Ford Mobile Charger 14-50 Installation Review and Questions

[RickMachE]

I think you guys have convinced me to consider a hardwired unit.

I can't go bigger than a 50 amp breaker because I only have 150 amp service, so whatever I get I need to limit it to a 50 amp breaker.

Option 1 would be a hardwired new Emporia for $429. I don't like the fact that software is what limits the amperage so I'm not sure how that works. I also hate to spend the money since this is a temporary solution.

Option 2 is the Ford Charge Station Pro. Any thoughts on a used unit from eBay? These look to be around $700-800. I would need to downgrade it from 80 amps until I can upgrade my panel but it has a physical dial in the unit to do this.

Electrician will be here Friday so we'll see what he thinks on what I can and can't do.

Thoughts and opinions are welcome and thanks again with helping me think this through.

Zero reason to buy a Ford Charge Station Pro, and that price is too high, they are $500 or less.

Buy the Emporia. Go download the installation manual now and you will see how it limits the amperage via the app.

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[DeltaDelta]

Emporia is frequently recommended. I'm not sure how the charge limiting works with that one.

I have the Chargepoint which is also frequently recommended and you set the max charge during installation and then can't set it higher than that.

For a temporary option, I wouldn't do either of these though. Why not stick with one if these two if you're going to bother having them installed?

If your getting the Ford charger for free, is just struggle on level 1 for a while if possible.

 

[Maquis]

My in-laws had an electrician install their ChargePoint charger. The electrician installed a GFCI breaker and it tripped almost every time they charged their car. The electrician blamed it on the charger. I replaced the GFCI breaker with a standard breaker and they have never had it trip since.

Changing parts is not troubleshooting.

 

[shutterbug]

Option 1 would be a hardwired new Emporia for $429. I don't like the fact that software is what limits the amperage so I'm not sure how that works. I also hate to spend the money since this is a temporary solution.

There's nothing wrong with S/W controlling power. It works just fine. You just set it and forget it.

Option 2 is the Ford Charge Station Pro. Any thoughts on a used unit from eBay? These look to be around $700-800. I would need to downgrade it from 80 amps until I can upgrade my panel but it has a physical dial in the unit to do this.

As has already been pointed out, there's no reason to get FCSP, since your car is limited to 48A(60A breaker). And you did say that you're limited to 50A breaker.

 

[shutterbug]

I have the Chargepoint which is also frequently recommended and you set the max charge during installation and then can't set it higher than that.

My Chargepoint app definitely lets me change the amperage.

 

[HuntingPudel]

I think you guys have convinced me to consider a hardwired unit.

I can't go bigger than a 50 amp breaker because I only have 150 amp service, so whatever I get I need to limit it to a 50 amp breaker.

Option 1 would be a hardwired new Emporia for $429. I don't like the fact that software is what limits the amperage so I'm not sure how that works. I also hate to spend the money since this is a temporary solution.

Option 2 is the Ford Charge Station Pro. Any thoughts on a used unit from eBay? These look to be around $700-800. I would need to downgrade it from 80 amps until I can upgrade my panel but it has a physical dial in the unit to do this.

Electrician will be here Friday so we'll see what he thinks on what I can and can't do.

Thoughts and opinions are welcome and thanks again with helping me think this through.

You should check out the video series State of Charge by Tom Muloughney. He reviews and rates a lot of EVSEs.

 

[ChrisO]

I agree with @HuntingPudel check out State of Charge for whatever EVSE that you have in mind. I'm actually still using the Ford mobile one, but I personally like the Grizzly line of chargers.

 

[026TB4U]

As has already been pointed out, there's no reason to get FCSP, since your car is limited to 48A(60A breaker). And you did say that you're limited to 50A breaker.

I would like to eventually use the Ford Backup Power. The FCSP is needed for this and it would be one less item to purchase later.

 

[DeltaDelta]

My Chargepoint app definitely lets me change the amperage.

You set the breaker amperage on install and it won't let you set the charge rate higher than that can handle.

So, in order to go over the circuit rating you would have to reset the device and go through initial setup and input incorrect values.

It won't just let you set a charge rate of 50 amps on a 50 amp breaker.

 

[RickMachE]

I would like to eventually use the Ford Backup Power. The FCSP is needed for this and it would be one less item to purchase later.

Not possible with a Mach-E. If you are planning to do it with the Lightning, expensive and unreliable.

 

[026TB4U]

The primary reason was for the mach but I also bought a lightning last week and figured I can future proof by going with the FCSP.

I just found a FCSP for $500. Thoughts on the FCSP at $500?

Thanks again.

 

[Maquis]

The primary reason was for the mach but I also bought a lightning last week and figured I can future proof by going with the FCSP.

I just found a FCSP for $500. Thoughts on the FCSP at $500?

Thanks again.

To use it with the Lightning for backup power requires an additional $10K worth of equipment, and as Rick stated it doesn’t work reliably.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/class-action-lawsuit-home-integration-system.21562/

 

[026TB4U]

To use it with the Lightning for backup power requires an additional $10K worth of equipment, and as Rick stated it doesn’t work reliably.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/class-action-lawsuit-home-integration-system.21562/

Wow. I guess I can forget about home backup for now.

But I can look forward to 80 amp charging on the lightning once I upgrade my service.

**Just found out that 80 amp charging was removed in 2024, except for fleet vehicles. Thanks Ford. **

I was pretty convinced on the Emporia until I read the lightning has 2 40 amp chargers onboard. The Emporia is only rated at 48 amps.

**Back to Emporia it is.**

 

[Maquis]

Wow. I guess I can forget about home backup for now.

But I can look forward to 80 amp charging on the lightning once I upgrade my service.

**Just found out that 80 amp charging was removed in 2024, except for fleet vehicles. Thanks Ford. **

I was pretty convinced on the Emporia until I read the lightning has 2 40 amp chargers onboard. The Emporia is only rated at 48 amps.

**Back to Emporia it is.**

If your Lightning has Pro Power Onboard (outlets in the bed) you can use it for home backup. There are several threads in that Lightning forum describing successful implementations.

 

[MellowJohnny]

You set the breaker amperage on install and it won't let you set the charge rate higher than that can handle.

So, in order to go over the circuit rating you would have to reset the device and go through initial setup and input incorrect values.

It won't just let you set a charge rate of 50 amps on a 50 amp breaker.

Yes, but you can subsequently change the amperage of the charger, up to the 80% value determined by the breaker setting you entered during the install.

My breaker setting is 50A, and the App lets me select a charging amperage up to 40A, in 1A increments, which I can change any time.

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