EVSE in the bed?

[FreshDaddyE]

Heya fellas,

I'm headed to see family for Thanksgiving (NC mountains where Helene has wreaked havoc) and they're cool with me hooking the Lightning up to the house and bumming some juice for a few days.

At home I have a sweet fast charger setup since purchase, so I've never done much with the factory EVSE on good ole 110v. While I'm there I'm planning to run my 100' 10AWG extension cable from the house to the factory EVSE then to the charge port. I've been testing this at home for a few days with no issues.

My question is this... in order to protect the EVSE and plug junction from weather (and unlikely theft) do y'all think it's ok to run the extension cord into the bed where the EVSE is situated under my locking Retrax cover and then have the EVSE cord running back out to the charge port?

I just didn't know if there's a general safety concern I'm overlooking.

BONUS QUESTION: Does anyone have any recommendations for ease of storage and deployment of a 100' AWG extension cable? Dang it's unwieldy. I was thinking of something like this... Amazon.com: Quick Winder RAP-100 Electric Cord and Fiber Optic Cable Reel : Electronics

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[Maquis]

Whatever you use for cord management, be sure to fully unwind/extend the entire cord.

 

[Adventureboy]

10 AWG will be adequate. @Maquis 's warning is valid and definitely the safest to make sure it is unwound. If you are only charging L1 through 10 AWG you'll be fine. I'd be worried if you were trying to do L2 through it. Leaving it in the bed will be fine, especially for L1.

 

[htobin]

Make sure it works on 110. Mine doesn’t

 

[MaintGrl]

IDK, can you fit 100' of 10 ga in that, even the bigger one might be tough...

 

[RickKeen]

Reading in other threads. the mobile charger supposedly has a weatherproof rating of IP67. If so, it can handle being outdoors in light rain. Just make sure its not laying on the ground in a low spot, puddle, or the gutter and it should be fine.

Protect the plug end where it connects to the extension cord in the same way. As long as its not laying in a puddle or actively raining cats and dogs, probably won't pop the GFI.

The charger cord is going to be a reach all the way to the back of the bed. The frunk may be a closer reach. Or just loop the cords over the mirror so the charger and connections are hanging up off the ground is likely sufficient.

 

[chl]

Heya fellas,

I'm headed to see family for Thanksgiving (NC mountains where Helene has wreaked havoc) and they're cool with me hooking the Lightning up to the house and bumming some juice for a few days.

At home I have a sweet fast charger setup since purchase, so I've never done much with the factory EVSE on good ole 110v. While I'm there I'm planning to run my 100' 10AWG extension cable from the house to the factory EVSE then to the charge port. I've been testing this at home for a few days with no issues.

My question is this... in order to protect the EVSE and plug junction from weather (and unlikely theft) do y'all think it's ok to run the extension cord into the bed where the EVSE is situated under my locking Retrax cover and then have the EVSE cord running back out to the charge port?

I just didn't know if there's a general safety concern I'm overlooking.

BONUS QUESTION: Does anyone have any recommendations for ease of storage and deployment of a 100' AWG extension cable? Dang it's unwieldy. I was thinking of something like this... Amazon.com: Quick Winder RAP-100 Electric Cord and Fiber Optic Cable Reel : Electronics

For the bonus points: Easiest way to roll a cord so it won't get tangled: plug the ends together and then just make a series of loops with both sides of the cord together - to unwrap/unroll it, just throw it out in front of you holding the plugged in ends in one hand.

Many ways to wrap and unwrap a long cord, but that is the simplest as the video shows (at the very end):

 

[chl]

10 AWG will be adequate. @Maquis 's warning is valid and definitely the safest to make sure it is unwound. If you are only charging L1 through 10 AWG you'll be fine. I'd be worried if you were trying to do L2 through it. Leaving it in the bed will be fine, especially for L1.

Based on the many retailers carrying 100ft. 240V 30A generator cables, it appears that 10AWG should be adequate for L2 at 30A.

These 100ft 10/4 generator cables are alleged to safely carry a current of 30 amps at 240VAC.

There are quite a few 100ft 240V 30A generator cables that are 10AWG. sold by generator outlets, big box hardware stores, Amazon, etc.

ETL Certified and UL Listed:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...8QFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw22CALsvmu6ZJF6Zejn5Dws

However, does the Ford Mobile Power Cord draw 30A or 32A?

I have seen both numbers bandied about.

 

[Adventureboy]

Based on the many retailers carrying 100ft. 240V 30A generator cables, it appears that 10AWG should be adequate for L2 at 30A.

These 100ft 10/4 generator cables are alleged to safely carry a current of 30 amps at 240VAC.

There are quite a few 100ft 240V 30A generator cables that are 10AWG. sold by generator outlets, big box hardware stores, Amazon, etc.

