Charger Question

[Worldwide Beagle]

This is what he installed.

View attachment 30165

This exact model, as well as Hubbell and Bryant are very SAFE.

@agarner and others, to show you how dangerous and deceiving Amazon is, they are now selling cheap plastic, no name Chinese crap NEMA 14-50 receptacles BUT NOW with a phoney EV stamp. And bullshit claim of 'industrial.' (Whatever that means - like jumbo shrimp)

Funny, the imposter receptacles look just like the $10 oven grade receptacle, only with an EV stamp. And they have the nerve to charge $35. this phoney EV receptacle has all the same appearances as the cheapo $10 one: 2 in diameter face, plastic, thin brass contacts, Phillips screw lugs!!! It has None of the true HD features that make a true continuous duty receptacle (like the one above) suitable for high amperage EV charging.

I will say again, Amazon is happy to sell you crap that will kill you or burn down your house. And claim: sorry, we are just the middlemen.

 

[agarner]

I will say again, Amazon is happy to sell you crap that will kill you or burn down your house. And claim: sorry, we are just the middlemen.

The one my electrician installed was not from Amazon. I'm not sure where he gets all his parts, but probably a local electrical supplies place near where he lives or even Home Depot. I agree, there is a lotof crap on Amazon. Edit: It is a Levitron.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

The one my electrician installed was not from Amazon. I'm not sure where he gets all his parts, but probably a local electrical supplies place near where he lives or even Home Depot. I agree, there is a lotof crap on Amazon. Edit: It is a Levitron.

Didn't mean to imply anything wrong with the receptacle you bought. Amazon sells a ton of top of the line, genuine Hubbell, Bryant,Cooper, Leviton true industrial grade devices, no different than the supply house your Electrician uses. Amazon is great for that.

But it also sells a ton of dangerous, no name Chinese crap that unsuspecting newbies and DIYers purchase because it's cheaper, the listing flat out lies about it, and to the untrained eye, it looks similar. Amazon does not check if a knock off Chinese device truly has UL, or CE or ETL certification. And if you read the fine print, some Asian manufacturers admit they only "self certify." Yeah, right.

Man, I cannot imagine how confusing this is a novice. That's why, my 'brother from a different mother' @DeaneG will always be happy to help you.

Bottom line, your industrial grade receptacle from Leviton above will safely charge your Lucid for decades, regardless of where your sparky bought it.

 

[DeaneG]

....Man, I cannot imagine how confusing this is a novice. That's why, my 'brother from a different mother' @DeaneG will always be happy to help you. ...

For some reason I just can't step away from this stuff. It's not obvious to 99% of owners, especially those on their first EV.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

For some reason I just can't step away from this stuff. It's not obvious to 99% of owners, especially those on their first EV.

Agreed. Until recently, it was not obvious even to many residential electricians.

More importantly, getting the mains circuit and service equipment correct for high amperage BEV charging really is a matter of life and death.

No one ever died from using the wrong PPF or ceramic coating

No idea why it happened, but now most new Lucid or BEV owners want to get it correct. And not risk a garage fire for saving 40 bucks.

 

[EVCar]

I actually think EV manufacturers should do a better job educating customers on these matters, ranging from charging etiquette to the proper installation of chargers.
They can do a 30-minute in-house video or just do an interview with @DeaneG and @Worldwide Beagle and put in on the Lucid Learning Series.
That'd be a serious and helpful public service for all EV owners, Lucid or non-Lucid alike.

 

[borski]

I actually think EV manufacturers should do a better job educating customers on these matters, ranging from charging etiquette to the proper installation of chargers.
They can do a 30-minute in-house video or just do an interview with @DeaneG and @Worldwide Beagle and put in on the Lucid Learning Series.
That'd be a serious and helpful public service for all EV owners, Lucid or non-Lucid.

