NEMA 14-50 now Tesla Home Supercharger Later?

[Rocky_H]

So apparently (unless there's something else hidden in the code) you can use 6/3 NM wire with a 50 A breaker for a 14-50 now, and later replace the 14-50 with a direct-wired HPWC and change the breaker to 60 A.

Welllll...kinda. But this is why it's almost never useful:

I think 625.41 makes the case that the conductor must be able to handle 125% of the continuous load and there is no “round up” rule like there is for breakers. Since the 6/3 Romex ampacity limit is 55A, the maximum current allowed would be 44A. Therefore, if one installs the Wall Connector they cannot use it at its rated capacity of 48A. Not sure that manually configuring it to run at a lower current would meet the code. It seems like it would be a better idea to just use the right wire for the ultimate application rather than try to justify changes after the fact.

Using the round-up on the breaker does not actually make it a real 60A circuit. The wire would still be the limiting factor at 55A. And the wall connector doesn't have a 55A rated circuit setting, so you would still have to use the setting for a 50A circuit, which would make it no different than the 14-50 outlet you had before. So you would be better off just putting in the 50A breaker from the start and leave it that way, even when you replace the outlet with the wall connector.

 

[TomServo]

Love my Clipper Creek HCS-50P plugged into a NEMA 14-50 outlet (6/3 awg with 50 amp breaker)

Not bad 36 mph @ 40 amps using the J1772 adapter

I have a Volt we need to feed hence the need for the CC EVSE.

 

[Feathermerchan]

But unless you need to charge that fast for some reason like TOU rates or many, many miles driven per day, you are placing un necessary demand on the grid. That will tend to increase rates.

 

[SSedan]

Those that think your daily needs today summarize all you will ever need are short sighted.
Is this the only commute you will ever have, never come home from a day trip or vacation that will deviant?
Never going to have a different EV that might be less efficient?

I got by on a 14-30 for a year then had a family emergency pop up while on vacation, rushed the few hours home dropped the wife and kids off while plugged into the 14-30 a few minutes and found I needed to hit a supercharger on the way to the hospital my parents were at. Installed the wall connector weeks later, don't use max capability often but really glad to have it when something comes up and I need it.

For those of you who argue bare minimum, is that how you treat retirement savings?

 

[animorph]

The WC can be set for any circuit breaker size from 15A to 60A, So it is not necessary to replace a 50A breaker unless you want to. 50A still gives you 40A for charging.

However Tesla recommends not using a GFCI breaker with the WC. So that might make a breaker change preferable.

 

[Rocky_H]

For those of you who argue bare minimum, is that how you treat retirement savings?

What a ridiculous, irrelevant, apples and oranges comparison. You can't snap your fingers and catch up on decades of retirement savings you didn't do.

Those that think your daily needs today summarize all you will ever need are short sighted.

And you tend to project your situation and geography (and therefore charging needs) onto everyone else. I get that in Wisconsin you don't have many options. You do what you need to do. But for many people, they live within several miles of a Supercharger or two. So that is an easy backup plan, and having the fast charging at their own house isn't and won't be necessarily a need.

 

[Feathermerchan]

Those that think your daily needs today summarize all you will ever need are short sighted.
Is this the only commute you will ever have, never come home from a day trip or vacation that will deviant?
Never going to have a different EV that might be less efficient?

I got by on a 14-30 for a year then had a family emergency pop up while on vacation, rushed the few hours home dropped the wife and kids off while plugged into the 14-30 a few minutes and found I needed to hit a supercharger on the way to the hospital my parents were at. Installed the wall connector weeks later, don't use max capability often but really glad to have it when something comes up and I need it.

For those of you who argue bare minimum, is that how you treat retirement savings?

It ain't retirement savings. If you have to stop at a supercharger that is a lot like needing to fill up.
In 10 hours at 7 kW (24V 30A) I can fully recharge from dead. It's really more than I need. That should be sufficient for just about any eventuality. Mine and several others are served by one 25KVA (kW) transformer. We now have 2 Teslas. When we charge together it's 14 kW for just the cars.
Would you buy a Dodge Charger Hellcat just because you might have to get to the grocery store in an emergency?