Munro on 14-50 outlets for EV charging, and other worries

[hydbob]

So to break that down a little further, if I opt to buy the Lucid home charger, then does that home charger operate off of a nema 14-50 or is it directly hard wired?

And I know a member posted a link here somewhere to buy that home charger, but I have to find it again, lost the resource.

And my electrician quoted me $1400 for installation, so that would put me under 3k for the full install

If you go the route of the Lucid Home Charger, run a 100 amp line and you would Hardwire it to the charger.

 

[DeaneG]

Lucid's home charging station must be hardwired. And it's a bit of a waste to put it on a 50 amp circuit. Chargepoint Home Flex may be hardwired or plug in, but IMO not the best idea to use plug-in type installation for any EV charger.

 

[BradSholl]

I ran a 100A sub panel to the garage (future proofing) and from this, off a 50A breaker, a Hubbard industrial gauge 14-50 outlet. It’s very solid. I leave my Lucid cable plugged in for daily driver use, but plan on taking it on any extended trips. I charge somewhere around 38mi/hr at home. Works just fine for our usage.

 

[c0mbe]

Wow. Thanks for posting this. I have mine hardwired, but it’s good to know.

 

[johnjbarton]

I installed a Hubbel industrial grade 14-50 and leave the Lucid mobile cable plugged in most of the time. I have had zero issues. I made this choice because EV charging technology is changing rapidly and the receptacle was $100: I can make another choice later. For me there is no practical difference between overnight charging at 40A and overnight charging at 60A or 100A, I'm sleeping well in all cases.

 

[Volund]

I installed a Hubbel industrial grade 14-50 and leave the Lucid mobile cable plugged in most of the time. I have had zero issues. I made this choice because EV charging technology is changing rapidly and the receptacle was $100: I can make another choice later. For me there is no practical difference between overnight charging at 40A and overnight charging at 60A or 100A, I'm sleeping well in all cases.

I don't know if your state has evse rebates, but mine is at 50% off
And it might not be offered forever, so I am not sure yet if I should wait or just do the evse.

Also you can't set scheduled charging with the wall outlet, only with evse right? So if you're off peak, may help

 

[emoylv]

Honestly, how many of us are going to unplug our EVSE? I've heard the argument that it makes it easier to take the EVSE with you if you move. Yeah, right. Hardwiring eliminates a 6-50 or 14-50 receptacle and one less point of failure. Cheapest option is hardwiring to a 50A breaker and get 40A at the EVSE. I'm hardwiring mine to a 50A breaker using #6 NM-B (Romex).

 

[Negan1000]

I don't know if your state has evse rebates, but mine is at 50% off
And it might not be offered forever, so I am not sure yet if I should wait or just do the evse.

Also you can't set scheduled charging with the wall outlet, only with evse right? So if you're off peak, may help

Get a wall charger EVSE hardwired. Your state and federal tax credit net 80% savings. Why wait?

 

[Volund]

Get a wall charger EVSE hardwired. Your state and federal tax credit net 80% savings. Why wait?

For Utah, 80%?
I haven't seen that, only been seeing 50%

Wait, I see 75% rebate

https://www.rockymountainpower.net/content/dam/pcorp/documents/en/rockymountainpower/savings-energy-choices/electric-vehicles/RMP_Approved_EV_Chargers.pdf

But it has to be in this approved list

 

[Volund]

Get a wall charger EVSE hardwired. Your state and federal tax credit net 80% savings. Why wait?

Oh it looks like Lucid charger is not on the list
I probably have to wait then

Any other charge on this list that anyone would recommend?

https://www.rockymountainpower.net/content/dam/pcorp/documents/en/rockymountainpower/savings-energy-choices/electric-vehicles/RMP_Approved_EV_Chargers.pdf

 

[stratus]

I thought I would share this information with everyone. I have been unable to charge my car at home because I kept getting a charging error. I have 2 Nema 14-50 outlets . The electrician checked both and determined they were functional . I could not figure out the root cause so I called an electrician. He astutely noticed that my charger was giving a blinking red error , WITH 9 consecutive blinks. I did not notice that it blinked 9 times and then ceased!!
The 9 blinks is an internal error with the charging cable , so I called Lucid service and they are sending me a replacement cable.
This may be common knowledge to some folks here, but I had no clue !!!

