feeder taps exploit for ev charging?

goal is to have this in all meter bases in usa ready to plug in an evse. some people hate the look of utilty boxes, Also cost per address. also we need the evse to set the breaker size so a cheap small or large can be plugged in. goal is no electricains needed for evse swapping. Nema 14-50 has failed us for ev use.
Might not be the best place, an electrician forum, for the "no electricians needed" pitch.

But that said, to the OP, is this what you had in mind:
ConnectDER - MSA EV Charger.jpg
 
goal is to have this in all meter bases in usa
Have fun with that as each utility has a list of what meter bases you can use on their system. Some requirements are outside of what you have in a standard meter can, and "custom" meter cans are made for that utility.
 
Yeah there are contraptions like that that could certainly be slick and easy. I see two major problems though: grouping of service disconnects is going to be an issue, and also getting widespread acceptance by power companies.
Our utility will not permit any of the plug in meter adapters, such as transfer switches or solar connections. The blades of their meters have temperature sensor to warn of a connection problem, and the meter mounted device adds a blade/socket connection that is not monitored for temperature. If the temperature gets high enough, the internal disconnect in the smart meter will open.

In addition, meter mounted transfer switches and some other meter mounded devices require the connection of a neutral jumper to the meter socket. There is no available termination point for this neutral jumper in any of their approved meter sockets.
 
PG&E just changed the tap style MSA's from being one offs to being a tariff, so there is now just a standard price to install them.
Thats cool, and dont get me wrong, I think there should be laws standardizing utility rules and not allowing them to disallow things that should be allowed and make things cheaper and easier for everyone....but until that day, 90% of us are subject to them not allowing such things.
 
goal is to have this in all meter bases in usa ready to plug in an evse.
What happens if the meter is nowhere near where a car would be parked? What makes you think that everybody wants an EV? We can't even get the utilities to allow an emergency firefighter disconnect as part of their approved meter bases. That's a much more worthwhile cause than some silly EV charging plug that won't be used and will cost the utility money that gets passed along to us whether we use it or not.

-Hal
 
Thats cool, and dont get me wrong...but until that day, 90% of us are subject to them not allowing such things.
I don't have a horse in this race, just an observer. Here's the list of the yes areas:
ConnectDER has three types:
1757740443592.png
Not every possible type of MSA is made, and not every utility takes every type. The fragmented nature of all this is indeed awkward.
And you can't stack a MSA on a MSA pretty sure anywhere.
 
We can't even get the utilities to allow an emergency firefighter disconnect as part of their approved meter bases.
What's the specific ask there?
Around here the firefighters just cut the tag and pull the meter. At least they used to,
as I've heard some areas don't out of a worry for a spark, others still do.
 
Around here the firefighters just cut the tag and pull the meter. At least they used to,
The training for the last 20 years or so for firefighters has been not to do that. (Yes, I am aware that there are departments that still do pull the meter) The meter is not a load break device and under fire conditions there is more of a chance of a high current fault that could result in a serious arc flash/blast incident when the meter is pulled.

Some rural volunteer fire departments have firefighters that are also linemen, and some of those carry hot stick cutters and they will cut the drop at the pole.

That being said, when the fire is being actively fought, there is little danger from shock from 120.240 volt systems. A study done for the Navy showed that a 125 GPM straight steam at 100 PSI would flow less than 5 mA back to the nozzle at 10' from a 120 volt source. This test used seawater, so there would be even less current flow with fresh water.

It is when the fire is in the overhaul stage that there is the most danger from shock to fire fighters. They are inside pulling things apart to be sure the fire is out, and they is a good chance that they will contact the electrical wiring system.
 
Thanks for that deeply technical information, Joe. :ROFLMAO: Wireless charging has been around for years. Can't you charge your phone by placing it on a charger? Most newer cars even have a spot to charge your phone in the console. Various wireless EV charging schemes have been tried, from "electrified" roadways to parking spaces. Problem is the cost to implement it.

-Hal
 
Problem is the cost to implement it.

-Hal
And the losses. Losing couple percent of the power to charge a phone is accepted. My phone gets noticeably warmer when charging wirelessly than when corded. Now multiply the losses and associated heat rejection by 1000 times for charging an EV.
 
No, this car charges at long distances by over the air radio waves. Even the Ubangian President endorses it

 
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