Got Electrician - What do I need to know?

[CampfireWisdom]

Hey, it’s me again…

So, my electrician friend has become unreliable. I’m about to get some estimates for the installation of a 14-50… what do I need to make sure I know to ensure I don’t get hosed AND my panel safely handles the load? R1T in my near future.

Thanks in advance, brothers.

Greg

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[CrazyOne]

Over size the wire, use metal conduit and mount breaker away from other heavily loaded ones if possible. That's what I did.

 

[mikehmb]

I recall you posting before, but don't recall the specs on your home and electrical.

Make sure the electrician sizes the circuit and wiring for 60amp so your EVSE can take 48. Oversize the wiring because why not. Hardwire the EVSE if possible (really just do it if feasible). Though if you end up with a NEMA plug, get an industrial one (not a dryer grade - get one designed for constant use) - brand names count but even those have lower duty cycle versions which are inadequate.

Then of course, before all that, make sure your panel and service can handle it. If you need, you can de-rate the current so you can stay within house/panel current specs.

 

[CampfireWisdom]

I recall you posting before, but don't recall the specs on your home and electrical.

Make sure the electrician sizes the circuit and wiring for 60amp so your EVSE can take 48. Oversize the wiring because why not. Hardwire the EVSE if possible (really just do it if feasible). Though if you end up with a NEMA plug, get an industrial one (not a dryer grade - get one designed for constant use) - brand names count but even those have lower duty cycle versions which are inadequate.

Then of course, before all that, make sure your panel and service can handle it. If you need, you can de-rate the current so you can stay within house/panel current specs.

Thank you! Yeah, I posted a while back to confirm a few things.

NEMA 14-50
Hubbell 9450A
6 ga. THHN wiring

I’ll add ‘upsize the wire’ and ‘metal conduit’ to this. Thanks, dudes.

My buddy who is an electrician seems to have vanished so now I have to know my stuff to avoid a potential hose job. Electrical is my weakness. In fact, maybe I need to watch more YT videos haha.

 

[mikehmb]

Thank you! Yeah, I posted a while back to confirm a few things.

NEMA 14-50
Hubbell 9450A
6 ga. THHN wiring

I’ll add ‘upsize the wire’ and ‘metal conduit’ to this. Thanks, dudes.

My buddy who is an electrician seems to have vanished so now I have to know my stuff to avoid a potential hose job. Electrical is my weakness. In fact, maybe I need to watch more YT videos haha.

9450a seems to check out - nice choice!

Oh re: overwiring - how long is the run from the panel to the outlet?

If I can find the pic of my melted non-commercial grade outlet, I'll send it along for good measure.

 

[CampfireWisdom]

9450a seems to check out - nice choice!

Oh re: overwiring - how long is the run from the panel to the outlet?

If I can find the pic of my melted non-commercial grade outlet, I'll send it along for good measure.

It’s actually not far at all… basically on the other side of the wall where the panel is mounted. The panel is on the garage exterior and I’d love to pop that 14-50 right on the other side of the wall, although I’m sure there is a minimum distance too, right? Hunting for electricians now… Thumbtack…

 

[Rivdog]

Thank you! Yeah, I posted a while back to confirm a few things.

NEMA 14-50
Hubbell 9450A
6 ga. THHN wiring

I’ll add ‘upsize the wire’ and ‘metal conduit’ to this. Thanks, dudes.

My buddy who is an electrician seems to have vanished so now I have to know my stuff to avoid a potential hose job. Electrical is my weakness. In fact, maybe I need to watch more YT videos haha.

If you run thicker wire, make sure your EVSE can handle it. My Charegpoint Home Flex, for example, can’t handle anything thicker than 6 gauge.

 

[CANCERDOC]

If you have a choice, hardwire your EVSE. Even a high quality NEMA 14-50 can have issues.

 

[CampfireWisdom]

If you have a choice, hardwire your EVSE. Even a high quality NEMA 14-50 can have issues.

Yeah, the challenge is I’m a renter… so trying to add value to the property to help me sell it to the landlord… maybe he’ll split the cost

 

[Time2Roll]

Trust the electrician. NEMA 14-50 is a common install. With a short direct run there is no issue to upsize the wire beyond #6. actually #8 is fine.

 

[VSG]

Make sure they're licensed and bonded, and that they pull the required permit. Aside from that, get some quotes over the phone - I found the prices vary a LOT. Like @Time2Roll said, any electrician should be able to handle installing an outlet. Part of the process is evaluating the breaker panel for capacity.

(While homeowners are usually allowed to do their own electrical work, landlords are typically required by law to use licensed electricians and have permits/inspections.)

 

[dradam]

You seem to have a good bead on this. +1 for hardwire. THHN in conduit good. 6awg romex bad.

 

[Time2Roll]

THHN in conduit good. 6awg romex bad.

For less than 2' inside a wall?

 

[edwjmcgrath]

And, if you find that you need to make a junction-use polaris connectors, not "Big Blue".

 

[Nadus]

I'd recommend looking at the Grizzl-E website if you haven't yet decided on an EVSE. I say that from experience. I have a 60 amp box in my garage, and wired my EVSE to a 40 amp circuit so it could pull 32 amps safely. But even at 32 amps, my car would stop charging randomly sometimes because I was pushing the limits of what I could safely pull. It was a whole thing.

But because Grizzl-E units have physical switches to limit the current, I was able to set it down to 24 amps and I've never had a problem since then. Besides solving the charging problem, it also gives me peace of mind knowing my car can't unexpectedly request more power than my socket is capable of providing.

As a bonus, Grizzl-E is made in Canada (not China).

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