Bell, Rogers, and Telus in Canada. There must be viable signal from at least one carrier on at least one of the supported bands listed below:

Wi-Fi Connectivity

Wi-FiClosed Wireless Fidelity connectivity is used to allow the Gateway to communicate with each individual charging station. Each station must be within 30 m (100 ft) of a Gateway. Each station must also have a direct line-of-sight view of the Gateway. Wi-FiClosed Wireless Fidelity signal cannot pass easily through common obstructions such as:

  • Walls

  • Columns

  • Metal cabinets

Wi-FiClosed Wireless Fidelity signal can also be disrupted by electromagnetic interference (EMIClosed Electromagnetic Interference). This includes:

  • Other systems operating on 2.4 Ghz

  • Other wireless access points.

Additionally, mounting the Gateway on the wall is preferred to ceiling mounting to provide the broadest coverage.

The ChargePoint Gateway must be located where cellular signals are optimum for LTEClosed Long Term Evolution service, and each ChargePoint Gateway must be located within 30 m (100 ft) line-of-sight to the CPF charging stations. Each CPF charging station has built-in Wi-FiClosed Wireless Fidelity capability to communicate with the ChargePoint Gateway to access ChargePoint network services.