Charging Cable Extension

You don't need expensive 40 Amp, 20ft, J1772 Extension Cable. All you need is heavy duty regular 120v extension cord of 12AWG or 10AWG. If the brick part of the EVSE is going to be outside, you might want to invest in weatherproof box to place the connection part. Something similar to the photo below.

 

And get the shortest cord that works, e.g. just 25 feet instead of 50 or 100. The shorter the cord of a given gauge, the less the voltage drop.

 

Yep, I agree with what's been said above.

Personally I like 10 AWG, it will have very little (almost none) loss at 25 ft.

Another thing you may or may not know is that you can use your 120v OE Toyota EVSE unit at 240 volts to charge your car in less than half the time, typical full charge time is 2 1/2 hours on 240 volts. If you have any questions, let me know.


Rob43

 

its the plugs that get hot. get a good quality

 

that's right .... & THAT'S why the most expensive way is the best way. It's called future-proofing. Someday you may need to charge somewhere above a paltry 3.6 kw's;

JLONG - 20 foot J1772 extension cable



When that day comes, & you are charging on 240V - 30amps, & you still have a long run, you'll be glad you went this route.
But if you think you'll be stuck on 120v forever? Then sure, go for a extension cord.
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Yep, bigger capacity would be great !

Yes, you just put an adapter on your EVSE unit.

I make these adapters all the time for people using the best materials:
Using the Primes 120v Charger at 240 Volts, Cost $20 !!! | Page 6 | PriusChat


Rob43

 

240 is around 10% more efficient than 120v.

 

While future-proofing may be a good idea, it may not work out as cost effective if done prematurely. Prices fall with volume, standards change, sometimes the future goes a different path. So $200 for this cord, vs $25-30 for a 120V 12AWG extension (or $35-40 for a 10AWG extension), I'd go with the common 120V extension for now. Wait until a future car with bigger battery comes along before getting that J1772 extension, along with a 240V outlet in the garage.

Also:

If something seems to be getting hot, or the EVSE and car get finicky with an extension cord, you might be running into the reasons Toyota discourages extensions in the first place. If so, you can buy some margin by reducing the charging rate from the original default 12 Amps (on 120V, more on 240V) to just 8 amps. (For how to, see owner's manual.) This will cut the parasitic cord and plug heating in half, and cut the voltage loss (in the house branch wiring too, not just in the extension cord) by 1/3rd. If you are charging over night, the longer charge time will not be an issue.

 

Of course, that could result in missed opportunity. Electric providers may not be offering rebates then. We got $500 for each line setup. No harm checking what's available now.

 

it looks like the OP was hoping to charge 240V, ergo, the 240V solution. Equally important, if you're out and about, needing a charge, it's all too common that some moron will ice public charging spots. A 240v J1772 extension, will let you work around such shenanigans. That's especially important for an EV, as opposed to a phev.
Pricey? For some, sure. Extended car warranties are expensive too. Homeowners insurance is pricey too. It's crucial though, in times of Dire Straits. Everybody has to assess their own risk vs benefit.

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Call the lot owner and ask them to ticket/tow the non-EVs.

For the Tesla, I'd put one of these notes on the windshield:

 

Just as people park cars in the wrong spot ...... PC members park their rants about such things in the wrong spot

Plug-In Parking Abuse Hall of Shame: Post Pic's Here | PriusChat
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Bonjour,

I use 15 metres extension 10AWG and it's ok.

 

Until recently I was using two 15A orange extension cords and they got warm around the plugs during charging. They are both 14AWG. One of the extensions got cut in the past when I was trimming some bushes one day and I patched together as seen in the picture. I soldered the wires together to repair it. I monitored this particular spot and never noticed any warming when charging the Prius. The point is, it all depends how good the connection is. Good connections will prevent warming.

 

absolutely. that's why a lot of people recommend the screw terminals on a wall outlet, instead of the push in connections.

well done!