Level 2 at Home Idea

[DadzBoyz]

Great advice. Will crack open the manual/installer guide, or whatever docs came with it to check it out!
Thanks!

So I looked at Autel's installation documentation.
6 AWG wire on a 50Amp charger, which will need a 65Amp breaker for service.
50Amp x 1.25 = 62.5 Your not going to find a 62.5Amp breaker, so...... 65Amp it is.

Looking at the Googles (LOL) some sights say that 6 AWG will work for 65Amp service while others say 4 AWG.
So.... Yeah. I'm thinking licensed electrician is the way to go.

Just so we're clear, I'm being facetious here. That was always the plan. I just enjoy learning.

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[AKgrampy]

In the future I see houses going to larger service entrance ampacities or even a second service entrance. The days of 100 amp services will be done away with. I toured a housing project in PNW where all the houses had 400 amp services. Everyone was using electric heat. With advocates pushing to eliminate gas stoves, etc I see electric loads increasing. Other option would be energy management systems. My plan will be to upgrade my service at some point but for now 100 amp service and 32 amp charging works fine.

 

[louc757]

So I looked at Autel's installation documentation.
6 AWG wire on a 50Amp charger, which will need a 65Amp breaker for service.
50Amp x 1.25 = 62.5 Your not going to find a 62.5Amp breaker, so...... 65Amp it is.

Looking at the Googles (LOL) some sights say that 6 AWG will work for 65Amp service while others say 4 AWG.
So.... Yeah. I'm thinking licensed electrician is the way to go.

Just so we're clear, I'm being facetious here. That was always the plan. I just enjoy learning.

LOL! Different types of wires can carry different current. Many of the EVSEs only take 6 AWG, so you have to use THWN or similar wire. Romex can only carry 55A and you need 60A for a 48A continuous circuit. THWN will have to be installed in conduit. So just like you, I used a licensed electrician to make sure it was done to code.

 

[generaltso]

So I looked at Autel's installation documentation.
6 AWG wire on a 50Amp charger, which will need a 65Amp breaker for service.
50Amp x 1.25 = 62.5 Your not going to find a 62.5Amp breaker, so...... 65Amp it is.

That‘s why most people with 50A EVSEs go with 48A charging so they can use a 60A breaker. I believe you also need a disconnect near the equipment if the circuit Is over 60A. Not really worth it for 2 extra amps.

 

[johnnycombo]

Just use 120volt while you replace or repair you main evse. I've been charging with my ChargePoint homeflex for two years now and it has never skipped a beat!

 

[phidauex]

Decent idea. I don't know you need the switch though. I think (assuming the leads have enough room) you could have it wired into both (piggy backed if you will) to accomplish the same thing. IE wires come from breaker off breaker box, to NEMA outlet, then another set of wires insert into the same outlet and go directly to the EVSE. Both would be live/active simultaneously but of course you'd only be drawing from one at a time per use.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not an electrician.

Trust your instincts on the disclaimer - this is both illegal and unsafe, please don't attempt.

As for the OP, I did something similar but I just installed two breakers - one goes to the hardwired charger (wanted a cleaner install), and the other goes to a NEMA 14-50 outlet. Most of the cost of doing this is the time, not the materials, so if your panel has space for another 50A breaker, or supports 50/60A tandems, then just do two circuits now. If you can't do that, then I'd vote for just the 14-50 outlet, buy a good/expensive one ($30+), and use that.

 

[khbkhb]

So, I had an idea.
,,,,

So, am I crazy, stupid, both?

...
Well, I don't know you well enough to answer that ;> But I can share my thinking and what we did.

Getting a code compliant solution (may be possible in some jurisdictions or with enough complexity) was, in my mind, a must have ... otherwise if there is an issue, my homeowners policy would be void (or so my experts assured me).

What we did was install two circuits, a 14-50 and a hardwired EVSE (wallbox pulsar). Since they were right next to one another it was somewhat more expensive than just the hardwiring, but not 2x. Since we did a bunch of other work at the time, I don't have exact pricing; ask your favorite electrician (we had ample panel capacity).

