Pro Charging Station to NEMA 14-50

[DrZoidberg]

In prep for the Lightning build I'm trying to understand the Pro and NEMA route. I am leasing a house and have approval for the NEMA 14-50. Since mine comes with the pro station-I prefer to use that.

My question- If I install the pro station, at lease end could I take it off and convert it to the NEMA 14-50 ?

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[GDN]

Sure - as long as you use the correct gauge wire for a 50 amp circuit - you can direct wire your Pro charger. When you leave just wire the 14-50 plug in the wall.

You could also just wire the 14-50 plug today and then make a pig tail for the Pro charger that plugs into the 14-50 plug. When you move, just unplug your charger and go.

 

[DrZoidberg]

The pigtail sounds like a good idea but direct wire sounds more secure. In theory I could just use the 14-50 plug as we only drive 3 miles a day anyways but I thought I read the pro charger keeps the battery life the best

 

[shutterbug]

I thought I read the pro charger keeps the battery life the best

That part isn't true. There should be no difference between pro charger connected to 50A circuit or any 40A charger connected to the same 50A circuit.

 

[ExCivilian]

It is true that a slower charge will be more beneficial for the battery long-term. To that point, it's going to be healthier for the battery to trickle charge the vehicle with the 120v EVSE at approximately 3 miles/day usage than it would be to use the Pro charger.

In fact, installing the Pro charger for that usage is a lot of money, time, and energy to only use it for about 15 minutes a day compared to just plugging the "portable" EVSE into a standard outlet that already exists in the garage for about an hour per day.

 

[Nick Gerteis]

For 3 miles a day may I suggest a hamster with his wheel hooked up to a tiny generator.

 

[RickLightning]

It is true that a slower charge will be more beneficial for the battery long-term. To that point, it's going to be healthier for the battery to trickle charge the vehicle with the 120v EVSE at approximately 3 miles/day usage than it would be to use the Pro charger.

In fact, installing the Pro charger for that usage is a lot of money, time, and energy to only use it for about 15 minutes a day compared to just plugging the "portable" EVSE into a standard outlet that already exists in the garage for about an hour per day.

I don't know that anyone that isn't a Ford engineer intimately familiar with these batteries can make this type of comment. I am of the belief that there is no measurable difference charging at any Level 1 vs. Level 2 (at any speed) for the normal life of these vehicles.

Ford guaranteed 70% at 8 years / 100,000 miles because they expect to exceed that easily.

I charge my vehicle at 32 amps, could do up to 48 amps but have no need to, and could of course lower it.

If I only drove 3 miles a day, I would install an outlet and use the vehicle's charger. Then again, I probably wouldn't buy the Lightning or any other vehicle for that low usage.

 

[RickLightning]

For 3 miles a day may I suggest a hamster with his wheel hooked up to a tiny generator.

Or a bicycle. Or walking.

 

[DrZoidberg]

I meant 3 miles one way. The after school care is 3 miles one way each day m-f. But summer camp starting in may will be 15 miles one way and we drive around and visit parks and such on the weekends. But our 'school year' commute is pretty minimal during the week given we both WFH and the school isn't too far.

 

[DrZoidberg]

I got the Lariat Extended range. It says it comes with the pro charger, does it come with the other charge as well that I could plug into the 14-50 outlet?

 

[Tony Burgh]

This conversation and the cold weather concerns is leading me to install the pro charger but dial it down to deliver 48 amps or less most of the time. There may be times when I want or need a faster charge at home and would dial the charger up to 80 amps.
The caveat Is that the installation cost difference for me is negligible. Selling the pro and buying something else may be a wash. But I retain flexibility.

 

[sotek2345]

I got the Lariat Extended range. It says it comes with the pro charger, does it come with the other charge as well that I could plug into the 14-50 outlet?

Yes, ER trims will get the Pro EVSE and the Ford Mobile EVSE (charger is in the truck)

 

[ExCivilian]

I don't know that anyone that isn't a Ford engineer intimately familiar with these batteries can make this type of comment.

Any qualified electrician, an informed battery hobbyist, or anyone who understands how battery charging occurs can make that statement--it's not specific to Ford, or even EVs in general.

Observing that charging batteries slower is healthier than faster is not a controversial stance--in fact, you're the first person to question it to my knowledge.

 

[williams]

It is true that a slower charge will be more beneficial for the battery long-term. To that point, it's going to be healthier for the battery to trickle charge the vehicle with the 120v EVSE at approximately 3 miles/day usage than it would be to use the Pro charger.

In fact, installing the Pro charger for that usage is a lot of money, time, and energy to only use it for about 15 minutes a day compared to just plugging the "portable" EVSE into a standard outlet that already exists in the garage for about an hour per day.

My tesla recommended the slower the better charge as well. It was best to plug in then use the slider in car to adjust to have it charged about an hour before departure to allow the least amount of heat build up.

 

[RonTCat]

I don't know that anyone that isn't a Ford engineer intimately familiar with these batteries can make this type of comment. I am of the belief that there is no measurable difference charging at any Level 1 vs. Level 2 (at any speed) for the normal life of these vehicles.

Ford guaranteed 70% at 8 years / 100,000 miles because they expect to exceed that easily.

I charge my vehicle at 32 amps, could do up to 48 amps but have no need to, and could of course lower it.

If I only drove 3 miles a day, I would install an outlet and use the vehicle's charger. Then again, I probably wouldn't buy the Lightning or any other vehicle for that low usage.

So what is the HP of the Lightning? ~ 560hp, or 418kW. The battery is 400VDC nominal.

Power = voltage x current, so Current = Power / voltage.

So, when you floor that Lightning, the battery has to produce 418,000/400 = 1045 amps. On the other side, when you are DC fast charging at 150kW, it's 150,000/400= 375 amps.

The difference between charging at 16amp vs. 40amp is a rounding error to the battery.

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