BoulderLeaf
Well-known member
Hi all,
I bought a Gen 2 Schneider EVLink charger (Gen 2.5 here, for reference: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Schneider-Electric-EVlink-30-Amp-Generation-2-5-Enhanced-Model-Indoor-Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Station-EV230WS/203670265 ) a few years ago and had our electrician install it for our 2012.
After he installed it, I was cleaning up some debris left over and noticed some scraps form his install were #10 copper wire. I asked him about that (because as I recall the instructions said #8 copper or aluminum) and he said that #10 copper is fine to carry 30A (this is what dryers use too, apparently).
Fast forward to a couple of months ago and during our PV install I was talking to their electrician and he said that loads that run for >2 hours are considered "continuous" loads and thus you need to derate their conductor carrying capacity by some factor (I think 20%)?
In any case, now that we are looking to trade in our 2012 with a 3.6 kW charger and buy a 2015 with the 6.6kW charger (and probably in the next day or so), I'm a bit worried that the #10 copper isn't sufficient/safe for the EVSE installation. Especially with temperatures still in the 90's...
So, does anyone know if #10 copper is safe/up to code for a "continuous" load in this case? Or, should I ask him to come back out and re-install using #8 copper? I think the actual current requirement would be a bit less at 28A, but I want to be safe here and not risk a fire or anything.
Thanks!
I bought a Gen 2 Schneider EVLink charger (Gen 2.5 here, for reference: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Schneider-Electric-EVlink-30-Amp-Generation-2-5-Enhanced-Model-Indoor-Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Station-EV230WS/203670265 ) a few years ago and had our electrician install it for our 2012.
After he installed it, I was cleaning up some debris left over and noticed some scraps form his install were #10 copper wire. I asked him about that (because as I recall the instructions said #8 copper or aluminum) and he said that #10 copper is fine to carry 30A (this is what dryers use too, apparently).
Fast forward to a couple of months ago and during our PV install I was talking to their electrician and he said that loads that run for >2 hours are considered "continuous" loads and thus you need to derate their conductor carrying capacity by some factor (I think 20%)?
In any case, now that we are looking to trade in our 2012 with a 3.6 kW charger and buy a 2015 with the 6.6kW charger (and probably in the next day or so), I'm a bit worried that the #10 copper isn't sufficient/safe for the EVSE installation. Especially with temperatures still in the 90's...
So, does anyone know if #10 copper is safe/up to code for a "continuous" load in this case? Or, should I ask him to come back out and re-install using #8 copper? I think the actual current requirement would be a bit less at 28A, but I want to be safe here and not risk a fire or anything.
Thanks!