Useful charging info for newcomers

[cosmacelf]

A couple of years ago, I wrote a 20 page document describing home made charging adapters for Tesla cars. I decided to update that info and include info for all other EVs and put it all into a web site. The result is http://CarCharging.us/

It provides lots of generic info about electricity and charging as well as specific info for Bolts and Volts. In particular, I detail how to make 240V adapters for the included Bolt EVSE, and provide links to other mobile EVSEs.

Any and all comments welcome. Thanks.

 

[BoltHighTension]

I have considered making one of the 240V adapters to keep in the car

 

[cosmacelf]

Yeah, I don't quite understand the paranoia about making these 120V to 240V adapters. As long as you affix a permanent warning label you should be fine. I mean, how likely would anyone else stumble across such an adapter that you only use and store your own garage when you're not using it. And then not read the warning label. I mean, people don't go around plugging stuff into 240V receptacles without knowing what they are doing.

 

[BoltHighTension]

Yeah, if I was using it only at home I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[SmokingRubber]

I have the opportunity to utilize a L21-30 (240V) at work. I am looking around the web and can't find an EV charger with that plug on the end. Can I simply buy any J1772 (240V) charger like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazingE-Portable-Electric-Equipment-Connector/dp/B06XSLYDLH/ref=pd_sbs_263_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XSLYDLH&pd_rd_r=BJCG8062YY4A6F5SSH60&pd_rd_w=uqJHM&pd_rd_wg=K6dLm&psc=1&refRID=BJCG8062YY4A6F5SSH60
and rewire the end with a L21-30 plug?

 

[SparkE]

I have the opportunity to utilize a L21-30 (240V) at work. I am looking around the web and can't find an EV charger with that plug on the end. Can I simply buy any J1772 (240V) charger like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazingE-Portable-Electric-Equipment-Connector/dp/B06XSLYDLH/ref=pd_sbs_263_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XSLYDLH&pd_rd_r=BJCG8062YY4A6F5SSH60&pd_rd_w=uqJHM&pd_rd_wg=K6dLm&psc=1&refRID=BJCG8062YY4A6F5SSH60
and rewire the end with a L21-30 plug?

Isn't L21 a 208V, three-phase circuit ? In which case, I'm not sure that a simple plug change would work. Although ChargePoint does sell units that work on 3-phase (but they are expensive commercial units, not inexpensive portable consumer units). IIRC.

 

[PolarNettles]

Isn't L21 a 208V, three-phase circuit ? In which case, I'm not sure that a simple plug change would work. Although ChargePoint does sell units that work on 3-phase (but they are expensive commercial units, not inexpensive portable consumer units). IIRC.

L21 is generally used for 3-phase 208V. It is also possible that the OP is on a 3-phase delta 240V system - I'm not really sure what receptacles are approved for those. But EVSEs *should* work with both 208V and 240V.

A plug converter will work - you just take 2 of the phases to get single-phase 208V or 240V. However, I don't know if you'll find a UL-rated L21-30 to 14-30 adapter. That may be something you'll have to DIY.

 

[SmokingRubber]

I have the opportunity to utilize a L21-30 (240V) at work. I am looking around the web and can't find an EV charger with that plug on the end. Can I simply buy any J1772 (240V) charger like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazingE-Portable-Electric-Equipment-Connector/dp/B06XSLYDLH/ref=pd_sbs_263_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XSLYDLH&pd_rd_r=BJCG8062YY4A6F5SSH60&pd_rd_w=uqJHM&pd_rd_wg=K6dLm&psc=1&refRID=BJCG8062YY4A6F5SSH60
and rewire the end with a L21-30 plug?

Isn't L21 a 208V, three-phase circuit ? In which case, I'm not sure that a simple plug change would work. Although ChargePoint does sell units that work on 3-phase (but they are expensive commercial units, not inexpensive portable consumer units). IIRC.

Yes it's a three-phase system. All our outlets are three-phase according to our maintenance guy. I looked into hard wiring a Siemens 30-amp wall box but according to maint guy we would need permits and an electrician. I was really hoping for a 30 amp solution but a 16 amp portable plug will work and likely be the easiest route. I need 25' of cord minimum from the outlet. Preferably the cord would have a 4-prong dryer plug on the end (so I can use it at home occasionally) and I would use an adapter to fit into the L21-30 here at work. Any suggestions?

 

[SmokingRubber]

Is there an extension cable that allows me to plug the 14-30 plug on this clipper creek charger: https://store.clippercreek.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=121&search=lcs-30 to a 3-phase L21-30 outlet?

 

[DucRider]

Is there an extension cable that allows me to plug the 14-30 plug on this clipper creek charger: https://store.clippercreek.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=121&search=lcs-30 to a 3-phase L21-30 outlet?

