EVSE wiring and/or GFI Breaker

[QueenBee]

If you have an extra $100 I'd recommend donating it to Plug In America instead of buying a GFI breaker for your EVSE.

[inphoenix]

The problem is that you may have significant trouble with nuisance GF tripping at the breaker! I can't say one way or the other from personal experience, but I noticed that the Siemens VersiCharge originally recommended a GFCI breaker in its manual for cord-and-plug installation -- but it no longer does. I'm guessing that they found some installations were nuisance tripping -- but I don't know for sure.

+1

[Flyct]

GFCI nuisance tripping can be a problem. I have a 2nd refrigerator in the garage that's plugged into a GFCI. Here garage outlets by code require they be GFCI. I ended up putting a line voltage monitor on that circuit connected to our home burglar alarm system, so I get notification if the GFCI trips.

I hard wired our EVSE.

If I had installed a 40/50a 240 volt receptacle in the garage I would seriously consider a disconnect nearby for it if the breaker panel was not within reach. I'd leave that receptacle dead when not in use.

[Flyct]

I just found this that may be of interest to the OP
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Midwest-Elec ... /100686230

50 amp GFCI distribution panel that could be mounted above the receptacle .

[koolkev]

Can someone explain/point to an explanation of what a "damp location" is? If a crawl space under the house with exposed earth as the floor can be considered a damp location I will use 6-3 UF-B $3.99 a foot. If it can be considered inside I will use 6-3 $2.79 foot. And/or take suggestions

Thanks

[wwhitney]

Can someone explain/point to an explanation of what a "damp location" is?

Here's the 2012 NEC definition:

Location, Damp. Locations protected from weather and not subject to saturation with water or other liquids but subject to moderate degrees of moisture. Examples of such locations include partially protected locations under canopies, marquees, roofed open porches, and like locations, and interior locations subject to moderate degrees of moisture, such as some basements, some barns, and some coldstorage warehouses.

If a crawl space under the house with exposed earth as the floor can be considered a damp location

It certainly can be a damp location, but it really shouldn't be. I.e. if your crawl space sees enough water to be considered damp, that is definitely worth fixing. Most crawl spaces aren't damp.

Cheers, Wayne

[Flyct]

I personally would run UF being that location could have condensation.
http://www.paramountlighting.com/Techni ... %20def.pdf

Check out above.

[koolkev]

Thanks Wayne, Flyct,
Working on fixing the crawl space moisture but will consider it damp. I'm in California so it's not damp very often but....

[wwhitney]

Working on fixing the crawl space moisture but will consider it damp.

Using UF is certainly a conservative choice. I thought you might find the definition of dry location from the 2012 NEC enlightening:

Location, Dry. A location not normally subject to dampness or wetness. A location classified as dry may be temporarily subject to dampness or wetness, as in the case of a building under construction.

Most crawl spaces are dry locations.

Cheers, Wayne

[QueenBee]

Thanks Wayne, Flyct,
Working on fixing the crawl space moisture but will consider it damp. I'm in California so it's not damp very often but....

Really dont do that unless you plan on running the wire in contact with the dirt. It's just throwing money away that you could donate to a good cause. If your crawl space is wet enough that the wiring is wet I would not worry about the wiring as wood it's attached to is going to rot first so you could just plan on rewiring when you rebuild your house.

But seriously if moisture is condesating on things in your crawl space that is a serious problem. If that isn't happening then no need worry about the wiring being wet so then just use normal nm-b.