Question for 240V Portable Charger Users

[TheWoo]

I've never used the Ford Mobile charger cause I bought the Tesla mobile charger and an adapter! The Tesla mobile charger is a bit more powerful couple more amps and every bit helps when using a mobile charger. Also the Tesla mobile charger I bought the adapters kit that has ever imaginable connection type, way better than Fords. There was a thread about this with links to buy it all, which I did. If I can find it I will post it here..

I also use the Tesla mobile charger with the same J1772 adapter and have had no issues at all. Love its usefulness, and have purchased additional dongles as needed for places I visit like my parents' place and in-laws' farm. Excellent unit that stays in my truck at all times.

 

[MM in SouthTX]

I am still trying to sort this. I took the charger to the dealer. They said Ford wanted to test my batteries for a bad cell (OTA) before we checked the charger. Okay...probably not the issue, but I'm going along.

In the meantime, I still get 6kW at times, but mostly 3kW with the 3-light error. I checked the temp today with an infrared temp gun. Ambient temp is 65 degrees here, in garage and out. The breaker reads 75 degrees, the plug is at room temp. The Ford box reads as high as 117 while it is showing the fault and delivering 3kW. Right now it is charging at 5kW with the 3 fault lights and reading 103.

I'm reporting the numbers in case someone can tell me whether the temps tell them something.

Thanks.

 

[Maquis]

I am still trying to sort this. I took the charger to the dealer. They said Ford wanted to test my batteries for a bad cell (OTA) before we checked the charger. Okay...probably not the issue, but I'm going along.

In the meantime, I still get 6kW at times, but mostly 3kW with the 3-light error. I checked the temp today with an infrared temp gun. Ambient temp is 65 degrees here, in garage and out. The breaker reads 75 degrees, the plug is at room temp. The Ford box reads as high as 117 while it is showing the fault and delivering 3kW. Right now it is charging at 5kW with the 3 fault lights and reading 103.

I'm reporting the numbers in case someone can tell me whether the temps tell them something.

Thanks.

Those numbers seem OK. When they fail, those units seem to indicate overtemp even if things are fine.

 

[F-150Evolved]

There is a high probability the charger is defective due to the addressed quality concerns by other in this threat.

Or:
The charger de-rates itself by lowering the charge current if the line voltage drops.

In a/c theory, resistance is called impedance.

When EV chargers detect dropping or unsteady line voltage indicating changing impedance, out of safety the load has to be lowered as an unstable or dropping line voltage can indicate a loose wire clamp leading to heat buildup or even electrical arching, posing a fire hazard.

Do you have solar and does this ever happen at full sun radiation?

 

[MM in SouthTX]

There is a high probability the charger is defective due to the addressed quality concerns by other in this threat.

Or:
The charger de-rates itself by lowering the charge current if the line voltage drops.

In a/c theory, resistance is called impedance.

When EV chargers detect dropping or unsteady line voltage indicating changing impedance, out of safety the load has to be lowered as an unstable or dropping line voltage can indicate a loose wire clamp leading to heat buildup or even electrical arching, posing a fire hazard.

Do you have solar and does this ever happen at full sun radiation?

I do have solar. Enphase microinverters. I do notice it during the day when the sun is shining. Blue light and 5kW right now at night.

 

[flyct]

Breaker rating should not exceed the rating of the wiring or the receptacle.

 

[F-150Evolved]

You might actually have an over voltage issue. Often times line voltage during full sun radiation at your residences main can exceed 250 volts. This is due to impedance dynamics from your power line, local transformer and neighbors sharing the same transformer tap.

If your level two charger detects line voltage above the set limit (most level two chargers are set to about 255 volts) it will activate certain protections.

if you know how safely, take a volt meter and check your voltage at different times of the day and see if there is a correlation with the chargers behavior.

 

[MM in SouthTX]

Breaker rating should not exceed the rating of the wiring or the receptacle.

Got it. This was done due to limited room on the panel. He bridged two 30a's around other breakers. It was either that or rebuild the panel. I was not aware that it would be an issue at the time or I would have had him rebuild the panel.

 

[MM in SouthTX]

You might actually have an over voltage issue. Often times line voltage during full sun radiation at your residences main can exceed 250 volts. This is due to impedance dynamics from your power line, local transformer and neighbors sharing the same transformer tap.

If your level two charger detects line voltage above the set limit (most level two chargers are set to about 255 volts) it will activate certain protections.

if you know how safely, take a volt meter and check your voltage at different times of the day and see if there is a correlation with the chargers behavior.

Interesting. I have a volt meter but I'm not real excited about sticking the prongs in a 240V outlet. Maybe it's time to have the electrician come back and check the voltage on a sunny day then rebuild the panel. I guess I won't be able to tell people "but look how much I'm saving on gas" anymore.

 

[flyct]

Got it. This was done due to limited room on the panel. He bridged two 30a's around other breakers. It was either that or rebuild the panel. I was not aware that it would be an issue at the time or I would have had him rebuild the panel.

It’s FINE as it is. Perfect.

Thats a 50 amp breaker to your charger not a 60 amp. . It’s what is called a quad breaker. The two center paddles are 50 amp connected to made them a double pole 50 amp 240 v breaker. The 2 outer paddles are bridged to make them a double pole 30 amp 240 breaker.

edited to correct 30 amp as 240.

 

[MM in SouthTX]

Oh, nice. I misunderstood the electrician. I thought the bridge on the 30a that connected them together made it a 60a capacity. Turns out that pair of 30a's is for the dryer (just checked), and the 50a is for the charger. The 30a's are connected, which I guess would make them a double pole. Clearly I don't understand this, and I very much appreciate the help.

 

[Maxx]

I used mine for 13 months / 8K miles as my main charger at home and I just had to retire it exactly for the same reason. I guess there was a reason they call it mobile charger. We are not alone, Google it and you will see ton of people having the same issue. A year of use is not too bad for something not intended for this purpose. But frankly it was not intended to be used on the go either since it did not allow to adjust it's current. Oh well, ..

 

[MM in SouthTX]

Finally got my mobile charger replaced under warranty. Charging with the Emporia at home now. Gonna have to subtract the Emporia price from my annual gas savings calculations. I would have kept the FCSP if I knew the mobile was (it seems) programmed to fail with regular use. But no...I came out ahead after selling the FCSP, and probably got a more reliable device.

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