I actually totally agree.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

I actually think EV manufacturers should do a better job educating customers on these matters, ranging from charging etiquette to the proper installation of chargers.
They can do a 30-minute in-house video or just do an interview with @DeaneG and @Worldwide Beagle and put in on the Lucid Learning Series.
That'd be a serious and helpful public service for all EV owners, Lucid or non-Lucid alike.

I could not agree with you more that every BEV manufacturer I know does a shitty job educating their customers. Virtually every BEV owner I know got zero help on even the basics of home charging from their salesmen. I doubt the car salesmen know.

 

[agarner]

Well I’m hoping my electrician installed the plug correctly. He’s done a ton of stuff for me so I do trust him. He’s been in business for decades and is well liked around my parts. Of course those two things don’t necessarily make him good. It turns out that my garage was set up for an EV plug. There was conduit inside the wall from the panel down the garage wall to a box with a cover. They just installed a breaker and routed the wires down the conduit to the box. It took them less than an hour. I do have fire insurance!

Thanks again for all the information. I’m definitely learning a lot. Hopefully I’ll be charging at home by tomorrow. Now if I could just figure out out to get Sirius XM to work more than 50% of the time I’d be even happier, but that’s for another thread.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

It turns out that my garage was set up for an EV plug. There was conduit inside the wall from the panel down the garage wall to a box with a cover. They just installed a breaker and routed the wires down the conduit to the box. It took them less than an hour. I do have fire insurance!

Fantastic. And you lucked out. Actually, more and more local building codes require either EV pre wiring or conduit on new construction. Denver does. Cheap and easy, and saves the owner a ton. I like conduit as it gives the owner options.

 

[rodagoca]

I would laugh but it's not really funny. Our 1906 house was rewired in the 60s but we found outlets that were unpolarized and ungrounded. And grounded receptacles with no ground wire.

When I rewired this house, I totally exceeded the scope of my electrical permit. When the rough in inspector came, I admitted my excess. He said: I don't care, what I care about is you are doing correctly - new panel, new home runs. He said the number one problem the inspectors find is someone with a new electric kitchen, new garage, new workshop, or new addition, AND they simply try to hook the new addition and appliances into the old wiring and outdated panel.

So, if it takes adding a high amperage 240v EV circuit to find out all the serious system shortcomings, that is great. Thrilled.

A year ago, someone here bitched that adding BEV charging to their garage would cost $5000 and EVs were therefore a ripoff and sucked. Than he mentioned he had an antiquated 80 amp main service, rusty old panel and his electrician refused to simply hook up a 50 amp receptacle to the existing antiquated wiring.

When someone debates me and says the archaic outdated branch circuit or device in their house is ok because it's grandfathered, I tell them I will be sure to mention that in my Eulogy for them.

This is why I bought a more capable mobile evse that came with connectors for 15, 20, and 50A circuit, and has current control built in.
My experience with less than ideal circuits and Model Y’s onboard manual current limit option showed that I can charge from any grounded circuit IF I can reduce draw to not overheat connections or trip breakers.

 

[EVCar]

I could not agree with you more that every BEV manufacturer I know does a shitty job educating their customers. Virtually every BEV owner I know got zero help on even the basics of home charging from their salesmen. I doubt the car salesmen know.

Where are Ralph Nader's disciples when we need them?

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

This is why I bought a more capable mobile evse that came with connectors for 15, 20, and 50A circuit, and has current control built in.
My experience with less than ideal circuits and Model Y’s onboard manual current limit option showed that I can charge from any grounded circuit IF I can reduce draw to not overheat connections or trip breakers.

"EVSE", you are my hero!

On one hand @rodagoca , I fully agree and support what you are doing with an EVSE that gives you so many options and let's you fine tune. Very cool.

On the other hand, that you find a need for this kinda sucks. Level 2 charging should be simple and judging by the comments of new owners here, it's not. And too often done badly.

When I show up at a friend's new EVSE garage set up with my Fluke IR temperature gun, a look of fear comes over their faces.

I am an electronics tweaker at heart, but I adore the fact that my hardwired CP EVSE and Lucid are plug and play. I'd rather tweak audio tubes.

