Extension Cable for charging in apartment?

[Matt The Gamer]

While I await my Mach E to arrive, I've been trying to come up with ways to charge it in my current apartment, as the property lacks EV chargers and isn't very keen on getting some added, despite my discussions with some of the managers (they implied the parent company doesn't want to shell out the money to get the infrastructure installed anywhere on the property despite electrical runs everywhere). So I've been looking into extension cables to make it possible. I'm fortunate to live in an area where there are numerous public chargers, EA and other brands, very close to my home. But I'd still like to charge at home when I can.

Does anyone have any J1772 extension cables that might work for my scenario? I seriously lucked out when I started paying extra for a reserved parking space that is right near the door from our parking garage, and that my apartment is the closest unit to said door, so a cable seems like a good possibility. However, I want a cable that either A) is long enough that the entirety of the cable sans the male end of the cable be in my unit, to help alleivate any tampering with it or B) has some kind of lock system to prevent people from trying to tamper with it. The people in my complex are very nice and I doubt anyone would cable try and unplug a big cable in the hallway, but still.

I found this charger extension, that is 40'. Right next to my front door is my washer and dryer, with the dryer's 240V outlet easily accessible. I measure about 36' in total, including some drops and height needed for the plug and charger on the car. Idea is that I plug the Mobile Charger into my dryer's outlet when I get home from work, leave the charger in my apartment, and then plug the extension into the charger (leave the charger male end/extension female end in the unit), run the extension the entirety of my run and into the car.

But hoping other's here have better ideas. I also made a really crude mock up of the layout from my apartment front foyer to my car's parking space if it helps!

Sponsored

 

[ponydsp]

Have you looked into this? no extension cord and it can be up to 50' long.

https://www.primecom.tech/products/...rage-adjustable-10amp-16amp-20amp-24amp-32amp

 

[JerryL]

Does your apt have garages?

 

[Matt The Gamer]

Have you looked into this? no extension cord and it can be up to 50' long.

https://www.primecom.tech/products/...rage-adjustable-10amp-16amp-20amp-24amp-32amp

No I haven't seen that before. I don't think I want a whole second charger just for the extra length. But who knows what future me would want years down the line.

Does your apt have garages?

We have 2 buildings for the whole complex. Each building has an attached garage that everyone parks in. So yes? But not like private ones you'd see at townhome-esque apartments or anything

 

[macchiaz-o]

Would you consider paying for the improvement work to have a dedicated charger installed at your parking space/garage? If so, float this idea with the complex. You can ask for the contact info of their preferred electrician and request a quote to see what that might be like.

You cannot use the included mobile charger on the typical dryer outlet. Typically the dryer receptacle is 30 amp and on a 30 amp circuit. You require a NEMA 14-50R, 50 amp outlet on a 40 or (preferably) 50 amp circuit.

For nightly charging, it is not a good idea to rely upon extension cords or EVSEs that don't meet safety standards, such as some of the previous responses were recommending. The cable going from the EVSE brick to the J1772 charge coupler may not be longer than 25 feet, and the cord going from the brick to the wall outlet is supposed to be no more than a foot or two. This is probably meant to keep the brick from sitting in standing water, prevent trip hazards, etc, but I'm not sure.

 

[Matt The Gamer]

Would you consider paying for the improvement work to have a dedicated charger installed at your parking space/garage? If so, float this idea with the complex. You can ask for the contact info of their preferred electrician and request a quote to see what that might be like.

Oh absolutely! To an extent. I wouldn't want to pay thousands and thousands of dollars, but if the quote was reasonable for the specific parking spot, then yes. I'll bring it up to them as my delivery date gets closer.

You cannot use the included mobile charger on the typical dryer outlet. Typically the dryer receptacle is 30 amp and on a 30 amp circuit. You require a NEMA 14-50R, 50 amp outlet on a 40 or (preferably) 50 amp circuit.

But I can use a standard 120V outlet? I have on almost the same distance away as the dryer outlet. Though it is less, it would still be enough to recharge my daily commute in about 2-3 hours (commute to and from work is minimal at the moment.)

