EV Charger Risks: Home Charging Installation Risks and Advice - by Munro Live

[Administrator]

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[mikehmb]

This is VERY IMPORTANT.

3 years ago, I had 2 240 drops in the garage off their own panel from a local and reputable electrician. They were plug-in 14-50s vs. hardwired so I could be flexible with the chargers we bought (since we figured they would improve dramatically over time).

Abut 15 months later, I smelled burning plastic while the i3 was charging.

Here is the result.

 

[connoisseurr]

My recommendation, regardless of who's doing the install, is to hardware your EVSE. If that's not an option, or you may want flexibility of swapping out to a nicer EVSE in the future, go with a 14-50 plug.

Always use an INDUSTRIAL (not commercial, but INDUSTRIAL) 14-50 outlet from Hubbell, Bryant or Cooper. Go with a 60A circuit as well for future supportability.

 

[evguy]

This is VERY IMPORTANT.

3 years ago, I had 2 240 drops in the garage off their own panel from a local and reputable electrician. They were plug-in 14-50s vs. hardwired so I could be flexible with the chargers we bought (since we figured they would improve dramatically over time).

Abut 15 months later, I smelled burning plastic while the i3 was charging.

Here is the result.

I experienced the exact same thing with my NEMA 14-50 outlet last year. Lucky I didn't burn the house down. Now have the charger hardwired.

 

[mikehmb]

My recommendation, regardless of who's doing the install, is to hardware your EVSE. If that's not an option, or you may want flexibility of swapping out to a nicer EVSE in the future, go with a 14-50 plug.

Always use an INDUSTRIAL (not commercial, but INDUSTRIAL) 14-50 outlet from Hubbell, Bryant or Cooper. Go with a 60A circuit as well for future supportability.

You’re absolutely right - unfortunately, there’s not enough awareness of this yet and I’m willing to bet the vast majority of 14-50 installs are for lower duty-cycle application plugs like the Hubbell in the picture I posted.

I can say with certainty that my electrician had no idea.

 

[jpal]

Welp, just bought the Hubbell 14-50 plug on Amazon to replace the Home Depot one I have in there currently. Better safe than sorry.

 

[connoisseurr]

You’re absolutely right - unfortunately, there’s not enough awareness of this yet and I’m willing to bet the vast majority of 14-50 installs are for lower duty-cycle application plugs like the Hubbell in the picture I posted.

I can say with certainty that my electrician had no idea.

Yep! Only the electricians who've worked in actual industrial commercial applications understand the difference. Local sparkies that do residential stuff aren't up to speed.

 

[zipzag]

Tesla used to have a list of recommended industrial 14-50. I suppose the lawyers said it's best to not make any recommendation, so the list gone.

I can see spending the money on a Rivian and not buying a wall connector. I can't see overpaying for the Rivian wall connector. Too bad the brand new Tesla CCS wall connector is only 40 amps.

 

[Ripped]

That looks like a bad lug on the receptacle or prong or bad clamping on the prong.

Anyway, I am old school and don't ever like aluminum conductors, for one, and secondly using a high-quality breaker panel like square d or siemens.

A quality breaker will trip before you get a bad issue.

Just like car tires, or bearings, if during normal operation you are getting excess heat when you touch the cable or receptacle, there is a problem. Don't want to touch, you can get a thermal gun for $25.

I think a really good investment if you are parking an EV inside a garage. You could also do spot checks under the vehicle to see if any of the areas of the batter are warm when they should not be.

 

[Brewbud]

This is VERY IMPORTANT.

3 years ago, I had 2 240 drops in the garage off their own panel from a local and reputable electrician. They were plug-in 14-50s vs. hardwired so I could be flexible with the chargers we bought (since we figured they would improve dramatically over time).

Abut 15 months later, I smelled burning plastic while the i3 was charging.

Here is the result.

How often was the plug removed from the receptacle?

 

[Redline]

We’re building a new house and we’ll have it ready for two chargers. I’m going to make sure that the charger I get for the Rivian is hard wired from the start.

 

[electruck]

So the receptacle issues I am familiar with, what was the deal with the breaker? Poor quality or something else?

 

[mikehmb]

How often was the plug removed from the receptacle?

Not once after installing it.

 

[DaveA]

Guess I’ll keep charging at 32 amps on my 14-50 to be safe. Square D breaker on main panel and another breaker in the garage strictly for 14-50 plug. Hope that is safe enough.

 

[Franksmartin]

Scary, and don’t let an electrician convince you to use 6 AWG Romex wire if you want to charge at 48 amps. 8 out of 10 licensed electricians agree, I got one of the other 2.

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