Stupid previous owner = $$$ L2 installation

[Mos Eisley]

I'm in the process of getting estimates to install an L2 (likely Emporia) ahead of the R2's arrival this Fall.

My crazy garage has a total of just north of 50 outlets/sockets due to a previous owner using the garage as his workshop. There are four plug panels all over the walls, on the ceiling... guy liked to plug things in. The garage has a small dedicated panel including a two pole 60A circuit and a 240V socket which got me excited that installing an L2 would be inexpensive.

But, as I suspected based on the past miswiring adventures from this previous owner who did all his own wiring that I have uncovered over the years I should have known better. Example: The downstairs bathroom, the laundry room and one socket in the family room were all connected to... the microwave oven's cove/socket, the dishwasher and one socket in a bedroom 30 feet away.

Turns out the Romex to the panel in the garage is only 20A, with two 30A breakers on the circuit and only 15A capable wiring to the 240V plug I'm told he used it for a welder. How he didn't burn down the garage I don't know.

So now we'll have to pull a dedicated line with a load balancer from the main panel (100A just installed two years ago) across the house and into the garage, a run of new copper of about 250ft Got an estimate yesterday for... $3900. I am getting other estimates but

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[tgrick]

Clearly not code and sadly not the 1st or last time a situation like this happens. There is very little you can do except make it right.

 

[carsly]

If you want to pull more than 24 amps I'd upgrade your main panel to 200 amps. You shouldn't L2 charge an EV on a 100 amp panel unless you're not pulling much power.

a 200 amp main panel would allow you to put a 60 amp sub-panel in the garage and charge at 48 amps if you don't have any other loads on the sub-panel. Even then, I'd cap charging to 32 amps for safety and to leave room for other loads like garage door openers, lights, wifi extenders (you may need one in the garage), etc.

Not an electrician, but have been through this with an old house. Ended up with a 250 amp main panel and i'm stuck with an old 50 amp sub-panel in my separate garage. Retrenching isn't simple as I have a blustone walkway between the house and garage that would have to be tunneled under and then I'd have to break through the concrete floor of the garage. Not worth it so I charge at 32 amps on my NEMA 14-50 off the 50 amp sub-panel with my outlet on a 40 amp breaker. Honestly, it's never been an issue. 32 amps at 240v is 7.6kw and charging at 48 amps generates heat everywhere - cables, EVSE, EVSE cable, etc. per my IR thermometer.

 

[Mos Eisley]

If you want to pull more than 24 amps I'd upgrade your main panel to 200 amps. You shouldn't L2 charge an EV on a 100 amp panel unless you're not pulling much power.

a 200 amp main panel would allow you to put a 60 amp sub-panel in the garage and charge at 48 amps if you don't have any other loads on the sub-panel. Even then, I'd cap charging to 32 amps for safety and to leave room for other loads like garage door openers, lights, wifi extenders (you may need one in the garage), etc.

Not an electrician, but have been through this with an old house. Ended up with a 250 amp main panel and i'm stuck with an old 50 amp sub-panel in my separate garage. Retrenching isn't simple as I have a blustone walkway between the house and garage that would have to be tunneled under and then I'd have to break through the concrete floor of the garage. Not worth it so I charge at 32 amps on my NEMA 14-50 off the 50 amp sub-panel with my outlet on a 40 amp breaker. Honestly, it's never been an issue. 32 amps at 240v is 7.6kw and charging at 48 amps generates heat everywhere - cables, EVSE, EVSE cable, etc. per my IR thermometer.

Had I known this 24 months ago when we replaced the main panel I would have. A load balancer should be ok for the 100A. But I’m going to ask the next electrician that. In maybe 3 years we may add a second EV so the 200-250 makes sense. But just charging on alternate days would be fine as neither of us put on that many miles daily.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Get a second drop from the power pole and a meter just for the EVs.

 

[TollKeeper]

Almost the story of my house, except I have a 200a panel. But yea, my microwave, all main floor lights, and half the sockets in my living room and dining room, are all on one circuit.

I kept blowing the fuse when I had a 60inch plasma TV, and would start the microwave.

This is how the house was wired when built new in the 70's.

I still dont know how it passed.. But it did.

I ran a 8g wire to a jacuzzi by my garage years ago. When I got my R1, I sold the jacuzzi, and repurposed the line to charge my R1 with a Rivian branded charger. It was bumpy at start, as I think I had the charger set to 48a and had a small electrical fire, when I should have been at 40a, or lower. Got that figured out the hard way, and now have my charger set at 32a, with no problems since.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Get a second drop from the power pole and a meter just for the EVs.

That’s a thought.

 

[ripple]

FWIW I just got an Emporia charger installed today, dedicated 240V/60A breaker, about 50' away from my main (200A) panel.
In Maryland by code the whole thing is a licensed electrician, pull permits, etc.

$3900 just for the install, on top of buying the Emporia charger online. Ugh - now I'm wondering whether I got taken for a ride.

(In MD only Emporia, ChargePoint, and Wallbox chargers are supported for the BGE discounts.)

 

[carsly]

I bet the 50' run was more than half the total. it's a long pull with heavy gauge wire and copper ain't cheap. not much you can do about that.

 

[Mos Eisley]

I bet the 50' run was more than half the total. it's a long pull with heavy gauge wire and copper ain't cheap. not much you can do about that.

That was the case for me. That 300’ of copper. Yikes.

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