Ford charger in NEMA 14 - 50, breaker flips

[Maquis]

As per the installer, this is a known issue and I should contact Ford, for an update.
A moment ago, I connected the charger, and the breaker tripped. I will add, the garage is rather warm, actually, hot. Wondering if that has anything to do with it…

If it trips as soon as you plug in the FMC, I agree, the charger is defective.

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[fpavlo1]

I have the Ford mobile charger, that comes with the GTPE, connected to a NEMA 14 - 50.
The NEMA 14 - 50 was professionally installed, with a GFCI and such.
A few times now, I’ve connected the charger to the car, and the breaker would flip.

Curious, any reason why?

I had the same problem and traced it to a cheap breaker. The breaker had a screw that tightened against the bradded wire. With the heat build up the connection would loosen up and cause the breaker to trip. I switched the breaker to a true Square D breaker that has a clevis connecter that
clamps the wire. Haven't had the problem since.

 

[fpavlo1]

I had the same problem and traced it to a cheap breaker. The breaker had a screw that tightened against the bradded wire. With the heat build up the connection would loosen up and cause the breaker to trip. I switched the breaker to a true Square D breaker that has a clevis connecter that
clamps the wire. Haven't had the problem since.

Mine is a non GFI Breaker

 

[Mach-Lee]

I had the same problem and traced it to a cheap breaker. The breaker had a screw that tightened against the bradded wire. With the heat build up the connection would loosen up and cause the breaker to trip. I switched the breaker to a true Square D breaker that has a clevis connecter that
clamps the wire. Haven't had the problem since.

Just curious, what type of cheap breaker was it?

 

[nuMach]

Hardwired GFCI not required for outside installation
receptacle inside, eg garage, not required for receptcle
outside receptacle GFCI required

simple

gfci trip, you need to push the reset
breaker tripped, you need to turn it off, then on
so which is it?

if the breaker trips, you are drawing too much current
likely the charger is configured for 48A as in a hardwire installation instead of 40 for recptacle
50A breaker will trip after some time with a 48A load. you need 48X125%, or a 60A breaker
you may need to config your charger down a level .. eg 32A

I sense operator error here after the electrician left.

if its tripping on GFCI, you likely have a ground fault - have your electrician troubleshoot it
was it raining eg? water in receptacle?

 

[shelnian]

I recommend getting a new Level 2 EVSE (charger). Max rate of charge for MME is 10,800Watts/240Volt=45Amps so a 48Amp charger, like the Emporia, is all you need. Have it hard wired to a 60Amp breaker (#6 wire is good for 60Amps) so you don't need a GFCI breaker.

 

[circatee]

Hardwired GFCI not required for outside installation
receptacle inside, eg garage, not required for receptcle
outside receptacle GFCI required

simple

gfci trip, you need to push the reset
breaker tripped, you need to turn it off, then on
so which is it?

if the breaker trips, you are drawing too much current
likely the charger is configured for 48A as in a hardwire installation instead of 40 for recptacle
50A breaker will trip after some time with a 48A load. you need 48X125%, or a 60A breaker
you may need to config your charger down a level .. eg 32A

I sense operator error here after the electrician left.

if its tripping on GFCI, you likely have a ground fault - have your electrician troubleshoot it
was it raining eg? water in receptacle?

I do not believe it is operator error. It has been working fine since install. However, within the last few days the breaker tripping has started.
Additionally, are you saying one can configure the Ford charging cable (L2)? If so, how exactly?

 

[nuMach]

I do not believe it is operator error. It has been working fine since install. However, within the last few days the breaker tripping has started.
Additionally, are you saying one can configure the Ford charging cable (L2)? If so, how exactly?

while I have the ford included charger, i dont use it, and I see your point.

You havet mentioned yet whether its a GFI trip, or overcurrent.
Need to get a clamp ammeter on the conductor to see how much is drawn
If its a GFI trip, likely an issue along the path, but needs a hands on visual inspection, and megger test. Might be as simple as environmental issue (eg rain, condensation)

If its over-current as measured - charger issue
If its due to short circuit, most likely a connection issue

could be even a bad breaker, though thats very rare.

Need to get your guy back.

