Defective (hazardous) portable EVSE

419 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by JasonF, 12 d ago

bwilson4web

Discussion Starter · 13 d ago

With a home made NEMA 14-50 to NEMA 5-15 adapter, I was able to test the unit at 120 VAC and it is a disaster:

Tested with my Tesla Model 3, I could control the amps only to find the EVSE is unsafe to unsophisticated EV owners (aka., ex-wife.):

Initially tried to draw 31 A, the Tesla default
Stepped Tesla amps to generate the above chart
Typically 80% of the circuit breakeris the maxiumum safe load
- 12 A - NEMA 5-15
- 15 A - NEMA 5-20
- Lower currents are OK and sometimes needed if other loads on the circuit

I've already submitted a 'return' request and will be shipping it back. But I am quite disappointed by this unsafe performance.

Bob Wilson

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garsh

· #2 · 12 d ago

bwilson4web said:
I was able to test the unit...

What unit?

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Again, the problem isn't the EVSE, it's your homemade adapter. You keep trying to do something that you aren't supposed to do.
You can make a NEMA 5-15 socket to NEMA 15-50 plug, but not the other way around.
The EVSE Must be the one with the 120V plug. Otherwise exactly what you are saying occurs.

Use the Tesla mobile connector with the NEMA 5-15 or 5-20 plug, works perfectly.

The adapter that you tested previously did it exactly correct, it wouldn't work, which is the correct answer.

I'm really not sure why you seem so intent to make something work the wrong way. If you have a NEMA 14-50 EVSE, don't expect it to work on 120V.

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bwilson4web

Discussion Starter · #4 · 12 d ago

garsh said:
What unit?

Here is the eBay listing:

32A EV Charger J1772 Level 2 Portable Fast Car Charging Cable EVSE NEMA 14-50 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 32A EV Charger J1772 Level 2 Portable Fast Car Charging Cable EVSE NEMA 14-50 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Bob Wilson

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JasonF

· #5 · 12 d ago

If that EVSE doesn't have an amp limit setting, you would have to set it manually in the car. There's no way the car is going to be able to guess the amp limit without tripping the circuit breaker first.

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bwilson4web

Discussion Starter · #6 · 12 d ago

Ed Woodrick said:
I'm really not sure why you seem so intent to make something work the wrong way. If you have a NEMA 14-50 EVSE, don't expect it to work on 120V.

It is for my ex-wife who has the 2014 BMW i3-REx. She needs a safe, dual-voltage, portable EVSE. The last one leaked and corrosion destroyed one of the control board.

I used my Tesla to test it and found the deficiencies. BTW, the EVSE seller recommended another NEMA 14-50 to NEMA 5-15 adapter on eBay:

Hello dear buyer, really sorry to hear it, this is the right NEMA 14-50 to NEMA 5-15 adapter we found on ebay, this is the product link:

50 Amp to 15 Amp 110 RV Adapter Cord, NEMA 5-15P Male to 14-50R Female Electrica 313038143190 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 50 Amp to 15 Amp 110 RV Adapter Cord, NEMA 5-15P Male to 14-50R Female Electrica at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

You can consult with the seller before you buy.

I was looking for a portable EVSE and found one that had a dual-current control switch. But the seller of this defective unit sent me an offer that turned out to be too good.

Bob Wilson

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bwilson4web

Discussion Starter · #7 · 12 d ago

I would prefer a weather proof, portable EVSE with a long cable that:

Default 32 A with 240 VAC power
Default 8 A with 120 VAC power
- Override switch to 12 A

I've mentally designed one but making a 'one of' is not appealing. After all, she is my ex-wife and I don't plan to live forever.

Bob Wilson

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android04

· #8 · 12 d ago

bwilson4web said:
I would prefer a weather proof, portable EVSE with a long cable that:

Default 32 A with 240 VAC power

Default 8 A with 120 VAC power

Override switch to 12 A

I've mentally designed one but making a 'one of' is not appealing. After all, she is my ex-wife and I don't plan to live forever.

Bob Wilson

Sounds like you need a Tesla mobile connector with a J1772 plug instead of the Tesla NACS plug. Since its adapters automatically limit current and monitor temperatures, they are well-designed. I had a Gen 2 that I sold to someone for use on a Mach-E. I had a Gen 1 that I was selling, but there wasn't any interest. I ended up cutting off the J1772 adapter and splicing in an 18' cable from a broken wall connector, and now I have a 36' cable.

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JasonF

· #9 · 12 d ago

bwilson4web said:
I would prefer a weather proof, portable EVSE with a long cable that:

Default 32 A with 240 VAC power

Default 8 A with 120 VAC power

Override switch to 12 A

The best match for that is a Tesla Mobile Connector with 14-50, 14-30, 5-15, and 5-20 plug heads. The plug heads have resistors in them that automatically regulate the Mobile Connector amps based on which head it's using. The cable is pretty long, and there is an adapter you can buy to convert the Tesla connector to J-1772.

If the cable isn't long enough, the best approach would be to have a set of standard extension cords for each of the outlet types.

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