Here Piggy... Different pigtails...

[RickMachE]

So today I decided to take out both vehicles and make sure a) that both 240v chargers worked and b) that the truck's 30amp outlet worked. I had used the 120v pigtail on the 2022 Mach-E, but had not used the 240v (used the 2021's before I sold it).

Anyway, in testing things out, I found that the Lightning's Mobile Charger worked great with the Mach-E, but the Mach-E's Mobile Charger blew the breaker. Why? Different pigtails. Charger is identical, rated to 32amps. The Mach-E (Jan 22 began production) has a 40amp pigtail. The Lightning (April 22 began production) has a 30amp pigtail with a yellow band on it.

The Mach-E's cord pulled 7.2kW from the truck, which is the max, and then popped the breaker. The Lightning's cord pulled 7.17kW, and ran fine. Different cord too. The Lightning's pigtail has the yellow band on it.

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[generaltso]

Yeah, I remember Tom Moloughney mentioning that it one of his videos. They derated the one with the Lightning for just that reason.

 

[SWO]

Yep, I think there was a TFL video that covered this.

The million dollar question is - does the 30A dongle work when plugged into the Mach-E EVSE?

 

[RickMachE]

Yep, I think there was a TFL video that covered this.

The million dollar question is - does the 30A dongle work when plugged into the Mach-E EVSE?

What idiot would try that?

Yes, it does...

 

[SWO]

What idiot would try that?

Yes, it does...

That bodes well for the new dongles (whenever Webasto releases them....) working with our chargers.

 

[Mach-Lee]

So the Mach-E pigtail pulls 32 amps, and the F150 pigtail with the yellow band pulls 30 amps?

 

[RickMachE]

So the Mach-E pigtail pulls 32 amps, and the F150 pigtail with the yellow band pulls 30 amps?

I didn't measure amperage. The Lightning generator shows watts. The Mach-E pigtail pulled 7,200 watts and the breaker popped. Repeatedly.

The Lightning pigtail pulled 7,170 watts and ran fine. That's when I noticed the cord difference, and then the amperage difference on the printing - Mache-E 40amps, Lightning 32. Both charger bodies are identical.

 

[RickMachE]

Yeah, I remember Tom Moloughney mentioning that it one of his videos. They derated the one with the Lightning for just that reason.

I remember reading about "derating". I figured that meant they changed the actual EVSE. In fact, the body is identical, all they did was change the pigtail.

 

[generaltso]

I remember reading about "derating". I figured that meant they changed the actual EVSE. In fact, the body is identical, all they did was change the pigtail.

Yeah, I hadn't really thought about how they would do the derating, but I guess doing it with the pigtail is an efficient way to do it so they don't have to have different versions of the EVSE itself.

 

[dtbaker61]

So today I decided to take out both vehicles and make sure a) that both 240v chargers worked and b) that the truck's 30amp outlet worked. I had used the 120v pigtail on the 2022 Mach-E, but had not used the 240v (used the 2021's before I sold it).

Anyway, in testing things out, I found that the Lightning's Mobile Charger worked great with the Mach-E, but the Mach-E's Mobile Charger blew the breaker. Why? Different pigtails. Charger is identical, rated to 32amps. The Mach-E (Jan 22 began production) has a 40amp pigtail. The Lightning (April 22 began production) has a 30amp pigtail with a yellow band on it.

The Mach-E's cord pulled 7.2kW from the truck, which is the max, and then popped the breaker. The Lightning's cord pulled 7.17kW, and ran fine. Different cord too. The Lightning's pigtail has the yellow band on it.

interesting.... too bad the charge current cannot be dialed down via software in the MME. I'd like to be able to dial it down a bit in the summer, or if I want to 'peak shave' to limit solar export during the day from my 3.8kW PV system.

i.e. I'd like to able to limit charge current to 3.0kW, and charge between 10am-3pm for instance.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I remember reading about "derating". I figured that meant they changed the actual EVSE. In fact, the body is identical, all they did was change the pigtail.

Bringing over a discussion from the Lightning Forum:

Did you try swapping pigtails? The description I saw of your test looks like you only did two configurations, each using the pigtail that came with the charger.

Also, your link showed the difference in part numbers. While the part numbers on the EVSE connector end are all the same, the FoMoCo numbering on mine are different as well:

However, my Mach E pigtail has the same serial number as yours but lists 30A, not 40A like yours.

When did you get your Mach E? Mine is a First Edition (2021 Job 1):
Build Date: 12/09/2020
Purchase date: 02/10/2021
That surprises me that mine came with a lower power pigtail than yours did.

 

[RickMachE]

Bringing over a discussion from the Lightning Forum:

Did you try swapping pigtails? The description I saw of your test looks like you only did two configurations, each using the pigtail that came with the charger.

Also, your link showed the difference in part numbers. While the part numbers on the EVSE connector end are all the same, the FoMoCo numbering on mine are different as well:

However, my Mach E pigtail has the same serial number as yours but lists 30A, not 40A like yours.

When did you get your Mach E? Mine is a First Edition (2021 Job 1):
Build Date: 12/09/2020
Purchase date: 02/10/2021
That surprises me that mine came with a lower power pigtail than yours did.

Yes, I did swap. See post #4.

This Mach-E was started in Jan 2022, completed in April 2022, and delivered in May 2022.

It would have been interesting if I had checked the 2021 Mach-E that I sold in July 2022 and seen what the numbers were on it.

 

[waldo22]

Does anyone know if Webasto has a 6-50 pigtail for this? Or any plans to make one?

This seems like an oversight, since that's the second most common 240V 50A receptacle.

I went to charge at my SIL's house a few weeks ago and discovered that their electrician installed a 6-50R since they didn't need a neutral, and they don't have en EV or an EVSE yet. I asked him to just install a disconnect, but whatever.

 

[RickMachE]

Adapter...

 

[waldo22]

Thanks, I've actually had a bunch of those Amazon links open on my browser since about then.

They all look similar, but it's a bit surprising that some are 10AWG, some are 8AWG, and some even claim to be 6AWG. They are all similar prices, so I reckon I will go with the 6 AWG.

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