Charging 120v Question / Issue?

[FloridaMan655321]

I have been lazy at getting 240v installed, mostly because I have been able to get by with 120v. Not ideal, but with the holidays and such I’ve just pushed it off. Obviously now I’m going to change this from the images, but I do have a questions.

I know a continuous charge of 11-12 amps needs a bit more than a 12 amp cable, but I thought this cable would be ok. And for the most part, it has been and I’ve been charging for a couple months without issue. I noticed today the cable is a bit charred inside. Now the problem is I don’t remember looking at this cable before using it, so I can’t be 100% sure I didn’t do something prior to cause this, but I am around 99% sure.

So the main question is, was this mostly caused because I left the truck on the charger for a long period of time? Has anyone else had this issue? I never felt the cable was hot, just slightly warm, but nothing I was concerned about, so maybe if I had a different cable that wasn’t translucent I wouldn’t have noticed? Or maybe I caught this right before a fire was going to start….. Or hopefully I used something else that caused this as I use this cable quite often for other things.

Thank you for any info.

 

[The Weatherman]

 

[Maquis]

The best reason to move up from level1 is the efficiency. With level 1, losses are over 20%. 1.4 KW input, 1.1 KW net.
L2 will be around 10% losses.

Rough numbers…..

 

[Heliian]

Most extension cords these days are junk.
More connections and thinner wires=magic smoke.

 

[RickLightning]

You are using an extension cord to charge your truck. You're not supposed to do that, it's supposed to be plugged into the outlet.

Do people use extension cords? Yes. FOR A SHORT PERIOD.

In any case, you're using a 12amp cord on a continuous 12amp circuit. Time to throw that cord away.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

You are using an extension cord to charge your truck. You're not supposed to do that, it's supposed to be plugged into the outlet.

Do people use extension cords? Yes. FOR A SHORT PERIOD.

In any case, you're using a 12amp cord on a continuous 12amp circuit. Time to throw that cord away.

The cord is ‘rated’ at 15 amps, shown in one of the pics (sorry I didn’t specify or highlight this).

 

[RickLightning]

I am not an electrician. Did extended use of that extension cord for the truck charging cause it to overheat? IMO, yes. Should you toss the cord? Yes, I wouldn't just cut off the ends and put new ones on. Should you use an extension cord for an extended period of time to charge your truck? No. It specifically says to never use one.

I visit family in Florida every year or so. I do use a 12/3 cord to charge at their houses. 24-36 hours. At my son's house, I park close enough to the outlet to not use a cord.

 

[Kit2874]

I have been lazy at getting 240v installed, mostly because I have been able to get by with 120v. Not ideal, but with the holidays and such I’ve just pushed it off. Obviously now I’m going to change this from the images, but I do have a questions.

I know a continuous charge of 11-12 amps needs a bit more than a 12 amp cable, but I thought this cable would be ok. And for the most part, it has been and I’ve been charging for a couple months without issue. I noticed today the cable is a bit charred inside. Now the problem is I don’t remember looking at this cable before using it, so I can’t be 100% sure I didn’t do something prior to cause this, but I am around 99% sure.

So the main question is, was this mostly caused because I left the truck on the charger for a long period of time? Has anyone else had this issue? I never felt the cable was hot, just slightly warm, but nothing I was concerned about, so maybe if I had a different cable that wasn’t translucent I wouldn’t have noticed? Or maybe I caught this right before a fire was going to start….. Or hopefully I used something else that caused this as I use this cable quite often for other things.

Thank you for any info.

Get a minimum 10 gage Extension cord. That's what I use for over a year to charge my lighting lvl 1 charger...

Mine is rated for 20 amps

 

[ryun]

Lightning charges at 10 amps on 120V, for anyone claiming incorrectly that it charges at 12 amps. At least on 22/23 MY 10 amps is the only option you have.

But yeah you shouldn't be using an extension cord to charge your truck. If you must then definitely get a thicker cable. And the shorter the better.

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