Charger Question

[agarner]

I just got my Lucid last Saturday and still don’t have a charger. I want the home charger, but it isn’t shipping until late August. I plan on using the $650 credit towards the Lucid Home charger, but need a portable charger until then. I found one on Amazon that seems like it will work okay. I already have the right plug installed. Does this one work for Lucids? From my research it should be fine.

Amazon.com: Lectron Level 2 EV Charger - ETL Certified, 240V, 40 Amp, NEMA 14-50 Plug, 16 ft Extension Cord & J1772 Cable- Portable Electric Car Charger for J1772 EVs and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles : Automotive

Buy Lectron Level 2 EV Charger - ETL Certified, 240V, 40 Amp, NEMA 14-50 Plug, 16 ft Extension Cord & J1772 Cable- Portable Electric Car Charger for J1772 EVs and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles: Charging Stations - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[HC_79]

The car didn’t come with a mobile charger? You could use that in the interim

 

[Neurio]

The car didn’t come with a mobile charger? You could use that in the interim

The Air hasn't come with a mobile charger in a couple of years. They've switched to a charging credit that can be used on the LCHCS or the mobile charger

 

[agarner]

The car didn’t come with a mobile charger? You could use that in the interim

Unfortunately not. I think I'll just order the Lectron until I a get the Lucid hardwired charger. I hate to lose the $650 credit.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[MarkMueller]

I found that this one had the most options for level 1 and 2. 1 & 2 with most options. I have used it a little and it's worked great

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

Unfortunately not. I think I'll just order the Lectron until I a get the Lucid hardwired charger. I hate to lose the $650 credit.

Thanks for the reply.

There are several new or like new OEM Lucid mobile charging kits on Ebay at great prices. They are rock solid and dependable. Rugged. Fit in the space in the boot. I have a home charger but also keep the lucid OEM mobile kit in the boot. Just in case. It has saved my butt several times in rural areas and overnight at friends.

The Amazon reviews of the Lectron are not great.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

Actually, the Lectron cord reviews are downright scary.

In two years, I have never seen (or remember) a complaint about the Lucid OEM mobile cord kit (except for people that used it with a $9 cheap Leviton oven grade NEMA 14-50 receptacle which then melted)

 

[Wilber]

You say you have "the right plug installed". Are you sure? Not all 14-50 outlets are safe for EV charging. And, for a 40 amp charger the circuit must be 50 amps. Tom M of State of Charge talked about this stuff 6 months ago:

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

You say you have "the right plug installed". Are you sure? Not all 14-50 outlets are safe for EV charging. And, for a 40 amp charger the circuit must be 50 amps.

Actually, there have been a hundred OR MORE posts from electrical experts like @DeaneG on that very subject in this forum starting more than TWO YEARS AGO, through yesterday, on the dangers of using shitty intermittent use receptacles for continuous high amperage bEV charging. Proper wiring, sizing breakers, derating, hardwiring, lug torque specs have been discussed in amazing depth here. We have a great search function! And it's free to use.

But your point is very valid: more times than not, new EV people think any old NEMA 14-50 receptacle will work just fine with their new lucid. And they will, until they MELT. Fearless leader @borski calls this the "hey, looks fine to me so it must be ok" school of thinking.

 

[agarner]

You say you have "the right plug installed". Are you sure? Not all 14-50 outlets are safe for EV charging. And, for a 40 amp charger the circuit must be 50 amps. Tom M of State of Charge talked about this stuff 6 months ago:

Thanks for the video post. The one my electrician installed has a 50 amp breaker and it's specifically designed for EVs. It even says EV on the plug itself. We talked about it and he said a lot of people put the ones used for dryers etc., which is dangerous. I can't believe it was about 5 times more expensive than a regular outlet.

I ended up getting the Lectron. I hope it works out okay. I'm hoping it gets me by until I can get the Lucid Home charger in a couple of months. The nice thing about Amazon is they are easy with returns.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

I can't believe it was about 5 times more expensive than a regular outlet.

In high amperage receptacles, you get what you pay for. If you held the $9 receptacle in one hand, and the $50+ continuous duty rated in the other, you would instantly see the reason for the cost difference.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

I ended up getting the Lectron. I hope it works out okay. I'm hoping it gets me by until I can get the Lucid Home charger in a couple of months. The nice thing about Amazon is they are easy with returns.

Fyi, there is someone on this forum selling a new mobile Lucid charging cord OEM kit for $300. I would not be comfortable using the Lectron cord after reading the reviews. Just because Amazon sells it, doesn't mean it will work well.

 

[agarner]

I would not be comfortable using the Lectron cord after reading the reviews. Just because Amazon sells it, doesn't mean it will work well.

I agree, but there were enough positive reviews that I took a chance. It's only to hold me for a short time until I can get the Lucid home charger. The nice thing about Amazon, is it's easy to return items. I get it tomorrow so I'll report back. Thanks again for all the replies - great information.

 

[rodagoca]

Actually, there have been a hundred OR MORE posts from electrical experts like @DeaneG on that very subject in this forum starting more than TWO YEARS AGO, through yesterday, on the dangers of using shitty intermittent use receptacles for continuous high amperage bEV charging. Proper wiring, sizing breakers, derating, hardwiring, lug torque specs have been discussed in amazing depth here. We have a great search function! And it's free to use.

But your point is very valid: more times than not, new EV people think any old NEMA 14-50 receptacle will work just fine with their new lucid. And they will, until they MELT. Fearless leader @borski calls this the "hey, looks fine to me so it must be ok" school of thinking.

It’s a great way to find out your house’s electrical and/or charger is not up to code.

This is how we found most of the circuits in Mom’s house are not grounded

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

It’s a great way to find out your house’s electrical and/or charger is not up to code.

This is how we found most of the circuits in Mom’s house are not grounded

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.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

I agree, but there were enough positive reviews that I took a chance. It's only to hold me for a short time until I can get the Lucid home charger. The nice thing about Amazon, is it's easy to return items. I get it tomorrow so I'll report back. Thanks again for all the replies - great information.

Good luck. Make sure you have an industrial continuous duty Nema 14-50 receptacle. And you check the Lectrons wall and car plug for heat after it's on for hours.

I am a contrarian. I find most Amazon positive reviews to be fake or AI gibberish. Or from bored spouses that say: my husband has not used this yet, but said it looks nice. I read the negative reviews. I learn much more. YMMV.

 

[agarner]

Make sure you have an industrial continuous duty Nema 14-50 receptacle. And you check the Lectrons wall and car plug for heat after it's on for hours.

This is what he installed.

 

[borski]

This is what he installed.

View attachment 30165

That’s fine.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

This is what he installed.

View attachment 30165

Perfect.

 

[ardhout]

The Air hasn't come with a mobile charger in a couple of years. They've switched to a charging credit that can be used on the LCHCS or the mobile charger

Really? here in The Netherlands I got 2 chargers with my Air. One mobile 2kW home charger, and one Wallbox Pulsar Max 22kWh charger.