Charging with an extension cord

[Dangerfish]

It isn't NEMA 1772. Its SAE J1772. This extension is on the other side of the EVSE--it goes between the EVSE and the car. Here is a pic:

This means it will work with 120V, 240V, whatever--just don't put too much current through it (e.g. I wouldn't use it with a 48amp EVSE--this is why there is that clipper creek in my trunk: 20amps).

Edit: I should re-take the pic with the Mach-E now that the Bolt is gone LOL.

You are correct, I mistyped.
I understand where the J1772 goes and that it can do both 120 and 240. Its just an extension of the EVSE that came with the car. But, if I end up somewhere that there is no NEMA 14 - 50 (potentially the rental cabin I'm going to), then how is this $240 cable better for me than a $100 heavy duty extension cord for a 120V outlet? That's what I'm not understanding. If I can find value in it, I'll happily spend the extra money but I'm just not seeing it.

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[Dangerfish]

Are you sure you set the filters correctly on PlugShare? I found two places where you can plug in at 14-50 in Broken Bow (I thought it weird there wouldn't be one in a lake vacation spot). One is Tiny Town OK Cabins and RV Park. The other is Rodeway Inn. Probably pricey but it's a vacation! LOL

I may not have. I'll look again. I only tried using the site for the first time today. I found a cabin that had a Tesla L2 charger but I couldn't find anything else. I'll look again.

 

[generaltso]

You are correct, I mistyped.
I understand where the J1772 goes and that it can do both 120 and 240. Its just an extension of the EVSE that came with the car. But, if I end up somewhere that there is no NEMA 14 - 50 (potentially the rental cabin I'm going to), then how is this $240 cable better for me than a $100 heavy duty extension cord for a 120V outlet? That's what I'm not understanding. If I can find value in it, I'll happily spend the extra money but I'm just not seeing it.

For this one instance, it may not be better. But it’s a handy tool to have as an EV owner. I’ve used mine when ICEd out of a public charging station. I just parked a few spaces away.

 

[BATTERIESRIT]

I searched and I think I know the answers but I'd just like to confirm.
I'm going to Oklahoma from Dallas this Summer. I can make it on a full charge with 20% battery left according to ABRP. The problem is that there are NO public charging options in this town and I don't know how close I can get the car to an outlet at the cabin. I will be there 3 days with limited driving while there. Leaving the car plugged in to 110V will probably give me plenty of charge to get back to the first public super charger 135 miles away on my way back home. There is a dryer outlet in the cabin. From what I understand, I as long as I buy very high quality extension cables (110 or 220), I would be fine to use these occasionally without risk of damaging the car or causing a fire?
Do I need to verify a certain amp circuit at the breaker box before using one of these options?

Something like these?
https://cutt.ly/txwtHK6
https://cutt.ly/UxwyDLy


TIA,

Jay

Guessing you will not be adding miles and miles of cord like breadcrumbs to keep it charging as you head out.

 

[Dangerfish]

For this one instance, it may not be better. But it’s a handy tool to have as an EV owner. I’ve used mine when ICEd out of a public charging station. I just parked a few spaces away.

I can see where it would be valuable to have it in a situation like this!

 

[JamieGeek]

You are correct, I mistyped.
I understand where the J1772 goes and that it can do both 120 and 240. Its just an extension of the EVSE that came with the car. But, if I end up somewhere that there is no NEMA 14 - 50 (potentially the rental cabin I'm going to), then how is this $240 cable better for me than a $100 heavy duty extension cord for a 120V outlet? That's what I'm not understanding. If I can find value in it, I'll happily spend the extra money but I'm just not seeing it.

For this one instance, it may not be better. But it’s a handy tool to have as an EV owner. I’ve used mine when ICEd out of a public charging station. I just parked a few spaces away.

Yup that is correct: In the one instance it may not help but once you have one its a bit more versatile. Since it can be either 120V or 240V it gives you more options. A simple 120V would only work in one instance, not two.

I've used mine a few times when I couldn't reach the plug (the pic I posted above was a test--we were going to get the driveway repaved and I wanted to make sure I could charge in the street for the two weeks I couldn't park on the new cement).

I've also used it while camping where the 14-50 plug was too far away...

 

[Dangerfish]

Yup that is correct: In the one instance it may not help but once you have one its a bit more versatile. Since it can be either 120V or 240V it gives you more options. A simple 120V would only work in one instance, not two.

I've used mine a few times when I couldn't reach the plug (the pic I posted above was a test--we were going to get the driveway repaved and I wanted to make sure I could charge in the street for the two weeks I couldn't park on the new cement).

