New guy- just ordered today. Charge Station info needed-driveway charging?

[PreservedSwine]

Hello,

After "reserving" a Lighting another lifetime ago ( $100 May 2021), I FINALLY received the green light from Ford that I could actually order a 2023 Lighting PRO. I just placed the order, and the dealer sent it to Ford.

However, I just realized our garage is too crowded already, and my wife's car won't give up it's coveted garage spot.

Just how far will the charging cable go from the charging station? My truck will be relegated to the driveway, probably 20 or 30 feet away from the where I was thinking of installing the charger.

Also, I haven't been paying attention, but couldn't help but notice Ford's "Personal Offer" program while lurking today. What's the criteria for this? It seems pretty mystical, the Internet manager at my Local Ford Dealer was as non specific and non-committal as possible while discussing.

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[KurtsRPMGarage]

Most charging cables are 18-25 feet in length. My situation is similar. Got my old corvette and my wife’s Tesla in the garage and the lightning parks in the driveway. I had the charger mounted in the back corner of the garage. From there I just run the cable under the door and it reaches easily.

 

[Jseis]

Same here. I use a ChargePoint Home Flex. Eventually I’ll run 30’+ of AWG copper and mount the charger inside center so I can charge any vehicle inside or out (through a small port door). I hang the charger on a small hook now and once my side of the garage is cleaned up I’ll charge inside.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

Hello,

After "reserving" a Lighting another lifetime ago ( $100 May 2021), I FINALLY received the green light from Ford that I could actually order a 2023 Lighting PRO. I just placed the order, and the dealer sent it to Ford.

However, I just realized our garage is too crowded already, and my wife's car won't give up it's coveted garage spot.

Just how far will the charging cable go from the charging station? My truck will be relegated to the driveway, probably 20 or 30 feet away from the where I was thinking of installing the charger.

Also, I haven't been paying attention, but couldn't help but notice Ford's "Personal Offer" program while lurking today. What's the criteria for this? It seems pretty mystical, the Internet manager at my Local Ford Dealer was as non specific and non-committal as possible while discussing.

When you get the charger installed, have them install it over by the door. Your future self will thank you.

The cord can reach if you install the charger up by the front, but barely. Installing the charger back by the door will save you a lot of driveway maneuvering in the future

 

[RickLightning]

25' is the max length. Some big box stores sell versions of chargers that have 20' cords, vs. Amazon and others selling 25' cords.

I'd get a 48amp hardwired. I have two JuiceBox 48s.

 

[Jseis]

I really agree with the hardwiring and near garage door so when your kids show up in 10 years with the 500 mile range zillion amp demand EV you can at least get them off the property .

 

[snowy_91]

I just put a hole in the side of my house..

 

[cdherman]

If anyone is curious, the nice little cover in the above post is an RV port cover. I have used several to set up things where I would rather have the actual plug on the inside, yet the option to pull things outside too.

Amazon RV Port cover

 

[Tyee Rich]

Like the posts, definitely mount your charger indoors if possible. I live near the coast and have gone through three chargers due to salt air exposure. A portable style charger is OK if it has a NEMA 14-50 plug. This the common one used for dryers or stoves. Any other charger that uses a standard 110 volt plug will not deliver enough power to charge a Lightning in a day. Check with your utility to see if there is an EV charging rate. Mine offers a rate that lets me charge between midnight and 3PM. You will save a lot of money. Even better is installing a solar system with a battery. Then you are charging for "free."

 

[hturnerfamily]

I have my NEMA 14-50 outlet box mounted high in the top corner of my pull-thru garage, and use an additional hand-made 8awg SOOW extension cable(very flexible, only needing 30amp max) to easily reach my PRO anywhere I park, or any direction I come in from... CAMCO makes RV Male and Female Plugs to easily add on both ends of the extension cord. It works easily and I even take this additional extension cord with me, for another 20'-25' of reach, when camping and traveling, and it has come in VERY handy many times.

I also made some 'cord hangers' from the ceiling, to route my charge cords up high, and plug in the J1772 from 'above', instead of cords laying on the garage floor, etc. The hangers are simply garden 'pot hangers' found at Lowes or Walmart, that I hung upside-down from the garage ceiling. No cords in the way, no cords on the floor, everything is up and out of the way.

 

[Footester]

I installed my free FCSPro outside, on the corner of my house. I don't live near the ocean, but in the mountains. It seems waterproof enough. I can park close enough to plug in. I have another NEMA 14-50 outlet in a weatherproof box, again out side the garage, for backup.
So far, no problems.

 

[Bwanapete]

I also don’t live near saltwater. I installed my Ford-issued 80 amp charger outside my garage 7 months ago. No problems. I also had a Tesla HPWC outdoors for years. No problems.

 

[Losi]

I have my NEMA 14-50 outlet box mounted high in the top corner of my pull-thru garage, and use an additional hand-made 8awg SOOW extension cable(very flexible, only needing 30amp max) to easily reach my PRO anywhere I park, or any direction I come in from... CAMCO makes RV Male and Female Plugs to easily add on both ends of the extension cord. It works easily and I even take this additional extension cord with me, for another 20'-25' of reach, when camping and traveling, and it has come in VERY handy many times.

I also made some 'cord hangers' from the ceiling, to route my charge cords up high, and plug in the J1772 from 'above', instead of cords laying on the garage floor, etc. The hangers are simply garden 'pot hangers' found at Lowes or Walmart, that I hung upside-down from the garage ceiling. No cords in the way, no cords on the floor, everything is up and out of the way.

I’m seeing conflicting reports about the safety of using EV extension cords (some say the cords can overheat) and was wondering if you (and others) could comment on this.

 

[RickLightning]

I’m seeing conflicting reports about the safety of using EV extension cords (some say the cords can overheat) and was wondering if you (and others) could comment on this.

They are NOT recommended.

 

[ivan256]

I’m seeing conflicting reports about the safety of using EV extension cords (some say the cords can overheat) and was wondering if you (and others) could comment on this.

Since there's any question at all, it's really not worth it. The cord is the vast majority of the cost of the charger. An 80A capable extension will cost you many hundreds of dollars. At which point you may as well just get another charging station for a little bit more.

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