OpenEVSE - Open Source Charging Station

[GlennD]

How did this get into the OpenEvse thread?

[goldbrick]

How did this get into the OpenEvse thread?

Good question! And did you mean Rinnai? I have one and love it too so I'm just wondering....

[GlennD]

I used autocorrect and I did not notice the error. I was in the plumbing section of the DIY forum but my reply ended up here. Oh well, no harm done. I truly love my tankless water heater and I would not go back.

The only thing I see is that they are running the same software and my reply wanted me to log on.

[tushar]

Is a bigger enclosure enough or is venting required?

Contactors typically draw about 15W so they need airflow. A small box will likely cause excessive temperatures. Many times the contractor is placed in airflow and never gets hot. The outside half of an air conditioner is like that.

I think you have to calculate the heat, it might require a big enclosure with venting or even air condition enclosure. Which rating standard are you using? NEMA rating or IP standard? I found this site might be valuable if you looking for NEMA electrical enclosures. They provide many types and design including addon features like hinges, couplings, wheels, air condition, and many more. My company did order from them recently and everything worked out fine. https://www.nemaco.com, to study for type and protection recommend study from https://www.nema.org/pages/default.aspx and https://www.nema.org/Products/Documents ... -types.pdf

[paulito99]

Hi all - hope it was OK to post this as a reply on the OpenEVSE sticky.
I have three questions; any insight / advice is greatly appreciated!

1) I have an OpenEVSE box from 2014 and rarely have had to open it. I had to replace the fuses recently, and when I opened it up, some white fluffy material was inside; see the following three pics in my Drive folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
Anyone know what this white fluffy stuff is? I vacuumed it away easily. Should I be concerned?

2) Same OpenEVSE box: the fuse holders have shown some heat damage. I actually replaced these fuse holders before. See the following two pics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
Anyone else see melted fuse holders? Is there a workaround / more updated parts I should use from the original 2014 BOM?
I've actually had to ratchet the OpenEVSE down to 20A; prior to that, higher amperage settings kept blowing the fuses.

3) I recently got a 2020 Leaf Plus; it comes with an EVSE indicating 30A with a NEMA 14-50 plug.
The 2014 OpenEVSE uses a NEMA 6-30R locking receptacle. I ran #8 AWG from my 30A circuit breaker to the receptacle when I had this circuit installed.
I was thinking of getting a 6-30-to-14-50 adapter, and plugging the stock EVSE into my circuit; I figure the wiring can handle it, and worst case the 30A circuit breaker would go off, if the (approx assumed) 27.5A continuous charge load was too much.
Anyone else have experience trying the stock EVSE on a 30A circuit breaker, or if this is not a good idea?

Hey thanks for anyone's input on any of the above, and Happy New Year
- Paulito

[fotajoye]

Hi all - hope it was OK to post this as a reply on the OpenEVSE sticky.
I have three questions; any insight / advice is greatly appreciated!

1) I have an OpenEVSE box from 2014 and rarely have had to open it. I had to replace the fuses recently, and when I opened it up, some white fluffy material was inside; see the following three pics in my Drive folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
Anyone know what this white fluffy stuff is? I vacuumed it away easily. Should I be concerned?

2) Same OpenEVSE box: the fuse holders have shown some heat damage. I actually replaced these fuse holders before. See the following two pics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
Anyone else see melted fuse holders? Is there a workaround / more updated parts I should use from the original 2014 BOM?
I've actually had to ratchet the OpenEVSE down to 20A; prior to that, higher amperage settings kept blowing the fuses.

3) I recently got a 2020 Leaf Plus; it comes with an EVSE indicating 30A with a NEMA 14-50 plug.
The 2014 OpenEVSE uses a NEMA 6-30R locking receptacle. I ran #8 AWG from my 30A circuit breaker to the receptacle when I had this circuit installed.
I was thinking of getting a 6-30-to-14-50 adapter, and plugging the stock EVSE into my circuit; I figure the wiring can handle it, and worst case the 30A circuit breaker would go off, if the (approx assumed) 27.5A continuous charge load was too much.
Anyone else have experience trying the stock EVSE on a 30A circuit breaker, or if this is not a good idea?

Hey thanks for anyone's input on any of the above, and Happy New Year
- Paulito

1. Insects or fungus maybe?
2. Assuming the fuse contacts will handle 30 amps , clean the fuses and contacts well and make sure you don't have contact resistance at the fuses; with the heavy gage wire any heating resistance will more likely be at the fuses.
3. I used my Open EVSE on my 2011 until recently when I purchased a used 2019 Leaf...the onboard charger now draws 28 amps which works fine. My circuit is a 40 amp breaker, 10 gage wire to a 30 amp fuse switch box with an L6-30 socket to the Open EVSE. I would like more head room; but, I feel the circuit is protected OK with the 30 amp fuses.
I also have the Nissan EVSE with the 14-50 plug; but, since my Open EVSE work OK, I just keep it in the car and intend to use it with the 120 volt adapter if I need to trickle charge. I'll wire it in if my Open EVSE goes away.

[goldbrick]

1. No idea but I'd at least clean it up before using the unit again.
2. That looks pretty scary to me. Melted parts are dangerous and show either a circuit design fault or circuit component fault or misuse.
3. 8 AWG Cu wire of just about any type is rated for 40A or more. I'd replace the circuit breaker and upgrade the circuit to 40A.https://www.cerrowire.com/products/reso ... ty-charts/

[salyavin]

I would upgrade it too you really don't want a sustained load over 80% of what it is rated for. I actually had a 50amp circuit put in mine and my for some future car. Some people I know went higher as the labor is the main cost. I actually rolled it in and had the master electrictian do it as part of my solar install.

[JeremyW]

Is anyone interested in OpenEVSE parts? I have a Barbouri through hole version, and a v4 SMD board, along with an RGB display and some other odds and ends. No complete EVSE, no J1772 cables. Free, just paypal me actual shipping costs. PM me if interested.