Doing L2 charging results in hot circuit breaker.

[egbauman]

New user here. Just purchased a 2023 Mach-E GT and charging via a 50 amp SS-2 twist/lock plug on the exterior of my garage. That plug was installed to allow connection of a generator in the event is a power outage. I purchased a SS-2 to NEMA 14-50 adapter and then plugged in the Ford Mobile Charger cable. After one successful charge that operated at 6 kw, future charging attempts tripped the breaker after about an hour. Those attempts were running at 7 kw and the breaker was very hot when it tripped.

The electricians installed that SS-2 plug for 50 amps and installed a 50 amp breaker in the breaker box. The Ford charger is pulling only 32 amps so I don’t think I’m overloading the circuit. But my electrician is telling me that EV charging circuits need to be rated for 60 amps. I’m leaning towards a bad breaker or perhaps the backplane of the breaker box is corroded otherwise fouled.

Pics of the breaker and backplane are attached. The breaker in question is top left.

Thoughts and recommendations are most appreciated.

TIA.

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[Phil-Springs]

Call an electrician and preferably one who is familiar with the continuous loads EV charging utilizes.

 

[Snakebitten]

What gauge and how long is the run to the outlet?

Just curious

There's so many points of potential resistance using a plug-in EVSE into an adapter into a receptacle ran to a breaker.

 

[Mach-Lee]

A generator INLET should not be used as an OUTLET. That’s a code violation.

That panel looks questionable to me, so have a qualified electrician look at it.

The plan should be to replace the inlet with a 6-50 or 14-50 outlet. The breaker should be 50A.

 

[pnp1020]

I have an L2 charger with a NEMA 14-50 outlet that pulls 38 amps on a 50 amp circuit. CB gets warmer than the rest of the CBs in the box but not hot.

 

[ToOldForThis]

I have an L2 charger with a NEMA 14-50 outlet that pulls 38 amps on a 50 amp circuit. CB gets warmer than the rest of the CBs in the box but not hot.

As it should be...

 

[grein002]

that box looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Multiple hot wires with exposed conductor beyond the breaker housing for starters:

Can't tell for sure what the two black wires on the right are, but presumably they are hot and creating dangerous situation.

 

[Mach-Lee]

that box looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Multiple hot wires with exposed conductor beyond the breaker housing for starters:

Can't tell for sure what the two black wires on the right are, but presumably they are hot and creating dangerous situation.

Yes there's definitely some weird non-code complaint stuff going on in that panel, so I'm not surprised there are issues with it.

 

[Maquis]

The possibilities are:
1) Drawing too much current. (Not the problem here if only drawing 7KW)
2) Heat buildup at the breaker due to one of the following:
- Poor wire connections.
- Undersized wire. (Doesn’t look like it from the picture)
- Bad breaker to bus connection.
- Bad breaker.

 

[Jerrytball]

I don’t know if this helps but this is what I’ve got.
I have the permanent mounted Ford charger

 

[hayhayday]

Have you checked if the screws on the breaker are tight and the wires are fully inserted? If the breaker is getting hot its likely a bad connection or less likely a defective breaker.

 

[VaporTrails]

Warm is possible. I can hold my hand comfortably on any part of my hardwired charger at 48A. Hot is wrong. If the Ford Charger is not hot, you have a panel problem. Monro and associates has a great YouTube video on how to burn your house down with your EVSE. Time for a different electrician. 50A is the right breaker if the EVSE is the only thing on this circuit. The EVSE is the only thing in your house that is likely to draw this much current for this much time. An investment is warranted. Good Luck!

 

[Jerrytball]

Warm is possible. I can hold my hand comfortably on any part of my hardwired charger at 48A. Hot is wrong. If the Ford Charger is not hot, you have a panel problem. Monro and associates has a great YouTube video on how to burn your house down with your EVSE. Time for a different electrician. 50A is the right breaker if the EVSE is the only thing on this circuit. The EVSE is the only thing in your house that is likely to draw this much current for this much time. An investment is warranted. Good Luck!

The funny thing is know I don’t have any type of electrical problem, but when you’re charging the car and it’s 90° outside and the sun is directly shining on that cable. It’s kind of hard to tell if the cables real warm from charging or if it’s the sun too. I mean it doesn’t burn my hand if I grab it, but it is hot to touch not burning hot.

 

[65MustangBoy]

7Kw is only 30 amps. If a 50-amp breaker is getting hot drawing 30 amps, definitely something wrong.

 

[shelnian]

I don't know any electrician who would install a non-GFCI breaker on dirty bus bars for an EV charger outlet. Appears that whole panel could use cleaning up, including new breakers, if required.

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