Nema 10-50 plug

[MME Farmer]

I have an adapter that goes from the nema 14-50 female to the nema 10-50 male plug which is the old range plug with 3 straight blades instead of 2 straight blades and a round ground. The shop where we are considering charging has a 240v nema 10-50 receptacle with 60amp breaker. I see these adapters on ebay and such and it sounds like they are for EV's, but some say not for EV's. I read someplace here that the nema 14-50 does not use the fourth ground blade, if that was the case wouldn't they be virtually the same? Help appreciated.

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[RyZt]

Most EVSEs with 14-50 plug can use a 6-50 (hot hot ground) receptacle with an adapter because most EVSEs don’t use neutral. They can not use 10-50 (hot hot neutral).

Most EVSEs try to test that its ground isn’t floating before energizing the vehicle. However, some old one don’t. Even those that do, they can’t reliably identify bootlegged ground. (I don’t know whether your adapter leaves the ground pin floating or bootleg it.)

Practically, you can repurpose the neutral for ground, by reconnecting it in panel and replacing the receptacle. However, this is against code because code only allows reidentifying (change the color of) wires that are thicker than what’s generally used for 50-60amp circuits.

For what it’s worth, it’s also against code to use a 60amp breaker with a 50amp receptacle. Code requires that breaker has to match or be smaller than the receptacle (except that 20amp breaker is allowed for 15amp receptacle).

 

[RyZt]

Assuming you have a grounded receptacle nearby, you can use this. https://www.amazon.com/AC-WORKS-14-50R-Adapter-3-Prong/dp/B0835QQLLQ/

I don’t know whether this is safe or code compliant. But your existing set up isn’t perfect anyways. And if it’s your home, it’s your call.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I have an adapter that goes from the nema 14-50 female to the nema 10-50 male plug which is the old range plug with 3 straight blades instead of 2 straight blades and a round ground. The shop where we are considering charging has a 240v nema 10-50 receptacle with 60amp breaker. I see these adapters on ebay and such and it sounds like they are for EV's, but some say not for EV's. I read someplace here that the nema 14-50 does not use the fourth ground blade, if that was the case wouldn't they be virtually the same? Help appreciated.

Yeah that's breaking a few electrical codes. Technically you can't use an EV charger on a NEMA 10 outlet because it doesn't have a ground prong (only neutral). I'd recommend having an electrician see if the neutral wire could be moved to the ground bus in the panel so it can be re-assigned as ground. If so, the receptacle can be replaced with a NEMA 6-50 outlet. And the breaker would have to be replaced with a 50A (60A is not allowed).

After that, you can use a 6-50 to 14-50 adapter to charge using the mobile charger. Maximum charge current on a 6-50 or 14-50 outlet is 40 amps continuous.

 

[MME Farmer]

I'm going to a small ND town and there are no chargers near at all, but we had found this setup and thought it would work for one or two charges. Guess if I get enough time might just use 120v instead. Takes for the replies.

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