Should I try to get a 10 gauge extension cord?

Hi all,

I'm trying to determine if I should use a 10 gauge extension chord when charging up the electric car. Right now I am using a 25 foot 12 gauge extension chord which plugs in to a Nema 5-15 GFCI outlet and the other end plugs in to the car's EVSE unit which is a Nema 5-15 connector. An EVSE is a power supply type device which plugs in to the car's internal battery charger. The EVSE has about 6 inches of 14 gauge cable and then the electricity enters the EVSE. The other end of the EVSE plugs in to the car and uses a very thick J1772 cable.

When I charge my car at 12AMPS, the extension chord gets hot at the two ends, the wall and the EVSE. The temperature cools off after about 4 or 5 inches from the ends of the extension chord. The temperature is not burning hot. The wall outlet doesn't feel hot either. The car's EVSE 14 gauge cable doesn't get hot. My main concern is the fact that the charge up time at 12AMPS is 10 hours if the battery is empty and I want to do my best to extend the lifetime of the houses electrical infrastructure. So would 10 gauge extension chord be a good idea to consider?

 

My guess would be a loose fit in the receptacle either due to the receptacle or the cord plug. I'd suggest replacing the receptacle with a high quality commercial grade receptacle.

 

It isn't necessary if your car's cord is #14. But to make a long theory short, the larger your wire, the less heat you will have. You could always buy 5' of 10/2 cabtire and build your own cord too.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

You may want to consider getting the 240V charger and having a 240V outlet installed at a point where you don't need an extension cord. It'll charge faster too.

 

Hi JerseyMatt,

Unfortunately 240V is not an option currently. I'd love to have an L2. I rent a house and the landlord denied my offer to pay for updating the electrical system. Also the Quick 220 unit won't work in my house.
Luckily, I have a Chevy Volt extended range electric car (EREV) so it's not a catastrophe if my battery is not fully charged up after an occasional late night return home followed by early morning events the next day. The Volt has an onboard gas powered electric generator in case the battery runs out and when I get to a mall or my destination, usually there is a L2 unit that I can plug-in to. So far I'm averaging 150 MPG, 70 MPGe and I drive via grid based electricity 80% of the time. My statistics values are increasing still because I recently moved in to this house from an apartment where I couldn't charge up all the time (i knew i was moving so i bought the car before the move due to a great deal).

 

Lol the landlord can probably qualify for some kind of tax credit if he installs an EV charging station..

But I see what you're saying..