Review
Enphase HCS-80 review
The charger for people who want an appliance, not a gadget. No app, no account, no cloud to go dark -- and the longest warranty on this site. It is also not 80 amps, despite the name.
By Sawyer V. · Published October 11, 2026
How this page is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend, and we say plainly when the honest answer is to buy nothing. Full disclosure.
The verdict: buy this if you want a charger that behaves like a water heater -- bolted to the wall, doing one job, with nothing to update and nothing to log into. You are paying a premium for a watertight Type 4 enclosure, an unusually detailed certification record and five years of warranty. You are giving up 3.8 kW against the true 80-amp units, and all scheduling and energy reporting, which has to happen in the car instead. If your car can schedule and you value hardware over software, that trade is a good one. If you want the fastest home charging available, this is not it.
The naming, because it trips people up
ClipperCreek named this family after the circuit, not the output. An HCS-80 is designed for a dedicated two-pole 80 A breaker and delivers 64 A continuous -- which is exactly the 125% continuous-load rule running backwards: 64 x 1.25 = 80. So it is an 80-amp-circuit charger, not an 80-amp charger. Both of the genuine 19.2 kW units on this site want a 100 A circuit instead.
What 64 amps actually delivers
64 A x 240 V = 15,360 W, which is 15.4 kW.
The circuit is 125% of the continuous load: 64 x 1.25 = 80 A.
Miles per hour = charger kW / (car's kWh per 100 miles) x 100.
A GMC Sierra EV at the EPA's 50 kWh/100 mi: 15.4 / 50 x 100 = about 31 miles per hour.
The true 19.2 kW units on the same truck: 19.2 / 50 x 100 = about 38 miles per hour.
The charger in full
| Specification | Published value |
|---|---|
| Maximum output | 64 A continuous / 15.4 kW |
| Circuit breaker | Dedicated, 2-pole 80 A |
| Connector | SAE J1772 |
| Cable | 25 ft (7.6 m) or 18 ft (5.5 m), pre-wired |
| Input | Pre-wired 8 AWG service whip, 3 ft |
| Enclosure | NEMA Type 4, watertight |
| Operating temperature | -22 F to 122 F |
| Size and weight | 19.7 x 8.9 x 5.3 in; 17.8 lb |
| Mounting | Wall or pedestal (pedestal sold separately) |
| Ground fault | Integral CCID, 20 mA, auto reset |
| Indicators | Four LEDs: power, charging, power fault, charging fault |
| Connectivity | None |
| Certification | UL 2594, UL 2251, UL 2231-1, UL 2231-2, UL 1998, UL 991; ENERGY STAR |
| Warranty | 5 years |
What "no connectivity" costs and buys
| What you give up | What you get |
|---|---|
| Scheduled charging in the charger | Nothing to configure, ever |
| Energy and cost reporting | No account, no password, no app update |
| Remote start and stop | No cloud that can be switched off |
| Firmware updates | No firmware that can regress |
| Utility demand-response enrollment | Four LEDs that mean the same thing in ten years |
Who should buy it
| If this is you | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want an appliance, not a gadget | Buy it | No software, five-year warranty, six UL standards |
| Charger goes outdoors in weather | Buy it | NEMA Type 4 watertight, -22 F to 122 F |
| You schedule charging in the car already | Buy it | You lose nothing by having no app |
| You want 19.2 kW | Buy an 80 A unit | This is 15.4 kW on an 80 A circuit |
| You want app scheduling and reporting | Buy the Autel 80A | Same tier, full software |
| Budget is the deciding factor | Skip it | The most expensive charger covered here |
| You drive a NACS car | Think twice | J1772 only, so an adapter on every charge |
One practical note on installation: the HCS-80 ships pre-wired with a 3 ft 8 AWG service whip, which means the electrician is splicing rather than terminating inside the unit. That is a small time saving and it is also a constraint -- the whip length decides how close the charger sits to its disconnect. Mention it when you get quotes. Hiring an electrician lists the rest of what to ask.
The HCS-80 and the two real 19.2 kW units
Enphase for warranty and simplicity, the other two for genuine 19.2 kW. Live Amazon prices with the date they were read.
1. A fast charger with no software
Enphase HCS-80
Enphase · J1772 · 64 A / 15.4 kW · 25 ft cable
The no-app option in this tier: 64 A continuous on an 80 A breaker, a watertight NEMA Type 4 case and a five-year warranty. Formerly sold as a ClipperCreek.
