Input on 14-50 outlet install

[Redline]

Hello all! I’m the first to admit that I don’t know much about electrical work, or charging. We’re getting our R1S anytime now. We’re building a new home, and everything there is already set for two 60amp chargers, but I need some help at my parents lake home. I visit a few weekends a year, including in the winter, and I want the ability to charge at a lvl 2 pace. I was thinking of just having an electrician run a 14-50 outlet into the garage, and charge with the mobile charger.

Any advice or input on this? I won’t be here when he gives a quote, as my dad needs an outdoor outlet changed and he’s going to ask him to quote it. I need to be pretty specific with a note for the electrician. I didn’t look in the basement and we have a 200amp panel that appears to have plenty of space available.

Thanks!

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[jjswan33]

It’s very simple. Just tell them you need a Nema 14-50 outlet in the garage for an EV charger and any good electrician will know what to do.

 

[SANZC02]

I agree and you can use your mobile charger 32 amp to get around 15 miles an hour. You could also get a 40 amp charger that plugs into the nema 14/50 and charges at 40 amps for 18 or so miles an hour.

I would probably do that as the nema 14/50 is not designed to have things plugged in and removed a lot so putting one there to leave will minimizes wear on the plug.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Since you will probably pushing 32-40 amps, I would spend a little extra and get an Industrial Hubbel 14-50 outlet. They are like $75-$100. They look and function the same as others but are built heavier and will resist melting like the cheapies when they get hot. It's about double the price, but worth piece of mind.

 

[RexRemus]

Hello all! I’m the first to admit that I don’t know much about electrical work, or charging. We’re getting our R1S anytime now. We’re building a new home, and everything there is already set for two 60amp chargers, but I need some help at my parents lake home. I visit a few weekends a year, including in the winter, and I want the ability to charge at a lvl 2 pace. I was thinking of just having an electrician run a 14-50 outlet into the garage, and charge with the mobile charger.

Any advice or input on this? I won’t be here when he gives a quote, as my dad needs an outdoor outlet changed and he’s going to ask him to quote it. I need to be pretty specific with a note for the electrician. I didn’t look in the basement and we have a 200amp panel that appears to have plenty of space available.

Thanks!

Tell them to get a Hubbell or Bryant NEMA 14-50 and not a $10 Leviton 14-50 receptacle. You're going to pay more, it's worth it. Just ha da friend get a circuit wired and the electrician ended up using a cheap receptacle.

Otherwise, pretty straightforward. Just make sure to set the vehicle current limits correctly (40A max on a 50A breaker) and should be ok

 

[Redline]

Tell them to get a Hubbell or Bryant NEMA 14-50 and not a $10 Leviton 14-50 receptacle. You're going to pay more, it's worth it. Just ha da friend get a circuit wired and the electrician ended up using a cheap receptacle.

Otherwise, pretty straightforward. Just make sure to set the vehicle current limits correctly (40A max on a 50A breaker) and should be ok

So on my 60amp at home would I set that to 48?

 

[SANZC02]

So on my 60amp at home would I set that to 48?

Correct

 

[Choqni]

For future proofing, in case you ever want to use a 48a charger... In addition to the recommendations above, you may consider having the electrician run wire that would be able to accommodate swapping the 50 for a 60amp breaker. 6 awg THHN wire is what I've used.

 

[Redline]

I agree and you can use your mobile charger 32 amp to get around 15 miles an hour. You could also get a 40 amp charger that plugs into the nema 14/50 and charges at 40 amps for 18 or so miles an hour.

I would probably do that as the nema 14/50 is not designed to have things plugged in and removed a lot so putting one there to leave will minimizes wear on the plug.

So you think it’s worth buying something like the Rivian wall charger? I’ll have to make a spot for him to install the outlet to mount the charger but that could be possible.

 

[Joe schmoe]

So you think it’s worth buying something like the Rivian wall charger? I’ll have to make a spot for him to install the outlet to mount the charger but that could be possible.

Opinions will vary, but especially for occasional use I’d just put in a 14-50 outlet. It will be cheaper, and the mobile charger works fine.

I use my mobile charger plugged into a 14-50 all the time (it rarely moves, doesn’t get removed and plugged back in) and did the same thing, on the exact same outlet, for eight years with a Tesla.

This also “future proofs” you a bit in case standards change or you want a fancy new charger.

the 14-50 is also useful for plugging in an RV, a welder, or any other 240v device you might need.

 

[RexRemus]

So on my 60amp at home would I set that to 48?

I would not go over 50A breaker/40A charging if you're using a 14-50 plug. The 50 in the name is there for a reason

 

[SANZC02]

So you think it’s worth buying something like the Rivian wall charger? I’ll have to make a spot for him to install the outlet to mount the charger but that could be possible.

Not the Rivian necessarily but something like this is an economical choice. I’m using it at two locations and it works well. One location it is plugged into a nema 14/50 Set to 40 amps.

 

[SANZC02]

I would not go over 50A breaker/40A charging if you're using a 14-50 plug. The 50 in the name is there for a reason

He was referencing a different location where he is running 60 amp circuits.

 

[Redline]

He was referencing a different location where he is running 60 amp circuits.

Correct. And it’s hard wired

 

[RWerksman]

The big difference between the $7 and $75 14-50 outlet is the expensive one is rated for continuous load at 50 amps and the cheaper one is not.

I'd suggest just going with the outlet though, instead of hardwiring anything. The Rivian comes with a cable that plugs right into it for $0, and I've had hardwired chargers fail on me before, requiring an electrician to come out and replace it. With the outlet, just unplug and go.

The difference in max throughput between a 40 and 50 amp charger has never been noticeable to me.

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