What type of 240 V outlet to install for EVSE?

[alozzy]

Outlet adapters are relatively cheap to purchase or make. I kind of standardized on 2 plugs, the 14-50 for high current charging and the L14-30 locking plug for medium current(24a or less) use. I like the L14-30 for it's portability, the 14-50 is nice but it's a monster plug, not so portable. If you really don't need the extra speed I'd personally just stick with an L14-30 plug and maybe hardwire a higher current EVSE if you want maximum speed.
Note for an EVSE you'd really only need an L6-30 plug but as L14-30's are more common, especially on generators if you ever think you'd charge that way and with an L14-30 outlet you can easily find Y adapters to 2 120v outlets, thats kind of handy.

This is the sort of advice I was looking for! So, you mean have an EVSE with an L14-30 plug and make a 14-50 male to L14-30 female adapter to carry around for use in places like RV parks?

The physical difference between a NEMA 14-50R and a 14-30R is the neutral blade shape:

An EVSE doesn't use the neutral blade, so you can safely remove the neutral blade on the portable EVSE's plug.

Once that's done, the plug will fit into either a standard NEMA 14-30R or a NEMA 14-50R. So, you can use the same portable EVSE, with no need for an adapter cable, at both of your houses.

Having said all that, I definitely would not recommend you switch the EVSE's amperage setting above 24A, as one day you'll forget and plug in the EVSE to draw full amps on your 14-30R.

Using 240v @ 24A supply is just a bit shy of full charging rate anyways. I use that myself, even when I charge at an RV park. It's just not worth risking a

 

[jjeff]

Outlet adapters are relatively cheap to purchase or make. I kind of standardized on 2 plugs, the 14-50 for high current charging and the L14-30 locking plug for medium current(24a or less) use. I like the L14-30 for it's portability, the 14-50 is nice but it's a monster plug, not so portable. If you really don't need the extra speed I'd personally just stick with an L14-30 plug and maybe hardwire a higher current EVSE if you want maximum speed.
Note for an EVSE you'd really only need an L6-30 plug but as L14-30's are more common, especially on generators if you ever think you'd charge that way and with an L14-30 outlet you can easily find Y adapters to 2 120v outlets, thats kind of handy.

This is the sort of advice I was looking for! So, you mean have an EVSE with an L14-30 plug and make a 14-50 male to L14-30 female adapter to carry around for use in places like RV parks?

Or at the primary house, where a 14-50 in the garage probably makes more sense, since the primary house is NOT on a small island and someone might want higher capacity some day. OTOH, the primary house is in Seattle, so most destinations are not that far away and charging a new, 200+ mile car to 100% would rarely be needed, if/when we get something more capable than our old Leaf. Maybe even the primary house doesn't need the biggest outlet.

Feel free to shoot down my reasoning.

Yes, that's what I'd do. Note I was talking about a L14-30, Alozzy pictured a 14-30. As said the 14-30 is basically like a 14-50 with a different neutral blade but it's just as bulky as a 14-50, the L14-30 plug/outlet is much more compact and has the advantage of locking in the receptacle by a simple twist of the plug, very handy for a portable EVSE.
So what I use is a 14-50 outlet for high current charging on a 50a circuit and use a 14-50 plug on my high current EVSEs. Note I've removed the neutral blade on my adjustable EVSEs so I can do as Alozzy mentioned, that is use those EVSEs in a 14-30 outlet limited to 24a and even a 14-60 outlet, should I ever run across one. I also have a 14-50p to L14-30r outlet adapter to be able to use my lower current EVSEs(less than 24a) in the 14-50 outlet. For my lower current L2 EVSEs I use the L14-30 plug and use the L14-30r for my 30a outlets, limited to <24a continuous use.

