NEMA 14-50 to 5-20 Adapters?

I took the plunge and bought the Zencar 32 Amp adjustable portable EVSE with a NEMA 14-50 wall plug. I just need an adapter for 110v trickle charging for now. Do I need a 5-20 adapter to get 16A from a 20A circuit with a 5-20 receptacle? Or will a standard 5-15 adapter still work on a 16A load? Also, will a 5-20 adapter work on a 5-15 receptacle?

Trying to find the best prices for adapters. I was suprised to see one place asking $60 for a 5-15 adapter. There must be cheaper options out there..

Hopefully you got the Zencar EVSE programmed for a 12A setting as that's what you should be using on a standard 15A circuit. Don't attempt to use a 16A setting on a 15A circuit, that's dangerous.

No doubt Tony Williams will weigh in, saying how stupid an adapter is. It's only unsafe if you don't know what you are doing and try to plugin the adapter while the amerage setting of the Zencar is set too high.

Do you know what amerage settings you ordered?

In case you don't know, you shake the plastic body of the Zencar, just after plugging it into the 14-50 receptacle, to cycle among the amperage settings available.

I ordered with 12-16-20-32A settings.

I intend on only using 12A for 15A circuits, but I do look forward to taking advantage of 16A on 20A circuits. Will give me a nice little boost when visiting at my parents and girlfriends as they both have 5-20 receptacles outside. Truthfully, Im not sure if those 20A receptacles are hooked up to a 15A circuit. Do people do that? How do I test?

The only instance I would push a 15A circuit to 16A is in very short bursts. Obviously not typical of EV charging. The breaker will obviously cook if im not careful.

Question: So if I plug the Zencar into a 20A 110V receptacle, will it automatically detect the circuit type and pick 16A? Is there a way to test how many amps an outlet is capable of providing continuous?

I was thinking about picking up this adapter:

https://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Adapter15A-Female-12inch-10-Power-Cord/dp/B06XTQJVNZ/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1501041887&sr=8-17-spons&keywords=14-50p+to+5-15r&psc=1

The Zencar doesn't auto sense (ie automatically adjust current as needed), so you have to set the proper amperage value manually, via the shake method.

Before you try using a 5-20 receptacle at greater than 15A, confirm at the main breaker panel (or subpanel) that the breaker is in fact 20A. Also, I wouldn't select the 20A setting on a 20A circuit, 16A would be the max.

Yes a 5-15 plug is just fine to use on a 5-20a outlet and 20a circuit for 20a short term use if your outlet/wiring is in good shape. What I'd do is charge for 15 minutes or so and then feel things like the outlet and circuit breaker. If either are abnormally warm I'd dial it down to 16a. I frequently charge short term(1-2hrs) 19a @ 120v. My Zencar says 20a on the setting but actually draws 19a which is nice as I'd really prefer to be a bit less draw than the absolute max draw of my circuits. If you're at all concerned I'd just use the 16a setting. That outlet adapter won't work, it's meant for RV use. You'll either have to make one yourself or purchase one specifically meant for EV use. It puts the same 120v on both sides of the 14-50r which would give you zero volts to your EVSE, you need one that puts the neutral on one side and 120v on the other, NOT a RV outlet adapter like the one you linked. Also don't over pay for your adapter, personally I wouldn't pay more than $25, you can easily make one for ~$20 in parts if your at all handy, both Alozzy and I did and it wasn't that hard. The easiest way is to purchase a 5-15 plug(~$2 at places like Menards) 14-50 female plug($15 on Amazon for a nice Camco?? brand with a handle) and a ~1' piece of 12/3 or thicker rubber wire(~$2 at Home Depot by the foot). You could also use 10-3 wiring, a bit more expensive but will probably work nicer in the 14-50 plug.

This one is $30 free shipping, and designed to work with the JuiceBox, so should work with my zencar as well correct? If DIY is around $25, I would rather just spend the extra money on peice of mind as Im not much of a DIYer, even for simple stuff like this...

https://emotorwerks.com/store/accessories/juicebox-adapters-input-cables

Will this work?

eyedrop said:

This one is $30 free shipping, and designed to work with the JuiceBox, so should work with my zencar as well correct? If DIY is around $25, I would rather just spend the extra money on peice of mind as Im not much of a DIYer, even for simple stuff like this...

https://emotorwerks.com/store/accessories/juicebox-adapters-input-cables

Will this work?

Click to expand...