It's a bit more complicated since the unit is single phase.

CAUTION: This is a single-phase device. Do not connect all three
phases of a 3-phase feed !!! You may use any two phases of a threephase
wye-transformer feed. The center-point of the three phases (usually
used as Neutral) must be grounded somewhere in the system. A Neutral
connection is not required by the LCS.

With a wye-connected secondary, any two of the legs can be used to
provide 208V to the LCS. For example, L1 & L2, or L1 & L3, or L2
& L3. Leave the unused leg open. Do not connect it to a Neutral bar, or
to Ground. Be sure the center point is Earth Ground somewhere in the
system

The LCS unit is available from CC with a L6-30P:
https://store.clippercreek.com/level2/level2-20-to-32?product_id=120

L21-30P to L6-30R adapters:
https://www.amazon.com/NEMA-L21-30P-L6-30R-Plug-Adapter/dp/B00DM8ETOU
http://www.customavrack.com/products/6025-l21-30p-plug-adapters.aspx
Note: I'd double or even triple check that the adapter converts to what the EVSE is looking for as the potential to fry the unit is not insignificant

If it were me, I'd likely forego the adapter and get the hardwire (pigtail - no plug) version of the LCS-30 and wire on an L21-30P
https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-2811...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=R4WHC5VFWXR5JT2C9WPT

 

[SmokingRubber]

Is there an extension cable that allows me to plug the 14-30 plug on this clipper creek charger: https://store.clippercreek.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=121&search=lcs-30 to a 3-phase L21-30 outlet?

It's a bit more complicated since the unit is single phase.

CAUTION: This is a single-phase device. Do not connect all three
phases of a 3-phase feed !!! You may use any two phases of a threephase
wye-transformer feed. The center-point of the three phases (usually
used as Neutral) must be grounded somewhere in the system. A Neutral
connection is not required by the LCS.

With a wye-connected secondary, any two of the legs can be used to
provide 208V to the LCS. For example, L1 & L2, or L1 & L3, or L2
& L3. Leave the unused leg open. Do not connect it to a Neutral bar, or
to Ground. Be sure the center point is Earth Ground somewhere in the
system

The LCS unit is available from CC with a L6-30P:
https://store.clippercreek.com/level2/level2-20-to-32?product_id=120

L21-30P to L6-30R adapters:
https://www.amazon.com/NEMA-L21-30P-L6-30R-Plug-Adapter/dp/B00DM8ETOU
http://www.customavrack.com/products/6025-l21-30p-plug-adapters.aspx
Note: I'd double or even triple check that the adapter converts to what the EVSE is looking for as the potential to fry the unit is not insignificant

If it were me, I'd likely forego the adapter and get the hardwire (pigtail - no plug) version of the LCS-30 and wire on an L21-30P
https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-2811...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=R4WHC5VFWXR5JT2C9WPT

Super awesome work. I'm not an electrician so I honestly don't know the difference between 1-phase and 3-phase. How do I triple check that the adapter converts to what the EVSE is looking for? I don't want to fry anything! In fact, that's the exact mandate I received from my boss when I brought this subject up. I should see if I can push for a permit and an electrician?

 

[DucRider]

Super awesome work. I'm not an electrician so I honestly don't know the difference between 1-phase and 3-phase. How do I triple check that the adapter converts to what the EVSE is looking for? I don't want to fry anything! In fact, that's the exact mandate I received from my boss when I brought this subject up. I should see if I can push for a permit and an electrician?

Use a meter to check the following:

Connecting the two non "L" shaped slots should give a reading of 208V VAC.
When you connect each to the L shaped ground, it should read 120.

Don't freak out if it is not exactly 208 or 120, as line voltage varies and it may be +/- 5 or even 10V. If you get a reading that is wildly different, something is amiss. This assumes that the info you were given that it is 3 phase 208 is correct.

Edit:
Here is what the existing L21-30R should produce:

208 between any 2 of the non "L" shaped slots, 120 between each of them and the "L" shaped neutral or the round ground.

 

[SmokingRubber]

Like I said, I'm not an electrician so 90% of that is gibberish to me. Not your fault and I REALLY appreciate your attempt to get me straight. I was hoping that there would be a simple plug n play solution but this just proves to me that it's worth some money to get a permit and an electrician in here. I'll have them hard wire the unit you suggested. That would allow me to really charge at a level 2 speed and it'll provide the best bang for the buck imo.

PS. I'll still have the new kid turn it on lol.

 

[EddrivesEV]

Contact EVSEAdapters.com to see if they will build you the proper adapter (L21-30 to 14-30) for the EVSE you want from Amazon.

