Ford Mobile Charger

[PA Lightning]

Since I am getting the SR battery, I am planning on having an electrician install the wiring for the Ford Mobile Charger. Was debating about getting the Ford Connected Charger, but decided on the Mobile Charger.

Fellow was out to measure today and it is a 70' run to the garage. Just need the wiring, no panel upgrade.

Anyone else get pricing for the 50A wiring?

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[beatle]

6/3 romex is currently around $4.25-$4.50/ft. This assumes you don't need conduit. You may or may not need a GFCI breaker since this is for an EVSE that has its own GFCI protection. A standard breaker is about $15, GFCI is just over $100. Labor is kind of a wildcard. You'll also want a good industrial/hospital rated 14-50R. Utilitech makes a decent one for about $10, but Hubbell/Bryant are better (and significantly more expensive). Add an appropriate wall box and cover plate to the shopping list as well.

A wall mounted hard wired EVSE (Ford or 3rd party) will only need 2 conductors + ground (cheaper wire, around $3/ft), a standard breaker (no GFCI needed), no box, and no receptacle. Those are savings that can be passed on to the install that will offset the purchase of the EVSE. I would recommend this, especially if you plan to take the mobile connector with you frequently. Most receptacles will wear out the contactors from frequent plugging/unplugging. Even if you plan to "hardwire" the mobile connector, it'll be nice to have the mobile connector always with you.

 

[Maquis]

A couple clarifications to post 2:

Ford’s installation instructions for the Mobile Charge recommends a GFCI-protected outlet. If you are on the 2020 NEC, it’s required.

There are no provisions to hard-wire the Ford Mobile Charger.

 

[PA Lightning]

A couple clarifications to post 2:

Ford’s installation instructions for the Mobile Charge recommends a GFCI-protected outlet. If you are on the 2020 NEC, it’s required.

There are no provisions to hard-wire the Ford Mobile Charger.

Agreed. That is why I decided to go with the Ford Mobile Charger. Ford print out recommends a 50A GFCI. The Ford Connected Charger print out requires a 60A non GFCI. I was going to get a 60A installed just in case I wanted to upgrade to the Connected Charger in the future but given one recommends the GFCI and the other does not, I would have to swap breakers anyway.
All new to me.

 

[jefro]

I have a charger that I can set charge levels. Currently I don't use the full 40A ability and don't see a need for it.

I suggest that you consider your daily use and electric rates for best purchase. It won't be overly easy for many people to add in a high current load to their panel I'd guess.

My coop has a 4 hour time of use window that is more than enough even if I have to top up on weekend a bit.

 

[ExCivilian]

Agreed. That is why I decided to go with the Ford Mobile Charger. Ford print out recommends a 50A GFCI. The Ford Connected Charger print out requires a 60A non GFCI. I was going to get a 60A installed just in case I wanted to upgrade to the Connected Charger in the future but given one recommends the GFCI and the other does not, I would have to swap breakers anyway.
All new to me.

You are comparing two different things.

The mobile charger will need to be plugged in. It will need an extra wire and GFCI protection on the circuit. The outlet will wear with the repeated plugging/unplugging into it--14-50 NEMA outlets are not rated for continuously using them that way. You'll also need to secure the mobile charger to ensure it doesn't get stolen. It needs a 50A breaker and can only charge up to a maximum of 40A.

The person who suggested you hardwire your EVSE wasn't recommending a Ford Mobile Charger. That person was saying you should get an EVSE that is intended to be hardwired to the wall. It will use one less wire, thereby reducing installation cost, and its 60A breaker allows charging up to 48A. There's a longer technical explanation for why the removable charger can't use a 60A breaker but suffice to say the two methods of installation are different enough that you won't be able to easily swap between them post-install unless you build the entire circuit with the larger capacity in mind.

 

[PA Lightning]

Then maybe I do not understand what the function of the Ford Mobile Charger. I thought you could:

• Have an electrician install a 50A GFCI breaker
• Run the wire from the panel to the garage to a Nema 1450 plug
• Mount the Mobile Charger on the wall and use it to charge the Lightning at home.

Is the above not correct?

 

[sotek2345]

Then maybe I do not understand what the function of the Ford Mobile Charger. I thought you could:

• Have an electrician install a 50A GFCI breaker
• Run the wire from the panel to the garage to a Nema 1450 plug
• Mount the Mobile Charger on the wall and use it to charge the Lightning at home.

Is the above not correct?

It is - but most also like to take it with them when they leave in case they need it when out and about. Constantly plugging and unplugging will wear out the 14-50 plug.

 

[VTbuckeye]

Then maybe I do not understand what the function of the Ford Mobile Charger. I thought you could:

• Have an electrician install a 50A GFCI breaker
• Run the wire from the panel to the garage to a Nema 1450 plug
• Mount the Mobile Charger on the wall and use it to charge the Lightning at home.

Is the above not correct?

That is correct. However, plugging and unplugging is not good for the outlet and WILL eventually lead to the failure of the outlet (often by getting hot and sometimes melting). If you use the mobile charger in one location, constantly plugged in then there is far less risk of outlet/plug failure.

 

[PA Lightning]

Why would you need to take the Mobile Charger with you. Don't the charging stations have a J1772 connector?
Once again, pardon my ignorance. Never came near an ev before.

 

[GDN]

Why would you need to take the Mobile Charger with you. Don't the charging stations have a J1772 connector?
Once again, pardon my ignorance. Never came near an ev before.

98% of the time I don't worry about taking my EVSE with me if I'm in town living daily life. If I leave town and hit the road, never leave without your EVSE. You never know when chargers will be off line, when you find your self in a bind and you can almost always find a 120 plug somewhere and likely a 240 if you look hard enough or use one of the apps. It's just the prudent thing to do as you never know what circumstances you'll find yourself in on a trip or out of town.

My most often out of town trip is to my mom's 200 miles away. I wired a 240 plug at her house so I can charge when there, but I need my EVSE along with me to make it work.

 

[PA Lightning]

Thanks for the explanation. I don't plan on going on any long trips with the Lightning, but if I do, I now understand that you should take the Mobile Charger with you, just in case.

 

[sotek2345]

Thanks for the explanation. I don't plan on going on any long trips with the Lightning, but if I do, I now understand that you should take the Mobile Charger with you, just in case.

In addition, if you want to be a good samaritan, the mobile charger and a cheap adapter will let you charge other EVs using pro-power onboard if they need it.

 

[Nick Gerteis]

Thanks for the explanation. I don't plan on going on any long trips with the Lightning, but if I do, I now understand that you should take the Mobile Charger with you, just in case.

Or not, public charging is becoming more common and will be ubiquitous in a few years. All depends on your personal use case and comfort level. I’m sure some people also have a full gas can in the bed of their gas truck “just in case “. Each their own.

 

[jefro]

I'd only take my portable evse with me either as some odd emergency deal or the place I'd go to has no support. The good thing about a dual voltage charger is you can limp along with 120V or get some sort of power on 240V.
I do keep what they call a Tesla tap in the trunk for some odd reason I don't know.

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