wiring a 48 amp EVSE

[semipro]

Anyone doing EVSE installs should be aware of reported issues with some NEMA 14-50 receptacles failing. It seems that many aren't rated for the continuous current draws that EV charging often requires. The new NEC addresses the issue. Apparently, Hubble makes one rated for EVSE use.
Related discussion here: https://forums.mikeholt.com/threads...-evse-receptacle-listing-requirement.2590358/

 

[begreen]

GTK. Personally, I would only hardwire an EVSE.

 

[EbS-P]

GTK. Personally, I would only hardwire an EVSE.

I agree.

 

[semipro]

GTK. Personally, I would only hardwire an EVSE.

Ours is not hardwired for two reasons:
1. We installed ours before much public charging was available in our area. Our Level 2 EVSE is designed to be easily portable and could be taken on trips and used at destinations like my MIL's where a suitable clothes dryer receptacle is available. The EVSE max power draw can be adjusted down to prevent overloading the circuit.
2. The receptacle, which is located under our solar PV carport, can also be used for RV power.

That said, we've never taken advantage of either of these capabilities.

 

[EbS-P]

That said, we've never taken advantage of either of these capabilities.

I have a mobile charger. I used it once in 4.5 years and zero times since getting my home charger installed (hardwired). I used it connected to a 120v receptacle and it took 2 days to charge.

The actual use case for a portable/mobile charger is really rare. Maybe camping but some campgrounds prohibit car charging at sites.

 

[gthomas785]

My home EVSE is hardwired. I have another one that I installed at the family house in eastern Maine where we visit, and I wanted that on a receptacle so I could put the charger inside when nobody's there using it. I set the charge limit on that evse to 32 amps so I'm not worried about the receptacle melting.

 

[begreen]

I have a mobile charger. I used it once in 4.5 years and zero times since getting my home charger installed (hardwired). I used it connected to a 120v receptacle and it took 2 days to charge.

The actual use case for a portable/mobile charger is really rare. Maybe camping but some campgrounds prohibit car charging at sites.

Our home EVSE is hardwired but we have a mobile charger in our EV too. It's been used once, to make sure it works. That said, not everyone has the luxury of having a base charger and a portable one. In that case the plugin is a solution as long as one is aware that the prongs will wear overtime and one should watch out for heat buildup at the junction of plug and receptacle. There are lots of pictures and tales of residential oven plugs being used here that have overheated. These receptacles are not designed for frequent unplugging cycles, nor the steady high current loads. Normally an oven gets plugged in once for the next 20+ years. I'm glad that Hubble has a more heavy duty alternative.