The reason I ended up using the 14-50 plug/outlet for my high current uses was because early on(2013) Tesla kind of standardized the 14-50 standard and quite a few high current EVSEs used that combination. The reason I standardized on the L14-30 combination for my 24a and less EVSEs was because generators like to use this outlet and I thought it might be nice in an emergency to easily charge from a generator and also it was much less bulky than the 14-50 outlet/plug. You can fit a L14-30 outlet in a standard single gang outlet box, a 14-50(range plug) requires a double box.
Here is a link to a 14-50p to L14-30r outlet adapter. Seems a bit expensive as I built mine for around $25 in parts but it does like well made, maybe shop around if interested.
https://www.amazon.com/Conntek-14335-1-5-Foot-Adapter-Connector/dp/B001TO1D1G/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1Z3GBA3Y9D0FY&dchild=1&keywords=14-50+to+l14-30+adapter&qid=1615241439&sprefix=14-50+to+L14-%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-5
Here is a cheaper one:
https://www.amazon.com/L14-30R-Welding-Charger-Connector-Connecter/dp/B07P5W8XRZ/ref=sr_1_23?crid=1Z3GBA3Y9D0FY&dchild=1&keywords=14-50+to+l14-30+adapter&qid=1615241439&sprefix=14-50+to+L14-%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-23
And you can also go the other way around but note to not draw more than 24a continuous as things will overheat, this would be to allow you to plug your EVSE with a 14-50 plug in a generator with a L14-30 outlet, again limiting the EVSE to no more than 24a or whatever the maximum output of your generator circuit would be.
https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-4-Prong-Generator-Locking-L14-30P/dp/B07R25LLYK/ref=sr_1_15?crid=1Z3GBA3Y9D0FY&dchild=1&keywords=14-50+to+l14-30+adapter&qid=1615241439&sprefix=14-50+to+L14-%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-15
Lastly, if you have a L14-30 outlet you can purchase something like this to turn it into 2 nice 120v outlets for high current use:
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-LED-Lit-Generator-Splitter/dp/B07MZBCL7C/ref=sr_1_10?crid=RMJXQYEYHXFQ&dchild=1&keywords=l14-30+to+5-20+adapter&qid=1615242009&sprefix=l14-30+to+5-20%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-10
Cheaper version:
https://www.amazon.com/WEN-PC3104-2-10-Gauge-Generator-Extension/dp/B07MN7WR4V/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1ZGU1SGTWQTH2&dchild=1&keywords=l14-30+to+5-20+cord&qid=1615242154&sprefix=l14-30+to+5-20+%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-3

 

[goldbrick]

I thought that was a bit funny that SCE won that battle and not the county inspector. Apparently SCE has no issue slightly under sizing the lines coming in. I want to say the rating table had the main lines at 180 amps, so short of the 200 my panel is rated for. (I upgraded from a 100 amp main panel to 200)

I did about the same, replaced a 100A(?) split-bus panel with a new 200A service entrance since I am installing solar. One thing I learned during the process is that your local utility is not under the jurisdiction of the 'AHJ' aka 'authority having jurisdiction' aka 'inspector'. I'm sure the utilities have their own standards and requirements but they don't play by the same rules as the home owner. I'm not sure of the rational of it but I'd guess their engineers and field workers know what they are doing.

 

[wmcbrine]

Most L2 EVSEs come with either 6-50 or 14-50, if they come with a plug at all. Check out the EVSEs you like, and see what they offer. I went with 14-50.

The only functional difference between 6-50 and 14-50 is that 14-50 includes a neutral, which AFAIK, no L2 EVSE actually uses. But, having it in the outlet does let you make an adapter for 120V output, if you ever need that.

 

[Stanton]

The inspector then called his boss, who deferred to SCE. I thought that was a bit funny that SCE won that battle and not the county inspector. Apparently SCE has no issue slightly under sizing the lines coming in. I want to say the rating table had the main lines at 180 amps, so short of the 200 my panel is rated for. (I upgraded from a 100 amp main panel to 200)

Doesn't that make you feel safe?

Ummm...no. But I guess that's why I don't live in CA :shock:
I use a 20a EVSE on a 30a dryer outlet...and I made a NEMA 14-50 adapter for RV parks, etc.

 

[91040]

In hindsight, I should have put in a 225A (215A?) rated main panel for my 200A service to allow for more solarPV. Little extra cost, more capacity.

I did about the same, replaced a 100A(?) split-bus panel with a new 200A service entrance since I am installing solar.