Help ! Car charger came with 4 prong plug

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Stevenfyeager

Senior Member
Location
United States, Indiana
Occupation
electrical contractor
Customer’s car charger has a 4 prong plug but everywhere in its manual says 3 wire, both on paragraphs and diagrams. Charger company is not yet open to ask. (Pacific time)
 
petersonra said:
four prongs. L1, L2, N, G. That would be a 3 wire system.
Click to expand...
Thanks. But the charger manual says ‘neutral not used’ in paragraphs and diagrams for three different power sources. (Single phase, and two three phases). And the hardwired version shows a picture of only 3 wires in the junction box. We have the plug and cord model. Thanks, I’m really confused.
 
Stevenfyeager said:
Customer’s car charger has a 4 prong plug but everywhere in its manual says 3 wire, both on paragraphs and diagrams. Charger company is not yet open to ask. (Pacific time)
Click to expand...
Many EVSEs come with a 4 prong plug for ease of plugging into an existing 4 prong receptacle. But they (almost?) never use the neutral, and some of them are available with 3 prong plugs.

Anyway, if you're already run L-L-G to your EVSE location, you either need to hardwire the EVSE or change the cord to a NEMA 6-xx plug or have the customer exchange the EVSE for one that comes with a 3 prong plug already.

Cheers, Wayne
 
Or just cut off the prong you aren't using. <ducks under thrown objects from everyone else> :D
 
ggunn said:
<ducks under thrown objects from everyone else> :D
Click to expand...

Here, borrow this one:
scared2.gif
 
Just wire the four prong receptacle with two hots and the grounding and plug in the 4 prong cord. Just make sure the charger does nit need the N for any reference.
 
edward said:
Just wire the four prong receptacle with two hots and the grounding and plug in the 4 prong cord. Just make sure the charger does nit need the N for any reference.
Click to expand...
Not sure of the legalities, but I think it would be irresponsible to install a receptacle with the neutral terminal left floating.
 
LarryFine said:
Not sure of the legalities, but I think it would be irresponsible to install a receptacle with the neutral terminal left floating.
Click to expand...
If the Neutral terminal doesn't have any conductor connection at either end, is that still a floating neutral?
again, OP needs to make sure the charger does not need neutral for any purpose.
 
retirede said:
1) I’ve never seen a 240V EVSE that requires a neutral.
2) I wouldn’t install a NEMA 14-50 receptacle without running a neutral conductor even if the present intended load doesn’t require it.
Click to expand...
Eaton used one on theirs originally, the only thing the neutral was for is the contactor coil. At the time, they (Eaton) did not make a contactor dual rated for 208/240.
 
The four prong cords have the neutral and ground both wired together internally. If I have time tomorrow, I will get a picture of the factory 4-prong whip that came with a charger I installed Tuesday. I removed the cord and hardwired the unit.
 
edward said:
If the Neutral terminal doesn't have any conductor connection at either end, is that still a floating neutral?
again, OP needs to make sure the charger does not need neutral for any purpose.
Click to expand...
My statement is about the inevitable replacement load expecting the neutral.
 
Thank you all for your quick responses. I finally got a hold of the company, 8:00 Pacific time. They said I could not change cords, voids the warranty, which I figured. I asked them how many wires are in the 4 prong cord. "three", they said. Hmmm. They said neutral is not used (just like I read in the specs.) I asked why the 4 prong then ? They said in case the owner sells the house, they will be left with a more modern receptacle, a 4 hole, so they could re-use it for an appliance, like a range. ??? Who puts a range in their garage ? They said they offer a 3 prong charger for $600. The owner said he bought it too long ago to return it and get the 3 prong. I replaced the cable with 4 wire cable, as I don't think the inspector would've passed a non neutral 4 hole receptacle. What a morning....
Thank you all so much !
 
So you installed a 4 prong receptacle but the neutral prong of the cord end is useless, correct?
 
Chamuit said:
The four prong cords have the neutral and ground both wired together internally. If I have time tomorrow, I will get a picture of the factory 4-prong whip that came with a charger I installed Tuesday. I removed the cord and hardwired the unit.
Click to expand...
That would be bad if it's feed from a sub-panel. I assure that's not a UL approved cord?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top