My first thought was user changing in the chargers app the output to 48A, cause it seems intuitive that 48A should be OK on a 50A breaker ... however thats not the case. Breaker trip is time/heat related. Thats why code states for a steady load, like L2 chargers ... need to rate everything to 125%

 

[Auto Motive]

I have the Ford mobile charger, that comes with the GTPE, connected to a NEMA 14 - 50.
The NEMA 14 - 50 was professionally installed, with a GFCI and such.
A few times now, I’ve connected the charger to the car, and the breaker would flip.

Curious, any reason why?

If it flips get that elec contractor to check his work. We had fault problems with that charger especially at 80 deg. Got a juicebox 40 and its been excellent.

 

[Maquis]

Hardwired GFCI not required for outside installation
receptacle inside, eg garage, not required for receptcle
outside receptacle GFCI required

As of the 2023 NEC, all outside outlets (including hard-wired) 50A and under require GFCI.

As of the 2017 NEC, all garage receptacle outlets 50A and under require GFCI. Prior to 2017, GFCI was only required for 120V, 15 or 20A receptacle outlets in a garage.

So it depends on what code cycle you’re on.

 

[ReverendPete]

I have a 50A Autel charger on a 50A breaker, which means I am limited to 40A of charging. (The Autel charger allows me to change the Amperage available to the car). I had the charger hardwired to the box, instead of using a plug.

At first, I was able to charge at 40A, but a few days in, it started flipping the breaker, and I had noticed that the breaker was heating up more than it should. So I dropped the Amperage down to the mid 30s, and that worked for a month or so. But then it started flipping the breaker even at 30A. I called the electrician back and he came to look at it, and said that it must be my charger.

Not believing him, I decided that the breaker must be bad, so I went out and purchased a new one, and as I was getting ready to swap it out, I realized that the screws that the electrician had installed to connect the wires to the breaker were not tightened properly, and must have been arcing, leading to the heating up and flipping of the breaker. So I tightened those screws, and all has been fine at 40A since. (I also vowed to never use that electrician again! Glad it didn't start a fire!)

 

[Maquis]

I have a 50A Autel charger on a 50A breaker, which means I am limited to 40A of charging. (The Autel charger allows me to change the Amperage available to the car). I had the charger hardwired to the box, instead of using a plug.

At first, I was able to charge at 40A, but a few days in, it started flipping the breaker, and I had noticed that the breaker was heating up more than it should. So I dropped the Amperage down to the mid 30s, and that worked for a month or so. But then it started flipping the breaker even at 30A. I called the electrician back and he came to look at it, and said that it must be my charger.

Not believing him, I decided that the breaker must be bad, so I went out and purchased a new one, and as I was getting ready to swap it out, I realized that the screws that the electrician had installed to connect the wires to the breaker were not tightened properly, and must have been arcing, leading to the heating up and flipping of the breaker. So I tightened those screws, and all has been fine at 40A since. (I also vowed to never use that electrician again! Glad it didn't start a fire!)

I’d go ahead and replace the breaker since it’s been overheated and has tripped multiple times.

 

[ReverendPete]

I’d go ahead and replace the breaker since it’s been overheated and has tripped multiple times.

Not a bad idea...

 

[nuMach]

As of the 2023 NEC, all outside outlets (including hard-wired) 50A and under require GFCI.

As of the 2017 NEC, all garage receptacle outlets 50A and under require GFCI. Prior to 2017, GFCI was only required for 120V, 15 or 20A receptacle outlets in a garage.

So it depends on what code cycle you’re on.

true .. and what country. ;
my L2 is hardwired, so not considered an outlet. And not required for hardwired.
Had it inspected.
Also for those not getting an inspection ... the utility company can determine you have had a change in usage, and with smart meters, can pinpoint how much and when - like ...hmmm... what could draw 40-48 amps for 5 hours?
Can save you serious trouble to get a permit. Most locales let homeowners draw a permit for their own residence and do their own labour.

And of course code is considered the minimum requirement. Nothing wrong with using 12 gua for a residential branch circuit, eg.

 

[nuMach]

I’d go ahead and replace the breaker since it’s been overheated and has tripped multiple times.

shotgun ... replace each bit till problem identified. could get costly.
sure the electrician would troubleshoot his own work and find the right component.

reminds me of the guy replacing the fuse several times and wondering why that didnt fix it.

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