EV Charging - how to adjust charging amperage?

[California]

I didn't know there are replacement bus bars for Federal Pacific panels. That would be an improvement.

I've read that the modern replacement breakers are also suspect, their design failed UL testing but they're sold anyway.

We're careful to never overload circuits. But especially cautious after two 110v heaters on separate breakers in the guest cabin, destroyed the 100 amp breaker at the head of the barn's sub-panel. I found it severely corroded and arc-burned. I expect that was already a used, retired breaker when the used panel was installed in 1966.

Everything here is like this, no new materials were used anywhere in the various 'upgrades' aside from roofing and paint. As I've noted, Dad urged me to bulldoze and replace but I'm as cheap as he was.

Keeping this place going is my retirement hobby. It's still mostly 1930's Depression-era original, even has the water tower with windmill (now decorative), and is still a commercial apple orchard, very unlike my more recent wealthy neighbors with their small unprofitable new Pinot Noir vineyards planted for 'ambiance'. Life is good.

 

[ultrarunner]

On a pole along the path to the 1850 barn is a breaker box for the barn and another small outbuilding…

As my brother was getting settled I stressed keeping the breaker off unless you are physically working in the barn is smart insurance.

Wired up an outdoor barn light without a switch so it’s evident when the power is on.

He’s very careful about killing the power for a better night’s sleep…

The farm has 2 meters and one is a 400 amp modern service but the outbuildings are very old.

No pumps as all farm water is gravity fed spring water…

Be careful about Bull Dozing existing as several of the farm outbuildings here couldn’t be rebuilt if lost due to setback requirements…

Tons of Federal Pacific Boxes here… must have been the box of choice in the 1950’s.

 

[ponytug]

I didn't know there are replacement bus bars for Federal Pacific panels. That would be an improvement.

I've read that the modern replacement breakers are also suspect, their design failed UL testing but they're sold anyway.

We're careful to never overload circuits. But especially cautious after two 110v heaters on separate breakers in the guest cabin, destroyed the 100 amp breaker at the head of the barn's sub-panel. I found it severely corroded and arc-burned. I expect that was already a used, retired breaker when the used panel was installed in 1966.

Everything here is like this, no new materials were used anywhere in the various 'upgrades' aside from roofing and paint. As I've noted, Dad urged me to bulldoze and replace but I'm as cheap as he was.

Keeping this place going is my retirement hobby. It's still mostly 1930's Depression-era original, even has the water tower with windmill (now decorative), and is still a commercial apple orchard, very unlike my more recent wealthy neighbors with their small unprofitable new Pinot Noir vineyards planted for 'ambiance'. Life is good.

There are a couple of good YouTube videos on them; how to tell if there are issues, and how to repair/replace the bus bars. E.g.

I think that if you poke around, you can find suppliers for the bus bars, and better breakers. My local Home Depot offers them on special order.

Personally, I ripped all of our Zinsco panels out; I just couldn't sleep well knowing the fire hazard. I still have a stock of a handful of NOS Zinsco breakers. I can't quite make myself toss them, but I'd feel bad selling them to somebody who didn't know their dangers.

All the best,

Peter

 

[California]

the "latest" Chevy charger does allow two current choices when plugged into a 120 volt circuit using the my Chevy app. However it does not on the 240 volt operation, in that configuration it can and will pull a max of 32 amps.

Thanks! This what I was searching for.

So we were pulling 32 amps through the Federal Pacific 30 amp breaker for several hours without it tripping. The breaker only warmed slightly. I measured 80 degrees on the charger brick and 85 degrees at the 30 amp breaker.

If the breaker won't trip when continuously loaded beyond rated capacity (Federal Pacific is infamous for this), then it's probably better that we don't run the 240v charger overnight.

 

[LouNY]

Here is an interesting thread on why a 30 amp breaker can handle 40 amps for quite awhile.
https://www.electriciantalk.com/threads/why-doesnt-this-breaker-trip.143449/
It just comes down to the heat generated vs the heat dissipated.

 

[ultrarunner]

At my friends ranch he related having no issues with a circuit in winter but every summer in the hottest weather the pump would trip…

Only difference is ambient temp from very cold to very hot…

My electrician friend he’s seen similar when multiple circuits are running at capacity in the same panel net to each other… the heat builds up …