# NFC card reader (Modbus)

Part number: EVSE-X-NFC  
Status: Shipped  



Canonical: https://edgetech.eu/electronics/evse-x-nfc  
Updated: 2026-10-13

An optional card reader that mounts inside the charger box, with its antenna side against the lid, so cards are read through the lid. It reads ISO/IEC 14443 cards and connects to the Modbus line with four wires. Use it with any card as a local lock and unlock, or with a Dutch laadpas over OCPP.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Function | Reads NFC cards through the lid of the charger box and passes the card ID over Modbus |
| Cards | ISO/IEC 14443 (NFC-A); identified by the card's UID |
| Connection | 4-pole terminal: +12 V, A, B, GND (marked + A B −), on the Modbus RS-485 line of the charger |
| Mounting | Inside the box, flat antenna side against the inside of the plastic lid; no hole in the lid needed; 4 × Ø3.2 mm corner holes |
| Dimensions | Board 76 × 42 mm; 12 mm high overall |
| Wiring clearance | Leave 25 mm free in front of the terminal for the wires |
| Modes | Local whitelist (no back-office), or Dutch laadpas over OCPP 1.6J (authorisation and billing by a back-office) |
| Whitelist | Managed by the owner in the app; number of cards to be confirmed |
| OCPP path | Depends on OCPP 1.6J being finished into a product for your project (working implementation, not yet deployed) |
| Made in | Europe |

Interfaces: Modbus RS-485 line of the charger, +12 V supply

Standards: ISO/IEC 14443, OCPP 1.6J (laadpas mode)


## Where it fits

Flats and VvE car parks where each user pays for their own kWh; company car parks that should not charge the neighbours' cars; Plaza Charge poles; and any charger that must accept a public charge card.

## Installation

1. Hold the reader with its flat antenna side against the inside of the lid, and fix it with four screws through the corner holes.
2. Connect the 4-pole terminal to the Modbus line: + to +12 V, A to A, B to B, − to GND.
3. Leave 25 mm free in front of the terminal for the wires.

The [CAD and drawings](#cad) give the outline, the holes, the 12 mm height and the wiring keep-out for fitting it in an enclosure. Hole and terminal positions are within about 1 mm.

## The card-less alternative

With the ISO 15118 module the vehicle identifies itself, and no card is needed. For most sites the NFC reader is the cheaper answer.

## CAD and drawings

- 3D model (STEP): https://edgetech.eu/cad/evse-x-nfc.step
- Drawing (PDF, A3): https://edgetech.eu/cad/evse-x-nfc.pdf
- Drawing (SVG): https://edgetech.eu/cad/evse-x-nfc.svg

For fit and installation only, not for manufacture. Outline, mounting holes, connector positions and component height envelopes; dimensions marked ≈ are estimated.


## Questions

**Does the reader need a hole in the lid?**

No. It mounts inside the box with its flat antenna side against the inside of the lid, and cards are read through the lid. The box must have a plastic lid.

**Which cards work?**

ISO/IEC 14443 (NFC-A) cards and tags, identified by their UID. Dutch laadpassen are such cards.

**How is it connected?**

With four wires to the charger's Modbus line, +12 V, A, B and GND, the same 3 × 0.75 mm² line the charge controller and site controller use, plus +12 V.