Charger specs for Home charging Mach e 2022

[carinquiryad]

Hi

We have bought a home that is currently being built. We wanted to get the L2 electric charger installed, and we are being asked for the charger specs so that they can provide the right type of wiring.

I told them that I wanted a L2 car charger, but that drew a blank from them. They basically need exact specs.

Is it basically that we need a 240V / 48A supply we need with a NEMA 14-50 switch?

It seems that these people need the exact specs (which is fair), but I am not entirely sure what to tell them. If someone can suggest what to tell an electrician to get the proper charger for a Mach E 2022, that would be great.

Thank you for your help.

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[RickMachE]

You want a 60amp breaker with wiring to support it. For a 48amp charger, you need to be hardwired. For 40amps, you can have a 14-50 industrial outlet, like from Hubbell.

Check with your utility company for discounted chargers or rebates for specific brands / models. I'm partial to a JuiceBox 48 because two can loadshare one circuit.

 

[Maquis]

If you have no idea what EVSE you will end up with, just have them run a 1” conduit from the main panel to the point you will want the EVSE installed, terminated in a 4-square box. That should cost next to nothing and provide complete flexibility for a future install. Also tell them to make sure there are at least 2 unused spaces in the panel for the future breaker.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Tell them to install a 50A range outlet (NEMA 14-50) on a 50A breaker. That should ring a bell for any electrician.

If you can, ask the electrician to run the wires in conduit so they can be upgraded to bigger in the future. Some day you may want to upgrade from a 50A to 100A circuit for charging, or have multiple EVs charging at night.

 

[Ev Blau]

If you have no idea what EVSE you will end up with, just have them run a 1” conduit from the main panel to the point you will want the EVSE installed, terminated in a 4-square box. That should cost next to nothing and provide complete flexibility for a future install. Also tell them to make sure there are at least 2 unused spaces in the panel for the future breaker.

Maquis, our electrician has quoted us about $1500 to do the following: install 2 existing panel boards, a dedicated 120v 20 amp receptacle and a 240v 60 amp circuit into a 4x4 junction box. This quote includes repair of sub panel blanks and permit fees (needed to get Duke Energy to reimburse us up to $1100 for Ev charger infrastructure work).

Our 2 circuit panels are in the lower level (main panel and a second panel installed for an original hot tub) and our garage is on ground/main level. He will run wiring through the house walls and cement floor inside our garage in a conduit up the side wall. Not the prettiest look but practical. We wanted the 120v 20 amp for slow charging (suggested as an option to fast charging all the time and since the electric company was paying most of the tab, why not?). Also, the current garage outlet is only 15v so it is severely underpowered.

I think this seems fair - he is also fixing some electrical wiring problems in order for the county inspector to approve his work. Comments please - he’s scheduled to come out after vacation next week. TIA.

 

[Teslaeata]

Don’t they do 3-phase over in US?

If a new build is it possible to run this power in from source?

I have UK 3-phase 415V 22kW 32A ABB charge point which is more than ‘Stangy can cope with but future proofs me and charges ‘Stangy from virtually zero to 100% in around 7 hours on economy rate.

 

[TowPro]

NOTE: I am not a licensed electrician, but this is what I am finding doing research for my own charger.

In the US homes are only 2 phase. (edit, I was corrected that this is single phase in USA (my electric knowledge comes from RF and Phone company DC)

Remember you need to future proof this install. EV's are not going away, and I bet they will not start needing LESS energy.

Size of service: When they say 50 Amp service, that is a 50 Amp breaker. But these citructs are not sized for 100% duty cycle, this number is actually 125% . A 50 Amp service will only handle 40 Amp continues load, and charging your car is a continues load. (40A continue load x 125% - 50A circuit)

Most L2 chargers on the market now will support Up to 48 Amp which requires a 60 Amp circuit.
but Autel (and others) support 50 Amp which needs larger than 60 Amp service.

If the main power distribution center is in the garage, I would request they wire a 60A service into a box where you can hard wire your L2 charger to. They might want you to supply your charger so they can wire it.

If the main power distribution center is located somewhere else, I would think about having a sub panel installed in the garage near my charging location with at least 125A capacity. From this sub panel I would have them wire a 60A service into a box where you can hard wire your L2 charger to

Hard wire VS NEMA 14-50 plug:

The 14-50 outlet is not rated for 100% 50A service, remember that 125 above. if you run 40A x 125% - 50A circuit. It shuld be able to do 40A for hours at a time, but even at that load there is a problem with (lower quality) outlets melting. This is why you see people recommend a good Industrial outlet (which cost around $150.00).

New electrical code requires a GFI breaker be used with that 14-50 outlet. (another $100). (not all states currently require this new code yet).
But if you hard wire your charger this circuit only requires a standard breaker ($20)
the L2 device I am buying has a GFI built into it.

