The Lectron 40A J1772 is a popular, affordable portable charger with a genuinely useful onboard LCD and, in the Wi-Fi version, app scheduling. TorqueNews called it a "fantastic value," EVchargerReviews.net scored it 3.5/5 and EV Adept buyers rate it 4.5/5. The catches are a short cord and a documented tendency to throttle below 40A when it runs warm.
Full review
Affordable Charging With a Display
Lectron has built a reputation for affordable, no-nonsense EV accessories, and the 40A J1772 portable charger is one of its most popular products. TorqueNews summed up the appeal in its review headline, declaring that it "makes home or away charging simple and offers a great app, making it a fantastic value," and singled out the app for an A+ on simplicity. EVchargerReviews.net, which scored it 3.5 out of 5, called it "one of our favorite portable EV chargers because it offers decent materials, a clear LCD display, and a competitive price for a 40 amp-capable unit."
The onboard LCD is the feature that sets the Lectron apart from the Grizzl-E Mini Connect, which has no display, and the bare-bones Splitvolt, which has only LED indicators. It shows real-time amperage, voltage, energy delivered in kWh, charging time and even the charger's temperature, giving you at-a-glance data without opening an app.
Charging Performance
On paper the Lectron delivers the full 40 amps at 240 volts for 9.6 kW, matching the Grizzl-E and MUSTART. In practice, reviewers and owners documented an important caveat: the unit will not sustain a full 40 amps once it warms up. Multiple sources reported that above roughly 70°F ambient the plug's temperature sensor throttles output, with about 36 amps at 235 volts being the realistic continuous figure. EVchargerReviews.net measured the unit running warm at 126°F at maximum load, which explains the protective throttling and raises mild longevity questions for daily max-rate use.
For most owners charging overnight, dropping from 40 to 36 amps is barely noticeable. But it's a real difference from the Grizzl-E and a reason buyers who want guaranteed full-rate charging in a hot garage should weigh their options.
Smart Features
The Wi-Fi version of the Lectron connects to the Lectron app for real-time charging status, schedulable sessions and the ability to set how many kWh to add. Reviewers consistently praised the app for being simple and reliable, with TorqueNews giving it top marks. That makes the Lectron the only unit here besides the Grizzl-E Mini Connect to offer genuine app-based scheduling, and it does so at a lower price than the Grizzl-E.
Certifications are a strength: the charger is ETL, Energy Star and FCC certified, and the handle is UL 2251 certified. That gives it more certification confidence than the MUSTART, whose marks have been questioned.
Where It Falls Short
The two recurring complaints are the short cord and the occasional fault behavior. At roughly 16 to 18 feet depending on the variant, the Lectron's cable is the shortest in this group, well behind the 25-foot MUSTART and Grizzl-E, so the outlet needs to be reasonably close to the charge port. Some owners also reported the charger faulting at the end of a session, requiring an unplug-and-replug to reset, and EVchargerReviews.net flagged the rubber joint where the cord meets the enclosure as a potential durability weak point. The lack of amperage adjustment on some variants also means you must restrict current via the vehicle for smaller circuits.
The thermal throttling deserves emphasis because it's a measured limitation rather than an anecdote: EVchargerReviews.net recorded the unit running at 126 degrees Fahrenheit under maximum load, and several owners independently reported the plug's temperature sensor stepping output down to roughly 36 amps in warm conditions. For a charger you intend to run at full rate in a hot garage every night, that's worth factoring into the decision against the Grizzl-E, which held its rated output in State of Charge's heat testing.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The Lectron occupies the middle ground of this roundup. It's the only unit besides the Grizzl-E Mini Connect to offer app-based scheduling, and it does so for less money, while adding an onboard LCD that the Grizzl-E lacks entirely. Against the MUSTART, it trades away cord length for that display and better-documented certifications. Against the bare-bones Splitvolt, it's a clear step up in features for a modest price increase, though the Splitvolt is lighter and cheaper for pure travel duty.
What pulls it below the top two is the combination of the short cord and the real-world output throttling. Reviewers like TorqueNews still rate it a "fantastic value" and EV Adept owners give it 4.5 out of 5, so it's a well-liked charger; it simply isn't the most capable or the longest-reaching option here.
Who It's Best For
The Lectron 40A is the pick for the owner who wants an at-a-glance LCD and optional app scheduling at a mid-range price, and whose home outlet is close enough that a 16-to-18-foot cord comfortably reaches the car. It offers more on-unit feedback than the Grizzl-E and more certification confidence than the MUSTART. Buyers who need the longest cord should choose the MUSTART; those who want the most rugged, guaranteed-full-rate charger should pay up for the Grizzl-E Mini Connect; and those who want the lowest price can look at the Splitvolt.
Strengths
- +Full 40A / 9.6 kW output through a NEMA 14-50 plug
- +Clear LCD display shows live amps, voltage, energy in kWh, charge time and temperature
- +Wi-Fi version adds app monitoring and scheduling, with the app praised for simplicity
- +ETL, Energy Star and FCC certified with a UL 2251 handle
- +Reliable, simple and competitively priced for a 40A unit
Watch-outs
- −Reviewers found it won't hold a full 40A above ~70°F, dropping to about 36A continuously
- −Cord is relatively short at 16-18 feet
- −Some users report it faults at the end of a session and needs a reset
- −Rubber joint where the cord meets the enclosure flagged as a weak point
How it compares
Splits the difference between the smart Grizzl-E Mini Connect and the bare-bones Splitvolt: it has an LCD and an optional Wi-Fi app like the Grizzl-E but a shorter cord than the MUSTART, and it throttles below its rated 40A when warm.
Who this is for
At a glance: Owners who want an at-a-glance LCD and optional app scheduling at a mid-range price, and whose home outlet is close enough that a 16-18 foot cord reaches.
Why you’d buy the Lectron 40A J1772 Portable (Wi-Fi)
- Full 40A / 9.6 kW output through a NEMA 14-50 plug.
- Clear LCD display shows live amps, voltage, energy in kWh, charge time and temperature.
- Wi-Fi version adds app monitoring and scheduling, with the app praised for simplicity.
Why you’d skip it
- Reviewers found it won't hold a full 40A above ~70°F, dropping to about 36A continuously.
- Cord is relatively short at 16-18 feet.
- Some users report it faults at the end of a session and needs a reset.
Rating sources
“Lectron 40-Amp Level 2 Portable J1772 Charger Makes Home or Away Charging Simple and Offers A Great App, Making It a Fantastic Value.”
“The Lectron 40 amp is one of our favorite portable EV chargers because it offers decent materials, a clear LCD display, and a competitive price for a 40 amp-capable unit.”
“It charges my Chevy Bolt great. The charger looks heavy duty. I happy with my purchase.”
Our 4.2 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
