Joy and headache of charging in warmer weather

[HelfFL]

I'm in South Florida as well and have had this problem since the beginning (MY'20, delivery in May 2020). Dealership replaced my PMCC once but the new one also runs hot to the touch - both the pigtail and the charger itself. I lowered the charing to 32 Amps and keep the lid fully open whenever I'm charging. Even at 32 amps it runs warm, but I have not had the overheat or other error messages since.

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[XLR82XS]

April 2021 build. Maybe the charger has been updated?

 

[Kingske]

April 2021 build. Maybe the charger has been updated?

Maybe. Does your PMCC pigtail cord still carry a label which rates it at 16A?

 

[XLR82XS]

Maybe. Does your PMCC pigtail cord still carry a label which rates it at 16A?

No label.

 

[Kingske]

No label.

Interesting...

 

[Dweezel1]

More confirmation of major issues. Went to take my pigtail in to dealer. Was partially fused to receptacle.

Copper coating burned off. Rubber melted. This is after 2-3 charges. Other wiring 100% correct. Porsche wake up.

No one has seemed to mention plug (not label) does say 40 Amps.

 

[r553]

I'm in eastern central FL. I limit the charging current to 30 amps, so far so good. I do not have a cover on the charger. I also charge overnight when is a bit cooler.

 

[Dweezel1]

I'm in eastern central FL. I limit the charging current to 30 amps, so far so good. I do not have a cover on the charger.

Good idea. Ultimately not complicated. Should not have 10 AWG wire anywhere in a 50 Amp circuit drawing 40 Amps continuously. Just dangerous. UL also stamped their approval. What a joke.

 

[Dweezel1]

No label.

There is another label on the insert end. It says 40 Amps, which is incorrect based on 10 AWG at any length for CONTINUOUS power draw.

 

[XLR82XS]

There is another label on the insert end. It says 40 Amps, which is incorrect based on 10 AWG at any length for CONTINUOUS power draw.

FWIW it's on a dedicated 60-amp circuit.

 

[smohr33]

NEMA 6-50, 6AWG to 50A breaker, PMCC with no cabinet. Barely warm when pulling 40A, never thrown an error. 90F+ here this week.

Maybe those with trouble should consider a switch to NEMA 6-50 and see if it helps.

 

[Dweezel1]

NEMA 6-50, 6AWG to 50A breaker, PMCC with no cabinet. Barely warm when pulling 40A, never thrown an error. 90F+ here this week.

Maybe those with trouble should consider a switch to NEMA 6-50 and see if it helps.

Is there anyone here on 6-50 plug with this overheating issue?

Also can someone with 6-50 plug see if says “10 AWG” stamped on pigtail cable?

 

[NC_Taycan]

I had a Tesla charger NEMA 14-50 plug melt and get fused to the NEMA 14-50 receptacle. Learned that not all NEMA 14-50 receptacles are made the same. For a continuous draw use case like this you need a serious industrial duty receptacle.

Next, let's assume that it's only the receptacle getting hot. But really hot. In an enclosed chamber with the PMCC which does generate heat on it's own. With an additional heat source and no ventilation, overheating makes sense. That opening the enclosure makes the failure go away (but not the problem) also makes sense.

But how much money are you wasting in heat here?

Who had the infrared camera? It would be fantastic to take some pictures over the first few minutes of charging - does the heat start in the receptacle and conduct down the pigtail, or does all of the wiring in the pigtail heat up at the same rate?

If it's only a receptacle problem, you could sacrifice your $300 NEMA 14-50 adapter (guessing on that $300 but hey, we're talking Porsche here) and cut the head off and hard-wire it. That would eliminate the source of heat and also save you money. Probably more than $300 in the long run...

 

[daveo4EV]

just get a clipper creek charger and be done with it

 

[Jhenson29]

There is another label on the insert end. It says 40 Amps, which is incorrect based on 10 AWG at any length for CONTINUOUS power draw.

I don’t disagree in principle. I don’t like the idea of 40A continuous on 10AWG. I went through something similar on my EVSE with 75amp continuous on 6AWG.

But Table 410.5(B) lists ampacities of flexible cords and cables, some of which are >50A for 10AWG.

My complaint with the manufacturer of my EVSE was 6AWG in LFNC for the supply, which falls under current carrying conductors in a raceway, not flexible cables. I also tried arguing ambient temperature derating on the vehicle cable, but didn’t get anywhere


Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter once it’s UL listed.

I’d have changed it out the supply feed if it didn’t void the warranty.

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