I'm thinking installer error, if the installation was unused before the breaker trip.
RustyShackleford said:Newbie here, wife is about to by a used 2018 Leaf. I'm a little confused about the Level2 charging. Nissan says that using an L2-EVSE charging cable, it will charge the 40kwh version in 8 hours, which is a net of 5000 watts. But they also say you need to install a 50amp/240v outlet. That's 12000watts. I understand that outlets (over-current protection devices, specifically) need to be oversized, and that there's some inefficiency in the charging circuit. Still 12000watts versus 5000watts seems a bit extreme. Against code even, as breakers aren't supposed to be drastically larger than the expected load (I forget what the factor is, but it's a lot less than 2.4x). Please help me to understand.
Oh, it's the plug (it's a 3XB3, by the way), I see. No, no real reason not to do 50amp. I'll DIY anyhow, not that it'd matter much on cost either way. I just thought 50amp sounded grossly oversized; and I'd rather work w/ 8awg than 6awg. Thanks !davewill said:However, ask most electricians to put in a 14-50, and they'll do a 50a circuit unless there's a reason to do it differently...and I recommend that you do so unless there's a technical or economic reason to put in the smaller 40a circuit.
Wait, what, use 12awg w/ . a 50amp breaker ?smkettner said:50 amp is fine with lighter loads. Short circuit will trip the breaker before #12 wire melts.
That might actually be helpful for visiting certain friends and family. So you're saying that if I look around, I can find a charging cable that'll work with this car and only need a 30amp outlet ?Only reason to get a smaller evse would be to utilize an unused dryer outlet rated 30 amps. For this you need 24 amp evse.
Um no.RustyShackleford said:Wait, what, use 12awg w/ . a 50amp breaker ?smkettner said:50 amp is fine with lighter loads. Short circuit will trip the breaker before #12 wire melts.
RustyShackleford said:Wait, what, use 12awg w/ . a 50amp breaker ?smkettner said:50 amp is fine with lighter loads. Short circuit will trip the breaker before #12 wire melts.
That might actually be helpful for visiting certain friends and family. So you're saying that if I look around, I can find a charging cable that'll work with this car and only need a 30amp outlet ?Only reason to get a smaller evse would be to utilize an unused dryer outlet rated 30 amps. For this you need 24 amp evse.
Sounds like the 3XB3 will probably work with a 40amp outlet (and maybe a 30amp), but still, if has a 50amp plug and so needs a 50amp receptable, it's a code violation to install that outlet with less than 50amp breaker and compatible wire.
So there's no such thing as a charging cable that would only pull 24 amps (and so be ok w/ 30amp circuit) ?Jerryr said:By code you will need at least 40 amps to power the 2018-2019 Nissan 120/240v. EVSE.
Oh I see, so the '50' (in 14-50R) means it can handle 50amps but not that it's illegal to hook it to a small circuit (or at least to a 40amp).There is no such thing as a 40 amp only receptacle. For 40 amp 240v the receptacle used is a 14-50R the same for 50 amp 240v.
RustyShackleford said:So there's no such thing as a charging cable that would only pull 24 amps (and so be ok w/ 30amp circuit) ?
RustyShackleford said:So there's no such thing as a charging cable that would only pull 24 amps (and so be ok w/ 30amp circuit) ?Jerryr said:By code you will need at least 40 amps to power the 2018-2019 Nissan 120/240v. EVSE.
There is no such thing as a 40 amp only receptacle. For 40 amp 240v the receptacle used is a 14-50R the same for 50 amp 240v.
Oh I see, so the '50' (in 14-50R) means it can handle 50amps but not that it's illegal to hook it to a small circuit (or at least to a 40amp).
RustyShackleford said:So there's no such thing as a charging cable that would only pull 24 amps (and so be ok w/ 30amp circuit) ?
Thanks for these pointers (you and @mkettner). They are several hundred dollars. The only reason to try to go to a smaller amperage cable would be to be able to use with a 30amp receptacle at her son's house, the idea being it's easier to find one of those. But I think she's better off sticking with the 3XB3 that'll come with the car (i.e. free), and put that money into another 40amp outlet at her son's house if need be (he or I can install it).Jerryr said:RustyShackleford said:So there's no such thing as a charging cable that would only pull 24 amps (and so be ok w/ 30amp circuit) ?
Clipper Creek makes a 30 amp 240v connectable EVSE Model LCS-30 that connects to a 30 amp Supply and pulls max 24 amps. It will provide a decent rate L2 charge at about 5.8 kw.
Duh, I actually installed one of those when we remodeled kitchen 3 years ago (with 40amp breaker and 8/3 NM-B).Yes. Most electric ranges require 40 amp 240v supply and come with a cord with a 14-50P plug that plugs into a 14-50R receptacle protected by a 40 amp breaker.
RustyShackleford said:how does the car know to pull less juice ? I'm thinking the other conductors in the connector allow the car to handshake with some kind of logic in the box in the cord, and tell it "you're actually connected to a car and not some kid's fingers" while the cord tells the car "you can only draw 24 amps from this charger"; do I have that about right
There's normally little purpose to carrying the cord around on a daily basis. I can count the number of times I've used a portable EVSE during my 8 years of EV ownership on my fingers, and not once was it unforeseen. It's sufficient to leave it plugged in at home, and take it with you only when you are leaving on a long trip or have some other reason to think you might need it.RustyShackleford said:Now we have to decide whether to spring for a hard-wired charging station, or just install a 14-50R outlet on the side of the house near where wife parks (in some sort of weather-proof housing I guess) and use the 3XB3 cord that's with the car. I guess it's cost of the hard-wired unit versus the inconvenience of she either has to leave the cord plugged in and thus not have it while she's on the road, or have to pull it out and plug it in every time she comes home.
Have to decide REAL soon too, she'll get the car Thursday ...
Oddly (especially considering our earlier discussion) it looks like the hard-wired unit that Nissan points you to:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FWSGK1C/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_vasevn_12c1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=0KKYKSKMR3QM1ZSVDCEA&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=fd2e30a2-0a4e-479c-94ae-ccda5eff82d5&pf_rd_i=19006194011&th=1
... is only 32 amps, so wondering if it'll charge the car as fast as the 3XB3 in a 40- or 50-amp outlet ?
All evse send a pilot signal (tone) to the vehicle in order to communicate the maximum amps. Range is about 6 to 80 amps.RustyShackleford said:I am curious though: if I bought that 30amp cord, how does the car know to pull less juice ?
Do I understand correctly that the Leaf (specifically a 2018 SV) allows you to schedule a charge ? I
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