Portable EVSE at 480/3

[raberding]

Hi - we have an auto dealership considering a portable Level 3 DC fast "charger" at 480/3. I see manufacturer's make em - cord & plug - but not sure that NEC 625.44(A) allow them. A little strange to me...but this is not really my area of expertise...
Anyone ever come across this?
thx

 

[retirede]

I’ve never seen a cord-connected DC fast charger. Do you have a link?

 

[wwhitney]

I’ve never seen a cord-connected DC fast charger. Do you have a link?

Here's one semi-randomly selected one:

Mobile DC Fast Charging Power Station | EvoCharge

EvoCharge Mobile DC fast power station is a 480V charger designed to be moveable at your location providing fast charging where you need it.

commercial.evocharge.com

Cheers, Wayne

 

[raberding]

Here's one semi-randomly selected one:

Mobile DC Fast Charging Power Station | EvoCharge

EvoCharge Mobile DC fast power station is a 480V charger designed to be moveable at your location providing fast charging where you need it.

commercial.evocharge.com

Cheers, Wayne

ha - same one that I found

 

[retirede]

I would agree that a DC fast charger cannot be cord and plug connected without violating the section mentioned. There is no acceptable provision listed for 3 phase portable equipment.

 

[jim dungar]

How is this different than any other portable equipment, like an automotive battery charger/booster, or a large food 'coach'? The portable EVSE is not part of the electrical installation.

 

[wwhitney]

How is this different than any other portable equipment, like an automotive battery charger/booster, or a large food 'coach'?

The difference is that NEC 625.44 appears to regulate them, see below in particular (C) "all other EVSE shall be permanently wired and fixed-in-place".

Cheers, Wayne

625.44 Equipment Connection
EVSE and WPTE shall be connected to the premises wiring system in accordance with one of the methods in 625.44(A) through (C).
(A) Portable Equipment
Portable equipment shall be connected to the premises wiring system by one or more of the following methods:

A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 125 volts, single phase, 15 or 20 amperes
A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 250 volts, single phase, 15 or 20 amperes
A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire or 3-pole, 4-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 250 volts, single phase, 30 or 50 amperes, or 125/250 volts, single-phase, 30, 50, or 60 amperes
A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 60 volts dc maximum, 15 or 20 amperes

(B) Fastened-in-Place Equipment
Equipment that is fastened-in-place shall be connected to the premises wiring system by one of the following methods:

A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated 125 volts or 250 volts, single phase, up to 50 amperes
A nonlocking, 3-pole, 4-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated 250 volts, three phase, up to 50 amperes
A nonlocking, 3-pole, 4-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated 125/250 volts, single phase, 30, 50, or 60 amperes
A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated 60 volts dc maximum, 15 or 20 amperes

(C) Fixed-in-Place Equipment
All other EVSE and WPTE shall be permanently wired and fixed-in-place to the supporting surface.

 

[jim dungar]

The difference is that NEC 625.44 appears to regulate them, see below in particular (C) "all other EVSE shall be permanently wired and fixed-in-place".

So, are you saying that a 480V 3-phase receptacle cannot be installed because someone might plug a prohibited piece of equipment into it?

 

[D. Castor]

We used to install 480 V welding receptacles all over the place. Has something changed?

Also, how many car dealerships have 480 V power? That seems unusual.

 

[winnie]

So, are you saying that a 480V 3-phase receptacle cannot be installed because someone might plug a prohibited piece of equipment into it?

That isn't what @wwhitney says.

_Code_ says that a portable EVSE may only be connected in certain ways....but if an electrician were to install a general purpose 480V 3 phase receptacle I don't see how code would prohibit it. One might argue that code prohibits EVSEs with the matching 480V cord, but that really should be a product listing issue, not a code issue.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The second draft ballot from CMP 12 says the following will be added to 625.44 for the 2026 code.

(5) A locking, pin-and-sleeve, 3-pole, 4-wire grounding type receptacle outlet rated 277/480volts, three-phase 60 amperes or 100 amperes

The panel statement said:

.... Section 625.44(A) Item (5) and625.44(B) were added to facilitate high-speed, high-power chargers. These sections were expanded to allow for the use of locking pin-and-sleeve receptacle outlets

 

[raberding]

hi - this is a helpful discussion - thanks all for the input