Charging at my cabin.

[BCondrey]

I use L1 charging all the time and have good results. Over 2 mi/hr. In severe cold it may be less. I would start there with a heavy duty 12-gauge extension cord, that won't be cheap. If that doesn't work out, you can always go a more expensive route. You may also want to get a weatherproof box to hold the mobile charger and the connection to the extension cord.

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[teartags]

If money is an obstacle, run the 220, as large as your panel can handle, buried in conduit and install an outlet (good one). That gives you the option too install an actual charger down the road.
If you go full on charger now, you'll likely need to build some kind of housing for it to keep the weather out.

 

[teartags]

The Count suggests converting to three phase electricity.

I keep seeing your 3-phase journey, Count and it keeps me wondering. I'm very familiar with 3-phase as I have a shop with a bunch of 3-phase machinery in it. I just installed a 2 pole charger here because I couldn't find any benefit to running 3 phase unless you are doing large scale commercial charging.
Or maybe your just being a smartass here. THAT would actually checkout!

 

[Count Orlok]

I keep seeing your 3-phase journey, Count and it keeps me wondering. I'm very familiar with 3-phase as I have a shop with a bunch of 3-phase machinery in it. I just installed a 2 pole charger here because I couldn't find any benefit to running 3 phase unless you are doing large scale commercial charging.
Or maybe your just being a smartass here. THAT would actually checkout!

Not a smart arse on this... with 3 phase you get more electrons. In fact, ZEF just emailed The Count offering 20% off any DCFC unit if delivered by the end of 2023. The Count would love to have a 50kW unit at his cabin. His cabin, as the general public is well aware, is well adorned and the windows are cleansed with the tears of former graduate students.

 

[Riviot]

In fact the portable charger manual says not to use extension cords or use it in the rain.

Didn't the charger info page on Rivian used to show someone plugging in the travel charger in the rain? I'm in the hardwire EVSE camp for this guy, but I'm gonna call bull on this one. What's the manual actually say?

 

[blturner]

Didn't the charger info page on Rivian used to show someone plugging in the travel charger in the rain? I'm in the hardwire EVSE camp for this guy, but I'm gonna call bull on this one. What's the manual actually say?

I think it is talking about the plug that goes into the wall and the charger itself. I think the end that goes into the truck is fine in the rain.

 

[Riviot]

I think it is talking about the plug that goes into the wall and the charger itself. I think the end that goes into the truck is fine in the rain.

Oh now I'm following, yeah definitely don't plug it into an extension cord and leave that connection exposed in the rain. They have weatherproof housings for RV plugs for a reason.

 

[Thedude]

Didn't the charger info page on Rivian used to show someone plugging in the travel charger in the rain? I'm in the hardwire EVSE camp for this guy, but I'm gonna call bull on this one. What's the manual actually say?

Mine spent many, many nights in the rain and snow and never had a problem. It was my primary charger off outdoor 14-50 plugs for the duration of my R1T ownership.

 

[Thedude]

I use L1 charging all the time and have good results. Over 2 mi/hr. In severe cold it may be less. I would start there with a heavy duty 12-gauge extension cord, that won't be cheap. If that doesn't work out, you can always go a more expensive route. You may also want to get a weatherproof box to hold the mobile charger and the connection to the extension cord.

In the cold (sub 10°F) I would typically not gain any charge and often lose charge percentage when charging on level 1 120v. The battery would warm up and perform better but not gain any range.

 

[Tanuki68]

I had the exact same situation as you when we bought our mountain place. It’s a condo association and so I cannot trench but my HOA did approve my setup. I had an electricIan install a Hubbell 9450 Nema 14-50 outlet and an outdoor approved outlet. I then bought two heavy duty Rv 50 amp cables to make the run. I then bought a Costco plastic bin and cut fist size holes on each side to run the Rv cable in, connect a ClipperCreek Nema 14-50 EVSE inside to protect from the weather and then run the cord out the other side. the ”run” is about 95 feet. I’ve used it to charge my Model S, wife‘s model Y and now my Ford Lightning. I see no voltage drop and on the teslas I dial down the charge rate because I can. when we have had two EV’s here i also run a heavy duty 120V industrial extension cord and replaced the 15 amp outlet with a hospital grade unit to handle the constant load. We are up here a few days each month and the biggest issue is hauling the heavy cables out of the cellar. My wife doesn’t mess with the 240v if she comes up alone and just uses the 120V to trickle charge. We‘re also at 6000 feet so we only charge to 70% as we regen power heading down the mountain. Hope this is useful. I’d love a hardwired system like at our main house but that’s just not a possibility.

 

[Here2there]

I had the exact same situation as you when we bought our mountain place. It’s a condo association and so I cannot trench but my HOA did approve my setup. I had an electricIan install a Hubbell 9450 Nema 14-50 outlet and an outdoor approved outlet. I then bought two heavy duty Rv 50 amp cables to make the run. I then bought a Costco plastic bin and cut fist size holes on each side to run the Rv cable in, connect a ClipperCreek Nema 14-50 EVSE inside to protect from the weather and then run the cord out the other side. the ”run” is about 95 feet. I’ve used it to charge my Model S, wife‘s model Y and now my Ford Lightning. I see no voltage drop and on the teslas I dial down the charge rate because I can. when we have had two EV’s here i also run a heavy duty 120V industrial extension cord and replaced the 15 amp outlet with a hospital grade unit to handle the constant load. We are up here a few days each month and the biggest issue is hauling the heavy cables out of the cellar. My wife doesn’t mess with the 240v if she comes up alone and just uses the 120V to trickle charge. We‘re also at 6000 feet so we only charge to 70% as we regen power heading down the mountain. Hope this is useful. I’d love a hardwired system like at our main house but that’s just not a possibility.

Love your ingenuity!

 

[not_a_car_guy]

I used this box in the rain. The Rivian portable charger just barely fits inside. You have to arrange it diagonally and remove two of the rubber bushings. You need to be slightly careful not to nick the wires. The charger stayed completely dry in a very heavy storm hanging in the air from an outdoor outlet.

https://a.co/d/bMZw5od

I don’t know however if it is somehow bad to keep the charger in an almost airtight small enclosure while in use…

 

[Jnz]

Agree with others that 120v is not the way to go if you will use the cabin in Maine winters. We have a place in the Adirondacks and barely maintained charge on 120v when it got really cold (<0 degree F). If you can afford it, have your electrician trench a line and install a 14-50 plug near your parking area.

 

[teartags]

Not a smart arse on this... with 3 phase you get more electrons. In fact, ZEF just emailed The Count offering 20% off any DCFC unit if delivered by the end of 2023. The Count would love to have a 50kW unit at his cabin. His cabin, as the general public is well aware, is well adorned and the windows are cleansed with the tears of former graduate students.

Yep, you're right. I obviously was remembering incorrectly. It was a couple years ago, but I'm guessing what turned me off it immediately was not seeing a charger for less than $1,100 and deciding I didn't mind staying plugged in a little while longer!
If you found a reasonably priced one please, do tell.

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