I need info on home charging

[hturnerfamily]

btw,

I have no less than FOUR 240v outlets in or around or near my drive-thru carport.
I am blessed to have plenty of places to place outlets. We are blessed to have PLENTY of parking in and around our carport, too. This is certainly NOT the case for most.

Two are 20amp 240v outlets, for 20amp EVSEs I used for my former LEAFS, and now for my two youngest sons BOLTS when they visit...
- one shares a 30amp circuit with a mini-split a/c unit that hardly ever gets used, so making use of it for an extra EVSE made sense.
- the other shares a 30amp circuit with a well pump that never gets used, so making use of it, too, made sense

Two are 50amp 240v outlets, though run with 8awg '40amp' wiring back to the main panel.
- one is for my LIGHTNING, and my new EV9. This is where my Ford Mobile 30amp EVSE is plugged in. It is an outlet that is mounted high in the corner of the carport, and the J1772 cord drops down from the middle of the ceiling to plug into whichever vehicle needs it.
- the other is mounted around the corner of the carport and is there for any visitor with and EV.


after traveling to Florida, and staying several places for a short few days, and with very limited parking in many places, especially 'street parking', I am very aware that everyone who might WANT an EV might find it very difficult to provide 'at home' charging. Parking on the 'street' is not going to provide an easy option. Even some of the skinny driveways between homes can create issues. The U.S. will need many more flexible charging options in order to drive more people to feel comfortable with the notion of owning an EV and requiring 'at home' charging.
Even my wife and I had to scramble to get the EV9 charged while in the area. A lack of DC Fast Charging certainly did not help, and local 'slow chargers' would just take completely too long.

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[carys98]

1) a simple 16-24amp 240v EVSE would work just fine from this 'spare breaker', and they are easily found on many websites. Pricing is not indicative of 'better'... just get one and go with it. All they do is allow Voltage to flow thru the EVSE module to your truck. Your truck doesn't decide how much to use, the EVSE does.
.

While this is generally true once you pick one you should go to @tommologs YouTube channel (State of Charge) and make sure it isn’t one of the ones that tends to melt. There are some shady companies out there making things that could burn down your house. Personally, I would stick with one of the top brands like Autel, GrizzlE, Emporia, or Chargepoint.

 

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

So if it has ability to charge other vehicles with same large size plug that is good to hear. I have not looked to see if is a NACS type adapter available yet that will work with charge station pro, still researching…. We are looking at getting a Tesla down the road and would like to be able to use our 80amp charge station pro output for it or other vehicles. I just read through this thread and still not sure best way yet. So what is the best safest option commercially available to go to NACS plug type vehicle for the future….?

 

[Maquis]

So what is the best safest option commercially available to go to NACS plug type vehicle for the future….?

The Teslas Wall Connector with both NACS and J1772.

 

[jmc6020]

The Teslas Wall Connector with both NACS and J1772.

I picked up this exact unit even though my only EV is the Lightning and I think it's a great charger

 

[averagerider]

Don't let those two CSP's shake you, they are routine for all 2022 and most 2023 trucks, once done there is only a slight possibility that battery modules are troublesome. That said, it's no guarantee that the truck you're considering might have a deeper problem.

Dear TaxmanHog, you were kind enough to respond to my earlier inquiry about wiring my garage. Your comment was about two CSPs. I should have delayed any inquiry about charging until I had addressed what is becoming for me a more important issue: the CSPs and service issues. Several of the used trucks I have looked at through dealers that offer CARFAX reports have had CSP issues and have actually been purchased back by Ford under lemon laws and then put back on the market with titles, according to one dealer, that indicate this fact, sort of like a car with a re-build status.

I am now looking at another used Lightning, a '23 Lariat with ER battery, with about 8K miles. It does not have the lemon law stain on it, but has CSP 23B57 which I have posted below my name. This recall seems like it could be anything from very serious, replacing a module, to something as simple as updating software. How can I know which it might have been? How do I know if it has been fixed? Do you know if this might be a problem in the future?

I remain interested in the Lightning and I know you do not owe me a response, but I will be grateful for your insights and knowledge.

Carl Caldwell aka averagerider

Manufacturer Service Bulletin Mfr. Recall 23B57 Customer SAT/Owner Notification Program: HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY MODULE REPLACEMENT ANDOR BATTERY ENERGY CONTROL MODULE BECM SOFTWARE UPDATE

 

[TaxmanHog]

I am now looking at another used Lightning, a '23 Lariat with ER battery, with about 8K miles. It does not have the lemon law stain on it, but has CSP 23B57 which I have posted below my name. This recall seems like it could be anything from very serious, replacing a module, to something as simple as updating software. How can I know which it might have been? How do I know if it has been fixed? Do you know if this might be a problem in the future?

I remain interested in the Lightning and I know you do not owe me a response, but I will be grateful for your insights and knowledge.