 

[Maquis]

Maquis, our electrician has quoted us about $1500 to do the following: install 2 existing panel boards, a dedicated 120v 20 amp receptacle and a 240v 60 amp circuit into a 4x4 junction box. This quote includes repair of sub panel blanks and permit fees (needed to get Duke Energy to reimburse us up to $1100 for Ev charger infrastructure work).

Our 2 circuit panels are in the lower level (main panel and a second panel installed for an original hot tub) and our garage is on ground/main level. He will run wiring through the house walls and cement floor inside our garage in a conduit up the side wall. Not the prettiest look but practical. We wanted the 120v 20 amp for slow charging (suggested as an option to fast charging all the time and since the electric company was paying most of the tab, why not?). Also, the current garage outlet is only 15v so it is severely underpowered.

I think this seems fair - he is also fixing some electrical wiring problems in order for the county inspector to approve his work. Comments please - he’s scheduled to come out after vacation next week. TIA.

The price seems reasonable for the scope of work you describe. I don’t think the 120V circuit is really necessary, but it never hurts to have a spare. For slower charging, most EVSEs (not the Ford Mobile Charger) can be set lower, if desired.

 

[AKgrampy]

Don’t they do 3-phase over in US?

If a new build is it possible to run this power in from source?

I have UK 3-phase 415V 22kW 32A ABB charge point which is more than ‘Stangy can cope with but future proofs me and charges ‘Stangy from virtually zero to 100% in around 7 hours on economy rate.

No, we do not for residential application. Unless someone wanted to pay big $$$!

 

[Maquis]

NOTE: I am not a licensed electrician, but this is what I am finding doing research for my own charger.

In the US homes are only 2 phase.

Remember you need to future proof this install. EV's are not going away, and I bet they will not start needing LESS energy.

Size of service: When they say 50 Amp service, that is a 50 Amp breaker. But these citructs are not sized for 100% duty cycle, this number is actually 125% . A 50 Amp service will only handle 40 Amp continues load, and charging your car is a continues load. (40A continue load x 125% - 50A circuit)

Most L2 chargers on the market now will support Up to 48 Amp which requires a 60 Amp circuit.
but Autel (and others) support 50 Amp which needs larger than 60 Amp service.

If the main power distribution center is in the garage, I would request they wire a 60A service into a box where you can hard wire your L2 charger to. They might want you to supply your charger so they can wire it.

If the main power distribution center is located somewhere else, I would think about having a sub panel installed in the garage near my charging location with at least 125A capacity. From this sub panel I would have them wire a 60A service into a box where you can hard wire your L2 charger to

Hard wire VS NEMA 14-50 plug:

The 14-50 outlet is not rated for 100% 50A service, remember that 125 above. if you run 40A x 125% - 50A circuit. It shuld be able to do 40A for hours at a time, but even at that load there is a problem with (lower quality) outlets melting. This is why you see people recommend a good Industrial outlet (which cost around $150.00).

New electrical code requires a GFI breaker be used with that 14-50 outlet. (another $100). (not all states currently require this new code yet).
But if you hard wire your charger this circuit only requires a standard breaker ($20)
the L2 device I am buying has a GFI built into it.

US residential is single phase. Two phase is a specialized 4-wire arrangement (90 degree phase shift between each conductor) that was once used industrially in the northeastern US. I don’t believe there are any two phase systems still in existence.

 

[Teslaeata]

I got lucky, my house is a 1970 build in rural area where for some reason they run 3-phase in and I thought all my Christmases came at once when I surveyed what kind of power I had when it came to install a charge point.

Cost me around £500 to have 3-phase meter installed and electrics altered to maintain the domestic single phase supply and provide a 3-phase supply for ‘Stang’s hayrack!

 

[Bobbyg813]

Hi

We have bought a home that is currently being built. We wanted to get the L2 electric charger installed, and we are being asked for the charger specs so that they can provide the right type of wiring.

I told them that I wanted a L2 car charger, but that drew a blank from them. They basically need exact specs.

Is it basically that we need a 240V / 48A supply we need with a NEMA 14-50 switch?

It seems that these people need the exact specs (which is fair), but I am not entirely sure what to tell them. If someone know what to tell an electrician to get the proper charger for a Mach E 2022, that would be great.

Thank you for your help.

Hi

We have bought a home that is currently being built. We wanted to get the L2 electric charger installed, and we are being asked for the charger specs so that they can provide the right type of wiring.

I told them that I wanted a L2 car charger, but that drew a blank from them. They basically need exact specs.

Is it basically that we need a 240V / 48A supply we need with a NEMA 14-50 switch?

It seems that these people need the exact specs (which is fair), but I am not entirely sure what to tell them. If someone know what to tell an electrician to get the proper charger for a Mach E 2022, that would be great.

