Charging options with a 10-30A dryer outlet

[Bonehead]

Just took delivery of my Premium AWD ER after a long 7 1/2 month wait (yay!).

I have a 10-30 dryer outlet I was hoping to be able to use. After doing some research, I found that there are inexpensive 10-30R to 14-50P adapters available, but the Ford mobile charger draws 32A and can't be used with these. Tesla's allow the amp draw to be varied allowing use of these adapters; perhaps Ford will do that at some point in the future.

I apparently have two options for level 2 charging:

• install a 14-50 outlet for $600

• buy a 3rd party charger such as the Splitvolt 24A NEMA 10-30 EV Charger for $300 (see below)

Just wondering if anyone's tried a charger like that, and what the charging speed would be compared with the Ford mobile charger.

https://www.amazon.com/Splitvolt-Portable-Compatible-Electric-Including/dp/B08GP81NY1/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=24A+EVSE&qid=1634756439&qsid=131-4563489-4964960&sr=8-5&sres=B08GP81NY1,B07JB9FLBK,B08PDRTX5X,B07H9H7W2N,B07JNMZ13P,B07TF8G71X,B0843K8Z9K,B07BKMX3NL,B07WXZDHGV,B08HHBDQ88,B07ZL41687,B07W8ZPZ24,B07VLFV715,B08H3PPJXY,B07THBGGMG,B08L76J1WB,B08ZHMLP8B,B07HH4LJD2,B07P9C963L,B097XMSZP6&th=1

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[zvez]

Just took delivery of my Premium AWD ER after a long 7 1/2 month wait (yay!).

I have a 10-30 dryer outlet I was hoping to be able to use. After doing some research, I found that there are inexpensive 10-30R to 14-50P adapters available, but the Ford mobile charger draws 32A and can't be used with these. Tesla's allow the amp draw to be varied allowing use of these adapters; perhaps Ford will do that at some point in the future.

I apparently have two options for level 2 charging:

• install a 14-50 outlet for $600

• buy a 3rd party charger such as the Splitvolt 24A NEMA 10-30 EV Charger for $300 (see below)

Just wondering if anyone's tried a charger like that, and what the charging speed would be compared with the Ford mobile charger.

https://www.amazon.com/Splitvolt-Portable-Compatible-Electric-Including/dp/B08GP81NY1/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=24A+EVSE&qid=1634756439&qsid=131-4563489-4964960&sr=8-5&sres=B08GP81NY1,B07JB9FLBK,B08PDRTX5X,B07H9H7W2N,B07JNMZ13P,B07TF8G71X,B0843K8Z9K,B07BKMX3NL,B07WXZDHGV,B08HHBDQ88,B07ZL41687,B07W8ZPZ24,B07VLFV715,B08H3PPJXY,B07THBGGMG,B08L76J1WB,B08ZHMLP8B,B07HH4LJD2,B07P9C963L,B097XMSZP6&th=1

grizzl-e has been popular for those with 10-30 config. It would be better to install a 14/-50 socket as that will maximum use of the ford portable evse that comes with the car. https://grizzl-e.com/home-products/

 

[tuminatr]

I bought a ZENCAR Level 2 EV Charger 40 Amp adjustable charger as my portable/emergency charger and have used it at my inlaws they had a 30a dryer and kindly put a plug in the garage for me to use. I think it would be a good option because you could set it to 24a and if you ever upgrade you could use it as a 32a or 40a. I have no affiliation with Zencar but this is the 2nd one I have owned quality is good and they work as they should

My Home charger is a Juicebox 60a set to 40a rate they also are adjustable. I have an older model Juicebox so I am assuming the new ones offer adjustments too but you may want to investigate that.

here is the Zencar amazon link, also available on eBay

https://www.amazon.com/EVCARS-Charg...ild=1&keywords=40a+evse&qid=1634760379&sr=8-6

Update: I am changing my answer put in a 50a or 60a circuit and have a dedicated home charger

 

[generaltso]

Put the money towards a 14-50 outlet. It will charge faster and give you more options in the future.

 

[Bonehead]

I bought a ZENCAR Level 2 EV Charger 40 Amp adjustable charger as my portable/emergency charger and have used it at my inlaws they had a 30a dryer and kindly put a plug in the garage for me to use. I think it would be a good option because you could set it to 24a and if you ever upgrade you could use it as a 32a or 40a. I have no affiliation with Zencar but this is the 2nd one I have owned quality is good and they work as they should

My Home charger is a Juicebox 60a set to 40a rate they also are adjustable. I have an older model Juicebox so I am assuming the new ones offer adjustments too but you may want to investigate that.

here is the Zencar amazon link, also available on eBay

https://www.amazon.com/EVCARS-Charg...ild=1&keywords=40a+evse&qid=1634760379&sr=8-6

Only issue is that the 10-30 receptacle won't work with that plug.

 

[macchiaz-o]

10-30 has neutral instead of ground.

$600 is an excellent price for installation of a new 50A circuit. Gofer it!

 

[tuminatr]

I agree for $600 have a 50a put in, that's a good deal.

Plus with that, you could use the charger that came with the car.

 

[DevSecOps]

Some of the folks here might not like what I'm going to say, but it's my personal experience and I prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to things like this. So take my advice for what it's worth.

I had a previous EV and had our local utility contract out the work to have a plug installed from the panel. About 2 years later I was in the garage during the day and charging the car, which I never do during the day. I started to smell something burning, look to the wall and see the charger plug is smoking. I immediately killed the breaker and pulled it apart.

