home charging and electrical understanding, what am I missing...

[Kehrd]

Soon to get my MME premium if all goes well. My home charging issue is not unique but I am missing something in how it all works. I have a 30amp old style dryer plug ie. 24amp max. I know I should have a 14-50 installed for evse but I live in an area where upgrading my panel to 200 amp and running to 6-3 with 14-50 would be 5k plus... So what determines the amperage rate pulled from my house, is it the car or EVSE? The mobile charger pulls 110 or 240 but the 240 will pull 32amps. If I used it (changing my outlet) it would flip the breaker or burn the house down correct?

Sorry if this is repeated, I just haven't found my question fully answered fully in what I read and watched.

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[TheVirtualTim]

You can purchase a wall charger that lets you control the charge rate.

For example... I have a ChargePoint Home Flex. The app used to configure/control the charger lets you set the circuit breaker capacity (e.g. 30 amps) and it will set the charger to limit charging to 80% of that rate (e.g. 24 amps).

At that rate, a RWD car would about 16 miles per hour on the charger (or 160 miles in a 10-hour overnight charge). An AWD car would add just a little over 14 miles of range per hour charging (AWD cars draw about 10% more power to operate the 2nd motor).

There are loads of chargers on the market that let you control the charge rate.

What you should NOT do ... is use the Ford Mobile Charger that comes with the car. That charger would expect a 40 amp circuit breaker (which your dryer outlet does not have) and would try to pull 30 amps (or is it 32 amps ... I don't recall) so it would constantly pop the breaker.

 

[generaltso]

Both the car and the EVSE control how much power they draw. A lot of electric cars and EVSEs allow you to limit the draw, but the MME and the included EVSE do not. If you use that outlet, it will likely trip the breaker. But you can get an EVSE that lets you step down the amperage.

 

[methorian]

You are correct that using the Mobile EVSE's 240V plug (14-50) on a 30A circuit could (SHOULD) trip your breaker.

I'd advise you to purchase a stationary charger (Grizzl-E, Wallbox, Chargepoint, ENEL-X, etc) and hardwire it to your 30A circuit and set it's max rate to 24A (80% of 30A). That should suffice so long as you aren't driving a ton and expecting very fast charging.

Just for reference - the EVSE simply tells the EV how much power it can provide. Once the car says "Okie dokie", the EVSE closed the contacts to provide power to the car (120V or 240V in your home). The car takes as much power as it's AC charging curve will allow (generally maxing it out till the very end of the charging curve to 100%). Some EVs do allow you to set a max AC charge from within the car, but this should not be used to get around funky EVSE/wiring setups.

 

[louibluey]

It is almost ironic that Ford gave us too much L2 current capacity (32A) for some folks, with the supplied OEM unit. For almost a decade EV folks have been making "adapters" to use the OEM 120V charger at 240V L2, but still limited by the typical 12A (or so) set for the 120V L1 scenario (by the fixed pilot signal).

Ford not only provided the two different L1 L2 plugs (so no more adapters), but also solved the max current problem by providing the very generous and complimentary L2 32A capability.

But what they missed (Hey Ford!) is the relatively simple additional option, like in chargepoint flex, and so many other charge stations now: the ability to set a lower charge current (as in no good deed goes unpunished).

Ford would Rock if they would add L2 settings for 16A, 24A, and 32A!

 

[SnBGC]

For L1 or L2 devices.....the EVSE controls the current. The car is permiscuous and will accept as much power as the EVSE can deliver up to the vehicle limits (48 amps for the Mach-E).

Your choices are to use the provided Ford mobile EVSE with the Level 1 adapter or purchase a third party Level 2 EVSE that maxes out at 24 Mps or can be set to 24 amps.

 

[generaltso]

Ford would Rock if they would add L2 settings for 16A, 24A, and 32A!

We know this won’t be added to the EVSE, so let’s hope they add it to the car.

 

[Kehrd]

Thanks for the replies. I was looking into the Grizzl-E but wondering if it's worth waiting for the "smart" one they are coming out with soon. Those of you with smart EVSEs, is it worth the extra cost?

 

[TheVirtualTim]

Thanks for the replies. I was looking into the Grizzl-E but wondering if it's worth waiting for the "smart" one they are coming out with soon. Those of you with smart EVSEs, is it worth the extra cost?

I have a ChargePoint and the Ford Connected Charge Station. Both are "smart". Mostly this means they (a) join your home WiFi and (b) have an app (in Ford's case the charge station control is built into FordPass so you don't actually need a separate app).

They let you enable/disable the charger remotely, limit charging hours (although the car can do that on it's own) and also show you how much usage you've had ... sometimes converting that usage in the dollar rate based on knowing how much your utility sells the power.

EnelX has a feature in some of their smart chargers where you can have two chargers on the SAME circuit breaker and they talk to each other via WiFi. If you use just one at a time it pulls the max power allowed. If you charge two cars at the same time, they cut the rate in half to share the power (this way you don't need to upgrade your service panel if you end up owning two EVs). Theoretically any WiFi enabled charger should be able to do this but so far I've only seen it on the Enel X JuiceBox (I was looking at the JuiceBox 48 Amp model ... don't know if they all do it or if it''s just some) and Clipper Creek makes a special version called the "Share 2" that has the feature (but that's an expensive charger ...about double the price of most chargers.)

 

[generaltso]

Those of you with smart EVSEs, is it worth the extra cost?

In my opinion, yes.

 

[Norm in NC]

There's a lot of you that have a great deal of knowledge about these charging units. I have a SolarEdge system with panels on the roof. They offer a Smart EV charger that will hook up to the existing system. Does this look like it will work properly for the MME?

I've got a 5/31 ETA and, if possible, would like to use this product. Opinions? Thanks in advance!

 

[timbop]

There's a lot of you that have a great deal of knowledge about these charging units. I have a SolarEdge system with panels on the roof. They offer a Smart EV charger that will hook up to the existing system. Does this look like it will work properly for the MME?

I've got a 5/31 ETA and, if possible, would like to use this product. Opinions? Thanks in advance!

Yes, that will charge the Mach E. It has a J-1772 connector, which the Mach E has a socket for.

 

[DBC]

Short answer is either the EVSE or the vehicle can limit charging. Whichever draws less. The mobile charger draws 30A. The MME can charge at 48A. So in this case it's the mobile charger.

Why do you think you would need to upgrade to 200A service? Even if you have the minimum service of 100A, given the draw would be 6.6 kW, you'd still have 15.4 kW left. That's a lot of watts. Not enough circuits? Hot tub?

And yes, using the supplied EVSE on the dryer circuit would not be a good idea. You should check the wire though, sometimes they are 8 gauge copper. In this case the wire is large enough and all you need do is swap out the outlet and the breakers. That's cheap and easy. Other alternative would be an EVSE that you can stop down to draw 24A.

But that is not really ideal. I also doubt if drawing 24A continuous would be OK but drawing 30A continuous would not be.

 

[DBC]

They offer a Smart EV charger that will hook up to the existing system. Does this look like it will work properly for the MME?

Just to increase your comfort level: Agree with @timbop. Should be fine.

 

[BMT1071]

Thanks for the replies. I was looking into the Grizzl-E but wondering if it's worth waiting for the "smart" one they are coming out with soon. Those of you with smart EVSEs, is it worth the extra cost?

You should check with your utility to see if they offer any discounts/rebates on EVSEs. I bought my ChargePoint directly from SRP with a $250 instant rebate.

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