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

[PilotMark]

Better Sleep at 2 months.
Mustang Molly is only 2 months old so I am surely the expert. Really?
I'll never use an extension cord again. I tried the ford charge at 110 just to test. This was the first week and I did not have our 220 outlet installed yet. The 110 outlet next to the car is recessed and I could not get the plug in correctly. I used an extension cord.
I watched it for 15 mins and feeling all the cords they were only slightly warm. Felt them again at 1 hour and starting at the car the cables felt fine, just slightly warm. The ford charger to the extension cord was just fine. The extension cord was just fine. And thankfully I felt the extension cord plug at the receptacle. NOT GOOD! Too hot to hold. Pulled it out asap and turned off the breaker to that outlet. No damage but thankfully I tested at an hour. So no extension cords for me.

I had an electrician install a Hubbell 14 50r ($118) receptacle and not the $10 Box store. I did a lot of research beforehand and wanted the installation to support the full load full time. Most circuits only have a fully rated load for a short time. While there may not be any official definition of Industrial vs commercial, there is a significant difference. The Hubbell plug weighs 4 or 5 times more the the $10 version.

First week the garage inside temp was 87 f. The cables were warm the receptacle was cool and the breaker was at 94. The garage temps our now in the 70 and the breaker is 80 or less after hours of charging.

I only charged during the day that first week. Just until I got comfortable with the installation and the entire charging process.

I installed a chargepoint home (our electric company offered a rebate for that charger) I like the app also. I installed it at 32 amps. I could have gone to 40 amps, but just wanted to sleep better.

The Munroe video is excellent.

Most electricians do not have EV full time charging experience. Educate yourself and them.

You buy at $50000 car I didn't want to skimp and put the car and house at risk.

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[shelnian]

...and this...

https://www.thedrive.com/maintenance-repair/39173/dielectric-grease

To inhibit corrosion damage on your electrical connections.

This grease works on permanent connections subject to a corrosive environment, but I don't recommend it for outlets and plugs. It can actually get contaminated with dirt and grime which can lead to failures of plugs and outlets.

 

[DadzBoyz]

How would one hardwire the portable charger that comes with the Mach E?

You don't. The portable charger that comes with the MME is not daily charge durable. Definitely not capable of being hardwired.

 

[Mrn]

This grease works on permanent connections subject to a corrosive environment, but I don't recommend it for outlets and plugs. It can actually get contaminated with dirt and grime which can lead to failures of plugs and outlets.

That makes sense. But in the application I was discussing many of us have a female 14-50 receptacle in a long term relationship with a 14-50 plug so it's a good match with dielectric grease?

 

[superdave80]

You don't. The portable charger that comes with the MME is not daily charge durable. Definitely not capable of being hardwired.

Daily use is irrelevant. If you plug it in overnight in a 240, you have a risk of meltdown if you have a bad installation, regarldess of how often you use it.

The guy I was replying to said to skip the plug and hardwire your charger... which is, of course, impossible with the Ford mobile charger. Well, unless you feel like cutting off the plug...

 

[J5hort]

You don't. The portable charger that comes with the MME is not daily charge durable. Definitely not capable of being hardwired.

Agree with not capable to hardwire, but who says mobile charge cable cannot be used daily. It has a wall mount bracket, and adapters for home outlets. Nowhere on Ford site does it mention not using it regularly. The mention of wall unit for quicker charge time is really the only mention. Where in the specs do you see a problem.

 

[shelnian]

Agree with not capable to hardwire, but who says mobile charge cable cannot be used daily. It has a wall mount bracket, and adapters for home outlets. Nowhere on Ford site does it mention not using it regularly. The mention of wall unit for quicker charge time is really the only mention. Where in the specs do you see a problem.

I agree the provided mobile charger will work as a regular charger at home if you mount it and leave it plugged in at home except when you take long trips. If you want to unplug the mobile charger and take it with you every time you leave home, then I would recommend you install a home charger and keep the mobile charger in your car. It's the plug/unplug cycles that will eventually wear out the outlet and lead to problems.

