EV Charger Plug fire - be careful! (Input requested. Link to pics below).

Dodged a full house fire last night. Outlet completely melted. Fire burned casing and wall, but went out on its own.

Equipment:

  • Siemens versicharge 240/30A plugged into a NEMA 6-50 in a drive under garage.
  • Dedicated line with 40A fuse
  • Professionally installed during home construction.

Events:

  • Charged friends MS 100D for 8 hrs during the day
  • Charger rested for 1.5 hrs
  • Plugged in a MS 75 to top off for the evening
  • MS charged for a few hours then breaker tripped

Next morning I go out to find this near catastrophe.

Very scary. Melted box, all wood is charred.

Curious if I need to replace the entire wire (which is run through about 50 feet of walls in my house).

I read that EV chargers should be hardwired to avoid fault points like a plug.

Also read that most NEMA plugs aren’t intended to handle current for long periods of time (designed for a few hours running a dryer).

Electricians coming tomorrow.

Welcome any comments about how to protect myself in the repair/ reinstallation.

I’m likely going to hardwire the charger (no plug) and look into adding a temperature sensor or something - and definitely a fire sensor.

Link to pictures of failed plug: https://imgur.com/gallery/2joUiOp

  • sabasaba19@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Maybe I am misunderstanding but are you saying you had a 6-50 plug (meant for 50 amp service) on a branch circuit with a 40am breaker? That’s not okay and a major screwup by the original professional. Makes you wonder what else they screwed up.

    • tmonax@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      No sir. Was saying I’ll do a 6/2 gauge wire and a 50 amp breaker, direct wired to the charger. The electrician brought up that no 55amp breakers exist to match the max amperage of 6/2 wire - so it’s common to go to 60. But, I’m gunshy. Staying with 6/2 and 50 amp breaker.