ETL Certified and UL Listed:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...8QFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw22CALsvmu6ZJF6Zejn5Dws

However, does the Ford Mobile Power Cord draw 30A or 32A?

I have seen both numbers bandied about.

FMC draws 30 amps. I think it is designed to work with the 30 amp Pro Power Onboard.

Generator cords are designed for 30 amp peak current protected by a 30 amp breaker. Sustained loads require the 80% rule (or 125% rule depending on how you look at it). They can be used safely at 24 amp sustained amperage. I use this regularly and even at 24 amps with a 50' cord, the cord does heat up. I would not recommend trying to pull 30 amps continuously through a 100' 10 AWG cord. See @Maquis's post above.

 

[FreshDaddyE]

Behold the "Juice Thief 9000"!

I went with a Rockler dust hose reel I had sitting unused, but I found a number of RV cord reels on Amazon. Thought about a 5 gallon bucket, but the loops were way too tight.

Routed the female end through the side outlet and wound up the 100’ cord.

Slapped the EVSE on the roll, Velcro’d it down to hold it in place so its cord could be rolled up along with the extension cord.

Then I used the velcro already on the plug to secure it all.

Super easy to unreel.

EVSE goes down the side of the truck to the charging port.

Extension cord (fully extended Maquis!) to power source.

Snap the EVSE into the cradle on the bottom and connect to the female end of the extension cord.

Close cover and tailgate as needed!

To unrig, just unplug the EVSE to prevent binding, roll up the extension cord, velcro the EVSE to the top of the roll, roll up the EVSE cord. And you're off!

Note the angled 2x4s screwed onto to the base so it doesn't slide around.

 

[chl]

FMC draws 30 amps. I think it is designed to work with the 30 amp Pro Power Onboard.

Generator cords are designed for 30 amp peak current protected by a 30 amp breaker. Sustained loads require the 80% rule (or 125% rule depending on how you look at it). They can be used safely at 24 amp sustained amperage. I use this regularly and even at 24 amps with a 50' cord, the cord does heat up. I would not recommend trying to pull 30 amps continuously through a 100' 10 AWG cord. See @Maquis's post above.

Yes, but...there are some exceptions to the 125% rule:

• If the generator's design and operation prevent overloading, the ampacity of the conductors can be at least 100% of the generator's nameplate current rating.

The Lightning has a 30A breaker so it will pop if there were overloading. Another exception that does not/may not apply to the Lightning (depending on the use, e.g., when powering a house because one must switch the neutrals to avoid GFCI trips):

• If the neutral is solidly connected to a service-supplied system neutral, the generator is not a separately derived system.

The second exception would apply to a non-bonded generator hooked into a home by a transfer switch that does NOT switch the neutrals (I have one of those I use for my old gas generator).

See: the NEC 445.13

NEC 445.13 (Generator - Ampacity of Conductors)
“The ampacity of the conductors from the generator terminals to the first distribution device(s) containing overcurrent protection shall not be less than 115 percent of the nameplate current rating of the generator…”

“Exception: Where the design and operation of the generator prevent overloading, the ampacity of the conductors shall not be less than 100 percent of the nameplate current rating of the generator.”

 

[chl]

Generator requirements per NEC pdf.

 

[chl]

BTW, it may not need saying but just to be clear...inside your home, for connecting your EVSE to your utility service panel you definitely MUST use the 125% rule to be in compliance with safety codes.

 

[Adventureboy]

Yes, but...there are some exceptions to the 125% rule:

• If the generator's design and operation prevent overloading, the ampacity of the conductors can be at least 100% of the generator's nameplate current rating.

The Lightning has a 30A breaker so it will pop if there were overloading. Another exception that does not/may not apply to the Lightning (depending on the use, e.g., when powering a house because one must switch the neutrals to avoid GFCI trips):

• If the neutral is solidly connected to a service-supplied system neutral, the generator is not a separately derived system.

The second exception would apply to a non-bonded generator hooked into a home by a transfer switch that does NOT switch the neutrals (I have one of those I use for my old gas generator).

See: the NEC 445.13

NEC 445.13 (Generator - Ampacity of Conductors)
“The ampacity of the conductors from the generator terminals to the first distribution device(s) containing overcurrent protection shall not be less than 115 percent of the nameplate current rating of the generator…”

“Exception: Where the design and operation of the generator prevent overloading, the ampacity of the conductors shall not be less than 100 percent of the nameplate current rating of the generator.”

The thread has gotten a bit off-topic. While this may be true, it is not what the OP is trying to do. The OP is trying to charge his Lightning from a house outlet. Your info above would be relevant for powering equipment from PPOB.

 

[Maquis]

How did a question about an extension cord for 120V L1 charging get so derailed?

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