Wallbox Pulsar Plus Full Review

Pulsar Plus 40 AMP Review

The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is one of the most popular home EV charging stations on the market, and for good reason. The combination of good design and simplicity makes this product a great fit for many garages. The Pulsar Plus is available in 40A and 48A versions, and is commonly sold online and in retail stores between $650 and $700. Both versions of the Pulsar Plus have the NEMA 14-50 plug to receive power (but both can be hardwired into the home), and an industry standard J1772 car connector.

The 48A version should only be considered when the charger is going to be professionally hardwired into the home by an  electrician. When using the Pulsar Plus with a NEMA 14-50 wall outlet, both units max out at 40 amps of current due to the limitations of the 14-50 plug. A hardwired installation is required to get more than 40 amps out of the 48 amp version. This will mean the difference between a maximum charging rate of 9kW and 11KW. 

Our Rating: 4.75
4.75/5
Specifications:

  • 40 or 48 amp versions
  • 25 foot long charge cable
  • Indoor/Outdoor operation
  • NEMA 14-50 outlet, or hardwired
  • Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity

Table of Contents

Packaging and Installation

Our Pulsar Plus shipped double boxed from Amazon in a Wallbox branded cardboard box, with the nice retail box serving as another protective layer. Inside is the compact Pulsar Plus unit, instruction manual, and mounting accessories.

In locations with an accessible NEMA 14-50 receptacle, installation should take minutes. Please consult an electrician if a receptacle installation or hardwiring is required.

But wall mounting the Pulsar Plus is very straightforward. An envelope contains the necessary screws needed to securely attach the Pulsar Plus and the accessory cord holder to the wall. Four screws attach the mounting bracket to the wall. This home charger is not as heavy as some other competing products, but it is still necessary to screw the mounting bracket to a stud in the wall to prevent the unit from falling. Keep in mind that wrapping the cord around the unit will weigh it down further.

Pulsar Plus Box and Mounting Bracket
NEMA 14-50 Plug

Hardware and Design

The Pulsar Plus is one of the more compact units on the market measuring roughly 8 by 8 by 4 inches. The enclosure is made of hard plastic with a grippy matte texture, and does not feel cheap. The front face of the unit is dominated by the large right LED indicator light that Wallbox calls a “halo”. This large status indicator light makes it easy to understand what the charger is doing at a glance.

For the very cleanest looking hardwired installation, it is possible to completely detach the NEMA 14-50 plug and cord, and route the input power cable through the back. Both the charger and the mounting bracket have this entry port in the back.

This charger is intended for indoor and outdoor operation, and is NEMA Type 4 rated. This means the Pulsar Plus enclosure is designed to keep moisture out in wet conditions, and should have no problems in snowy climates. 

Charging Cord and Connector

The Pulsar Plus features a 25 foot long charging cord on the car side of the box. This is the longest allowable length by regulation, and should allow most drivers to park front/rear in their parking location and still reach the charging port. Points to Wallbox for including the longest possible charging cord.

The cable itself feels premium and able to take abuse and normal wear and tear in a typical garage usage. We’ve tested the Pulsar Plus in spring/summer conditions and found the cable to be very easy to manage and wrap around the holder. Some users are reporting that the rubber material becomes much less pliable in colder weather, but this is expected. We will update this review if it becomes a problem next winter season.

Pulsar Plus EV J1772

Connectivity and Software

Both versions of the Pulsar Plus come standard with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. When first downloading the Wallbox app, it will prompt the user to create an account and pair the charger via Bluetooth. Bluetooth connections only have range measured in a few feet, so this will only work in close proximity. Wi-fi options are tucked away in connectivity options of the app, and allow the user to monitor the chargers from anywhere over the internet.

The Wallbox app is one of our favorites among smart home chargers. The home screen of the app offers a view all connected Wallbox chargers and their current status. The app makes it very easy to restrict the charging amps anywhere from 6 amps to the maximum 40 (or 48) amps.

This screen also allows the user to lock/unlock the charger with just a single tap. The LED status light on the charger turns yellow to signal a locked status.

Wallbox Pulsar App Review

Scheduling

The Wallbox app also makes it easy to schedule specific charging windows by hours and days of the week. This allows the user to leave charging settings in their EV on defaults, and manage scheduling entirely from the Wallbox side. The LED status indicator light will flash turquoise on the charger unit when the Pulsar Plus is standing by for a scheduled charge.

Wallbox Pulsar App Schedule

Conclusion

The Pulsar Plus is easy to recommend to most people. It is an attractive design, with a very clear LED indicator light, and easy to use smart connectivity features. The tapered and rounded shape of the box also allows for the wrapping of the cord around the charger unit, making cable management easier. The app is required for the initial setup, but users are not forced to use it for regular day to day operation. Our only areas of criticism are that the connector holder feels a little bit flimsy, and the charging cord becomes less pliable in extremely cold temperatures.
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Our Rating: 4.5
4.5/5

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Disclosure: Independent review by Michael Kim from EVchargerReviews.net. Our review unit was purchased from Amazon and not provided by the manufacturer. We participate in affiliate programs, and we may earn income when our readers use our links. We hope this is fair, based on the amount of work that goes into our reviews. 

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