Using 240V extension cord with mobile charger?

[strahanjen]

New Flash owner here. It will be a few weeks before our charger is installed. I am worried about damage to the battery due to relying on the fast chargers. Also, it is starting to get cold here in Minnesota and I am seeing notifications to keep the truck plugged in. I’m wondering if I should get a 240 V extension cord to plug into our dryer outlet in the house to get us through the next few weeks. If this is recommended, can someone suggest a good one to purchase? I’m going to need a 50’ extension. I don’t want to get one that could cause a fire while we are sleeping!

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[Runaway Tractor]

I am worried about damage to the battery due to relying on the fast chargers.

Your concern exists only in your head, and has no basis. Fast charging is not going to hurt anything.

A 240v extension code that can carry 30 amps is not cheap, and will likely require different connectors. Not worth it. Just get the right outlet installed in a timely manner.

 

[RickLightning]

Your dryer outlet is likely 30amps. Your truck will pull 30amps. You need to buy a charger that will pull 24amps max AND make sure the dryer outlet and circuit are properly sized. Dryers don't pull 30amps continuously. And extension cords are expensive and a bad idea.

 

[luebri]

New Flash owner here. It will be a few weeks before our charger is installed. I am worried about damage to the battery due to relying on the fast chargers. Also, it is starting to get cold here in Minnesota and I am seeing notifications to keep the truck plugged in. I’m wondering if I should get a 240 V extension cord to plug into our dryer outlet in the house to get us through the next few weeks. If this is recommended, can someone suggest a good one to purchase? I’m going to need a 50’ extension. I don’t want to get one that could cause a fire while we are sleeping!

a few DCFC sessions are not going to make one bit of difference in your batter lifespan.

that said I was able to limp along on 120v for a couple weeks just plugging in my portable EVSE. You should get an EVSE either way, so I would recommend that. For me this was just way more convenient than dealing with DCFC stops. ( I did have to do 1 DCFC in that time. )

I hope the truck gets parked in a garage and even better an insulated garage. Otherwise you could have a rough couple weeks without being able to get the battery warm which really needs 240v to get up to optimal temps.

 

[potato]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. They aren't kept plugged in on the dealer lots. If you do plug it in you might get a bit more efficiency/range out of the battery if it's warmer but it's not a big deal.

 

[mrau]

Agree with others here, no need for the extension cord route.

Plugging into a 120v outlet will help some, so do that if you can.

Also, try the PlugShare app and see if there are any Level 2 or 3 chargers near where you shop, play or work. Those may help out till you get your own Level 2 at home.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I've had my Lightning and Mustang through, literally, hundreds of DCFC sessions. The battery protects itself.

I also spent almost two years with a Level 1 charger because I was too lazy to reinstall my L2 charger after moving. You'll be fine for a couple of weeks.

 

[luebri]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. They aren't kept plugged in on the dealer lots. If you do plug it in you might get a bit more efficiency/range out of the battery if it's warmer but it's not a big deal.

Limping along on 120v in Arizona, is way different than limping along on 120 V in the winter in the upper Midwest.

 

[Heliian]

Get an electrician out to run you a 14-50r circuit.

 

[RocketGhost]

A couple considerations when using a dryer outlet. The outlet itself needs to be a high quality commercial grade one, not a big box store one. Cheap ones aren't rated to provide high current for hours. You would need a mobile charger than can be set at 24 amps. Can't go about 80% of circuit capacity for continuous loads. And an extension cord has to be properly sized and rated. Few are. You may have to make your own. The wire and plugs have to be able to handle the continuous load.

You're fine using DCFC. Just not as your only means of charging over the life of the truck.

 

[Ricks Lightning]

10 gauge is rated at 30 amps, but not continuously. So you would really need a 8 gauge cord to carry he load and heat.
Plenty of less expensive 8 gauge cords on Amazon and eBay designed for welding extension cords. Once again, a 30 amp breaker draw has to be derated to 80% so set your charger to 24 amps.
My 50 amp setup draws just under 40 amps.

Rick

 

[grange]

10 gauge is rated at 30 amps, but not continuously. So you would really need a 8 gauge cord to carry he load and heat.
Plenty of less expensive 8 gauge cords on Amazon and eBay designed for welding extension cords. Once again, a 30 amp breaker draw has to be detracted to 80% so set your charger to 24 amps.
My 50 amp setup draws just under 40 amps.

Rick

Rick, what am I looking at (your digital display)?

 

[RickKeen]

By the time you pay for a suitable extension cord, you will have bought enough copper that could instead go towards funding the copper needed to wire a suitable outlet in your garage.
The same amount of copper is needed either way.

 

[strahanjen]

Thanks everyone. Our electrician was here yesterday and installed a new 200 amp panel and the Charge point home flex hardwired charger in our detached garage. We’re waiting for the utility company to connect the new service to the power line. This can take 2-4 weeks. This truck doesn’t fit in the garage, so is parked on the driveway. I was worried about the alerts that I should keep the truck plugged in, because this is impossible for the time being and it will just get colder, with many nights in the single digits. It sounds like we can get by with just using the fast chargers until then? I work from home so don’t really have an easy way to park and leave the truck at a level 2 charger for long periods of time.

 

[strahanjen]

By the time you pay for a suitable extension cord, you will have bought enough copper that could instead go towards funding the copper needed to wire a suitable outlet in your garage.
The same amount of copper is needed either way.

I’ve already paid for the electrical work to have a hardwired charger installed, but have to wait 2-4 weeks for the utility company to connect the new service up to the power line. I was just worried about the negative effects the extreme cold and fast changing would have on battery life given that I cannot keep it plugged in until then. It sounds like for the short term it is not a big deal to leave it unplugged? Overnight lows have been in the single digits.

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