 

[winterescape]

A couple of years ago, I wrote a 20 page document describing home made charging adapters for Tesla cars. I decided to update that info and include info for all other EVs and put it all into a web site. The result is http://CarCharging.us/

It provides lots of generic info about electricity and charging as well as specific info for Bolts and Volts. In particular, I detail how to make 240V adapters for the included Bolt EVSE, and provide links to other mobile EVSEs.

Any and all comments welcome. Thanks.

Hey just wanted to say thanks for all this great info! I found your site very helpful and appreciate the link to the original Volt thread with the testing, disassembling, and all the pictures and parts identification of the stock Volt/Bolt EVSE. Although I enjoyed all that, I appreciate that your site is simple and straight forward to navigate for someone just looking to learn how to safely double the charge rate for the stock charge cord.

In hindsight, given this simple adaptation of the stock unit, I now question if my level 2 EVSE cost / install at home was all worth it for my Bolt.

One typo, on the Bolt page the first sentence still says Volt

 

[cosmacelf]

Like I said, I'm not an electrician so 90% of that is gibberish to me. Not your fault and I REALLY appreciate your attempt to get me straight. I was hoping that there would be a simple plug n play solution but this just proves to me that it's worth some money to get a permit and an electrician in here. I'll have them hard wire the unit you suggested. That would allow me to really charge at a level 2 speed and it'll provide the best bang for the buck imo.

PS. I'll still have the new kid turn it on lol.

If you want something simple, you can just use your included Bolt portable EVSE with a single adapter. It’ll only charge at 12A instead of the 24A that you could possibly draw from that L21-30 outlet, but you can at least see if it’ll work, and charging for 8 hours at work will get you useful mileage.

Use that link Ducrider gave (https://www.customavrack.com/products/6025-l21-30p-plug-adapters.aspx) and choose the NEMA 5-20 adapter. This will give you a female end that your portable EVSE can plug into and it’ll charge at 208V/12A.

 

[gpsman]

I finally got around to plugging the Chevy provided 12 amp EVSE into a 208 VAC socket (I measured it at 210 volts no load) at work.

And yup. Without any modifications at all, it is charging my Bolt right now at 2.52 kw.
The “time to complete” appropriately adjusted in the app.

(The Bolt rounds up to 3 on the dash.)

So is this “Level 1” charging?
Level 2 charging?
Or level 1.5 charging? :mrgreen:



Here’s what’s interesting: Even though I’m on the Chevy provided portable EVSE, the app now sees it as a “charge station”. And maybe because of this, there is no 12/8 amp setting. Guess I’m happily stuck with 12 amps @ 208v.

 

[SeanNelson]

I finally got around to plugging the Chevy provided 12 amp EVSE into a 208 VAC socket (I measured it at 210 volts no load) at work. ... So is this “Level 1” charging? Level 2 charging?

It's the cheapest and slowest Level 2 charging around.

If you've got a limited amount of 240V power available (like the 30A panel I have in my garage) then it's really the only sensible thing to do until you can upgrade your service and install a higher capacity charger.

 

[thurmy]

I love the idea of making (or buying) an inexpensive 120 to 240V adapter for the EVSE included with the Bolt! But I need a little help figuring out my options in my garage.

I'm currently renting my home and don't plan on being here for more than a year or two, and so I am not motivated to convince my landlord to allow me to install a level 2 charger in the garage. There is an existing outlet in the garage that appeared to be an old dryer outlet, but on closer inspection looks more like the NEMA 10-50 based on the carcharging.us receptacle ID table (I love that site!). Also, the breaker box in the garage appears to have an 80 amp breaker, which I assume is for that receptacle.

Here are my questions:
1) Can anyone confirm for me just based on the photos that this is indeed a NEMA 10-50?
2) Is the breaker configuration appropriate if it is a NEMA 10-50? 80 amp breaker seems very high to me, for a receptacle that's supposed to draw only 50A.
3) If I'm correct, this outlet doesn't have a ground, just two hots and a neutral. And from what I'm reading on how to make this converter, the wiring is 120V hot-neutral-ground to 240V hot-hot-ground (or hot-hot-neutral in this case). I'm sure this has been answered in another forum, so feel free to ignore it if it has been, but does this conversion not take away the ground wire from the EVSE adapter? Does that not make it inherently less safe in the event of a short?
4) Has anyone explored what this conversion does to the warranty of the car or the EVSE?
5) Are there other inexpensive portable EVSE adapters that would be better for me that would both plug into a NEMA 10-50, and perhaps draw a higher amperage? I don't mind spending a few hundred on a good portable EVSE if I can get good use of it, and don't have to pay for an electrician to install (and eventually uninstall) it.

 

[SparkE]