I still hear far too many BEV owners say they only charge at public chargers because to set up their home, it's too complicated or difficult or costly. Or they are overwhelmed by it.

 

[LCDRM]

I am taking delivery in two weeks but then am immediately going out of town for over a month. The home charging station isn't available until mid-august per the website, and if there is a credit I intend to use it on that (I have heard nothing about a credit yet from my SA). What should I do to charge in the mean time while the car is sitting in my garage? I can't believe they don't give you a cord, I used the cord that came with my old Model Y frequently.

 

[DeaneG]

I am taking delivery in two weeks but then am immediately going out of town for over a month. The home charging station isn't available until mid-august per the website, and if there is a credit I intend to use it on that (I have heard nothing about a credit yet from my SA). What should I do to charge in the mean time while the car is sitting in my garage? I can't believe they don't give you a cord, I used the cord that came with my old Model Y frequently.

You'll be ok charging it to 80% and just leaving it there unplugged. Don't check it too often with your phone app.

 

[eurekaboo]

Actually, the Lectron cord reviews are downright scary.

I thought Lectron was one of the brands @DeaneG said they would buy from (along with A2Z and the OEM). Is this particular kit bad or are there other reasons to stay away from them?

 

[DeaneG]

I thought Lectron was one of the brands @DeaneG said they would buy from (along with A2Z and the OEM). Is this particular kit bad or are there other reasons to stay away from them?

I was speaking of Lectron and A2Z's NACS adapters, though I'd be surprised if there was a systematic problem with Lectron's EVSEs. The scary reviews I saw on Amazon were related to use of existing receptacles and extension cords that were not up to the task.

For portable EVSEs, I'd probably choose a Grizzl-E mini.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

I thought Lectron was one of the brands @DeaneG said they would buy from (along with A2Z and the OEM). Is this particular kit bad or are there other reasons to stay away from them?

@DeaneG will disagree on this. We are both old enough to earn that right!

All I noticed in the Amazon one star comments on the Lectron shitty cord was a bunch of overheating and failures. Could well be shitty receptacles and user error -- as in a user setting a wrong amperage or using a old worn out dryer receptacle. Still, I am not a fan AT ALL of Lectron. Built to a Chinese marketing company, to a marketing price point.

And, like a broken record, let me mention there are several brand new or like new REAL OEM LUCID mobiling charging cables for sale here and on Ebay for around $300. If i needed one, I would jump on it. Fits right in the dedicated spot in the boot. And it will add a small bit to the value of the car. A flaming Lectron or Gizzle Sizzle will not. The Lucid OEM cords, for me, ALWAYS WORK. Not fancy. The only complaints I have seen here is when newbies plug them in old Leviton NEMA 14-50 receptables.

And I would never go out of the metro area without the OEM cord in the boot. JUST IN CASE. I have far more trust in the Lucid OEM mobile cable than any third party cable. Sorry @DeaneG I should note that Deane is far more relaxed and kinder than I am.

 

[DeaneG]

@DeaneG will disagree on this. We are both old enough to earn that right! ..
... I should note that Deane is far more relaxed and kinder than I am.

I'll caution that I'm only pleasant online. In real life, I'm quite an a$$6ole.

Agreeing that buying a like-new Lucid mobile charging cable is the way to go, unless you want to be able to dial down the charging current. They are an especially good deal if you can get one that is compatible with a RangeXChange adapter. I'd imagine these are worth more than the OG incompatible cables which were made before RangeXChange was introduced.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

I'll caution that I'm only pleasant online. In real life, I'm quite an a$$6ole.

There is no chance I am going to believe that

Don't disagree that the ability to dial down charging current is nifty, but beyond the range or need of most here. And let's not forget, the more wizwams and features in a device, the more things that can break and disable the device. KISS. That is why I recommend the Lucid mobile cord - simple, plug and play, no settings, and God forbid it frys your inverter, Lucid is on the hook.