Level 2 Charging at a house as a guest
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,076
Likes: 4,337
From: Alberta
If your house doesn't have ground connected to neutral at the panel then you need to do something about that. Dunno about in some areas but here (and everywhere else I've lived) that is code.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,871
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From: Maryland
I honestly would be very reluctant to plug into a NEMA 10-30, anything other than a dryer or Range without using a splitter and the EV (or charging adapter) using no more than 24 amp. Also as stated earlier, 10-30 is not really designed for constant plugging and unplugging, another reason to use a splitter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 900
From: Midwest
I’m not an expert in this area, just sharing a personal anecdote.
When we bought our current house, we tried plugging in the Tesla into one of the standard 110v outlets in the garage to charge.
The Tesla told us that it wouldn’t charge because the outlet wasn’t grounded properly.
We eventually had an electrician come out to install a 240v outlet and had him fix the 110v outlet. It was in fact not grounded properly.
When we bought our current house, we tried plugging in the Tesla into one of the standard 110v outlets in the garage to charge.
The Tesla told us that it wouldn’t charge because the outlet wasn’t grounded properly.
We eventually had an electrician come out to install a 240v outlet and had him fix the 110v outlet. It was in fact not grounded properly.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,774
Likes: 3,781
From: California
The problem with older houses, chances of them being up to code is remote. When we bought our house, they remodelled but slapped the old panel back on and didn't do it properly. I only found out because when I went solar, they had to inspect the panel and wiring. They had to change the panel, and luckily the cost didn't come out of my pocket and was paid for by state subsidies. The electrician told me it could have caught fire. Previous to getting the new panel installed, the kitchen fuse used to trip all the time if we ran the dishwasher and used an outside plug for say vacuuming our cars
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,774
Likes: 3,781
From: California
The splitter would make it safer because you would for one thing, not be plugging or unplugging the dryer/charger to charge. Secondly, the splitter only lets you use one circuit at a time. You would not be able to charge and use the dryer at the same time. One or the other. In fact the splitter the electrician proposed to me had a physical switch I had to manually change when charging, than I would switch it back to send power to our washer/dryers. I just ended up putting in a 240v 50 amp that he hard wired the charger into
Last edited by AMIRZA786; Oct 4, 2023 at 12:58 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,076
Likes: 4,337
From: Alberta
There is no safety concern because under no scenario will there be a shock hazard from touching the car. It doesn't make a lick of difference how a particular outset is wired, how degraded the house wiring may be or anything else. Power into the car goes through an AC to AC converter then ultimately is converted to DC. It is completely isolated. The claim is if only one wire for example is connected to the car this will make the chassis live. Honestly this is so preposterous I don't even know what to say.
Splitter is good in preventing you accidentally overloading the circuit. I should really get one (I use a welder on the same circuit) worst case the breaker trips. That's why it is there.
Many old homes are a fire waiting to happen, and they do sadly. But this isn't the fault of the car.
Splitter is good in preventing you accidentally overloading the circuit. I should really get one (I use a welder on the same circuit) worst case the breaker trips. That's why it is there.
The problem with older houses, chances of them being up to code is remote. When we bought our house, they remodelled but slapped the old panel back on and didn't do it properly. I only found out because when I went solar, they had to inspect the panel and wiring. They had to change the panel, and luckily the cost didn't come out of my pocket and was paid for by state subsidies. The electrician told me it could have caught fire. Previous to getting the new panel installed, the kitchen fuse used to trip all the time if we ran the dishwasher and used an outside plug for say vacuuming our cars
Last edited by LeX2K; Oct 4, 2023 at 01:00 PM.
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,400
Likes: 622
From: IL
Power going into the charge port is filtered, converted, then converted again this is not like plugging in a toaster. I'm confident there are numerous checks to make sure NO power goes into the vehicle chassis to say so is fear mongering I question why anyone would do that.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,774
Likes: 3,781
From: California
There is no safety concern because under no scenario will there be a shock hazard from touching the car. It doesn't make a lick of difference how a particular outset is wired, how degraded the house wiring may be or anything else. Power into the car goes through an AC to AC converter then ultimately is converted to DC. It is completely isolated. The claim is if only one wire for example is connected to the car this will make the chassis live. Honestly this is so preposterous I don't even know what to say.
Splitter is good in preventing you accidentally overloading the circuit. I should really get one (I use a welder on the same circuit) worst case the breaker trips. That's why it is there.
Splitter is good in preventing you accidentally overloading the circuit. I should really get one (I use a welder on the same circuit) worst case the breaker trips. That's why it is there.
. In the early days, I had no choice but to use an extension cord, so I got a 10 gauge with a 15 amp fuse
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,076
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From: Alberta
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Please provide the source that makes you "confident" that "ground" is not connected to the vehicle chassis during charging as required by code. I posted another link above of a current statement from a charger manufacturer above that is live TODAY in 2023, not in 2014.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,871
Likes: 4,114
From: Maryland
The splitter would make it safer because you would for one thing, not be plugging or unplugging the dryer/charger to charge. Secondly, the splitter only lets you use one circuit at a time. You would not be able to charge and use the dryer at the same time. One or the other. In fact the splitter the electrician proposed to me had a physical switch I had to manually change when charging, than I would switch it back to send power to our washer/dryers. I just ended up putting in a 240v 50 amp that he hard wired the charger into
I would still need to plug the charger into the splitter when I charge because the charger will come with me and leave with me...so plugging and unplugging would happen anyways.
I totally agree the splitter is worthwhile if I was setting this up as a permanent solution but its just for when I'm there charging...
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,774
Likes: 3,781
From: California
If the dryer is unplugged, then it can't be operated at the same time as the car is charging...because its unplugged.
I would still need to plug the charger into the splitter when I charge because the charger will come with me and leave with me...so plugging and unplugging would happen anyways.
I totally agree the splitter is worthwhile if I was setting this up as a permanent solution but its just for when I'm there charging...
I would still need to plug the charger into the splitter when I charge because the charger will come with me and leave with me...so plugging and unplugging would happen anyways.
I totally agree the splitter is worthwhile if I was setting this up as a permanent solution but its just for when I'm there charging...
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,871
Likes: 4,114
From: Maryland
No, I got it, you only would be using it once or twice year. I was only mentioning the splitter because you would never have to unplug the dryer again. For some, you have to move the washer/dryer to get to the plug. If that's not the case than you don't need a splitter
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,400
Likes: 622
From: IL
Tesla does not publish any detailed schematics to my knowledge, so I can't "prove" anything. So how about this, you're right and I'm wrong people are getting shocked charging their EVs. This must be happening because the vehicle is "grounded" and you'll get zapped if the outlet is not wired correctly.
I couldn't find Tesla schematics either. Best illustration I found was
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,076
Likes: 4,337
From: Alberta
Did you watch the video? Even that inexpensive cable has safety features including differential voltage protection. Meaning any unintended load results in power cut. Only way an EV shocks you is if it has no protections at all. Just dumb wiring like a drier from 1982.