50-Amp EV Receptacle

I think the problem is really with poorly terminated AL wiring when it gets heavily loaded, it has nothing to do with the load being an EV, RV, welder, range, oven, pottery kiln / whatever.
We have seen reoccurring problems here with aluminum wire and the standard 50A range receptacles here in a large multi unit complex, I suspected it was because the installer did not use noalox grease, arguably it was not required.
The units with copper THHN wire and had the same receptacles and have no issues.
All the new 'heavy duty' EV receptacles say CU wire only, which again points to poorly done AL terminations being the real issue.
 
kwired said:
It is likely something that simply exceeded the minimum listing requirements, but possibly will end up being somewhat of a basis for a new standard?
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Just like the 79 cent receptacles vs a commercial grade receptacle. There are a lot of things out there that exceed the requirements of the listing standards.
Now idea of what the proposal will look like. Nothing has been written up yet.
 
Home Depot has two different ones marked as an “EV” receptacle, the cheaper one is just like a regular 50 amp, but has “EV” stamped on it, but the other is noticeably heavier, with “EV” also stamped on it.
 
CoolWill said:
So what standard does UL test a receptacle to if it doesn't in fact hold its rated current indefinitely? A 50 amp receptacle should be able to supply 50 amps forever without melting down.
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Up until EV’s, 98% of the receptacles would never see full steady current. It’s an engineering decision that has worked fine for decades until things changed.
 
curt swartz said:
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It would not surprise me if a major contribution to the failures is from the wires loosening in the clamps as the receptacle gets pushed and twisted into the box.
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I am pretty sure that is what is happening. I have done the test of pushing the recep in without carefully training the conductors, and then rechecking torque. They often loosen up significantly.
 
electrofelon said:
I am pretty sure that is what is happening. I have done the test of pushing the recep in without carefully training the conductors, and then rechecking torque. They often loosen up significantly.
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This is especially true of the cheaper receptacles where the screw itself directly contacts the conductor, i.e., no saddle clamp.
 
hillbilly1 said:
Home Depot has two different ones marked as an “EV” receptacle, the cheaper one is just like a regular 50 amp, but has “EV” stamped on it, but the other is noticeably heavier, with “EV” also stamped on it.
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There is no product standard, so the manufactures can mark their receptacles anyway they want to.
 
infinity said:
Which is my point that these manufacturers are ripping off the public because their devices cannot be used per their rating. If the receptacle were constructed to operate as per the rated value then it should not fail. There should be a class action lawsuit for everyone who purchased these receptacles which are faulty. The NEC shouldn't be slapping a Band-Aid on a problem which is actually related to how these receptacles are manufactured, tested, and listed.
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Amen!!!!!! Preach it, brotha, preach it.
 
hillbilly1 said:
Home Depot has two different ones marked as an “EV” receptacle, the cheaper one is just like a regular 50 amp, but has “EV” stamped on it, but the other is noticeably heavier, with “EV” also stamped on it.
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Do you happen to have any links? I generally don't buy electrical stuff from HD but looked on the web. I just see 2 Leviton models. One is EV and the other is EV-WR.
 
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