Need advice for temporary charging solution

[Zprime29]

The permit for my 240v outlet in the garage was finally approved on the 10th, however the lady that controls the schedules is out of town this week. So it looks like I'll be on level 1 for another 2 weeks or so. The problem is that it isn't quite keeping up with my daily commute + other errands. What I have in mind, and need some collective advice on, is to get a generator extension cord so that I can use my dryer outlet.

Note, I do not plan to use it overnight nor as a long term solution. I would like to use it for a couple hours during the day on Sat/Sun so that I'll have enough charge for the week. I'd be using the Ford Mobile Charger with it. Does this seem ok?

For reference, I'm using about 20% for my daily commute and getting 8-9% charging on level 1 overnight. I got by last weekend as I had 3 days off in a row and that allowed me to get to 85% by Monday morning. However, this week I'll only have Sat/Sun off and after an extra trip across town to the airport for a pick up, I'm at 48% today and looking at likely under 20% when I get home on Friday. I'd really like to be able to use the dryer outlet to catch up but if it's deemed a big no-no then I'll plan on making a trip to the local EA station on my way home Friday.

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[flyin525]

get a 40 amp or higher RV extension chord and plug into your house stove plug - most are nema 14-50 that I have seen. Electric Stoves are all 40-50amp, plenty of power for the 30 amp travel charger. Im assuming you are within 50 feet of your truck?

DONT use a dryer outlet with the Ford travel charger - it pulls 30 amps and dryer plugs are generally all 30 amp - which is too much - follow the 80% rule. I bought a travel charger that I can dial down to 24 amps just for dryer outlets.

 

[Peddyr]

Are you near any public charging stations like EA? Since you only have to do it a couple times a week for a few weeks, that would seem to be the better option.

 

[Zprime29]

get a 40 amp or higher RV extension chord and plug into your house stove - most are nema 14-50 that I have seen. Electric Stoves are all 40-50amp, plenty of power for the 30 amp travel charger. Im assuming you are within 50 feet of your truck?

DONT use a dryer outlet with the Ford travel charger - it pulls 30 amps and dryer plugs are generally all 30 amp - which is too much - follow the 80% rule. I bought a travel charger that I can dial down to 24 amps just for dryer outlets.

The dryer is, but the stove is opposite end of the house. Pretty certain 50ft won't get there. Too bad, it is on a 40amp. The A/C is a 35, so no go there either then. I was hoping that by only using it for a few hours midday that it would be fine to use at max draw, under the assumption that the 80% rule was for longer term use. But that's why I'm asking, safety first!

@Peddyr Yes, there is one EA in town that isn't terribly out of the way (adds 4 miles to commute home). I was just contemplating a more convenient solution since having the generator cord is a useful purchase.

 

[flyin525]

You could always get a cheap 24 amp charger - several on Amazon - and always have it in case you need it in the future. I'd also reccomend having the extension chord too. Ive used it several times for temporary charging.

 

[greenne]

I would stop at EA on Friday evening.... charge to 80%.

Plug in all weekend to keep it at 100%.(If you plug in 24hr both Sat and Sun thats around ~48KwH= 36%. (16% to spare)

Next week: 11% net use each day= 55%'ish used== 45% left......if you get 36% over the weekend you'll probably at least need a splash of electrons at EA.(but maybe only 20 or 30% this time).

A challenge....but possible if you can plug in most of the weekend around the clock.

 

[Zprime29]

There's a couple hours missed while at church and a few quick errands, but otherwise yeah it's plugged in chugging away all weekend. I like to pinch pennies where I can so that I've got the means to splurge when I want to, so I'm always looking at ways to maximize bang for my buck. Won't do it at the cost of safety though, that's one area I always splurge.

I suppose pulling 30amp on a 30amp breaker is likely to trip it now that I'm thinking about it. Bummer, wanted to save my free charging credits for an upcoming road trip. Oh well...live and learn.

 

[Heliian]

Why so long just for a 240v plug?

Luckily I had my fcsp in the same time the truck got here but I had a contingency to use the DC fast charger a couple miles away just in case.

 

[Zprime29]

Well, part of that is my fault. I thought I had time to get it in as I had originally planned on ordering a 2023 (still have the invite open from beginning of Feb). Then the fine folk here convinced me that it would be worth my time to seek out a 2022 from out of state. I ended up scoring one and suddenly I found myself with a truck and no 240v outlet in the garage. Took a week between submitting to Qmerit for the job and getting the electrician to submit for the permit. The city a full two weeks to approve, I'm now on the schedule for another 2 weeks out. I'm a master procrastinator and paying the piper now.

 

[Solar_EE]

Splitvolt makes a nice 24Amp charger that I use for traveling. It is MUCH more common to find a dryer outlet near the garage than a stove outlet.
They sell it with a NEMA 14-30 or NEMA 10-30. I have an adapter so I can charge from new or old dryer plugs.

 

[lancersrock]

There's a couple hours missed while at church and a few quick errands, but otherwise yeah it's plugged in chugging away all weekend. I like to pinch pennies where I can so that I've got the means to splurge when I want to, so I'm always looking at ways to maximize bang for my buck. Won't do it at the cost of safety though, that's one area I always splurge.

I suppose pulling 30amp on a 30amp breaker is likely to trip it now that I'm thinking about it. Bummer, wanted to save my free charging credits for an upcoming road trip. Oh well...live and learn.

I use an adjustable mobile charge on a y split cord for my dryer and can confirm that 30 amps trips the 30 amp breaker very quick. Mine is now set at 24 amps and ran 12 hours a night with 0 issues. cant wait to get my charger installed.

 

[Zprime29]

I use an adjustable mobile charge on a y split cord for my dryer and can confirm that 30 amps trips the 30 amp breaker very quick. Mine is now set at 24 amps and ran 12 hours a night with 0 issues. cant wait to get my charger installed.

If I didn't have the Ford mobile charger I would definitely have bought something adjustable. I may yet for the future, haven't decided yet. I've resigned myself to stopping at the EA station on my way home tomorrow. I think I'll purchase the EA plan and test out the app before the road trip (in two weeks) instead of using the plug N charge credits.

 

[lancersrock]

If I didn't have the Ford mobile charger I would definitely have bought something adjustable. I may yet for the future, haven't decided yet. I've resigned myself to stopping at the EA station on my way home tomorrow. I think I'll purchase the EA plan and test out the app before the road trip (in two weeks) instead of using the plug N charge credits.

EA is expensive but ultimately will be cheaper than buying a good reliable extension cord and adapter.

 

[RickLightning]

If I didn't have the Ford mobile charger I would definitely have bought something adjustable. I may yet for the future, haven't decided yet. I've resigned myself to stopping at the EA station on my way home tomorrow. I think I'll purchase the EA plan and test out the app before the road trip (in two weeks) instead of using the plug N charge credits.

Why? Use the credits, then use the EA plan on the road trip in 2 weeks, activating it the morning of the trip.

 

[Zprime29]

Since it's good for 30 days, I won't miss out on anything by checking it out tomorrow. I've only used the EA station once, used the free points with Plug N Charge. Now I'd like to make sure I know how to flip that off and use the app to charge from EA. I'd rather test it out by myself, in town, vs discover an issue on the road with the family.

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