 

[J5hort]

Seems like there was some alleged technical concerns about using the mobile charger as the primary charger. I agree that it would be a PIA to bring it along every day, I assume public chargers would be used anyway. The public charger exceptions would be plugging in at a friend/relatives house or vacation rental or something. In any event, using the mobile charger for regular charging is not misusing the device. Just don't want to spread misinformation so MME owners think they need a wall charger.

 

[blkadr08]

I agree. Pretty good problem statement, no clear solution other than don’t buy a cheap dryer outlet. It did make me go out and check my install. Great post!

I did check my installation. I had been using a box previously installed to plug in my Motorhome. It was connected to my main panel breakers by around 15’ of 12 ga Romex.

Here’s what I found:

Now, truthfully, I had plugged my Motorhome into this outlet for a couple of years, so I can’t be sure which use caused the damage, but clearly the fire department wouldn’t have cared.

Interesting neither the breakers in the main panel, nore the ones in the box tripped, and there was no damage elsewhere in the circuit.

I have since replaced the box with 6 ga. Wiring and a Hibbert outlet.

 

[J5hort]

I did check my installation. I had been using a box previously installed to plug in my Motorhome. It was connected to my main panel breakers by around 15’ of 12 ga Romex.

Here’s what I found:

Now, truthfully, I had plugged my Motorhome into this outlet for a couple of years, so I can’t be sure which use caused the damage, but clearly the fire department wouldn’t have cared.

Interesting neither the breakers in the main panel, note the ones in the box tripped, and there was no damage elsewhere in the circuit.

I have since replaced the box with 6 ga. Wiring and a Hibbert outlet.

What gauge wire was the original and how long is the run? That was likely your issue.

 

[DadzBoyz]

I've watched the video (like the Munro videos) and read through this thread and agree with another poster and join them in asking the @Administrator to somehow pin this so it is one of the first things that people see when looking into charging.

 

[mkhuffman]

I did check my installation. I had been using a box previously installed to plug in my Motorhome. It was connected to my main panel breakers by around 15’ of 12 ga Romex.

Here’s what I found:

Now, truthfully, I had plugged my Motorhome into this outlet for a couple of years, so I can’t be sure which use caused the damage, but clearly the fire department wouldn’t have cared.

Interesting neither the breakers in the main panel, nore the ones in the box tripped, and there was no damage elsewhere in the circuit.

I have since replaced the box with 6 ga. Wiring and a Hibbert outlet.

The breaker is rated for 50 Amps so the 14 gauge wire will catch on fire long before the breaker trips. Whoever did that installation should be fired.

 

[J5hort]

The breaker is rated for 50 Amps so the 14 gauge wire will catch on fire long before the breaker trips. Whoever did that installation should be fired.

Yup. It is the wire not the plug. I scared up the following NEC chart where 60 and 75 degree (that's celcius) ratings and associated amps are listed. Your connector was a 75 degree connector rated for copper as stamped on the unit. Most people are using 50A for their charging and 8 gauge is listed for 50A. I'd play it safe and use 6 gauge. The length of the run also is a factor. I am running 40A over 6 gauge for about a 12 foot run.

Take away from this is to use the right gauge wire or even thicker to future proof your installation. This is expensive and likely hard to replace if it is buried in walls.

A premium outlet with an under spec'ed wire will also be a hazard.

 

[blkadr08]

Yup. It is the wire not the plug. I scared up the following NEC chart where 60 and 75 degree (that's celcius) ratings and associated amps are listed. Your connector was a 75 degree connector rated for copper as stamped on the unit. Most people are using 50A for their charging and 8 gauge is listed for 50A. I'd play it safe and use 6 gauge. The length of the run also is a factor. I am running 40A over 6 gauge for about a 12 foot run.

Take away from this is to use the right gauge wire or even thicker to future proof your installation. This is expensive and likely hard to replace if it is buried in walls.

A premium outlet with an under spec'ed wire will also be a hazard.

I have since replaced the box with around 15’ of

6 ga. Wiring and a Hibbert outlet.

 

[blkadr08]

What gauge wire was the original and how long is the run? That was likely your issue.

I have since replaced the box with approx 15’ of 6 ga. Wiring and a Hibbert outlet.

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