I currently own two electric vehicles and usually charge using a 120V outlet in my garage, which suffices for my 35-mile daily commute, however my wife needs a level 2 daily for her commute. Ideally, a Level 2 charger would be more efficient for us both, but installing one is not an option for me as I live in condo that I own on the second floor with a 75amp sub panel that I cannot upgrade without upgrading every other unit in the 4 person building (poor design). To address this, I have implemented a solution involving a ‘Dryer Buddy’ device. This allows me to use the 240V 30amp NEMA 10-30 plug that my dryer uses with a Level 2 charger and I charge our cars when needed at 240v 24amps. To connect my car, I plug a level 2 charger into the dryer buddy, then using a 60-foot Lectron brand J1772 extension cable (see photo) (not a regular extension cord) that I connect to the level 2 charger, which I run down the stairs (see photo link), through the door leading to my private garage (see photo in link), and into my vehicle. It’s not ideal and we have to step over it when using the hallway, but it works and I charge to 80% by morning. The system works efficiently without any cables overheating, but managing the lengthy cable is troublesome and the Lectron cable is heavy, and it requires keeping the door leading into my garage slightly open, which lets in cold air and possibly pests or heat in during the summer time. I have contemplated installing a doggy door to remedy this and run the cable through the pet door so I can close the door all the way, but it might detract from the home’s appearance. Installing a 240v outlet in my garage is not an option unfortunately. I’m wondering if there is something I can temporarily place and remove each time when we keep the door ajar like some sort of thick foam or maybe a removable thick curtain that is airtight to block any wind that comes through while allowing the cable to run between the ajar door and door frame? Is there a better idea overall than this setup in general? I wish there was a way to get an extension from the dryer buddy plug upstairs into my garage. I have the ability to physically run cables through my crawl space above the dryer into the garage, but I’m not sure that would be safe or a fire risk. Do you have any recommendations for improving this setup? I need to replace in the photo leading to the garage as its old and dirty, but I’d rather not cut holes in it if I don’t have to.
Thank you this is really good information but my question is is this something that electrician installed because I would not know how to do it
Then you gotta find an electrician who speaks EVEMS. The manufacturers of that kit (Wallbox and Emporia) have referral services.
If you just pick J random electrician (and God help you if you use Internet search, because those search results are all manipulated to put you into middlemen and scammers)… then yeah, they’ll think you’re delusional.
I called several random electricians who didn’t even think it was legal to install the simple switch. They thought I was nuts.