Another Dumb Electrical Code Change Could Ban DIY EV Charger Installs
Another Dumb Electrical Code Change Could Ban DIY EV Charger Installs
Making it illegal for homeowners to install their own EV chargers could undermine safety rather than improve it.
Yes, it's total BS.
I'll also share the flip side here, though, from https://electricaleducator.com/for-homeowners/nema-14-50-what-you-need-to-understand/ :
I spoke to Leviton and the general consensus is that the receptacles are not being installed correctly. Additionally, EV chargers draw a load for a longer period of time than a normal appliance. Homeowners and even some electricians are not using the necessary torqueing tools. Terminals that are too loose and, yes, too tight, will fail. Leviton came out with an upgraded version for EV chargers that we will do a deep dive on. If you’re installing an EV Charger, you should probably opt for the more robust Leviton product.
So, it is more dangerous than other appliances, and I've never seen an inspector check tightness. That said, I totally agree that it is unlikely to deter someone from installing one and more likely that people will do a shit job and it'll be done without someone checking it. So, pretty bad either way, honestly.
Hubbell has one, too.
Permanently installed electric vehicle power transfer system equipment shall be installed by qualified persons.
This seems to indicate direct wired installations, which should only be done by a licensed electrician.
It could also indicate anything with a control box designed to be fixed in place. Basically anything that isn’t the portable 120v charge cable, because the 240v control boxes have to be “sized” appropriately to the specific circuit they are connected to to prevent the car from overdrawing power.
Yeah, it really does depend on how the municipality /state decides to read it, that’s the worst part. What’s the spirit here?
I feel like having a qualified person perform the installation is more important than the actual permit.
I understand why people don't want this requirement though, it will add at least a couple hundred more dollars to the cost.
IMHO, though, a couple hundred dollars more up front, is worth the headaches down the road from a shitty install.
IMHO, though, a couple hundred dollars more up front, is worth the headaches down the road from a shitty install.
Unfortunately, it's nothing but overhead cost for people who are sufficiently skilled and can follow electrical codes. Sigh.
A relevant “dishwasher guy” video just came out this week.
I used one of these cheap plugs for installing my MIL's EV charger before I heard of the issues. However, It's been fine because I under-utilized it due to the continuous load. I'm using it on a 40 amp circuit (code allows for this, as there is no 40 amp receptacle, so these plugs are allowed in this situation) with a 40 amp breaker and the charger is set to "40 amps", which is really 32 amps, via dip switches, so it's drawing 80% of 80% of 50 amps.
Given the problems I've heard, though, I might just change it up and just hard wire it, even if I'm almost certainly fine anyway.
Almost nobody actually needs a 50 amp charger, unless you're driving something like a Hummer EV. As long as you're charging at 230V, a 15-20 amp draw is PLENTY for 99% of situations. Even at that lower amperage, most cars would charge from close to dead to 100% in less than 12 hours and the majority of people only discharge above 60-70% on their daily commute. Even a 110V 15 amp outlet can handle charging that overnight.
Technology Connections has been turning this horse to glue and hopefully it'll start sticking soon.
Most people don't drive more than a 15A outlet can charge overnight, most days. The solution for the biggest chunk of drivers is a standard household outlet.
A "dryer outlet" probably more than handles 98% of drivers.
We have this mentality from driving ICE cars so long that we gotta bring it down to E and then fill it up quick so we can get on with our day. No. Treat it like your cell phone. Charge it up slow when you aren't using it.
Yup. I had to break this habit with my Mother-in-Law. She would park her car at home and not plug it in, then get range anxiety after a few days of that.
I printed and laminated a "Did you plug your car in?" and put it beneath her alarm panel, so when she armed it at night she'd remember to go plug it in, if she forgot when she got home.
Even a 110V 15 amp outlet can handle charging that overnight.
This is something I wish more people realized. If it doesn't fully charge you overnight, it'll get you close, and it'll likely be enough for your daily commute. It also generates less heat and thus is better for the long-term health of your battery to trickle charge instead of fast-charging all the time.
Yeah even 20 amps at 230V is way less intense and is a good middle ground.