I Installed a 240v outlet myself 🤩 AMA

[chriscthornton]

I’ve been enjoying the convenience and speed of using the DC Fast chargers to charge the Mach-E. Lately, it’s been a close call finding an available spot to charge, so I decided to explore getting a 240v outlet (using the charger given with the car) installed or hardwiring an emporia charger into the main panel outside. I went the 240v outlet route in case we move to another home.

I received two quotes for the hardwire installation from two different companies: $400 and $600.

Part list:

• (1) 4x4 post
• (2) wooden screws
• Remaining parts are included in the attached photos (some parts were not needed).

I’m also attaching a screenshot showing the differences in EV charging costs between charging at home (0.14 cents/kWh) and my usual DC Fast charger at a different location (0.38 cents/kWh).

Color code for charts:

• Blue represents examples of what the price could be.
• Green indicates what was actually used for that location.

 

[Maquis]

That install would not pass inspection. No GFCI breaker and NM cannot be installed outdoors, even in conduit. I presume it’s outdoors since you mention a 4X4 post.

But I’ve seen much worse!

 

[chriscthornton]

Thank you for your input! I’ll look in to seeing what needs to be done, so it can pass inspection.

 

[Old_Norm]

I did the same thing. The one caveat that I kept seeing on YouTube was to get the stranded wire securely tightened down, arcing being the main cause of failure and fires. Some Pro Electricians recommended a torque screw driver to ensure you had the correct tightness. I decided that adding ferrules was a better way to go. You could see in the videos that the pros tightened the nut holding down the stranded wire, wiggled the wire and then tightened it it again. The ferrules allow a more secure contact in my opinion. Some of the pros agreed. Perhaps a "real" electrician can chime in.
https://www.amazon.com/Self-adjusta...id=1699894325&sprefix=ferrules,aps,135&sr=8-2

 

[Old_Norm]

That install would not pass inspection. No GFCI breaker and NM cannot be installed outdoors, even in conduit. I presume it’s outdoors since you mention a 4X4 post.

But I’ve seen much worse!

Regarding the need for a GFI and his Emporia charger.
"The National Electrical Code® (NEC®) now requires a GFCI breaker on the circuit if you are using a 6-50 or 14-50 outlet. Since the Emporia EVSE already has a GFCI, and since two GFCI with different sensitivities on the same circuit can result in unwanted tripping, you'll want to hardwire our Emporia EV Charger on a dedicated breaker, which allows it to be installed on a breaker without GFCI protections. "

 

[chriscthornton]

Regarding the need for a GFI and his Emporia charger.
"The National Electrical Code® (NEC®) now requires a GFCI breaker on the circuit if you are using a 6-50 or 14-50 outlet. Since the Emporia EVSE already has a GFCI, and since two GFCI with different sensitivities on the same circuit can result in unwanted tripping, you'll want to hardwire our Emporia EV Charger on a dedicated breaker, which allows it to be installed on a breaker without GFCI protections. "

That’s good to know. I’m using the charger that came with the car since I went the outlet route.

 

[Old_Norm]

That’s good to know. I’m using the charger that came with the car since I went the outlet route.

This is from the Ford Connected Charge Station installation manual:

 

[RickMachE]

This is from the Ford Connected Charge Station installation manual:

Of course the Ford Connected Charge Station is hardwired...

 

[Mrn]

I also used dielectric grease on the wire contacts and double checked the screw down contact torque the next day. The grease will help with potential corrosion and I did notice one connector was looser the next day.

 

[Old_Norm]

Of course the Ford Connected Charge Station is hardwired...

Yep.

 

[HuntingPudel]

That install would not pass inspection. No GFCI breaker and NM cannot be installed outdoors, even in conduit. I presume it’s outdoors since you mention a 4X4 post.

But I’ve seen much worse!

Liquitight is a brand belonging to Southwire. It’s a non-metallic water-proof conduit meant for outdoor installation. Depending on the locality, it may or may not pass inspection.

 

[Ghost Ryder]

When I did mine I used 4g wires because “if 6g” was good then 4 must be better, right? Let me tell you. 4g was so hard to work with. Must of added hours to my install.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I’ve been enjoying the convenience and speed of using the DC Fast chargers to charge the Mach-E. Lately, it’s been a close call finding an available spot to charge, so I decided to explore getting a 240v outlet (using the charger given with the car) installed or hardwiring an emporia charger into the main panel outside. I went the 240v outlet route in case we move to another home.

I received two quotes for the hardwire installation from two different companies: $400 and $600.

Part list:

• (1) 4x4 post
• (2) wooden screws
• Remaining parts are included in the attached photos (some parts were not needed).

I’m also attaching a screenshot showing the differences in EV charging costs between charging at home (0.14 cents/kWh) and my usual DC Fast charger at a different location (0.38 cents/kWh).

Color code for charts:

• Blue represents examples of what the price could be.
• Green indicates what was actually used for that location.

I think you should use 6/3 UF-B, not NM-B. Make sure the exposed wire is in conduit.

 

[Maquis]

Liquitight is a brand belonging to Southwire. It’s a non-metallic water-proof conduit meant for outdoor installation. Depending on the locality, it may or may not pass inspection.

Not unless the local jurisdiction has taken that part out of the NEC. If conduit is installed in a wet location, the inside of the conduit is also considered a wet location.

 

[shark]

When I did mine I used 4g wires because “if 6g” was good then 4 must be better, right? Let me tell you. 4g was so hard to work with. Must of added hours to my install.

I generally like to over-engineer everything, but 6ga was such a bitch to pull I can't imagine working with 4ga wire. It's not like you are ever going to draw the number of amps that 4ga can handle. I had to pull my wire through a brick wall, down into a 40ft long trench, back through another brick wall, then route it to the other side of the garage where we park the Mach-E. The total length of the run was about 80ft with six 90 degree elbows. Let me tell you, I would gladly pay someone to do this for me if I had to do it again. The only way I was able to pull the wire through all the conduit and elbows was with it separated. I glued all the PVC joints at the end. My neighbor only had to run his wire about six feet from his box. I could have finished his job in under an hour, including the drywall work. I spent a few weekends on mine.

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