Thank you for your help.
[/QUOTE]

Have them install a 60 amp circuit, and terminate it with bare wires in a box. From there, you can either hardwire an EV charger, or a NEMA 14-50 plug. If you don’t intend on buying an EV charger, then have them terminate it in a NEMA 1450 outlet, so you don’t have to go to the expense. You can always retrofit an EV charger when you’re ready.

Don’t let them take the easy way out and surface wire with conduit, unless drywall is already up. Make them run the Romex through the studs in the wall, and terminate it at the outlet. It will be a much neater install that way.

Hi

We have bought a home that is currently being built. We wanted to get the L2 electric charger installed, and we are being asked for the charger specs so that they can provide the right type of wiring.

I told them that I wanted a L2 car charger, but that drew a blank from them. They basically need exact specs.

Is it basically that we need a 240V / 48A supply we need with a NEMA 14-50

Hi

We have bought a home that is currently being built. We wanted to get the L2 electric charger installed, and we are being asked for the charger specs so that they can provide the right type of wiring.

I told them that I wanted a L2 car charger, but that drew a blank from them. They basically need exact specs.

Is it basically that we need a 240V / 48A supply we need with a NEMA 14-50 switch?

It seems that these people need the exact specs (which is fair), but I am not entirely sure what to tell them. If someone know what to tell an electrician to get the proper charger for a Mach E 2022, that would be great.

Thank you for your help.

Have them install a 60 amp circuit, and terminate it with bare wires in a box. From there, you can either hardwire an EV charger, or a NEMA 14-50 plug. If you don’t intend on buying an EV charger, then have them terminate it in a NEMA 1450 outlet, so you don’t have to go to the expense. You can always retrofit an EV charger when you’re ready.


Don’t let them take the easy way out and surface wire with conduit, unless drywall is already up. Make them run the Romex through the studs in the wall, and terminate it at the outlet. It will be a much neater install that way.

 

[Maquis]

Have them install a 60 amp circuit, and terminate it with bare wires in a box. From there, you can either hardwire an EV charger, or a NEMA 14-50 plug. If you don’t intend on buying an EV charger, then have them terminate it in a NEMA 1450 outlet, so you don’t have to go to the expense. You can always retrofit an EV charger when you’re ready.

Don’t let them take the easy way out and surface wire with conduit, unless drywall is already up. Make them run the Romex through the studs in the wall, and terminate it at the outlet. It will be a much neater install that way.





Have them install a 60 amp circuit, and terminate it with bare wires in a box. From there, you can either hardwire an EV charger, or a NEMA 14-50 plug. If you don’t intend on buying an EV charger, then have them terminate it in a NEMA 1450 outlet, so you don’t have to go to the expense. You can always retrofit an EV charger when you’re ready.


Don’t let them take the easy way out and surface wire with conduit, unless drywall is already up. Make them run the Romex through the studs in the wall, and terminate it at the outlet. It will be a much neater install that way.

1. Conduit can be run in the wall. It doesn’t have to be exposed. This provides the best flexibility going forward.

2. If using cable, I’d never use Romex for a 60A circuit because it requires #4 AWG. #6 MC can be used at 60A.

 

[Glen Boise]

When I had service installed for providing Level 2, all I did was print out the information posted on the Ford website for Mach-E were it described what was needed for charging. I insisted on at least a 50 amp breaker (14-50 socket) for charging at 40 amps. The electrician had done some installs for Teslas so understood.
I did not see the need for going 60 amps with the need for hard wiring the EVSE. Thought 50 amp service was good enough and having a plug in EVSE would provide future owners some flexibility on the kind of plug he needed. Your situation may be different. (I am over 70 so need to consider such things.)
It works for me. My standard battery Select Mach-E takes some 6 hours to charge from around 20% to 90%. Which I tell ICE owners is not a problem when I am parked for the night.

 

[timbop]

For versatility have them run a 14-50 outlet on a 50 amp circuit, but with heavier gauge wiring (for 60 amps). That allows you to buy a plugin charger (EVSE) which you can replace in the future if it breaks. Going higher than 50 amps requires a hardwired charger (EVSE) and if it break then you will need an electrician to replace it (unless you are handy). Using heavier wire now is only going to be slightly more expensive, but if EV's in the future have much bigger batteries you can eventually replace the breaker and have the 14-50 replaced fairly easily.

With that said, I have my EVSE set to 32A on a 50amp circuit because it puts less load on my electrical service and the wires and batteries generate much less heat at 32 amps vs 48 amps. Even fully drained the car can still charge completely overnight.

Actually, since it's new construction: if you have a 2 car garage it might actually be a good idea to install 2 14-50 outlets - it's a lot easier to run the wiring when there's no rock on the walls, and with a plugin EVSE you won't need to the the electrician to install it.

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