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.

 

[Vcrpromo]

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.

I have never used the 120 charger as I'm very impatient with it charging only 3 or 4 miles a hour I had a 240 installed and had no problems til now as it use to give me 210 miles for a 90% charge and now it only gives me 190 miles i only had my 2023 lightening since April of this year.

 

[PreservedSwine]

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.

True, however, think of your entire house as an extension cord from the breaker box. Assuming connections are tight, there’s no reason using large enough wiring won’t be an issue in the correct circumstances.
As a general rule of thumb, I completely agree, you should not use an extension cord. However, braided copper of the correct size, correct length, and proper connections should not be an issue.

 

[Mach Turtle]

An additional concern with long-term use in an often humid environment would be corrosion of the plug blades and receptacle...thingies. After a while, the metal tarnishes and causes increased resistance at the contacts, resulting in heating which could over time cause the symptoms in the photos, and possibly a hazard. Not saying this is definitely the case, but it might be. Thicker wire won't help with contact resistance, though careful cleaning of the components (without bending any parts out of shape!) might.

But as other posters have said, going to a Level 2 charger is worth the cost. I've used a cheapo 16A L2 cable when visiting family -- it plugs into an old NEMA 10-30 dryer outlet, or a 14-50 with adapter -- with good results. Actually I've used it with a custom made 10 gauge extension cord, but don't tell the group...and I'm officially not recommending that.

 

[rembrant]

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

You should be using a 20 amp cord at minimum. They will have a twist lock design that might be three prongs or four prongs like the one that comes with the adapter for the truck. Just like in the old days if using a 15 amp skill saw in construction. Power is lost at the length of the cord and in the connections.

 

[Ishkatan]

I've used an extension cord on 110v to charge but the plugs, especially at the ford mobile charger, get warm. My cord is 12 Gauge. I used a regular long cord once but it was a top off and maintenance charge which have a much lower amp draw.
If you don't install a L2 charger you can go with the Mobile charger but install a high quality 240V 30+ amp plug. State of Charge on Youtube talks about low vs. good quality but expensive plugs. A proper L2 charger is better.

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