EVSE, J1772 charger extension cord for up 3.8kw charger

[oil pan 4]

The instructions on your EVSE will like likely say something to the effect of "don't use an extension cord to power your EVSE" or "recommend hard wiring your EVSE". Most of that is the company doing some CYA and assuming you are not smart enough to use a heavy enough cord to do the job.
Let's be realistic, hard wiring your charger or never using an extension cord is not always going to happen.

For example I'm not waiting for the stupid and useless government to install chargers so I am building my own charging network by installed free electrical work for 2 of my friends in exchange for I get to charge there. Plus I can charge at my rental house.
To access power at these locations requires an extension cord.

I converted the first generation 12 amp Panasonic made leaf "brick charger" to 240v and bought my 16 amp duosida charger I figured I would just use my standard duty 3 prong nema 10-30 welder, air compressor and plasma cutter cord which is a 10 gauge SO cord.
Well dragging that 3/4 inch heavy fat cord got old fast.

I have since switched to 12 gauge STW cords, which are thin skinned thermo plastic cords used with normal extension cords. Mine were actually were old extension cords I bought from the scrap yard because I'm cheap and like to reuse stuff. I reenergized the cords by putting a nema 6-15 plug made by hubble (bought at lowes) and combination 6-15 and 6-20 receptacle made by arrow electrical (bought from ebay).

Now if you really wanted the lightest cord possible you could take the 12 amp nissan charger convert it to 240 and make a 14 gauge cord for it out of STW extension cord material or go to the hardware store and buy some thinner jacket SJ cord. (SO cord has a much thicker outer jacket)
If you use a 14 gauge cable on a 16 amp charger it will get kind of warm. I have a 14 gauge 6-15 cord I use with my 240v 9'' bostch grinder, it's going to stay with my grinder.
I'm going to stick with my 12 gauge cords for my chargers.
Do not use any 16 gauge cord, these seem to be the most commonly available STW extension cord size.

This does not cover the current generation of chargers and vehicles that charge at 6.6kw and up or 32 amp and have chargers capable of supplies that.
But the standard portable chargers for most vehicles appear to still be limited to 16 amps.

Lessons learned.
Your J1772 is likely going to be a black cord. When you select your EVSE extension cord or cords choose a different color than black. My black 240v extension cord always likes to tangle up with my EVSE when it's dark out.

[Piotrsko]

Well electric codes SAY 12 ga thhn solid is good for 20 amps or 2400 watts without getting dangerously hot. 10 ga up to 3600 watts. In my experience, the plugs and sockets at home despot are far inferior to that spec, since they get definitely hot at 1750 watts.

Cant see using 16 ga cords.

I have a 20 ft 10 ga yellow outdoors cord, but I dont need to move it much. I also run nema 6-30 twistlocks, which are really stupid to forget to undo and drive away.

[oil pan 4]

I was talking about 240v power.
120v charging is dreadfully slow.

If you plug yourJ1772 EVSE into 120v power you are probably going to be automaticlly limited to between 1,400 and 1,900 watts depending on the charger.

[Piotrsko]

This is 220 vac. Notice I use nema 6 series plugs.

Or are you indicating I can push 7200 watts in my 10 ga cords

[oil pan 4]

In the title says up to 3.8kw.

For the newer stuff that charges at 6.6kw and up I would use 8 gauge.

[oil pan 4]

250v plugs.
I have taken apart the 15 and 20 amp plugs and the prongs used in the 15 and 20 amp plugs are exactly the same.



This is for up to 3.8kw chargers.