Add Electric Vehicle Charging stations to existing Parking Lot Lighting wiring?

[Sal.Cameli]

Hello All,

Thank you for reading my post.

I was having a discussion with a prospective client about him installing Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) in his parking lot.

He was insisting that he can connect the station to the wiring used for his existing parking lot lighting.

I told him that his 10 Parking Lights were using a certain amount of Voltage & Amperage and most likely the system is sized for only a 20% buffer and that would not accommodate EVSE's as well.

He says since I am not an Electrician that I need to find research and prove it to him. (sounds like I should just delete his contact info and not call back)

Can any of you Experienced Electricians tell me if I am off-base, Can he install EVSE's on his existing wiring that used for his Parking lights? :?

We are talking about Level 2 240V 40A stations, I didn't even bring up DC Level 3 stations yet.

Thank you in advance,

Sal Cameli

 

[charlie b]

I don't know of a code article that would prohibit such an installation. The key issue is whether the circuit has sufficient spare capacity to handle the additional load. Someone (i.e., an electrician or engineer) would have to perform a calculation that would take into account the rating of the circuit breaker, the size of the wire, the total connected load from the lights, and the amount of load being added for the EVSEs.

 

[Ingenieur]

you need to retain an engineer/electrician
we have no idea re:
the service
existing ckts
qty od chargers

why would he call an IT guy to do this type of work?

 

[ron]

Sal,

You can't say there is or isn't enough capacity available in the existing service until a review of the service and the new load to be added is done.

Just not enough information.

 

[Sal.Cameli]

why would he call an IT guy to do this type of work?

In NJ I'm one out of 8 to 10 most experienced Electric Vehicle owners/advocates. I've assisted and are currently assisting other towns in installing EVSE's

I'm an answer man. I'm not going to do the actual work, I'm just going to get my client in touch with the correct people to do the work.

Me being an IT Guy by profession has nothing to do with it.

Thanks

 

[Sal.Cameli]

Thanks All.

I will instruct my client to hire a licensed Electrician to do a load calculation.

Sal

 

[kwired]

Sal,

You can't say there is or isn't enough capacity available in the existing service until a review of the service and the new load to be added is done.

Just not enough information.

Capacity at the service is one thing, but he said the owner in this case thinks existing power at the parking lot light poles is able to meet the EV needs.

I am seeing 10 poles mentioned - not sure what is on them for lighting, but if not too much for watts, might only be a 20 or 30 amp @ 120 volt circuit or 20 or 30 amp multiwire circuit - even if you disconnected the lights that not going to be able to supply even one 40 amp EV charger.

 

[ron]

Capacity at the service is one thing, but he said the owner in this case thinks existing power at the parking lot light poles is able to meet the EV needs.

I am seeing 10 poles mentioned - not sure what is on them for lighting, but if not too much for watts, might only be a 20 or 30 amp @ 120 volt circuit or 20 or 30 amp multiwire circuit - even if you disconnected the lights that not going to be able to supply even one 40 amp EV charger.

Why drag this out. We don't know what we don't know. These could be huge ball field light stanchions. Someone needs to look at what is there.

 

[kwired]

Why drag this out. We don't know what we don't know. These could be huge ball field light stanchions. Someone needs to look at what is there.

True, but if they are there is a lighting load at the top to consider also. They probably were not designed for much more load then what was initially installed. If conductors are larger than what is typical for the circuit rating - may be for voltage drop compensation.

 

[Besoeker]

Capacity at the service is one thing, but he said the owner in this case thinks existing power at the parking lot light poles is able to meet the EV needs.

I am seeing 10 poles mentioned - not sure what is on them for lighting, but if not too much for watts, might only be a 20 or 30 amp @ 120 volt circuit or 20 or 30 amp multiwire circuit - even if you disconnected the lights that not going to be able to supply even one 40 amp EV charger.

My thoughts too.

 

[MAC702]

While my first thought is "probably not," I also had another thought. It happens sometimes.

Let's assume his parking lot circuit is already correctly sized for not much more than the current parking lot lights.

If it winds up being the better way, there is the option of also upgrading the lights on the poles to modern LED's and it will free up a lot of available amperage on the circuit/panel.

 

[Fulthrotl]

He was insisting that he can connect the station to the wiring used for his existing parking lot lighting.

I told him that his 10 Parking Lights were using a certain amount of Voltage & Amperage and most likely the system is sized for only a 20% buffer and that would not accommodate EVSE's as well.

He says since I am not an Electrician that I need to find research and prove it to him. (sounds like I should just delete his contact info and not call back)

Can any of you Experienced Electricians tell me if I am off-base, Can he install EVSE's on his existing wiring that used for his Parking lights? :?

We are talking about Level 2 240V 40A stations, I didn't even bring up DC Level 3 stations yet.

Thank you in advance,

Sal Cameli

let's use common sense....
you are looking at 35 amps or so of 240, per station, right?

now, do we actually know what voltage the lights in question use?
could be about four different voltages, three of them are not 240......

let us say the voltage is suitable. realistically, no, it's not gonna work,
for the reasons most people cautiously ventured here.

now, you might be able to add additional circuits to the conduit that feeds
the poles. except that you are gonna run out of conduit capacity pretty
quickly.

the last parking lot poles i set, to allow for future expansion on the facility,
i put a 2" conduit from each pole back to the switchgear. then i pulled in
#6 wire in the pipe, and a pull rope, for future use.

so, in my perfect world, you could put four chargers on each power pole.
so, there is one place in north america where this will work.

and if you have a belligerent owner who says you have to do all the legwork
to prove him wrong, your first idea of deleting his contact information is close.
i'd leave his name in your phone, so when he calls, you don't answer by mistake.

 

[hbiss]

EV chargers suck power like there is no tomorrow if you expect to recharge the vehicle in a reasonable period of time. I seriously doubt that you could get away with more than a couple even if you changed all the lights out to LED with photo controls.

Switching to EVs is going to require a change from fuel power to electricity. How long and at what cost is rebuilding the entire country's electrical distribution to equal the power required to charge these things?

They seem like a good idea now because owners get one up on gasoline powered vehicles but when owners have to foot the costs see how long they last.

-Hal

 

[sameguy]

I just wonder how good they work when the photo eye time clock turns the power off all the time.
No lighting or other job that was bid was over sized, under yes over no way.