Installing a Home Charging Solution in a Carport

[NewGuy]

How did option #3 end up working out? I am going through the same problem..I want to install a NEMA outlet outdoors with a weatherproof enclosure but the Chargepoint Flex power cord is making it difficult. I am considering going with a Grizzl-E charger instead because of this issue

I have an outdoor covered 14-50 outlet next to a ChargePoint Home Flex with no issues.

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[Papa T]

I have an outdoor covered 14-50 outlet next to a ChargePoint Home Flex with no issues.

Did you have to rotate the outlet in the casing. The only version of 14/50 covered outlets that I could find have the ground pin at the top, so even if you bent the ChargePoints cord to plug in, the ground plug on the CP would now be in the down location and the ground in the outlet would be at the top. The only way I could figure out to make it work would be to rotate the outlet, which apparently is not code. I can’t imagine that there is any real issue with that, but I even called CP support, and they informed me that this was a known issue, and they did not recommend rotating the outlet.

Do you have pics? I struggled with this for so long in my head, that I would be interested to see how someone solved it.

 

[Glen Boise]

Another alternative is to return the Charge Point unit. Buy another unit with a longer cord. My outlet is on a wall covered with brackets holding lawn equipment. Ended up buying a CharifyEV unit with a 3 ft. cord. It worked out quite well. Other companies offer units with cords, longer than 1 ft., with features similar to the Charge Point unit. Buying one of them would help you avoid any code problems.

 

[Maquis]

Another alternative is to return the Charge Point unit. Buy another unit with a longer cord. My outlet is on a wall covered with brackets holding lawn equipment. Ended up buying a CharifyEV unit with a 3 ft. cord. It worked out quite well. Other companies offer units with cords, longer than 1 ft., with features similar to the Charge Point unit. Buying one of them would help you avoid any code problems.

The reason so many have a 1’ cord is because the NEC requires a GFCI built into the plug (or within 1’ of the plug) for longer cords.

If you buy an EVSE with a longer cord that does not include GFCI protection at the supply end of the cord, it’s likely not UL list and won’t meet current NEC requirements. Some people don’t care!

 

[ShadowCVL]

there are longer cords out there, inside the chargepoint it just has connections for ground and 2 hots, you could go buy a range cord from lowes or whatever, and use it very easily. A 50 amp 6 foot cord is about 30 bucks. the lugs inside the chargepoint (at least mine) are the wago style lever nuts.

 

[ShadowCVL]

The reason so many have a 1’ cord is because the NEC requires a GFCI built into the plug (or within 1’ of the plug) for longer cords.

If you buy an EVSE with a longer cord that does not include GFCI protection at the supply end of the cord, it’s likely not UL list and won’t meet current NEC requirements. Some people don’t care!

With an outside plug, I would HIGHLY recommend a GFCI breaker, or a hot-tub power box nearby with the gfci breaker in that. I did that in my garage, main panel is 50 amp regular breaker, then hot tub GFCI in the garage and the 14-50 outlet on a whip off of that. If the GFCI ever gives me trouble its an easy (and safe) swap-out.

 

[Maquis]

With an outside plug, I would HIGHLY recommend a GFCI breaker, or a hot-tub power box nearby with the gfci breaker in that. I did that in my garage, main panel is 50 amp regular breaker, then hot tub GFCI in the garage and the 14-50 outlet on a whip off of that. If the GFCI ever gives me trouble its an easy (and safe) swap-out.

Your recommendation is a good one, and is also an NEC requirement.??

But it doesn’t relieve the EVSE manufacturer of the requirement to supply a GFCI when the cord is longer than 1’.

 

[NewGuy]

Did you have to rotate the outlet in the casing. The only version of 14/50 covered outlets that I could find have the ground pin at the top, so even if you bent the ChargePoints cord to plug in, the ground plug on the CP would now be in the down location and the ground in the outlet would be at the top. The only way I could figure out to make it work would be to rotate the outlet, which apparently is not code. I can’t imagine that there is any real issue with that, but I even called CP support, and they informed me that this was a known issue, and they did not recommend rotating the outlet.

Do you have pics? I struggled with this for so long in my head, that I would be interested to see how someone solved it.

I had it unstalled by professionals and inspected by the town. I asked about the orientation when they started and they said it’s designed to be rotated if needed. There are many pictures online of the ChargePoint Home Flex installed this way. Pics of my install are attached…I built it a little home!

Note that it’s raining now so I don’t want to go outside and unplug it to get a pic of the outlet itself but will when things dry out.

 

[ShadowCVL]

I had it unstalled by professionals and inspected by the town. I asked about the orientation when they started and they said it’s designed to be rotated if needed. There are many pictures online of the ChargePoint Home Flex installed this way. Pics of my install are attached…I built it a little home!

Note that it’s raining now so I don’t want to go outside and unplug it to get a pic of the outlet itself but will when things dry out.

That looks great!, I see you also struggle trying to keep that cord tidy, drives me nuts.

 

[NewGuy]

That looks great!, I see you also struggle trying to keep that cord tidy, drives me nuts.

I actually got the ChargePoint because reviews said it had a limper cord than the JuiceBox...especially in the cold.

It's worth mentioning that I don't even have the car yet! I had it installed in December to take advantage of the tax benefits. In theory the car gets built next week.

 

[Papa T]

I had it unstalled by professionals and inspected by the town. I asked about the orientation when they started and they said it’s designed to be rotated if needed. There are many pictures online of the ChargePoint Home Flex installed this way. Pics of my install are attached…I built it a little home!

Note that it’s raining now so I don’t want to go outside and unplug it to get a pic of the outlet itself but will when things dry out.

Nope, that’s perfect, and you answered my question. I was told that rotating the outlet would not be up to code, and that sounded silly to me at the time, but I didn’t question it.

That is pretty much how I wanted to install mine, until I was lead the other direction.

That’s a nice clean install there and looks great. I like the housing built for it.

 

[TRP]

This was our solution. Conduit runs just around the corner to an outside mounted electrical panel, maybe 25' total run. This was a quick and dirty DIY install but works great for us. If ever given the chance to order a Lightning I may clean up that conduit.

 

[slambertr]

Hi All - Firing back up this (helpful) old thread. I am moving - from our home with a garage to a condo with a (dedicated) carport. The carport is covered but open-air. Questions:
1. Will my Ford 240v Mobile Plug work here?
2. Ideas on how to "secure" it so it doesn't get stolen?
Thank you for any advice / help!

 

[mkhuffman]

Hi All - Firing back up this (helpful) old thread. I am moving - from our home with a garage to a condo with a (dedicated) carport. The carport is covered but open-air. Questions:
1. Will my Ford 240v Mobile Plug work here?
2. Ideas on how to "secure" it so it doesn't get stolen?
Thank you for any advice / help!

1. As long as you have a plug to plug into.
2. I put my EVSE in the frunk and use an extension cord to reach the outlet. Then I can close the frunk past the first latch so that it can be locked and not opened.

In the summer your Ford EVSE will overheat and stop working, so I suggest you get a better one if you plan to charge outside.

 

[slambertr]

1. As long as you have a plug to plug into.
2. I put my EVSE in the frunk and use an extension cord to reach the outlet. Then I can close the frunk past the first latch so that it can be locked and not opened.

In the summer your Ford EVSE will overheat and stop working, so I suggest you get a better one if you plan to charge outside.

Thank you. I think I'm going to buy a hard-wired solution (likely the Emporia) - I hope that helps with the security issue as well as the overheating issue. Thanks!

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