FCSP Installation/Mounting Recommendations - Surface Mount

[Firestop]

Now that my FCSP is enroute to me, and after reading about the heat-developed and related shutdown cycling issues, I am evaluating the mounting configuration of my FSCP especially in-light of Ford planning to increase the safety shutdown limits by ~10 deg. F to address the cycling issue.

I need to surface mount on the garage interior of an exterior wall. Should I consider having my electrician use a FR backer-board or other wainscoting? Any other suggest from this learned group would be appreciated.

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[Tony Burgh]

I would consider having it offset from the wall. If I had it to do over I would use UniStrut frame to get more air circulation.

 

[Tomwilli2025]

Below is my temp installation. Plan to install the FCSP where I have the paper template taped to my board.

 

[FlasherZ]

I used rear-entry for the wiring, so I surface mounted a shallow-depth4x4 square box to the right of center and routed my conduit in, then I mounted a 2x4 to the wall on its left to provide the appropriate stand-off so that the wires could enter the cable gland. I lagged the backing plate to that 2x4.

 

[PV2EV]

I used rear-entry for the wiring, so I surface mounted a shallow-depth4x4 square box to the right of center and routed my conduit in, then I mounted a 2x4 to the wall on its left to provide the appropriate stand-off so that the wires could enter the cable gland. I lagged the backing plate to that 2x4.

Are you having temp issues? Did you use #3 copper?

 

[FlasherZ]

Are you having temp issues? Did you use #3 copper?

Yes on both counts. If I remove cover and blow a fan on the board it charges fine. The issue appears to be convective heating from the bottom contactor that heats the terminals from the upper contactor and causes it to reach 165 degF.

 

[PV2EV]

Yes on both counts. If I remove cover and blow a fan on the board it charges fine. The issue appears to be convective heating from the bottom contactor that heats the terminals from the upper contactor and causes it to reach 165 degF.

Can we assume the air space behind the unit from offset mounting did NOT help?

 

[Mike G]

Yes on both counts. If I remove cover and blow a fan on the board it charges fine. The issue appears to be convective heating from the bottom contactor that heats the terminals from the upper contactor and causes it to reach 165 degF.

Can you think of another orientation for the charger that might mitigate the issue?

 

[Whammy Bar]

Can you think of another orientation for the charger that might mitigate the issue?

Sounds like if the heat is rising from one terminal to the other, if we rotate the charger 90 degrees either way, both terminals will be in line horizontally. Granted, this will probably look stupid.

 

[FlasherZ]

Can we assume the air space behind the unit from offset mounting did NOT help?

Correct. Unit is sealed well and blowing a fan on the closed unit doesnt seem to stop charging problems.

Can you think of another orientation for the charger that might mitigate the issue?

The contactors and their terminals are such that you'd have to mount it at a very odd angle so that the they did not cross each other in a vertical plane.

 

[FlasherZ]

Sounds like if the heat is rising from one terminal to the other, if we rotate the charger 90 degrees either way, both terminals will be in line horizontally. Granted, this will probably look stupid.

They're offset, so it's going to be CCW, 60 degrees or so if I remember right... it would look awfully goofy.

Ford says another 10 degrees margin seems to let it work ok, so we should see how well that works out.

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