Stop using extension cords for Level 1 charging in garages

I keep seeing people in this sub plug their EVs into a 50-foot outdoor extension cord. That's a fire waiting to happen. Most of those cords are rated for 10 amps max and your charger pulls 12. I melted a cheap cord in my garage last month. The insulation got soft and sticky. Grab a 12-gauge cord at Home Depot for 30 bucks or hardwire a proper outlet. Has anyone else seen cords get hot like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

masondixon26d ago

Yeah the "soft and sticky" part is exactly what happened to me too. I melted an old 16 gauge cord that was rated for 13 amps but it couldn't handle the constant draw for 8 hours straight. The plug got so hot it warped the outlet face. You're right about grabbing the 12 gauge cord from Home Depot, that's what I did and it barely gets warm now. But honestly even that is a bandaid fix. If you park in the same spot every night just hardwire a proper 20 amp outlet and be done with it. Cheaper than replacing melted stuff or burning your house down.

ward.piper26d ago

I mean yeah it can get warm but I think some people are making this sound way scarier than it really is. A 12 gauge cord from the hardware store is like $20 and handles it fine, I've been using one for a year now without any problems. The expensive fix of hardwiring a new outlet is overkill for most people charging overnight once or twice a week. Plus your car's charger automatically stops if it gets too hot so there's built in safety components already.