What is good
- Five-year warranty, the longest in this group
- Watertight NEMA Type 4 enclosure, rated -22 F to 122 F
- No app, no account and no network dependency
- Integrated cable wrap and a wall-mounted J1772 holster
- Published compliance with six UL standards plus ENERGY STAR
What is not
- 64 A, not 80 A, so 15.4 kW rather than 19.2 kW
- Still needs a dedicated 80 A circuit, which many panels cannot spare
- No scheduling or energy reporting -- that has to happen in the car
- J1772 only, so a NACS car needs an adapter
- The most expensive unit covered here
| Maximum output | 64 A continuous / 15.4 kW |
|---|---|
| Circuit breaker | Dedicated, 2-pole 80 A |
| Connector | SAE J1772 |
| Cable | 25 ft (7.6 m) or 18 ft (5.5 m), pre-wired |
| Input | Pre-wired 8 AWG service whip, 3 ft |
| Enclosure | NEMA Type 4, watertight |
| Operating temperature | -22 F to 122 F |
| Size | 19.7 x 8.9 x 5.3 in; 17.8 lb |
| Mounting | Wall or pedestal (pedestal sold separately) |
| Ground fault | Integral CCID, 20 mA, auto reset |
| Indicators | Four LEDs: power, charging, power fault, charging fault |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Skip this if: Skip it if you want 19.2 kW -- this is 15.4 kW -- or if you want app scheduling. It has no network connection at all.
Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: Enphase Energy. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.
2. A 19.2 kW car and a large service
Grizzl-E Ultimate 80A
United Chargers · J1772 · 80 A / 19.2 kW · 25 ft cable
The top of AC Level 2: 80 A and 19.2 kW, hardwired, adjustable down through eight settings. The catch is the circuit -- 80 A continuous asks for a 100 A circuit, which most houses cannot spare.
What is good
- 80 A / 19.2 kW is the ceiling of AC Level 2 charging
- Eight current settings, from 80 A right down to 16 A, so one unit fits almost any circuit
- 25 ft cable and a cast-aluminum UL Type 4 enclosure rated -22 F to 122 F
- UL listed with a published file number, plus Energy Star certification
- OCPP support alongside the maker's own app, which is rare at this price
What is not
- 80 A continuous needs a 100 A circuit, which most homes cannot spare
- Very few cars accept more than 11.5 kW on AC, so the headline figure is unusable for most buyers
- Hardwired only -- there is no plug-in version
- Costs far more than the 48 A tier that most households will actually use
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, like the rest of the Grizzl-E Connect range
| Maximum output | 80 A / 19.2 kW |
|---|---|
| Adjustable | 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32, 24 or 16 A |
| Connector | SAE J1772 or NACS, chosen at purchase |
| Cable | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Installation | Hardwired only |
| Enclosure | Cast aluminum, UL Type 4 indoor/outdoor |
| Operating temperature | -30 C to +50 C (-22 F to 122 F) |
| Enclosure size | 10.25 x 6.25 x 3.75 in |
| Weight | 26.46 lb (12 kg), shipped |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), the Grizzl-E Connect app, and OCPP |
| Country of origin | Canada, per United Chargers |
| Certification | UL, file E510712; Energy Star |
| In the box | Charger, hardwire kit, mounting cradle, EasyEvPlug |
| Warranty | 3 years, or 5 years chosen at purchase |
Skip this if: Skip it unless your car actually accepts more than 11.5 kW and your panel can carry a 100 A circuit. Both have to be true, and for most homes neither is.
Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: United Chargers. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.
3. 80 A with an app and access control
Autel MaxiCharger AC 80A
Autel Energy · J1772 · 80 A / 19.2 kW · 25 ft cable
The connected 80-amp charger: 19.2 kW, adjustable all the way down to 6 A from the app, an RFID card reader and a -40 F to 131 F rating. It asks for a 100 A circuit at full output.
What is good
- 19.2 kW, the ceiling of AC Level 2 charging
- Adjustable from 6 A to 80 A in the app, so one unit fits almost any circuit
- Built-in RFID card reader, which is rare outside access-control models
- Published -40 F to 131 F range, the widest of the 80 A units here
- Long list of published safety standards plus ENERGY STAR certification
What is not
- 80 A continuous needs a 100 A circuit, which most homes cannot spare
- Derates above 113 F, so a hot garage will not see the full figure
- Hardwired only, with no plug-in version
- 4G connectivity is an optional extra, not standard
- Costs far more than the 48 A chargers most households can actually use
| Maximum output | 19.2 kW (240 V AC x 80 A) |
|---|---|
| Adjustable | 6 A to 80 A, in the app |
| Voltage | 208/240 V AC, 60 Hz, single phase |
| Connector | SAE J1772 or NACS |
| Cable | 19 ft (6 m) or 25 ft (7.5 m) |
| Installation | Hardwired; wall or pedestal mount |
| Enclosure | NEMA 3S, IK10 |
| Operating temperature | -40 F to 131 F, derating above 113 F |
| Ground fault | 20 mA CCID |
| Access control | Card reader, ISO 15693 and ISO 14443 A/B |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, RS485 and Wi-SUN; 4G optional |
| Metering | ANSI C12.20 (0.5%) compliant |
| Size | 14.5 x 8.5 x 5.1 in; 20.3 lb with the 19 ft cable |
| Warranty | 3 years, extendable up to 5 |
Skip this if: Skip it if your panel cannot spare a 100 A circuit or your car tops out at 11.5 kW -- the 48 A tier does the same job for far less.
Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: Autel Energy. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.
FAQ
Questions people actually ask
Is the Enphase HCS-80 really 80 amps?
Does the Enphase HCS-80 have an app?
Is the Enphase HCS-80 the same as a ClipperCreek?
What warranty does the Enphase HCS-80 have?
Can the Enphase HCS-80 be installed outdoors?
Sources
Where these numbers come from
- Enphase HCS-80 EVSE data sheet — Enphase Energy64 A continuous / 15.4 kW output, dedicated 2-pole 80 A breaker, pre-wired 8 AWG 3 ft service whip, SAE J1772 cable at 25 ft or 18 ft, enclosure 19.7 x 8.9 x 5.3 in at 17.8 lb, wall or pedestal mounting, indoor/outdoor rated, -22 F to 122 F, NEMA Type 4 watertight enclosure, integral CCID 20 mA ground-fault protection with auto reset, four LED indicators, NEC Article 625, SAE J1772 and ENERGY STAR, UL 2594, UL 2251, UL 2231-1, UL 2231-2, UL 1998 and UL 991, 5-year warranty. Read 2026-10-01.
- Autel MaxiCharger AC 80A — Autel Energy19.2 kW (240 V AC x 80 A), adjustable 6 A to 80 A in the app, 208/240 V AC 60 Hz single phase, SAE J1772 or NACS, cable 19 ft (6 m) or 25 ft (7.5 m), hardwired with wall or pedestal mount, NEMA 3S and IK10 enclosure, -40 F to 131 F with derating above 113 F, 20 mA CCID ground-fault detection, card reader ISO 15693 and ISO 14443 A/B, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, RS485 and Wi-SUN with optional 4G, ANSI C12.20 (0.5%) metering, 14.5 x 8.5 x 5.1 in and 20.3 lb with the 19 ft cable, UL 2594, UL 2231-1, UL 2231-2, UL 1998 and CSA C22.2 No. 280 plus ENERGY STAR, 3-year warranty extendable to 5. Read 2026-10-01.
- Grizzl-E Ultimate — United ChargersSKU GRU-077-W-HW-25DJ80-A-GB, aluminum enclosure, origin Canada, 12.00 kg / 26.46 lbs, AC Level 2, connector J1772 and NACS, max power 80 A / 19.2 kW, hardwire only, UL Type 4 indoor/outdoor, OCPP, certifications UL E510712 and Energy Star, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and mobile app, adjustable current 80A/64A/56A/48A/40A/32A/24A/16A, 25 ft cable, enclosure 10.25 x 6.25 x 3.75 in, -30 C to +50 C (-22 F to 122 F). Read 2026-10-11.
- Fuel economy of 2026 Cadillac and GMC vehicles — U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Energy, fueleconomy.govThe EPA rates the 11 kW and 19 kW onboard-charger versions of GM's EVs as separate trims and names the charger in the trim title, e.g. LYRIQ (11 kW Charger) and LYRIQ (19 kW Charger); consumption figures used here: Cadillac Lyriq 37 kWh/100 mi, GMC Sierra EV 50, GMC Hummer EV 70 (2025). Read 2026-10-11.
- WireRef NEC Article 625: EV charging equipment — WireRefEV charging equipment is a continuous load, so the branch circuit is sized at 125% of the charger's rated current; NEC Article 625 governs EV supply equipment. Read 2026-10-11.
Read next
Related reading
- The best 80-amp EV chargersThe chargers that reach 19.2 kW, the circuit they need, and the test for whether the tier helps you.
- Autel MaxiCharger AC 80A review19.2 kW with 6-to-80 A app adjustment, RFID access control, ANSI-grade metering and a -40 F rating -- on a 100 A circuit.
- The best EV chargers with no app and no WiFiChargers with no app, no account and nothing to update, and why that is a feature.
- Your JuiceBox still charges. The app is gone.What the Enel X Way shutdown did and did not break, and the replacements worth buying if scheduling matters to you.
- EV charger warranties, comparedPublished warranty terms side by side, what they typically exclude, and why it matters here.