Yes that should work perfect, just not ones meant for RV use.
I understand about wanting to order one already made and like you said for only $5 more why not
Again to adjust the Zencar's amperage output, simply plug it in the wall(not car) and within the first 30 seconds?? violently shake the unit. Each shake increments the amperage to the next setting, when it gets to the highest amperage the next shake will go to the lowest amperage and start over. It's a bit hokey and it seems just a little shake or tap doesn't work, you really have to shake it hard. Note after the first 30?? seconds you can shake it all you want and it won't change, just after first plugging it in and before plugging it into the car. If you ever get a diagnostic type of screen after shaking just unplug the EVSE from the wall, when you plug it back in all should be well. I'm not sure exactly what initiates the diagnostic screen but I've got it several times while adjusting the output amperage. At first I got really worried I'd broken it but a simple unplug cleared it back to normal.

Great to know the info about normal quirks! Those issues are no big deal to me...

I got the 5-15 adapter on order from emotorwerks. Now Im just looking for a NEMA 14-50 to NEMA TT-30 adapter, as some RV parks only have the old school 30 amp 110V circuits available. Im assuming the TT-30 adapter will also need to be EV specific?

eyedrop said:

Great to know the info about normal quirks! Those issues are no big deal to me...

I got the 5-15 adapter on order from emotorwerks. Now Im just looking for a NEMA 14-50 to NEMA TT-30 adapter, as some RV parks only have the old school 30 amp 110V circuits available. Im assuming the TT-30 adapter will also need to be EV specific?

Click to expand...

Yes, you will need an adapter designed for EVSE use. Or you could get an adapter from TT-30 to 5-15 or 5-20 and use it with the one you just ordered.

So i should be able to just use a basic adapter to fit onto the one I just bought, as opposed to buying another EV specific adapter??? I found a conventional one for RV's for $8 on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Male-Female-Connector-Adapter/dp/B00268WS72

Another concern is, will my EVSE even adjust to 20 or 30amps at 110v when connected to TT-30?

I wanted lots of flexibility in a single cable, so I made up a 14-50R to TT30P adapter cable, then purchased a TT30R to 5-15P adapter. Here are a few pics

https://goo.gl/5Q1Dnb
https://goo.gl/w92J8s
https://goo.gl/jGfv4a

• The 14-50R is a Camco 55353
• The TT30R to 5-15P is a Camco 55223
• The cable and TT30P was from a modified Conntek 14370

I cut the 14-50R off of the Conntek (as it's wired for an RV, as Jeff explained) and then I attached the Camco 14-50R female receptacle using the correct wiring for an EVSE (2 hots plus ground).

With this adapter setup, I can charge plugging into a either 5-15 receptacle or a TT30 receptacle. With the Zencar plug, I removed the unused neutral spade so that the EVSE can also be plugged into either a 14-30R or a 14-50R. Obviously, my end goal was to be able to charge at RV parks and campgrounds using pretty much any available receptacle. The TT30 is really only used for older RVs, so you only find those at RV parks and campgrounds

Figured I would post the Amazon pages for the above adapters, to save future readers from having to look them up:

https://goo.gl/ok1Wmu (Camco 55223)
https://goo.gl/9wz4pL (Camco 55353)
https://goo.gl/YPnvSD (Conntek 14370)

Total of $40, plus shipping (should be eligible for free shipping if ordered together)

alozzy said:

I wanted lots of flexibility in a single cable, so I made up a 14-50R to TT30P adapter cable, then purchased a TT30R to 5-15P adapter. Here are a few pics

https://goo.gl/5Q1Dnb
https://goo.gl/w92J8s
https://goo.gl/jGfv4a

• The 14-50R is a Camco 55353
• The TT30R to 5-15P is a Camco 55223
• The cable and TT30P was from a modified Conntek 14370

I cut the 14-50R off of the Conntek (as it's wired for an RV, as Jeff explained) and then I attached the Camco 14-50R female receptacle using the correct wiring for an EVSE (2 hots plus ground).

With this adapter setup, I can charge plugging into a either 5-15 receptacle or a TT30 receptacle. With the Zencar plug, I removed the unused neutral spade so that the EVSE can also be plugged into either a 14-30R or a 14-50R. Obviously, my end goal was to be able to charge at RV parks and campgrounds using pretty much any available receptacle. The TT30 is really only used for older RVs, so you only find those at RV parks and campgrounds

Click to expand...

Are you able to select 20A on the Zencar when charging from 110v outlets? How about from the TT30?

Most adjustable EVSE's dont go past 16A when charging from 110v.

Yes, it's all about the shake

The Zencar doesn't really care what source you use, so you need to be careful to select a safe amperage setting before you start charging.

