L2 Charger - SplitVolt and BSA Electronic Power Tunnel

[Fins160]

My 2022 MachE Select SR is coming soon, and I wanted to share my L2 charging setup in case it's helpful to anyone in a similar circumstance.

I don't have a dedicated 240V line in my garage. My electrical panel is capable of supporting an additional 50A 240V line, but it is over 75 feet away from my garage and requires trenching to run the line. Quotes came in above $3500 just for the breaker, line and NEMA 14-50 outlet.

Fortunately, my laundry room is directly next to my garage, and has a dedicated 240V 30A NEMA 10-30 outlet. I cannot use the Ford Mobile Charger in 240V since it has a recommended 50A circuit load, and the wrong outlet type (NEMA 14-50).

After some research, I found a good combination that I was able to install today that allows me to use my dryer outlet to charge at 24A.

I purchased the 24A Splitvolt charger that is paired with the 24Amp SplitVolt unit on a dedicated 30A line (80% load). I specifically chose a NEMA 10-30 outlet so the 32A Ford Mobile Charger (14-50 plug) could not accidentally be plugged into the 30Amp outlet (10-30 plug) and overload it. The connection from the Laundry Room to the Garage is handled by a BSA Electronics Power Tunnel.

1. SPLITVOLT SPS 01-011 EV Splitter Switch for $300 (https://www.splitvolt.com/product/splitvolt-nema-10-30-switch-sps/), and a
2. BSA electronics PowerTunnel for $185 (https://www.bsaelectronics.com/prod...gh-wall-extension?_pos=1&_sid=9d38243cd&_ss=r) that allows me to install a do-it-yourself code-compliant connection through the wall.
3. Splitvolt 24amp NEMA 10-30 charger for $300: (https://www.splitvolt.com/product/portable-ev-charger-nema-10-30-24-amp-26ft/)

Now, when I plug in my MachE, if the dryer is not running, it will charge. If we need to do a load of laundry, the Splitvolt will disable the EV outlet to prevent over-amperage and flipping the breaker. Install going in today!

I figure 24amps will be plenty for charge my MacheE daily (we drive less than 50miles a day), while still having the benefits of L2. And I saved $3000 over the quote for a dedicated line from the breaker box.

Side-benefit - I can unplug and bring the SplitVolt Charger with me when I travel, so if I encounter a 30A dryer socket (like at someone's house), I can use it without worry.

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[vortix]

Great write-up, thanks for sharing! I was almost going to do something similar (my laundry room is also directly next to the garage), but opted to have a dedicated 60A circuit with a 55' run to the breaker box in the basement and a 48A wall mounted EVSE instead. That's nice you found a code compliant solution to run the line through the wall, that was one of my hang-ups that I got stuck on (admittedly I stopped short of searching for a solution for that piece of the puzzle). Seems like SplitVolt should offer a solution for this so they can sell the full package to do this effectively.

 

[Fins160]

Agreed that SplitVolt could sell something similar as the PowerTunnel.

Note that BSA electronics does make all three components:
https://www.bsaelectronics.com/

However, they don't sell a 24A version of the OpenEVSE charger, and the DryerBuddy Plus AUTO was more expensive than the SplitVolt due to the Fall sale.

 

[Fins160]

<edited for clarity>

I got my MachE last week. The car is fantastic, but I learned that the SplitVolt charger I purchased didn't work - it gave me a voltage leakage error. I tested connected through my SplitVolt unit and directly from my dryer outlet, and also through a neighbors' outlet, with the same error.

I knew the car charged correctly with L2 at the dealer and with L1 Ford charger at my house, so I figured it was the SplitVolt 24A charger itself that was the culprit. SplitVolt customer support was great to reply, confirm my hypothesis, and offer a refund. I bought a replacement unit off Amazon next-day delivery, and got it hooked up and working perfectly.

The cable is run along several hooks in the studs in the garage ceiling, and then to 1-2kg tool retractor:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z6SC72H?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Now I just pull it down and plug it in, and when I'm done it floats back up out of the way.

 

[Fins160]

 

[Fins160]

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