Swinging charging pole

[Austindude]

So in my small two car garage I need to park my Model 3 such that the charging port is opposite the closest wall (Yes I could just back into the garage but my wife was not comfortable doing that). I needed to park in this bay as opposed to the adjacent bay because of the size of the car and shelving and a protruding hot water tank closet. to make charging more acceptable I decided to try my hand at building a swinging charging pole that would not interfere with the overhead garage door or the car in the next bay. It is a work in progress and I will be upgrading to cables with a turn buckle instead of cord (that will stretch over time). I may also upgrade the hinge which was made from two pieces of metal brackets for use on 2x4's. Pictures of my first attempt provided.

 

[skitown]

Nice work! Thanks for sharing. I've had similar thoughts and schematics running through my head for months. Always *optimizing*.

 

[config.sys]

I thought I finally had my list of colors narrowed down, but that blue looks amazing. Argh!

Great idea, now you just have to motorize it!

 

[CdnE90]

That’s a great way to solve that problem. I have this exact same problem. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Austindude]

Updated ropes to cables with turn buckles. Add more cable clamps and a new hinge next.

 

[BioSehnsucht]

I would consider using velcro straps instead of zip-ties for the wiring - you want to spread the pressure out over a larger area so you're less likely to create a hot spot or damage the insulation, etc.

 

[thimel]

Here is my solution to the problem. I wanted to charge two different cars. The YouTube video shows how I did it.

 

[Austindude]

I would consider using velcro straps instead of zip-ties for the wiring - you want to spread the pressure out over a larger area so you're less likely to create a hot spot or damage the insulation, etc.

Absolutely but I was also going to do this for another reason, I want to be able to remove the mobile charger in case I want to take it with me. Built everything today and I didn't have the Velcro straps.

 

[Austindude]

Very nice, and I really like your hinge!

 

[Uncle Paul]

Very clever and effective charging solutions.

It made me smile how Rube Goldberg they look with bungee cords, fencing toggle bolts, a tool hanger, some scrap wood, eye bolts, a length of PVC and looping it around some supports. Don't mean this in a negative way, but the costs were almost nothing and additional improvements can be made from time to time as the creative juices continue to flow.

 

[Austindude]

Very clever and effective charging solutions.

It made me smile how Rube Goldberg they look with bungee cords, fencing toggle bolts, a tool hanger, some scrap wood, eye bolts, a length of PVC and looping it around some supports. Don't mean this in a negative way, but the costs were almost nothing and additional improvements can be made from time to time as the creative juices continue to flow.

Yeah and the truth is it was sort of fun to work on. I'll keep improving mine.

 

[mrsandman]

Great ideas. I was thinking of using these to support the cable in the ceiling.

SB-3.0 Spring Balancer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0799QCM9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_F.F5Ab68CEVCW

They have some that are lower capacity and used to support VR wires like this:

6 Packs Retractable Cable Management for HTC VIVE NEW Version System for HTC VIVE Virtual Reality Headset- MDW Adhesive Drill Free https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M6EB8DM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5bG5Ab6ZX9GTZ

Anyone try this yet?

 

[Austindude]

Great ideas. I was thinking of using these to support the cable in the ceiling.

SB-3.0 Spring Balancer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0799QCM9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_F.F5Ab68CEVCW

They have some that are lower capacity and used to support VR wires like this:

6 Packs Retractable Cable Management for HTC VIVE NEW Version System for HTC VIVE Virtual Reality Headset- MDW Adhesive Drill Free https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M6EB8DM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5bG5Ab6ZX9GTZ

Anyone try this yet?

That spring balancer looks interesting, might check out the weight of the cable and connector vs the balancer spec. I have attached my latest update which includes some upgrades suggested by others.

 

[jayhawk3]

This topic always brings the most ghetto solutions. Just buy one of these and do it right.

https://www.evocharge.com/UserManual/1453778788EVoCharge_Product_Brochure_XVI-01AEC.pdf

Google Image Result for https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71623bvEDbL._SL1500_.jpg

 

[BioSehnsucht]

That's a pretty slick product, but I think in OP's case it would prevent him from opening the garage door at all when it's in use, based on how the vehicle is positioned. With his "ghetto" solution he can open and close the garage door while the vehicle is plugged in.

 

[RyanS]

Ghetto is too harsh. I would call that a MacGyver solution.

 

[Thomas Edison]

Or thrifty even... $1500 for a retractable cord is a bit much if you can build something that works for you.

 

[Ampre Sand]

I have thought about using a horse stable sprayer boom. Kind of a fitting use, when you think about it:

https://www.amazon.com/Miller-169516-MILLER-Sprayer-Boom/dp/B0061Y99ZG

The one modification I might make is to use sufficiently sized machine pulleys at each end of the boom to run the cable over and allow an adjustable retract.

 

[Austindude]

I have thought about using a horse stable sprayer boom. Kind of a fitting use, when you think about it:

https://www.amazon.com/Miller-169516-MILLER-Sprayer-Boom/dp/B0061Y99ZG

The one modification I might make is to use sufficiently sized machine pulleys at each end of the boom to run the cable over and allow an adjustable retract.

As a ghetto guy I really like the potential of that stable boom.

 

[RedishArctic]

Some good ideas. Keep them coming! Minnesota winters are just plain cruel to garage floors and the evse cables that touch them. I still haven’t finalized where my NEMA 14-50 will be placed in the garage to best charge my upcoming Model 3 and a Volt. This type of ingenuity really helps with this decision.