Storing Charging Cable outside garage?

My Nissan Leaf Forum

Help Support My Nissan Leaf Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

jake14mw

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Messages
180
Location
Connecticut, USA
i am getting a Leaf soon. I am planning on plugging into an outlet in the garage and running the cable outside to the car in the driveway. I am thinking that I don't want to have to open the garage door every time I want to charge. Has anyone bought or built a little housing to mount to the side of the house to leaf the charger in?
 
I do the exact same thing with my L2 EVSE, just run the cable under the garage door. I protect the cable by covering the portion under the door with a metal tube.

I just use a garden hose holder, mounted to the wall, to coil the cord on - works for me!
 
alozzy said:
I do the exact same thing with my L2 EVSE, just run the cable under the garage door. I protect the cable by covering the portion under the door with a metal tube.

I just use a garden hose holder, mounted to the wall, to coil the cord on - works for me!

Thanks, so you're not worried about leaving it exposed to the weather? Should I not worry about that?
 
After think about it a while, I was thinking that a small deck box might be good? Something like this. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Suncast-22-Gal-Taupe-Small-Storage-Seat-Deck-Box-SS900/302712088?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D28I-InsideGardenOther%7c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiIGShq_S1wIVULnACh1Y7wbLEAQYAyABEgK2efD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIvR7Yqv0tcCFcdBNwod8wAHAA
 
I have an OpenEVSE box mounted outside of my garage and have the cable plugged into one of these:

https://store.openevse.com/collections/frontpage/products/j1772-holster-and-cord-hanger

Works for me here in Colorado for the past year.
 
I'm not sure what EVSE you are talking about leaving outside. If it's the Nissan L1 that comes with the car, I'd definitely protect the "brick" part with some sort of enclosure. The plug and cable should be fine outdoors. If you're talking about buying and installing an L2 EVSE, buy one that has an outdoor rated case and you won't have to do anything but mount it.
 
To be clear, the EVSE itself is in my garage - only the J1772 handle and cord running to it are left outside. Also, I mount it to the siding of the house, just next to the garage door, so it's pretty well protected from rain and the elements there. I definitely wouldn't leave it completely uncovered.
 
This could work:

sto-away-hose-reels-storage-82-yj481-64_1000.jpg


You could easily notch the latch side (opposite hinge) so that the cable could pass through the side and keep the J1772 handle inside the "pocket". Just not sure if it would fit in there...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sto-Away-5-8-in-x-150-ft-Garden-Hose-Storage-Center-82-YJ481/205399692
 
i would see if you can open the station and see if you can disconnect the cable. then take picture to document the wiring. Switch off at the breaker, of course before you do this. then drill a hole near the station to the outside, feed the cable back though the hole and wire back up and test. Install a place to attach the cable, either a garden hose or plug from EVSE like some others have already posted.
 
This looks perfect:

plug-holder4.jpg


Basically a dummy J1772 receptacle that you can mount to the wall. Even has an overhanging lip to keep the rain off. Think I'm going to order one!

https://emotorwerks.com/store/accessories/j1772-plug-holder-angled-entry-and-cable-management
 
Back
Top