Carl Caldwell aka averagerider


Manufacturer Service Bulletin
Mfr. Recall 23B57
Customer SAT/Owner Notification Program: HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY MODULE REPLACEMENT ANDOR BATTERY ENERGY CONTROL MODULE BECM SOFTWARE UPDATE

Unfortunately, us common folk can't give you a definitive on a particular VIN, only the dealer service technician has the tools to determine if the HVB is in/out of specification.

It would be nice if the dealer would put the truck in the shop, to ensure the software part of the SB is completed and provide an assurance that the pack voltages are OK, even passing these tests is no guarantee, a cell within a pack might still develop a problem down the road, or never be a problem.

Wish you luck in finding a diamond in the rough.

 

[averagerider]

Unfortunately, us common folk can't give you a definitive on a particular VIN, only the dealer service technician has the tools to determine if the HVB is in/out of specification.

It would be nice if the dealer would put the truck in the shop, to ensure the software part of the SB is completed and provide an assurance that the pack voltages are OK, even passing these tests is no guarantee, a cell within a pack might still develop a problem down the road, or never be a problem.

Wish you luck in finding a diamond in the rough.

Thanks for quick response. At least I now know what to ask for. ar

 

[averagerider]

Several of you responded to my request on wiring my garage for 240 volts, a question I posed in late March. The suggestions have been helpful. Even the suggested "pedal" to my "peddle."

After looking at a number of used Lightnings, I have chosen instead to go with a new XLT with SR battery. Would like to have found an affordable ER, but chose not to spend the money. To alleviate concerns about resale, I am going with a three year lease. And, I am hoping for no customer service issues.

Because of assistance from several of you, I am going to have an electrician wire a 60 amp circuit and have chosen a 48 amp plugin charger that I can move back and forth from home to lake house where I will have the same outlet installed.

Now one more question: how much does running the AC cut into the number of miles available for forward motion? The dealer is 145 miles from my home. There are no rapid chargers along this section of I-69. The weather is hot in the coming week. I can imagine taking secondary roads and keeping the windows open if need be to get the highest number of miles/kwh.

I have appreciated the thoughtful responses to date.

Thoughts on getting this home?

averagerider

 

[TheBigBezo]

AC even in the heat is only a tiny portion. Your biggest enemy will be aerodynamic drag on the interstate. I have been driving in high temps lately, my break down on the highway was typically 1% AC (set at 75F) 2% accessories (charging phone/listening to music) and 97% drive train. If you're trying to do 145 miles there and then back on the interstate, I don't even think I could pull that off in my ER. 145 total may be doable. Slowing down to 60mph or less is a big difference compared to 75+mph.

 

[averagerider]

Thanks for this information. Fortunately my 145 miles is one way, from dealership to home. No return trip. So if AC takes such a small number, I should be OK. I drive at 65 anyway, so that's not a problem.

averagerider

 

[cdherman]

Because of assistance from several of you, I am going to have an electrician wire a 60 amp circuit and have chosen a 48 amp plugin charger that I can move back and forth from home to lake house where I will have the same outlet installed.

Hmmm.. 48A charger needs a 60A circuit. 60A plug? Does that exist? Technically, needs a 60A GFCI these days if its a plugged circuit. Not sure that exists. Happy to be proven wrong, BUT the cost of 2 60A GCFI circuits may exceed the interval cost of 1 versus 2 Emporia 48A EVSE hard wired. Hard wired can just be a regular $20 breaker.

And lugging around EVSE is a hassle to say the least. IF you are dead set on a portable EVSE, then 40A may be the limit of what you can achieve......

 

[Maquis]

Hmmm.. 48A charger needs a 60A circuit. 60A plug? Does that exist? Technically, needs a 60A GFCI these days if its a plugged circuit. Not sure that exists. Happy to be proven wrong, BUT the cost of 2 60A GCFI circuits may exceed the interval cost of 1 versus 2 Emporia 48A EVSE hard wired. Hard wired can just be a regular $20 breaker.

And lugging around EVSE is a hassle to say the least. IF you are dead set on a portable EVSE, then 40A may be the limit of what you can achieve......

A 60A receptacle for an EVSE is now allowed in the 2023 NEC and they do exist. GFCI could be a major issue - not many manufacturers have these available.
Since the OP is located in Indiana (2020 NEC), a 60A receptacle would not comply with their current code.

2 hard-wired Emporias might cost less to install than 2 60A GFCI-protected receptacles anyway.

 

[averagerider]

Thanks. I will talk with my electrician.

 

[averagerider]

To the several people who responded to my inquiry about home charging. I am grateful.

After giving the matter a lot of thought I did the deed last week and purchased a new 2023 XLT with SR battery. The day before I purchased it, I had an electrician install a 60 amp breaker in my load center with a 14-50 outlet. I had also purchased a 40 amp EVSE so it was ready for use when I pulled into the garage after a 145 mile trip from the dealer to home.

So far, so good. I love the truck, and hope that it performs as well next year and the following year as it has up to this point with 450 miles on it. Given the uses to which I intend to put it, the SR battery should serve me well, though I already understand why the ER would be preferable.

So, because of your help, I felt comfortable in making needed decisions. Again, thanks.

averagerider

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