EV Charger Risks: Home Charging Installation Risks and Advice [by Munro Live]

[ocdxfv]

My first EV was a 2013 RAV4 EV with a 40kWh battery. The dealer tried to convince me I needed a 60a breaker so that I could charge at 48a cont. I opted to use the 30a dryer outlet in my garage and charge at 24a. Coming up on 10 years and so far no problems... not for the Rav4, the Leaf, the Bolt and now the MME. I think less is more... at least for me.

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[PA Bob]

that and putting space between EV charging breakers if you have 2 EVSEs and using breakers that screw onto the buss rather than plug into it.

Here's a link to the "industrial grade" Hubble 14-50 receptacle.

I'm going to have my electrician install one of these for our Mach e if we don't go hard wired on the EVSE.

They also talked about breakers that are stab breakers with disconnect. Don't know what that is, but it was on the wishlist.

 

[Pioneer74]

AFAIK only commercial and industrial panels use bolt-on breakers these days. Almost all are 3 phase panels.

I'll have to check when I go back to work, but most of our combination panels use simple Siemens breakers. Some use Square D QO. I think the 3-phase panels are Siemens as well, and all are stab breakers.

The first building I worked in was built during the 1930's. Obviously, things were upgraded over the years during projects or additions. Most panels back then were Pushmatic. Those bolt to the buss bars, and last I checked, you can still get parts for them. Built to last.

 

[Vulnox]

This thread got me curious as to what our electrician installed, and it's a Hubbell. Am I good? Looks like it has the certifications on it, but not sure if they have different models and this one could be the generic version or whatever.

 

[Pioneer74]

This thread got me curious as to what our electrician installed, and it's a Hubbell. Am I good? Looks like it has the certifications on it, but not sure if they have different models and this one could be the generic version or whatever.

That looks to be the cheaper receptacle. Look at mine and notice the distance from the receptacle to the cover screws.

I do have to give props to your Electrician. I have the same habit of making my cover screws have the same orientation as well.

 

[mkhuffman]

That looks to be the cheaper receptacle. Look at mine and notice the distance from the receptacle to the cover screws.

I do have to give props to your Electrician. I have the same habit of making my cover screws have the same orientation as well.

Do all your light switches need to be in the same direction? Mine do.

 

[mjs020294]

The AMP draw for an EV charger is not unusual but the length of continuous usage is not normal in residential environments. Most 240v high AMP equipment rarely draws full power for more than 15-20 minutes.

I am going to cap our home charging at 32AMp and the system will be over engineered with commercial grade components where possible.

 

[Pioneer74]

Do all your light switches need to be in the same direction? Mine do.

Absolutely. If there is a light on a couple of 3-way switches, I can't rest unless they are both in the down position when the light is off.

 

[Maquis]

Absolutely. If there is a light on a couple of 3-way switches, I can't rest unless they are both in the down position when the light is off.

Damned, I thought it was just me and my OCD tendencies!

 

[Raymondjram]

It's panel dependent. I've seen them, but they are older panels. All the newer panels that I've ever seen are stabs.

The screw in type is mostly General Electric. My home, built in 1976, has the Zinsco plug in type. Last week I added a new 100 A dual pole breaker to my main panel. It cost me $120 at Amazon .

 

[P. T. Magoo]

Damned, I thought it was just me and my OCD tendencies!

Actually, I prefer CDO.

It's in alphabetical order.

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

Well damn, I have a $15 dollar Home Depot receptacle. I guess I'll be spending a couple of bucks having an electrician change it.

 

[LiveWire]

Use a qualified electrician that will
Pull a permit
Install 6/6/6/3 NMB (Romex) with a 50 amp breaker (GFI per code)
Install an industrial grade NEMA 14-50 outlet
Charge at 38 amps
Get it inspected
Check torque once a year
=Safe Install with no worries.

All electrical installs that are continuous loads (running for 3 hours or more) must be rated at 125% of their rated load. So if you are planning to charge at 38 amps just divide 38 X 1.25 and it comes out to be 50 so a 50 amp breaker installed with #6 wire (which is rated at 55 amps @ 60°C ) and pulling only 38 amps will never have an issue if it's installed correctly. Just my 2 cents.

 

[RickMachE]

Use a qualified electrician that will
Pull a permit
Install 6/6/6/3 NMB (Romex) with a 50 amp breaker (GFI per code)
Install an industrial grade NEMA 14-50 outlet
Charge at 38 amps
Get it inspected
Check torque once a year
=Safe Install with no worries.

All electrical installs that are continuous loads (running for 3 hours or more) must be rated at 125% of their rated load. So if you are planning to charge at 38 amps just divide 38 X 1.25 and it comes out to be 50 so a 50 amp breaker installed with #6 wire (which is rated at 55 amps @ 60°C ) and pulling only 38 amps will never have an issue if it's installed correctly. Just my 2 cents.

Your math is wrong.

Breaker must be rated at 125% of rated load.

40 amp load x 1.25 = 50 amps.

If you divide 38 by 1.25 you get 24.

 

[Vulnox]

That looks to be the cheaper receptacle. Look at mine and notice the distance from the receptacle to the cover screws.

I do have to give props to your Electrician. I have the same habit of making my cover screws have the same orientation as well.

Ah darn, I imagine it's still a decent outlet at least, but may be worth checking on an upgrade since this has been installed for a few years now and probably could use some maintenance checks anyway. Charging the C-Max Energi or Focus Electric I wasn't too worried, but the Mach-E can pull a lot of power for a lot longer.

Thanks very much for the response!

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