I've still not had an opportunity to use a TT30 receptacle for charging as they are pretty rare. The Zencar is supposed to work at amperage settings above 16A on 120V circuits though.

eyedrop said:

alozzy said:

I wanted lots of flexibility in a single cable, so I made up a 14-50R to TT30P adapter cable, then purchased a TT30R to 5-15P adapter. Here are a few pics

https://goo.gl/5Q1Dnb
https://goo.gl/w92J8s
https://goo.gl/jGfv4a

• The 14-50R is a Camco 55353
• The TT30R to 5-15P is a Camco 55223
• The cable and TT30P was from a modified Conntek 14370

I cut the 14-50R off of the Conntek (as it's wired for an RV, as Jeff explained) and then I attached the Camco 14-50R female receptacle using the correct wiring for an EVSE (2 hots plus ground).

With this adapter setup, I can charge plugging into a either 5-15 receptacle or a TT30 receptacle. With the Zencar plug, I removed the unused neutral spade so that the EVSE can also be plugged into either a 14-30R or a 14-50R. Obviously, my end goal was to be able to charge at RV parks and campgrounds using pretty much any available receptacle. The TT30 is really only used for older RVs, so you only find those at RV parks and campgrounds

Click to expand...

Are you able to select 20A on the Zencar when charging from 110v outlets? How about from the TT30?

Most adjustable EVSE's dont go past 16A when charging from 110v.

Click to expand...

Yes as Alozzy said, the Zencar allows all settings for both 120v and 240v. Note your car has to be capable of higher 120v charging. Pre '13 Leafs and S model Leafs without the charge package only charge at a maximum of 12a @120v and 16a @ 240v, the other Leafs max out at 27.5a at any voltage(well between 120v and 240v).
As long as your car is capable of higher 120v charging you can select any amperage up to 27.5a with the Zencar, so make sure your circuit can handle the higher amperage otherwise you'll either blow the breaker or melt things.

eyedrop said:

So i should be able to just use a basic adapter to fit onto the one I just bought, as opposed to buying another EV specific adapter??? I found a conventional one for RV's for $8 on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Male-Female-Connector-Adapter/dp/B00268WS72

Another concern is, will my EVSE even adjust to 20 or 30amps at 110v when connected to TT-30?

Click to expand...

Personally I wouldn't pull more than 20a from a 5-15 plug, the lugs just aren't meant for higher amperage. A TT-30 plug is capable of 30a but once you reduce it down to a 5-15 plug, I'd stick to 20a max. For this reason what Alozzy did is your best choice, allowing you to pull up to 30a when hooked to a TT-30 outlet but dial it down to 20a(or less) when charging from a standard 5-15 outlet(hooked to a 20a or 15a circuit).

Seems a bit on the high side, but FYI for EV outlet adapters:
https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Adapter-14-50R-10-30P-L14-30P/dp/B06X9NPVKQ/ref=pd_sbs_263_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06X9NPVKQ&pd_rd_r=C1557CYW7DWJZ9M5J9XE&pd_rd_w=2eQzs&pd_rd_wg=RkfqU&psc=1&refRID=C1557CYW7DWJZ9M5J9XE

Alright, so I got the EVSE and 5-15 adapter today. The charging cable is super heavy, and when combined with the 5-15 adapter and an outlet up high, the plug nearly disconnects itself from the wall with all its weight, and the prongs are kind of halfway hanging out of the socket. Not good. Any easy solution to this problem? What about a short extension chord that allow the EVSE to rest on the ground instead of hanging? What gauge chord should I look for? Would a short 6ft or 10ft heavy duty "appliance" cord work? The chord on my new EVSE is way thicker than the OEM Nissan....


When I opened the box, I ended up with a KHONS brand adjustable EVSE. But I think the listing picture might have showed a Zencar. I could be wrong. I plugged it in and it has all the same features and functions I paid for. 12-16-20-32A. I have a funny feeling they are made in the same factory, but I could be wrong. The KHONS unit is bulkier and more old school looking than the Zencar. But its really no big deal for me..

Can you post a picture? Can't really visualize it properly...

I think the easiest/cheapest thing to do is simply put something under the main EVSE brick to keep it from tugging on the cord. Adding an extension cable is simply unnecessary, and even a short 6' 12AWG wire would pull noticeably more load from the circuit from the added resistance...

Correct, the best thing would probably be to just stick something under the EVSE to take the weight off the plug. You DON'T want to have the plug 1/2 way out like in your photo, sure to cause outlet overheating and a possible melt down! If you did use a short extension cord it would need to be 12 gauge minimum, preferably 10 gauge and most flat appliance cords are just 14 gauge but again just supporting the EVSE is probably the best and cheapest option.
I believe the Zencar and KHONS are basically the same EVSE made in the same Chinese factory.