Electric Vehicle Charger

[matt151617]

I'm installing an EV charger on the outside of my detached garage, and I'm trying to figure out the best options:

• Main house panel has a 200amp service.
• 10/3 on a 30 amp 240v breaker runs from the main panel to a junction box on the side of the house (about 25 feet).
• 4 strands of 10 gauge THHN run in conduit out to the garage (about 50 feet).
• The garage subpanel has 6 spaces and no main breaker.
• It will be approximately 20 feet of wiring to go from the subpanel to the EV charger.
• The EV charger can be set at either 16 amps or 24 amps.

My questions/concerns are:

• Should I run the charger at 24 amps? Is this going to be too much amperage? Voltage drop is calculated at around 2%. The EV will charge at night so there's no other current draw.
• If I decide to run the charger at 16 amps, should I buy 10 gauge wire anyways, just in case I want to up the charge current later on?
• Is the lack of a main breaker or disconnect on the subpanel a big issue, or is it ok? My understanding is 6 breakers or less on a subpanel, doesn't require a disconnect.

 

[mm08822]

I'm installing an EV charger on the outside of my detached garage, and I'm trying to figure out the best options:

• Main house panel has a 200amp service.
• 10/3 on a 30 amp 240v breaker runs from the main panel to a junction box on the side of the house (about 25 feet).
• 4 strands of 10 gauge THHN run in conduit out to the garage (about 50 feet).
• The garage subpanel has 6 spaces and no main breaker.
• It will be approximately 20 feet of wiring to go from the subpanel to the EV charger.
• The EV charger can be set at either 16 amps or 24 amps.

My questions/concerns are:

• Should I run the charger at 24 amps? Is this going to be too much amperage? Voltage drop is calculated at around 2%. The EV will charge at night so there's no other current draw.
• If I decide to run the charger at 16 amps, should I buy 10 gauge wire anyways, just in case I want to up the charge current later on?
• Is the lack of a main breaker or disconnect on the subpanel a big issue, or is it ok? My understanding is 6 breakers or less on a subpanel, doesn't require a disconnect.

24A will be ok with #10 THHN. The 10/3 will also be ok @24A.
6 throws of the hand is acceptable as a disconnect. Any 2 Pole CB counts as 1 throw.
I would wire it and operate at 24A. Who wants to wait longer to disconnect?

 

[nadogail]

More power to your charger is better. 30 Amps at 220, is what I feed my son’s Leaf with.