Nak
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Mike
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2020
- Threads
- 10
- Messages
- 441
- Reaction score
- 524
- Location
- Camas, Washington
- Vehicles
- Tesla Model Y Performance, Tesla Model 3, 1992 K1500 Blazer
- Thread starter
- #1
****Warning**** The following is what I imagined I would do if manufacturer legal departments were willing to approve extension cord use for charging. Bear in mind this is simply a theoretical exercise, it's purely fiction. I would NEVER recommend anything other than manufacturer approved accessories for charging. Far better to run your EV dead and walk home.
I'm preparing for a road trip into an area with very little charging infrastructure. So I did a bit of research on what it might take to charge an EV. I found out that not all adapters will work! ***NOTE*** Bear in mind the following information is about Teslas, but I "BELIEVE" the Mach-e will be the same. Some 240v plugs have 4 prongs--hot, hot, neutral, ground--Some adapter plugs have three. The ones with three are the issue. Let me explain. The most common 240v outlet that you might use to charge is apparently the 14-50 outlet. (220v, 50amp.) That's great because an extension cord that has a 14-50 plug and receptacle can be adapted to every other outlet we might use. It's a four prong plug. But what if we adapt it to a three prong receptacle? (Hot, hot, ground.) we lose one connection. That's fine, we only need three. But for our mobile charger to work, we need a GROUND connection. Some adapters will connect the ground from the receptacle to the NEUTRAL of our extension cord. Your EV will not charge with such an adapter connected.
So anyways, I researched and found basically every adapter you might need in North America. I havte the links listed below. I did not include any of the twist lock adapters. Those are mostly found at docks. Do your research before you go somewhere odd and make sure you have a twist connector if you might need it.
I also include a link for a 30 foot extension cord. Between that and your 20 foot mobile charger 50 feet should get you connected.
*****Caution**** reduce the max current your car will draw to 80% of the circuits rated capacity. For a 20a circuit, 16 amps is max. The approved accessories will do this automatically. (Tesla does, I'm sure Ford will to, but check first.) In our fictional theoretical exercise, we have to manually reduce max current draw to 80% of the circuits capacity for safety's sake.
***NOTE*** The extension cord is 14-50 and all the adapters connect some other receptacle to 14-50. You will need an adapter to plug your mobile charger into a 14-50 outlet. (The extension cord.) You then plug whatever adapter fits into your chosen receptacle and plug it into the end of your extension cord. I also included one adapter without a cord for converting a 20a 220v receptacle into a 15a 220v receptacle. You probably won't need it because most 20a receptacles will also accept a 15a plug. But it's small and easy to put in the charging kit so I have one just in case.
You won't need any of this if your trip is in an area with lots of charging infrastructure. But if you have just one charger in a spot that's going to be a critical charge, what do you do if it's out of service? With this kit you'll be able to charge almost everywhere. Well, we could if this wasn't just a theoretical exercise for the purpose of generating an interesting discussion.
When I got these parts, they were all stamped with the UL logo. Suppliers change though. You should check for that logo.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024ECIP0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XJM67XV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XNSXWM4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XJM5LNC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XJM4SRJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P7YK4PL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00STD8CXC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LGLJ26N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s06?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm preparing for a road trip into an area with very little charging infrastructure. So I did a bit of research on what it might take to charge an EV. I found out that not all adapters will work! ***NOTE*** Bear in mind the following information is about Teslas, but I "BELIEVE" the Mach-e will be the same. Some 240v plugs have 4 prongs--hot, hot, neutral, ground--Some adapter plugs have three. The ones with three are the issue. Let me explain. The most common 240v outlet that you might use to charge is apparently the 14-50 outlet. (220v, 50amp.) That's great because an extension cord that has a 14-50 plug and receptacle can be adapted to every other outlet we might use. It's a four prong plug. But what if we adapt it to a three prong receptacle? (Hot, hot, ground.) we lose one connection. That's fine, we only need three. But for our mobile charger to work, we need a GROUND connection. Some adapters will connect the ground from the receptacle to the NEUTRAL of our extension cord. Your EV will not charge with such an adapter connected.
So anyways, I researched and found basically every adapter you might need in North America. I havte the links listed below. I did not include any of the twist lock adapters. Those are mostly found at docks. Do your research before you go somewhere odd and make sure you have a twist connector if you might need it.
I also include a link for a 30 foot extension cord. Between that and your 20 foot mobile charger 50 feet should get you connected.
*****Caution**** reduce the max current your car will draw to 80% of the circuits rated capacity. For a 20a circuit, 16 amps is max. The approved accessories will do this automatically. (Tesla does, I'm sure Ford will to, but check first.) In our fictional theoretical exercise, we have to manually reduce max current draw to 80% of the circuits capacity for safety's sake.
***NOTE*** The extension cord is 14-50 and all the adapters connect some other receptacle to 14-50. You will need an adapter to plug your mobile charger into a 14-50 outlet. (The extension cord.) You then plug whatever adapter fits into your chosen receptacle and plug it into the end of your extension cord. I also included one adapter without a cord for converting a 20a 220v receptacle into a 15a 220v receptacle. You probably won't need it because most 20a receptacles will also accept a 15a plug. But it's small and easy to put in the charging kit so I have one just in case.
You won't need any of this if your trip is in an area with lots of charging infrastructure. But if you have just one charger in a spot that's going to be a critical charge, what do you do if it's out of service? With this kit you'll be able to charge almost everywhere. Well, we could if this wasn't just a theoretical exercise for the purpose of generating an interesting discussion.
When I got these parts, they were all stamped with the UL logo. Suppliers change though. You should check for that logo.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024ECIP0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XJM67XV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XNSXWM4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XJM5LNC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XJM4SRJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P7YK4PL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00STD8CXC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LGLJ26N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s06?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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