[Electromojo]

Safety code require that the disconnect to be close to the condenser unit... that way the technician can turn it off and continue to see that it has been turned off. Now if the HVAC was a plug in unit and is plugged in to a 10-30 receptacle, the disconnect would not be needed for the receptacle.

Agreed. So a disconnect is unnecessary in my situation. I get that.

We're talking about a $20 box which won't add much time or labor to the equation.

 

[Yellow Yapper]

In this thread, haven't read anything about GFCI breaker being installed. NEC code requires it, but local jurisdiction could override. This is for shock protection at outlet, especially if you are constantly plugging/unplugging the EVSE.

But if you have a GCFI breaker, there is a possibility the EVSE won't play nice with it since most EVSE's do a test of the ground line using a small current. Should be low enough not to trigger the GFCI but sometimes it does, so you get nuisance trips.

 

[jefro]

Modern EVSE's have been updated to allow for the GFCI. Only old ones might trip.

Yes, a GFCI and maybe in future a combo A/GFCI can be required.

The problem is that people might be using or moving an EVSE more or it may have leaks in it that can cause an issue. That is why they require the GFCI in some places.

The EVSE has a GFCI that you can't test ever, it never goes bad and only protects between unit and car.

 

[mnl119]

I use the web to see various factors in a calculator.
1 inch should do assuming typical wire type and insulation.


To others

Only a loonie bin would wire an outlet missing wires. Anytime you have source and no return it invites death.

I assume he'd have a ground wire in place. I don't think NEMA 6-20r 6-50r have a neutral.

 

[usedBolt]

In this thread, haven't read anything about GFCI breaker being installed. NEC code requires it, but local jurisdiction could override. This is for shock protection at outlet, especially if you are constantly plugging/unplugging the EVSE.

But if you have a GCFI breaker, there is a possibility the EVSE won't play nice with it since most EVSE's do a test of the ground line using a small current. Should be low enough not to trigger the GFCI but sometimes it does, so you get nuisance trips.

Local code requires GFCI or AFCI breakers for all new work (added circuits) here. That was done for the new circuit I had run for my EVSE. Never had any issues with it. So it might be individual case-dependent or possibly an over-eager breaker.

 

[Electromojo]

When I re-wired the house a few years ago it was per the 2020 NEC, so everything but the bathroom and exterior circuits have AFCI breakers. Went with GFCI receptacles for the bathroom for ease of resetting them when tripped, and GFCI breakers for the exterior because of previous issues with weather-resistant GFCI receptacles not holding up long-term.

Due to the feedback here, I'm now considering my setup a temporary one. Once I get the Bolt and know that it's going to work out, I'll hardwire the charger, and get an additional charger to leave in the car. My HVAC system is on its way out and will be replaced by mini-splits, so I can re-use the disconnect for that.

Can't overstate how much I appreciate the suggestions and guidance. When the consensus from people with more knowledge and experience than you differs from your plan, it's time to rethink the plan. Cheers!

 

[p7wang]

When I re-wired the house a few years ago it was per the 2020 NEC, so everything but the bathroom and exterior circuits have AFCI breakers. Went with GFCI receptacles for the bathroom for ease of resetting them when tripped, and GFCI breakers for the exterior because of previous issues with weather-resistant GFCI receptacles not holding up long-term.

Due to the feedback here, I'm now considering my setup a temporary one. Once I get the Bolt and know that it's going to work out, I'll hardwire the charger, and get an additional charger to leave in the car. My HVAC system is on its way out and will be replaced by mini-splits, so I can re-use the disconnect for that.

Can't overstate how much I appreciate the suggestions and guidance. When the consensus from people with more knowledge and experience than you differs from your plan, it's time to rethink the plan. Cheers!

I would not use the disconnect from the HVAC unit. It's probably this style... jump to 4:20

 

[Electromojo]

I would not use the disconnect from the HVAC unit. It's probably this style... jump to 4:20

I meant that perhaps I could use the disconnect that I'm hooking up now for the EVSE for the mini splits after hardwiring the EVSE.

 

[jefro]

If a disconnect has clean contacts and the lugs are properly torqued then it should handle rated loads. A 50A should hold 42A setting on evse.

 

[scooterbassett]

In this thread, haven't read anything about GFCI breaker being installed. NEC code requires it, but local jurisdiction could override. This is for shock protection at outlet, especially if you are constantly plugging/unplugging the EVSE.

But if you have a GCFI breaker, there is a possibility the EVSE won't play nice with it since most EVSE's do a test of the ground line using a small current. Should be low enough not to trigger the GFCI but sometimes it does, so you get nuisance trips.

