You're making a different kind of assumption by looking through the wrong end of the telescope. I see people do this frequently. They think as electric cars get more and more capability, they will "have to" (your words) continue to keep increasing their home charging power more and more and more. That doesn't make sense. Just because future electric cars may go up in onboard charger power--6kW, 10kW, 20kW, etc. or maybe larger and larger batteries--300 miles, 500 miles, 800 miles, etc. That does not mean that you "have to" get faster and faster charging at home. Your house is not magically 2X, 4X, 8X, etc. farther from where you work just because the car you have gets better capabilities. That makes no sense. You need to be able to charge for the amount of miles you drive. And if your home charging can get you 200-300 miles overnight, that's fine. Why would it help to keep increasing that so you can get 1,000 miles overnight?
Recommend electrical for garage to enable ultimate EV flexibility
- Thread starter dloop
- Start date
-
- Tags
- 240v Charging nema 14-50
If a 120 outlet suits ones needs then why bother even working on a 14-50 plug? One could make that argument if you only drive 40 miles per day...
I frequently come home with 30% charge or less on my model 3 LR AWD. Yes Oklahoma is a big state with high speed limits and has very few superchargers (5). Having to wait to charge at home before I can make another trip can be annoying. Yes I am stretching the Tesla usage case, and eventually they will probably have some more superchargers around (350 kw CCS is available near the house, but no adapter yet). When you are waiting on your car to charge 48 amps is much better than 32 through the portable connector....
Don't be dense. We're not comparing it to the just barely scraping by of a 1kW "solution". This is the difference between much more than needed and vastly more than needed just in case it ever becomes possible to use it in the future.
Sure, and that makes sense. I think a 60A circuit is a great install for a lot of people, because you can actually use that 48A. I am more disagreeing with so many people's recommendation to always, in all circumstances for everyone to do whatever it takes to install at least a 100A circuit just in case it's ever useful in the future. That is likely just wasted money.
dmurphy
Woof.
100% agree. 60a is the sweet spot for most. Only exception is if you have plans on 2 chargers, in which case I’d say, if you’re opening walls, maybe drop a conduit in the wall so it’s easier to pull extra THHN later.
Bcos the OP asked for 'ultimate flexibility'. Since the OP has to pay the electrician to wire the garage anyway might as well wire a 60+ amp circuit instead of one for a light bulb. The extra materials cost is minimal.
Totally agree with this. The least expensive/most flexible sweet spot is the Tesla HPWC on a 60 amp breaker. (A bigger breaker requires a cut off switch to be installed, so more complexity and cost.)
The HPWC on a 60 amp breaker gives you 48 amps to a Tesla, absolutely plenty for even an X to arrive home completely empty in the evening and depart full first thing in the morning.
With the 80 amp adapter, you would also be able to charge any J1772 car at up to 48 amps, although few current J1772 cars will draw that much.
With that setup, you could even add a second HPWC and let them load share, simultaneously to two EVs, one or both of which could be a Tesla.
dmurphy
Woof.
We installed a non-fused disconnect for our HPWC, even though it's exactly as you describe above (48amp draw on a 60amp breaker.)
It's a $13 part; seemed the sensible thing to do lest an AHJ interpret the NEC a little differently ...
https://www.amazon.com/Schneider-QO-Disconnect-Overcurrent-Protection/dp/B00002N5IS/
Similar threads