If we hadn't, I did ask about what's involved in moving the hardwired to a plug (not hard; in fact I contemplated having him install the code compliant plug, but not run any wires ... if the EVSE failed, I could move the wires over. Admittedly, a bit of an insurance risk, but code compliant ... and intended to be temporary until a new EVSE arrived ;>

We haven't had to use it for the original redundancy, but we did get my son a used LEAF and we leveraged the 14-50 to charge him up (his car will live in the driveway, so we eventually installed a second EVSE so as to not have to run cords under the garage door).

So we've got capacity for 3 EV's all plugged in at the same time; but since our eBikes occupy the part of the garage served by the 14-50 that's probably not going to happen anytime soon ;>

 

[ChasingCoral]

Ya but still overkill for overnight daily use.

I think a lot of people will disagree with your thought that being able to charge in 8-10 hours is overkill.

 

[Hammered]

In the future I see houses going to larger service entrance ampacities or even a second service entrance. The days of 100 amp services will be done away with. I toured a housing project in PNW where all the houses had 400 amp services. Everyone was using electric heat. With advocates pushing to eliminate gas stoves, etc I see electric loads increasing. Other option would be energy management systems. My plan will be to upgrade my service at some point but for now 100 amp service and 32 amp charging works fine.

The POCO here runs twin 4/0 to the meter (as in 2 4/0 wires per leg, single on neutral) which is a 320a unit good for twin 200a panels.

If you read the meter, you'll find that single phase homes (240 volt) will likely have a 320 amp meter.

 

[dgilles428]

So, I had an idea.
Getting ready for buy MME, Surely (Surely you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.) I ordered my EVSE. It is an Autel 50 Amp, which is hard wired. Got a great deal on Amazon...
Anyway, the thought is around redundancy and utility.
I thought I might have the line from the fuze box run into a Changeover switch. This would allow me to have the hard wired Autel EVSE AND a NEMA 14-50 plug and switch between them.
Why?
Well, I'm glad you asked.
1. Redundancy - If there is an issue or failure with the EVSE, I can switch to the 14-50 plug and use the Ford charger....temporarily.
2. Utility - Who knows what else you could use a 14-50 plug for.

So, am I crazy, stupid, both?

Example of the Changeover switch:
https://a.co/3evF4I6

I see no reason for a switch, you can have a hardwired

So, I had an idea.
Getting ready for buy MME, Surely (Surely you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.) I ordered my EVSE. It is an Autel 50 Amp, which is hard wired. Got a great deal on Amazon...
Anyway, the thought is around redundancy and utility.
I thought I might have the line from the fuze box run into a Changeover switch. This would allow me to have the hard wired Autel EVSE AND a NEMA 14-50 plug and switch between them.
Why?
Well, I'm glad you asked.
1. Redundancy - If there is an issue or failure with the EVSE, I can switch to the 14-50 plug and use the Ford charger....temporarily.
2. Utility - Who knows what else you could use a 14-50 plug for.

So, am I crazy, stupid, both?

Example of the Changeover switch:
https://a.co/3evF4I6

I see no reason for a switch, and after watching Sandy Munro's video on level 2 chargers causing breaker and plug failures I would no want to add another component in the circuit. Why not just hardwire the EVSE and a NEVA 12-50 on the same circuit similar to every other circuit in a house. As long as only one is used at a time no problem, if the accidently both get used, I assume the circuit breaker will open.

 

[Hammered]

Why not just hardwire the EVSE and a NEVA 12-50 on the same circuit similar to every other circuit in a house.

You can't do that -- Both require direct-wire.

You could end up with 2 32a chargers running and possibly start a fire if fed from a 60a breaker. Even 32a chargers will pull up to 34a. Not smart.

 

[Nemy]

I think a lot of people will disagree with your thought that being able to charge in 8-10 hours is overkill.

But the only person that can't get 8-10 hours from 48 amps is someone with an ER that also drives 255 miles a day. Most of us aren't going to need it.

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