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JeffRay

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
1,136
AT THE RISK OF EMBARRASSMENT, POST YOUR USER ERROR STORY HERE.

As many of you know, I have had the little guy for about a year and drive in the NYC urban area. As such, I have to charge at dealer and commercial chargers. My user error story is the discovery TODAY that the supplied 110v charger has a little button on it to select fast or slow charging. My passenger read the sticker and pointed it out to me. What a dunce I am! So the fast mode charges at 1.2 kwH vs. 0.8 kwH in slow mode. Nothing compared to a 220 charger of course. My commute is only 20 miles round trip. So going forward, I should be able to commute to work all week on a single weekend top up charge. (I get 35-65 per tank depending on outside temperature). Yeah.
 
The low default is to insure the outlet can supply 8A. There have been reports of poor outlets burning up at 12A on MNL. As long as you make sure the outlet will handle it then go for 12A. The car charger can actually take 20A at 120V. Just make sure it runs cool. I have tested my OpenEVSE at 15A on a 20A circuit.
 
Glenn,

Well it fully charged without popping the circuit breaker. Will see if I melted anything when I go unplug. Hm, maybe I will go check now!

Checked: OK, no melted outlet. No fire!
 
You are most likely good. People with worn outlets cause fires. When I moved here while it was still empty I changed out all of the outlets. 21 years ago I did not realize outlets came in different grades so I picked up 2 contractor packs. Some of them are getting worn.
 
I missed that too! Only noticed after a few months when I wanted to top up on the go.

When scouting 110v/120v outlets try to find one a close to the electrical panel as possible. There can legally be 8-10 outlets on each breaker. Depending on the electrician the last outlet might need the first 9 in perfect working for clean voltage.

If a home user watch some YouTube videos on how to "pigtail" outlets and require your outlets. "Back stabbed or quick wired" outlets account for about 12 service calls a year on older houses (80-90's usually worst).

The seat memories buttons got me until I was board and hunting through the forum.
 
Lukeetal said:
I missed that too! Only noticed after a few months when I wanted to top up on the go.

When scouting 110v/120v outlets try to find one a close to the electrical panel as possible. There can legally be 8-10 outlets on each breaker. Depending on the electrician the last outlet might need the first 9 in perfect working for clean voltage.

If a home user watch some YouTube videos on how to "pigtail" outlets and require your outlets. "Back stabbed or quick wired" outlets account for about 12 service calls a year on older houses (80-90's usually worst).

The seat memories buttons got me until I was board and hunting through the forum.

Back stabbed are evil! Unfortunately in production to meet low cost they are often used. All of my outlets were back stabbed. I used the screws but I would use pigtails if I did it today. One of the outlets I replaced was visibly burned.
 
The outlet I used is an outdoor grounded one with its own breaker. I think under code, it has to have its own breaker on the panel. Incubator was new construction built around 2005. It only popped once when on regular charging when a contractor connected a saw to it. So I think I should be good.

Nice to have option for 1.2 kwH charge if low or short of time. Otherwise, will keep on 0.8 kwH so as not to stress the line. Landlord allows me to plug in for free so don't want to hand them an electrician's bill.
 

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