For nightly charging, it is not a good idea to rely upon extension cords or EVSEs that don't meet safety standards, such as some of the previous responses were recommending. The cable going from the EVSE brick to the J1772 charge coupler may not be longer than 25 feet, and the cord going from the brick to the wall outlet is supposed to be no more than a foot or two. This is probably meant to keep the brick from sitting in standing water, prevent trip hazards, etc, but I'm not sure.

So that 30' extension cable I linked would fall "out of safety spec" so to speak? That's good to know. I don't want to stretch safety limits or anything.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Oh absolutely! To an extent. I wouldn't want to pay thousands and thousands of dollars, but if the quote was reasonable for the specific parking spot, then yes. I'll bring it up to them as my delivery date gets closer.

Cool -- it would truly be best in terms of electrical safety, trip hazards, long term use, and convenience for you. But it might cost anywhere from $500 to $3000 I would guess... Let us know what you find out if you pursue the quote.

Supply issues have impacted electrical supplies and electricians can be hard to schedule sometimes. So just keep that in mind with your timelines.

 

[Matt The Gamer]

Cool -- it would truly be best in terms of electrical safety, trip hazards, long term use, and convenience for you. But it might cost anywhere from $500 to $3000 I would guess... Let us know what you find out if you pursue the quote.

Supply issues have impacted electrical supplies and electricians can be hard to schedule sometimes. So just keep that in mind with your timelines.

That isn't a terrible quote. I'd be willing to supply the EVSE, though I'd like to work out a contract that lets me take it when I don't renew at some point, and I could do the installation myself. Just as long as an electrical run is made. But that's something to discuss with them down the line. Thanks!

 

[macchiaz-o]

But I can use a standard 120V outlet? I have on almost the same distance away as the dryer outlet. Though it is less, it would still be enough to recharge my daily commute in about 2-3 hours (commute to and from work is minimal at the moment.)

Yes -- the mobile charger comes with two connectors. One is for standard outlets and regains about 2 miles per hour, the other is for an oven/range type outlet (14-50) and regains about 20 miles per hour.

So that 30' extension cable I linked would fall "out of safety spec" so to speak? That's good to know. I don't want to stretch safety limits or anything.

Correct. Some people use them temporarily but I wouldn't do so nightly or at home.

 

[macchiaz-o]

That isn't a terrible quote. I'd be willing to supply the EVSE, though I'd like to work out a contract that lets me take it when I don't renew at some point, and I could do the installation myself. Just as long as an electrical run is made. But that's something to discuss with them down the line. Thanks!

In this case, get a quote for a 50 amp outlet with a NEMA 14-50R receptacle. Then you can plug in a wide variety of EVSEs including the one that comes with the car.

Also, this is of future value to the complex... Future renters will pay extra for that garage space.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I'd talk to them about installing a NEMA 14-50R outlet. Much cheaper and less "threatening" to their sensibilities.

 

[JerryL]

No I haven't seen that before. I don't think I want a whole second charger just for the extra length. But who knows what future me would want years down the line.



We have 2 buildings for the whole complex. Each building has an attached garage that everyone parks in. So yes? But not like private ones you'd see at townhome-esque apartments or anything

Is there anyway you can speak to the management to supply charging stations. It could be a plus in renting their units in the long run. EV is the way to go. Chat them up

 

[Matt The Gamer]

Is there anyway you can speak to the management to supply charging stations. It could be a plus in renting their units in the long run. EV is the way to go. Chat them up

I've mentioned it to them twice, and both times they've told me that they've had both Tesla specialist and an electrician out to quote added chargers (they didn't say where) and that was it. They implied the company that owns the building doesn't want to spend the money on chargers.

I've been thinking of leaving flyers on other EVs in the complex, as it's the only way I could think of communicating with all of them since we have no real "corkboard" anywhere, digital or otherwise, asking for support in building a cohort of people advocating for getting chargers installed. Haven't done that yet though.

 

[Maquis]

Is moving an option?

 

[AKgrampy]

One potential issue that has not been discussed is a metering point. If your garage stall does not have metered power then I would assume you would have to also get an electric meter installed. And if you did you certainly would want to ensure no one else used it! I think that may jack up the cost quite a bit. Just something you would need to know as you look down this path.

Sponsored