I've also used it while camping where the 14-50 plug was too far away...

Ok, I'm starting to see the value now. Buy one cable once instead of potentially needing to buy a second extender later on. This one cable will do both.

Even if I went with a regular 120V extension cable, it would need to have not only the correct gauge wire but also be certified for the correct amp, right? Cables I'm finding on Amazon are only rated at 15amps. And that won't cut it, right?

 

[JamieGeek]

Ok, I'm starting to see the value now. Buy one cable once instead of potentially needing to buy a second extender later on. This one cable will do both.

Even if I went with a regular 120V extension cable, it would need to have not only the correct gauge wire but also be certified for the correct amp, right? Cables I'm finding on Amazon are only rated at 15amps. And that won't cut it, right?

A 15 amp cable may cut it (car will charge at 12amps on 120V--15 amps * 80% = 12 amps).

Of course the J1772 cable is rated for a lot more so it would be a safer bet.

 

[Dangerfish]

A 15 amp cable may cut it (car will charge at 12amps on 120V--15 amps * 80% = 12 amps).

Of course the J1772 cable is rated for a lot more so it would be a safer bet.

Ok, you sold me. I'm going to get the Lectron cable from Amazon.
Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[ajmartineau]

Do people really only get 110 volts from their outlets? Every time I check mine it's between 121 and 125 volts.

 

[generaltso]

Do people really only get 110 volts from their outlets? Every time I check mine it's between 121 and 125 volts.

Most are close to 120v, just like most 240v outlets are close to 240v. But for some reason, a lot of people like to call them 110v and 220v. Not sure why.

 

[AzCoronaDog]

Do people really only get 110 volts from their outlets? Every time I check mine it's between 121 and 125 volts.

110 is just legacy nomenclature for 120v. Technically incorrect, but has become part of the English lexicon due to popular usage. Everone gets ~120v in the US, regardless of the age of the electrical system, as it is regulated by the transformers the power company uses.

To paraphrase Mr. Mom, 110, 120, whatever it takes!

 

[ajmartineau]

110 is just legacy nomenclature for 120v. Technically incorrect, but has become part of the English lexicon due to popular usage. Everone gets ~120v in the US, regardless of the age of the electrical system, as it is regulated by the transformers the power company uses.

To paraphrase Mr. Mom, 110, 120, whatever it takes!

Yeah, that's what I thought. ..240, 241 what every it takes to charge my car fast.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/5f893235-323c-40c7-930e-e7764e695d78

 

[TheCats]

110 is just legacy nomenclature for 120v. Technically incorrect, but has become part of the English lexicon due to popular usage. Everone gets ~120v in the US, regardless of the age of the electrical system, as it is regulated by the transformers the power company uses.

To paraphrase Mr. Mom, 110, 120, whatever it takes!

It's all just a variation of 100V, the original target voltage for Edison systems.
Since it was DC distribution, voltage drop was an intractable issue. So as systems grew the generators were set to produce 110 VDC or higher.

When AC took over as the more convenient electrical system, the systems picked a voltage that would work best with the existing equipment, primarily lighting. That was variously chosen as 110V, 115V, 120V or 125V. It wasn't until relatively recently, the late 1960s, that 120V was chosen as the North American standard.

Occasionally you'll see equipment rated at 117V. That's just the mid-point of 110V and 125V, the extremes of the previous common voltages.

This history is also why AC voltage is reported as RMS (root mean square), rather than the more logical peak voltage. It is the equivalent DC voltage delivered to a resistive load, which is what people were used to at the time.

 

[AzCoronaDog]

It's all just a variation of 100V, the original target voltage for Edison systems.
Since it was DC distribution, voltage drop was an intractable issue. So as systems grew the generators were set to produce 110 VDC or higher.

When AC took over as the more convenient electrical system, the systems picked a voltage that would work best with the existing equipment, primarily lighting. That was variously chosen as 110V, 115V, 120V or 125V. It wasn't until relatively recently, the late 1960s, that 120V was chosen as the North American standard.

Occasionally you'll see equipment rated at 117V. That's just the mid-point of 110V and 125V, the extremes of the previous common voltages.

This history is also why AC voltage is reported as RMS (root mean square), rather than the more logical peak voltage. It is the equivalent DC voltage delivered to a resistive load, which is what people were used to at the time.

Now I learned something new.
Unfortunately, at my age, that means some other knowlege has to be pushed out of my brain to make room. I hope I can find my car keys now... LOL

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