Voltec EVSE 240V upgrade

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sTeeve

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 22, 2015
Messages
167
Location
Decatur, Georgia, USA
Did this upgrade today: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...-how-to-modify-Voltec-L1-EVSE-to-do-L1-and-L2

Turned out really well. Car charges at 12.xA @ 240V or 12/8A @ 120V. I made one small change to the protocol: I substituted a NEMA 14-50P for the L14-20P and a NEMA 14-50R for the L14-20R. Otherwise, followed the instructions.

Modded the foam block to accommodate the new hardware. Below: On the left, the new yellow cable is 14g (14/4 SOOW Yellow Portable Cord 600V UL/CSA); added a Conntek NEMA 14-50P. On the right, I cut away the foam to allow the 240V/120V adapter. The adapter is the leftover 120V cable from the EVSE after the mod mated to a NEMA 14-50R.
2016-07-24%2020.40.26_zpsarlqmreh.jpg


Below: new 14/4 cable with NEMA 14-50P.
2016-07-24%2017.13.56_zpsjo649tcc.jpg


The goal of this mod is simple: I carry the Voltec EVSE all the time; it's weakness is that it is limited to 120V/12A. This mod is effectively a simple soldering project that voids the warranty of the Voltec and...um...er...oh, so that I could charge at 240V/12.nA in a pinch. Yeah, that's the ticket.

-Bob K.
 
Kudos to you for doing this mod in a safe manner!

On the Volt forum they are leaving the 120V connector on the EVSE because it has a temp sensor in it and an extra 2 wires for that.
Then they make an adapter harness with a 120 receptacle with 240V on it at one end and it plugs into a 240V receptacle. This not to code and not safe.
 
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