In my case the "certified electrician" contracted by SMUD clamped onto the insulation of the wires, which can cause them to arc. Luckily, I was in the garage and caught it otherwise it could have been disastrous.

My point ... be careful when messing with 240 and these chargers. Get it done the right way and avoid the adapters.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

Devices are not supposed to pull more than 80% of the rated capacity of a circuit if they are considered a "continuous load". "Continuous load" is defined as drawing power for 3 hours or longer.

On a 30 amp circuit that's 24 amps. Your car would get about 13-14 miles of range added per hour of charging.

On a 50 amp NEMA 14-50 outlet you can safely pull as much as 40 amps. The Ford Mobile Charger that comes with the car will only pull 32 amps ... which works out to be about 20 miles of range per hour on the charger.

If you were to install a hard-wired 48 amp EVSE (which requires a 60 amp circuit) then the car would add about 27 miles of range per hour charging (this is based on the AWD car. A RWD car would get about 30 miles of range ... there's roughly a 10% hit for having AWD in terms of the extra power it consumes.)

 

[JohnnyForensic]

…and remember, it’s not just the outlet. You have to have the correct wiring gauge to support a higher draw outlet.

 

[chrisGT]

Some of the folks here might not like what I'm going to say, but it's my personal experience and I prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to things like this. So take my advice for what it's worth.

I had a previous EV and had our local utility contract out the work to have a plug installed from the panel. About 2 years later I was in the garage during the day and charging the car, which I never do during the day. I started to smell something burning, look to the wall and see the charger plug is smoking. I immediately killed the breaker and pulled it apart.

In my case the "certified electrician" contracted by SMUD clamped onto the insulation of the wires, which can cause them to arc. Luckily, I was in the garage and caught it otherwise it could have been disastrous.

My point ... be careful when messing with 240 and these chargers. Get it done the right way and avoid the adapters.

This has happened to several people who use the residential $10 outlets that you find in Homedepot for Charging EVs. These outlets are meant to plug a cable and never unplug, like when you plug a dryer and keep it plugged for 20 years. If you plug/unplug the terminals loosen up and create arcs. Also the tightening screws get loose over time. A dryer would draw current for about 50 minutes which is not long for things to get too warm. But an EV can draw current for hours and if anything is loose then things start melting.

FYI Tesla recommends the industrial grade Hubbell outlet.

I paid $100 for an industrial grade outlet. Check my post and photos in another forum and you will see the difference. Also read the other comments in that thread https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...ets-to-get-or-watch-out-for.4689/#post-101664

 

[DevSecOps]

This has heppened to several people who use the residential $10 outlets that you find in Homedepot for Charging EVs.

Yes I have seen that from other forums as well. I was previously in mechanical construction and moderate a forum for AI based home electrical monitors so I know electrical systems fairly well. I'm skeptical of the "cheaper" 14-50 comments. There's some truth to the pins that hold the plug in place on cheaper devices, but it would require unplugging and plugging back in constantly, which normally isn't the case. A UL Rated NEMA 14-50 is approved for 50 amps regardless of the cost of the device. In the Taycan forum (PSA) they also say that the screw most likely came loose. The screws, not only have to be on metal, but they have a torque spec that should be met with a torque wrench, which unfortunately is rarely done by electricians. That being said, I replaced mine with a Hubbell as well and I did it myself with a torque wrench, because even the Hubbell's have a torque spec.

"Using a 3/16 inch Allen Wrench, tighten terminal screws to 75 lb-in (8.5 N•m)."

In my case it was clearly clamping on the insulation (see image). The clamp must be on metal, not on insulation. As I said previously, this can cause the wire to arc inside of the receptacle which is the same affect that can occur if the pins on the inside of the outlet stop "gripping" or, as said, the screws loosen.

Again, my point here is just get it done right. If something does happen with an adapter or "jerry-rigged" solution you'll have an uphill battle with your insurance.

 

[Bonehead]

Thank you for all the replies and good info!

I should add that in terms of figuring out whether to go with the 10-50 install or not, I'm a renter, and I hate the thought of giving my landlord a $600 gift (he refuses to help pay for it).

Also, I work from home and don't drive that much, so my charging requirements are not as stringent as others might be

 

[chrisGT]

check if you qualify for the 2021 federal tax credit for EV charging station purchase and installation, which can reduce the overall cost https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/10513

 

[RickMachE]

I bought a ZENCAR Level 2 EV Charger 40 Amp adjustable charger as my portable/emergency charger and have used it at my inlaws they had a 30a dryer and kindly put a plug in the garage for me to use. I think it would be a good option because you could set it to 24a and if you ever upgrade you could use it as a 32a or 40a. I have no affiliation with Zencar but this is the 2nd one I have owned quality is good and they work as they should

My Home charger is a Juicebox 60a set to 40a rate they also are adjustable. I have an older model Juicebox so I am assuming the new ones offer adjustments too but you may want to investigate that.

here is the Zencar amazon link, also available on eBay

https://www.amazon.com/EVCARS-Charg...ild=1&keywords=40a+evse&qid=1634760379&sr=8-6

Update: I am changing my answer put in a 50a or 60a circuit and have a dedicated home charger

Yes, the current JuiceBox chargers allow you to easily lower the amperage. I have the JB48, and normally run it at 32amps.

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