 

[Negan1000]

Oh it looks like Lucid charger is not on the list
I probably have to wait then

Any other charge on this list that anyone would recommend?

https://www.rockymountainpower.net/content/dam/pcorp/documents/en/rockymountainpower/savings-energy-choices/electric-vehicles/RMP_Approved_EV_Chargers.pdf

There is a 30% federal tax credit up to $1000.

 

[Volund]

There is a 30% federal tax credit up to $1000.

Yeah, but 30% federal, but my own powder company is offering me a 75% rebate as long as I get a list of approved chargers from the list

 

[emoylv]

Oh it looks like Lucid charger is not on the list
I probably have to wait then

Any other charge on this list that anyone would recommend?

https://www.rockymountainpower.net/content/dam/pcorp/documents/en/rockymountainpower/savings-energy-choices/electric-vehicles/RMP_Approved_EV_Chargers.pdf

Tested: Best EV Chargers for 2022

To make the most of EV ownership, you need high-voltage charging equipment at home. Here's everything you need to know to get started.

www.caranddriver.com

ChargePoint and Juicebox are on Car and Driver top picks list.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

I thought I would share this information with everyone. I have been unable to charge my car at home because I kept getting a charging error. I have 2 Nema 14-50 outlets . The electrician checked both and determined they were functional . I could not figure out the root cause so I called an electrician. He astutely noticed that my charger was giving a blinking red error , WITH 9 consecutive blinks. I did not notice that it blinked 9 times and then ceased!!
The 9 blinks is an internal error with the charging cable , so I called Lucid service and they are sending me a replacement cable.
This may be common knowledge to some folks here, but I had no clue !!!

I didn't know the 9 blink error! Glad Lucid is sending you a new cable, that's an annoying fail to happen.

 

[stratus]

I didn't know the 9 blink error! Glad Lucid is sending you a new cable, that's an annoying fail to happen.

It’s not even in the original owner’s manual. The service team didn’t even know about it. The electrician noticed it and discovered it in a newer document . Pretty impressive.

 

[Volund]

It’s not even in the original owner’s manual. The service team didn’t even know about it. The electrician noticed it and discovered it in a newer document . Pretty impressive.

Then kudos for also Lucid for keeping docs up to date

 

[stratus]

Then kudos for also Lucid for keeping docs up to date

I do want to stress how helpful the service team was . A+. Just a very unusual situation.

 

[Electrified]

Just watched this video by Munro with a couple pros discussing the problems with using a 14-50 outlet to charge an EV. Also a few related worries to keep you awake on Halloween.
TL;DR don't use a 14-50 outlet, hardwire your charger instead. If you must use a 14-50 outlet, use one made by Hubbell or Cooper (~$100) rather than Leviton ($10).
If you are using a 14-50 outlet, you can periodically litmus-test it by charging your car for a while, then pull out the EVSE's plug from the outlet. Wait a couple seconds, then feel the prongs of the plug you just pulled out.They should be warm but not hot. Also feel around the circuit breaker and give it the sniff test - there should be no hot/burning smell.

I watched half of the video, did they ever mention anything about aluminum wire? I ask because it looks like the receptacle and the melted box both look like they were wired with aluminum conductors.
There are specific methods that must be used when stripping and terminating aluminum conductors, unfortunately the specified methods are not always followed, and it doesn't matter if it's receptacle or a charging station, if it isn't wired properly something is going to fail.

It is also my qualified opinion that copper conductors should be used for the continuous load that EV charging requires.

 

[emoylv]

I watched half of the video, did they ever mention anything about aluminum wire? I ask because it looks like the receptacle and the melted box both look like they were wired with aluminum conductors.
There are specific methods that must be used when stripping and terminating aluminum conductors, unfortunately the specified methods are not always followed, and it doesn't matter if it's receptacle or a charging station, if it isn't wired properly something is going to fail.

It is also my qualified opinion that copper conductors should be used for the continuous load that EV charging requires.

ChargePoint specifically states: Use 90C wire conductors only. Haven't checked other EVSEs.