Got Electrician - What do I need to know?

[ejr77]

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

if I could give one piece of advice, I would put in 100 amp wire. We put in a 60 amp wire to handle a 48 amp charger but if you plan on having future EV’s, that can take a faster charge than 11.5 KW, then you are stuck with a 60 amp wire. It’s more money, but you should always future proof when you can. In hindsight, I wish I did the larger wire when we could.

Sponsored

 

[Rivian Owner]

The Emporia chargers can load shave (reduce charging current based on the loads of everything in your house that is drawing electricity) so if your panel is smaller or close to maximum capacity you can achieve the maximum charge rate your panel can deliver second by second without overloading the panel. You will need their Vue 3 in your panel, but less cost than burning the house down!

I have 2 of the Vue 3s, 1 for my main panel and 1 for my e-panel. I can monitor the mains plus 32 circuits and my solar production.

 

[Mathme]

Choose your EVSE mounting location carefully (since you're paying for the run). The two basic choices are either near the interior wall or near the garage door. When I had mine mounted, I chose on the left side, close to the garage door. This allowed me to pull the truck in and charge, allowed a friend while visiting to charge his Model Y in the other garage space (string the cable under the rear of the Rivian), or string the cable out under the garage door and allow a guest to charge outside.

There will come a time when someone will be visiting and need a charge so it's more convenient to be able to reach multiple cars....

 

[CampfireWisdom]

Great advice guys, thank you. Added all of these tidbits.

Got several electricians stopping by today. Most of them advise a new 200w panel, as mine is old 100w. This place was built in 1985.

 

[Rivian Owner]

First, the correct terminology is 100 amp or 200 amp panel not watts. Watts represent power while amps represent current flow.

Second, when you find out what the panel upgrade costs, you will see the wisdom of the Emporia load shedding chargers.

 

[electruck]

You would think that would be sufficient but, sadly, it is not. Not only do you need a licensed electrician, you also need one that actually has experience with EVSE. I've experienced and seen stories of too many licensed electricians that simply don't factor in the continuous load requirement for EVSE or aren't aware of the need for a commercial grade outlet (for non hard wired installs).

 

[ebellinder2]

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.

6 awg is more than adequate.

 

[KRIV_ian]

Great advice guys, thank you. Added all of these tidbits.

Got several electricians stopping by today. Most of them advise a new 200w panel, as mine is old 100w. This place was built in 1985.

Very similar situation to our house. We did the 200A upgrade and not had any issues with our ChargePoint home charger.

 

[babock]

if I could give one piece of advice, I would put in 100 amp wire. We put in a 60 amp wire to handle a 48 amp charger

The wire size is determined by wire gauge, current draw and length. No such thing as a 100A wire.

 

[ejr77]

correct I was speaking in Laymans terms. My point being that if I had to do it again, I would’ve put in the gauge to support 100 amp. If people can afford it,have the real estate in their panel, and plan to be in their house for a while owning EV’s, then you should always future proof. These batteries will keep getting bigger people aren’t going to want to wait too long to charge

 

[CampfireWisdom]

First, the correct terminology is 100 amp or 200 amp panel not watts. Watts represent power while amps represent current flow.

Second, when you find out what the panel upgrade costs, you will see the wisdom of the Emporia load shedding chargers.

Appreciate the feedback. It sounds like I could get away with a 100 amp panel, but it’s safer to go 200 amp.

 

[beatle]

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

Nothing wrong with Romex. You just can't use 6awg Romex for a 60A circuit even though the THHN wires inside are qualified for it while in conduit. It's fine for 50A in wall.

I have 6awg romex going to my first Tesla UWC, and then my second is daisy chained using 6awg THHN in conduit. They share a 50A circuit.

 

[Rivian Owner]

Appreciate the feedback. It sounds like I could get away with a 100 amp panel, but it’s safer to go 200 amp.

Not necessarily safer. Even at 200 amps it is possible to exceed the panel rating. I have 250 amp service and I still use the Emporia devices or I'd use some other charger that monitors the loads and can adjust the charge rate based on the panel's load. A Vue with two main CTs and 16 branch circuit CTs is $199, cheap insurance in my book. Just to be clear, you'd still need their charger but you have that cost no matter which charger you buy.

 

[dradam]

For less than 2' inside a wall?

Beacuse romex is in a tight sheath The NEC derates it and it is not acceptle for 48 amps. 6awg in a conduit sheds more heat and is code complient. Despite this many electricians will use 6awg romex on a 60 A breaker to a 48 v charger.

I was able to find 6/4 awg in flexible metal sheathing which was easy to run and code compliant. I ran 6/4 just in case a neutral is ever necessary-future proofing. Aditionally to future proof would have run 4AWG, but while I am told it would fit in the Rivian connector block- the block is not rated for that diameter.

Frankly I was very wrapped up in all this just before I got my R1S 2 years ago, But I never charge at 48amps because I just don't need to. Makes no difference to me overnight if the car is charges in 4 vs 8 hours. I charge at 20 A mainly to keep things cool and not overload the sub panel in my garage.

fFor $150 I bought a used 32A chargepoint for my parent garage when I visit. No change in charging still 20A, works just as well an far far les expensive than my rivian charger.

Sponsored