What do these markings mean on my EVSE charging cable?

[Hirschaj]

Curiosity has gotten the better of me and I'd love to know what all of these markings mean on the EVSE cable that runs between the relay and the J1772 connector. Here is what is written on the cable...

(UL) E345899 EVJE 4/C 12AWG(3.31mm²) 1/C 10AWG(5.26mm²) 1/C 18AWG(0.824mm²) 105ºC WATER RESISTANT 60ºC 300V VW-1 OMG

Portions of this make sense to me but I don't understand what it means in its entirety. I'm sure there are at least a couple of people on this forum who know exactly what all of this means. I'd love to learn something new today.

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[RAHRCR]

These marking reflect laboratory testing for the thickness of wire/temp ratings and the safety rating for the jacket that encases the wire itself. The marking are intended to provide pedigree on the quality of that material.

 

[Jhenson29]

(UL) E345899

UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listing
It means the cable follows the standards in that listing. I don’t have copies to tell you more about it specifically though.

EVJE

The type of cable insulation.

4/C 12AWG(3.31mm²

4 conductors of 12 AWG
3.31mm² cross section area

1/C 10AWG(5.26mm²)

1 conductor of 10AWG
5.26mm² cross section area

1/C 18AWG(0.824mm²)

1 conductor of 18AWG
0.824mm² cross section area

105ºC

Temperature rating for determining amperage from other tables. The table tells you the max current without exceeding the listed temperature. There are also additional derating for various things like ambient temperature.
Note that this rating is for a dry environment.

WATER RESISTANT

Water resistant
Insulation will not degrade from being wet

I had to look up the specific definition of water resistant. I don’t deal with this at work.

60ºC

Temperature rating in wet environment.

300V

Cable voltage rating

VW-1

I also don’t deal with this at work and had to look it up. It appears to be a flame rating. So, it’s fire resistant.

OMG

I’m not sure. It may be the company that made the cable.

 

[Leawood CT]

Hirschaj said:

OMG

I’m not sure. It may be the company that made the cable.

It means @Jhenson29, OH MY GOD I can't believe you knew all that!

 

[Jhenson29]

It means @Jhenson29, OH MY GOD I can't believe you knew all that!

I work in industrial control and automation specializing in programming and electrical. I have to size and specify a variety of conductors and cables for various applications and regularly work with those markings. But some are not applicable to my work so I’m not familiar with them. I have to worry about other things like flex rating and oil resistance (we use a lot of hydraulics and some cable insulations will get hard and brittle when exposed to oil).

 

[Leawood CT]

I work in industrial control and automation specializing in programming and electrical. I have to size and specify a variety of conductors and cables for various applications and regularly work with those markings. But some are not applicable to my work so I’m not familiar with them. I have to worry about other things like flex rating and oil resistance (we use a lot of hydraulics and some cable insulations will get hard and brittle when exposed to oil).

Well, I learn something new everyday because I assumed cable insulations would breakdown due to a softening from the oil exposure.

 

[Jhenson29]

Well, I learn something new everyday because I assumed cable insulations would breakdown due to a softening from the oil exposure.

I think different insulations can fail in different ways, but the most common that I’ve seen with oil is getting hard/brittle and cracking. This is especially problematic in an application where the cable flexes such as being run through a cable carrier.

Oil resistant cables last much longer. I don’t know that they don’t breakdown ever over enough time, but I’ve never run into issues with them in the applications I deal with.

And they’re frequently covered in oil. Because my rule with hydraulics is, if it’s not leaking, you’re low on oil.

 

[Hirschaj]

UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listing
It means the cable follows the standards in that listing. I don’t have copies to tell you more about it specifically though.



The type of cable insulation.


4 conductors of 12 AWG
3.31mm² cross section area



1 conductor of 10AWG
5.26mm² cross section area



1 conductor of 18AWG
0.824mm² cross section area



Temperature rating for determining amperage from other tables. The table tells you the max current without exceeding the listed temperature. There are also additional derating for various things like ambient temperature.
Note that this rating is for a dry environment.


Water resistant
Insulation will not degrade from being wet

I had to look up the specific definition of water resistant. I don’t deal with this at work.


Temperature rating in wet environment.



Cable voltage rating



I also don’t deal with this at work and had to look it up. It appears to be a flame rating. So, it’s fire resistant.



I’m not sure. It may be the company that made the cable.

I was out a concert last night so I didn't get a chance to reply, but THANK YOU for sharing all of this information. It's another great day when I get the opportunity to learn, so I appreciate your detailed response.

Do you have any thoughts on why it seems like the majority of portable EVSEs that are rated to charge up to 40A are using 10AWG instead of 8AWG? The ampacity tables I have looked at indicate that 8AWG should be used for 40A unless you use a special type of 10AWG conductor rated to 90ºC. Is there any way to know which type of 10AWG conductor is used in this device?