Not sure about EVSE's but I would be concerned about GCFIs and nuisance tripping. If EVSE's work anything like refrigerators, I have yet to see a decent-sized refrigerator that will work on a GCFI outlet without repeated nuisance trippings.

 

[terry daktell]

Modern EVSE's have been updated to allow for the GFCI. Only old ones might trip.

Yes, a GFCI and maybe in future a combo A/GFCI can be required.

The problem is that people might be using or moving an EVSE more or it may have leaks in it that can cause an issue. That is why they require the GFCI in some places.

The EVSE has a GFCI that you can't test ever, it never goes bad and only protects between unit and car.

you can put a disconnect BEFORE the 1450 or do it the way it is here - 50 amp breaker connects the EV circuit to 1450.

 

[ClarDold]

Not sure about EVSE's but I would be concerned about GCFIs and nuisance tripping. If EVSE's work anything like refrigerators, I have yet to see a decent-sized refrigerator that will work on a GCFI outlet without repeated nuisance trippings.

Some smart guy said that the Chevy EVs generate enough noise back onto the AC line that they will trip GFCI breakers.

ClipperCreek, before they were absorbed by Enphase, used to suggest a 30 mA GFCI, commonly used on swimming pool pumps, instead of the standard 5 mA GFCI.

Siemens 50A Type-QE 30 mA GFCI Equipment Protection

 

[GregBrew]

Some smart guy said that the Chevy EVs generate enough noise back onto the AC line that they will trip GFCI breakers.

ClipperCreek, before they were absorbed by Enphase, used to suggest a 30 mA GFCI, commonly used on swimming pool pumps, instead of the standard 5 mA GFCI.

Siemens 50A Type-QE 30 mA GFCI Equipment Protection

Interesting. I didn't realize that GFCI could be selected for sensitivity. I learned something new today, making it a good day.

Thanks!

 

[ClarDold]

Interesting. I didn't realize that GFCI could be selected for sensitivity. I learned something new today, making it a good day.

Thanks!

The breaker that I cited is not available in California.
Some people say it is not allowed for a general use circuit in some jurisdictions, only for swimming pools and hot tubs.

 

[jefro]

All evse's induce nonlinear loads. That normally won't trip a GFCI.

GFCI is basically a differential amp that reads power between legs. If different then it assumes power leaking. Shouldn't really be called ground fault.

There are two current levels. The lowest is for where a human might be in contact.

 

[ClarDold]

All evse's induce nonlinear loads. That normally won't trip a GFCI..

Some EVSEs check the ground connection by deliberately bleeding some line AC current to ground. That might trip a GFCI breaker, but often does not. Some EVSEs use a high frequency signal for the test, and don't trip a GFCI. UL requires a ground check at startup.

Some of the trips are reported an hour or more into a charging session. I don't know if you are excluding a case where it is actually the car causing the trip from your statement.

Oregon allows a non-GFCI breaker to be installed if there are nuisance trips, overriding NEC.

Your contention that the EVSE won't trip a GFCI flies in the face of a Google search for EVSE GFCI nuisance trips.

ClipperCreek, Chargepoint, and JuiceBox all advise hardwiring for any jurisdiction that requires GFCI on a plug-in EVSE. JuiceBox has line in their plug-in installation guide "Advise not to use a GFCI breaker."

 

[jefro]

Every major evse company has fixed the nusance trips years ago.

They can't say don't use GFCI anymore.

 

[atc98092]

Some people say it is not allowed for a general use circuit in some jurisdictions, only for swimming pools and hot tubs.

I have a standard version GFCI that powers my pool pump and heater controls, and no issues have ever happened with it. I think I wired that about 30 years ago (summer 1995). When I had a hot tub, I don't even think the electrician installed a GFCI breaker, even though it was specified as a circuit for a hot tub. Of course, that was in 1990 when my house was built, so the code could have changed a lot since there.

 

[atc98092]

ClipperCreek, Chargepoint, and JuiceBox all advise hardwiring for any jurisdiction that requires GFCI on a plug-in EVSE. JuiceBox has line in their plug-in installation guide "Advise not to use a GFCI breaker."

My JuiceBox was provided by my utility, and it was required to be hardwired to allow the powerline communications system to work. Apparently a GFCI breaker interferes with that communication path.

 

[ClarDold]

Every major evse company

Chargepoint FAQ:

Can I install ChargePoint Home Flex on a GFCI breaker?

Yes. However, if local codes require a GFCI breaker for plug-in installation, ChargePoint recommends a hardwire installation. We do not recommend using a GFCI breaker as the Home Flex already has integrated charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) protection. Using a GFCI breaker in the panel, especially with a plug-in installation, can cause nuisance breaker tripping in certain circumstances and interrupt charging.