For those of us who have existing level 2 chargers. Seems the codes are starting to catch up to the effects of continuous power draw and issues with the receptacles. Approved plug-in 240vac receptacles are now in available, they are specifically designated as EV approved and most have a green car molded into the surface. The code updates also call for specific GFI protection as well. We all might consider complying with these changes. Cc
there have been house fires because the old outlets weren't designed for continuous high current flow like an ev. prime is probably not an issue.
The Prime's current draw is limited to 12A-16A @ 220VAC; that's lower than a spa, induction cook top, and most electric clothes dryer units. If the dedicated charging circuit was installed per local electrical codes; there shouldn't be an issue. Other EVs will draw significantly more amperage; so if some shade-tree mechanic doesn't stick to minimum electrical specifications - the house or barn can burn down. It doesn't matter if you have a green car stamped on the plug. It's an infrastructure thing. Just my 2-cents..... A lot of times a damaged EV battery pack is the cause and source of a house fire. See first generation Chevy Bolt recall notice.
I put in a 14-50R outlet in my garage and got a relatively simple charger. I also ran it to a new 50A GFCI breaker in my panel. My thoughts were: - I wanted to be able to sell my house without tearing everything I was adding. - Code requires GFCI in garages (NEC 210.8(A)). This is not a new requirement (it also requires GFCI for lots of other electrical installations, like in basements and bathrooms. - Code requires a dedicated circuit for all my other 240V circuits (EC 422.10(A)), and since I installed a 50 Amp circuit/outlet, it only made sense for this to be dedicated as well. - Code also has a continuous load sizing requirement (ampacity of the charging circuit must be 125% of the maximum charging current - NEC 625.41 + 210.20(A)) and my 14-50R circuit/outlet's 50 Amp capacity is way beyond the limits here.) - I know my Prime doesn't charge at that many amps, so I could have gotten away with a much less expensive installation, but while I was running the circuit, I wanted to 'future proof' my house in case I got a full-on EV in the future. - I could also use that outlet for things like an RV, welder or an air compressor (provided I unplugged my charger when I wanted to weld or paint, and I'm really not interested in an RV). - I figure I could get more money for my house, or at least be able to sell it more easily by having an EV-compatible outlet in the garage for charging (or an RV, welding, or a better compressor). - I didn't hack away at the original Toyota charger and install a 240V plug on the thing, mainly because I also didn't have 240V in my garage. I also wanted to save the Toyota charger for traveling. I know I could have rigged a plug converter, but I've done too much electrical wiring over the years to make something that sketchy. Nothing has a little green car icon, but I believe I'm compliant (unless they further modify the code in the future). I didn't know there was a separate code requirement for GFCI for EV charging (NEC 625.54). I did it anyway because it was in my garage and there was a requirement for that. I also ran a dedicated circuit because all of my other 240V circuits are dedicated. I had to look, but there are a few cases where 240V circuits aren't required to be dedicated, but those are pretty rare in the types of homes built these days.