 

[Hirschaj]

I’m not sure. It may be the company that made the cable.

I looked up the UL listing and the company that makes the cable is called "GUANGDONG OMG TRANSMITTING TECHNOLOGY CO LTD"

So yeah, you were spot on with what you said.

 

[daveo4EV]

UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listing
It means the cable follows the standards in that listing. I don’t have copies to tell you more about it specifically though.



The type of cable insulation.


4 conductors of 12 AWG
3.31mm² cross section area



1 conductor of 10AWG
5.26mm² cross section area



1 conductor of 18AWG
0.824mm² cross section area



Temperature rating for determining amperage from other tables. The table tells you the max current without exceeding the listed temperature. There are also additional derating for various things like ambient temperature.
Note that this rating is for a dry environment.


Water resistant
Insulation will not degrade from being wet

I had to look up the specific definition of water resistant. I don’t deal with this at work.


Temperature rating in wet environment.



Cable voltage rating



I also don’t deal with this at work and had to look it up. It appears to be a flame rating. So, it’s fire resistant.



I’m not sure. It may be the company that made the cable.

I was out a concert last night so I didn't get a chance to reply, but THANK YOU for sharing all of this information. It's another great day when I get the opportunity to learn, so I appreciate your detailed response.

Do you have any thoughts on why it seems like the majority of portable EVSEs that are rated to charge up to 40A are using 10AWG instead of 8AWG? The ampacity tables I have looked at indicate that 8AWG should be used for 40A unless you use a special type of 10AWG conductor rated to 90ºC. Is there any way to know which type of 10AWG conductor is used in this device?

this _IS THE CORE_ issue - but in conversations with un-named people the recommendations for wire gauge is based on expected temperature rise above ambient for a given current/amp load…

10 AWG wire _IS_ safe for continous 40 amp loads if you are fine with the following "truths"

• 90+ F expected temperature rise above ambient conditions (according to long standing industry standard EE tables)
• your wire insulation is rated to handled that thermal load
• you are comfortable shipping a product who's surface temperatures will be "ambient" + 90F

10 AWG wire is fine for 40 amp loads - no problem - honestly - factually true - no Bs - no sarcasm - but it means in 60F ambient conditions you'll have 150F (or more) wire temps

this is no problem if your wire insulation is rated to 105 C operating temperatures…(221 F)

Porsche's insulation choices are excellent 105C rated insulation will easily handle 40 amp current loads in ambient temperature conditions of up to 130F

I believe where porsche mis-calculated was:

• not all North American NEMA sockets are rated for 105C
• I personally believe a product with a designed/nominal operating temperature of 160F or more is not a "good" look
• the part design/implmentation has been in the VW/Audi/Porsche parts catalog since the introduction of the 918 Spyder (a 30 amp EV) and used for years with the Hybrid Cayenne/Panamera with 3.6/7.2 kW EV charging rates

the powersupply cable itself is "safe" and well designed _IF_ you accept a 160F (or more) operating temperature as "ok"…given their insulation choices the cable is not "unsafe" - if you accept the conditions listed above as "ok".

technical the cable is 100% fine and well designed - it violates no engineering guidelines…

I believe however that a consumer product designed to handled and "out in the open" and mobile should proably not achieve nominal operating temperatures in excess of 150F - and Porsche underestimated the quality of $12 NEMA sockets from LOWES/HomeDepot that are not rated for 105C normal operating temperatures…there are few if any documetned cases of an actual problem with Porsche's cable (it's insulation or otherwise) but all the documented problem we've seen have to do with the Cable "melting" the cheap NEMA socket - which aren't designed to be operated at 160F for 8 hour continously when charging a Taycan from 10% to 80%…

also Porsche came to this problem a bit like "boiling the frog" - the cable has been safe/effective for _YEARS_ in the fleet of vehicles - but no Hybrid of EV in that world wide fleet ever charged above 32 amps…Taycan was the first EV shipped by VW/Audi/Porsche that routinely charged at a full 40 amps…and again the cable itself is techincally well with in "spec" - 105C insulation and the wire choices are just fine for 40 amp loads (the wire will not fail and the insulation will not fail). It's a more subtle engineering and design question to ask:

"we know the wire/insulation can handle the load (easily), but do we really want to ship a product that achieves 160F nominal operating temperatures on a daily basis? Why would that be a problem?"

 

[Hirschaj]

this _IS THE CORE_ issue - but in conversations with un-named people the recommendations for wire gauge is based on expected temperature rise above ambient for a given current/amp load…

10 AWG wire _IS_ safe for continous 40 amp loads if you are fine with the following "truths"

• 90+ F expected temperature rise above ambient conditions (according to long standing industry standard EE tables)
• your wire insulation is rated to handled that thermal load
• you are comfortable shipping a product who's surface temperatures will be "ambient" + 90F

10 AWG wire is fine for 40 amp loads - no problem - honestly - factually true - no Bs - no sarcasm - but it means in 60F ambient conditions you'll have 150F (or more) wire temps

this is no problem if your wire insulation is rated to 105 C operating temperatures…(221 F)

Porsche's insulation choices are excellent 105C rated insulation will easily handle 40 amp current loads in ambient temperature conditions of up to 130F

I believe where porsche mis-calculated was:

• not all North American NEMA sockets are rated for 105C
• I personally believe a product with a designed/nominal operating temperature of 160F or more is not a "good" look
• the part design/implmentation has been in the VW/Audi/Porsche parts catalog since the introduction of the 918 Spyder (a 30 amp EV) and used for years with the Hybrid Cayenne/Panamera with 3.6/7.2 kW EV charging rates

the powersupply cable itself is "safe" and well designed _IF_ you accept a 160F (or more) operating temperature as "ok"…given their insulation choices the cable is not "unsafe" - if you accept the conditions listed above as "ok".

technical the cable is 100% fine and well designed - it violates no engineering guidelines…

I believe however that a consumer product designed to handled and "out in the open" and mobile should proably not achieve nominal operating temperatures in excess of 150F - and Porsche underestimated the quality of $12 NEMA sockets from LOWES/HomeDepot that are not rated for 105C normal operating temperatures…there are few if any documetned cases of an actual problem with Porsche's cable (it's insulation or otherwise) but all the documented problem we've seen have to do with the Cable "melting" the cheap NEMA socket - which aren't designed to be operated at 160F for 8 hour continously when charging a Taycan from 10% to 80%…

also Porsche came to this problem a bit like "boiling the frog" - the cable has been safe/effective for _YEARS_ in the fleet of vehicles - but no Hybrid of EV in that world wide fleet ever charged above 32 amps…Taycan was the first EV shipped by VW/Audi/Porsche that routinely charged at a full 40 amps…and again the cable itself is techincally well with in "spec" - 105C insulation and the wire choices are just fine for 40 amp loads (the wire will not fail and the insulation will not fail). It's a more subtle engineering and design question to ask:

"we know the wire/insulation can handle the load (easily), but do we really want to ship a product that achieves 160F nominal operating temperatures on a daily basis? Why would that be a problem?"

Ahh, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying. In my garage where ambient temps were in the 80ºF range over the weekend, all connectors remained cool to the touch and the cables felt slightly warm (referring the the Grizzl-e mini I'm burning in). It seems to be a well designed product but I was scratching my head seeing 10AWG on the cord. I feel good about the situation now and will keep all of this in mind if I need to plug in while on a road trip somewhere.

 

[KLHubb]

Thanks for this detailed information regarding the charging cables.
i live in upstate NY, and with our moderate temperatures, I have had no problems with the charger/Leviton socket. However, I plan to replace the Leviton socket with a Hubbell version(actually my family name) and continue to use the Porsche charger that came with the vehicle(2020 4S)

 

[j_scheetz]

I have 'fixed' my pigtail using #8 wire and the charger and the plug and receptacle are significantly cooler. The heat generated in the wire will also heat the plug and charger and cause the charger to overheat. With this fixed and the charger no longer overheating I was then getting overheating at the car plug. After 3hrs at 40 amps I measured 218F at the pins in the car receptacle. After changing the cord from the charger to the car to #8 wire I now have much cooler temps at the car with the pin temp in the car socket at 141 F.
With both wires changed to #8 I have had no overheating issues charging at 40amps even with my garage temps over 100F.

 

[KLHubb]

Wow! You actually replaced the fittings on the ends of the charging cables?
I didn't think that was possible.

 

[Jhenson29]

Do you have any thoughts on why it seems like the majority of portable EVSEs that are rated to charge up to 40A are using 10AWG instead of 8AWG? The ampacity tables I have looked at indicate that 8AWG should be used for 40A unless you use a special type of 10AWG conductor rated to 90ºC. Is there any way to know which type of 10AWG conductor is used in this device?

For cable, you have to look at table 400.5. Some 10AWG cables are rated as high as 59 amps. You don’t worry about the conductors in the cable other than gauge. If you mean inside the device itself, you’d have to take it apart and look.

Additionally, it can be UL listed under spec and then you get what you get. My EVSE uses 6AWG THHN in a LFNC for 75A continuous, which is definitely under spec (following table 310.16 since it’s conductors in a raceway). I called the manufacturer who put me in touch with the underwriter who told me it was tested and to piss off. More or less.

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