DucRider
Well-Known Member
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Thought I'd break this out and start a new thread as questions have come up in a couple of other threads/forums as to their 48A products and NEC Article 625 compliance.
The NEC code (2017 & 2020) limits plug-in EVSEs to 50A receptacles. Two products from WattZilla (WallWatts 48 and Black Mamba 48) appear to ship with a 14-60P and would not be code compliant in the US. Their website does mention that the WattZilla can be hardwired, but not the Black Mamba. The documentation and installation instructions for those products does not show or even mention hardwiring or a pigail option in place of the 14-60P.
Both models claim that they comply with Article 625 of the NEC, which clearly they do not. I had a long phone conversation with Frank Gangi of WattZilla, and he claims that they will not ship a 48A version of either of these products to a US address before first calling them and asking if they want the pigtail for hardwiring or the 14-60P. He acknowledged that they do not explain during that call that the 14-60P only meets Canadian safety standards and not US, but says it should be the choice of the consumer and they are not legally obligated to explain electrical code or potential safety hazards. It reiterated that it was not illegal to sell the "Canadian spec" version in the US and that it was completely safe even though it's use violates the NEC and therefore almost all electrical codes in the US.
From the "Safety" section under the "Features" tab on their website:
The product brochures/installation instructions contain the same info:
https://www.wattzilla.com/pdfs/Wall-Wattz-Installation-and-Operation-Guide.pdf
Safety Features
WallWattz supports all the safety features required (and a few more) by standards documents for EV charging from standard SAE J1772, NEC and UL including:
UL2251 Standard for Plugs, Receptacles and Couplers for Electric Vehicles
UL2231 Standard for Personnel Protection Systems for Electric Vehicle (EV) Supply Circuits
SAE J1772™ Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler Standard
NEC Article 625 Electric Vehicle Charging System Equipment
WallWattz is a wall-mounted J1772 charger available in three models:
WallWattz Model 40 requires one independent, properly fused and/or breakered 50 Amp circuit that can be plugged into a 240 VAC outlet 14-50R. WallWattz Model 48 requires one independent, properly fused and/or breakered 60 Amp circuit that can be plugged into a 240 VAC outlet 14-60R.
WallWattz Model 75 requires one independent, properly fused and/or breakered 100 Amp circuit that features a six-foot wire (whip) that can be directly wired directly into an electrical panel.
Doesn't say anything about units shipped to the US coming standard with a pigtail and requiring that a 14-60P be requested by the customer.
https://www.wattzilla.com/pdfs/Black-Mamba-Installation-and-Operation-Guide.pdf
Safety Features
Black Mamba supports all the safety features required (and a few more) by standards documents for EV charging from standard SAE J1772, NEC and UL, including:
UL2251 Standard for Plugs, Receptacles and Couplers for Electric Vehicles
UL2231 Standard for Personnel Protection Systems for Electric Vehicle (EV) Supply Circuits
SAE J1772™ Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler Standard
NEC Article 625 Electric Vehicle Charging System Equipment
To Charge a Vehicle Using Black Mamba:
1. Plug Black Mamba into a properly grounded 240v 14-50R (Black Mamba Model 40 with 40 Amp output) or 14-60R (Black Mamba Model 48 with 48 Amp output) electrical outlet.
I think that the safety claims are deceptive, and cast some doubt on the other certifications they list. Frank insists he sits on several UL boards and that their products meet all UL and CUL requirements. He also states that UL reviewed their documentation and that the UL approved the statement that their 14-60P products comply with Article 625 of the NEC. I don't know if UL certification reviews all safety claims and the various codes behind them in documentation and on websites before they allow their symbol to be used, but it seems doubtful to me.
I have no idea why their site and documentation makes no mention of a pigtail on 48A products. His response was "there is lots of information that is not in our documentation nor on the site". I think it would be useful for those customers in the US looking to have a code compliant install to know that they will be getting a hardwired unit with a pigtail and not a 14-60P and be able to plan accordingly. Frank disagrees and says it is no problem since they call before shipping.
He claims that using a 14-60 on an EVSE poses no significant safety hazard, but does not think that the claim that they comply with US safety standards when they do not is an issue and at one point said the NEC was wrong to limit plugs to 50A. My beef is not on whether it is safe or not, but with their claim of compliance that is blatantly false.
Do they make a good product? Very likely. Are they completely straightforward and trustworthy? Not in my book. They said basically it was the customers responsibility to verify that the specs on their units do indeed meet the safety standards they claim. NEC compliance is easier to verify than the UL certifications. He insisted that it was clear on the web site that the Canadian versions would not meet US Code, and that the customer would have to specifically request the 14-60P or they would be shipped the pigtail. I looked again after the phone call and could find no mention anywhere of this policy.
It has come up in multiple forums that I am active on where people have looked at the Wattzilla site and insisted that a 14-60P meets the NEC because it is stated clearly on the website that it does. It is often then asked how they can get away with selling it in the US, and the answer is just as Frank asserted - " it is not illegal for us to sell a product that does not meet NEC". Is it false or deceptive advertising? Perhaps.
It is important to note that this affects only the 48A versions of the WallWatts and Black Mamba as they are the only products that ship with a 14-60P.
Caveat Emptor.
The NEC code (2017 & 2020) limits plug-in EVSEs to 50A receptacles. Two products from WattZilla (WallWatts 48 and Black Mamba 48) appear to ship with a 14-60P and would not be code compliant in the US. Their website does mention that the WattZilla can be hardwired, but not the Black Mamba. The documentation and installation instructions for those products does not show or even mention hardwiring or a pigail option in place of the 14-60P.
Both models claim that they comply with Article 625 of the NEC, which clearly they do not. I had a long phone conversation with Frank Gangi of WattZilla, and he claims that they will not ship a 48A version of either of these products to a US address before first calling them and asking if they want the pigtail for hardwiring or the 14-60P. He acknowledged that they do not explain during that call that the 14-60P only meets Canadian safety standards and not US, but says it should be the choice of the consumer and they are not legally obligated to explain electrical code or potential safety hazards. It reiterated that it was not illegal to sell the "Canadian spec" version in the US and that it was completely safe even though it's use violates the NEC and therefore almost all electrical codes in the US.
From the "Safety" section under the "Features" tab on their website:
The product brochures/installation instructions contain the same info:
https://www.wattzilla.com/pdfs/Wall-Wattz-Installation-and-Operation-Guide.pdf
Safety Features
WallWattz supports all the safety features required (and a few more) by standards documents for EV charging from standard SAE J1772, NEC and UL including:
UL2251 Standard for Plugs, Receptacles and Couplers for Electric Vehicles
UL2231 Standard for Personnel Protection Systems for Electric Vehicle (EV) Supply Circuits
SAE J1772™ Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler Standard
NEC Article 625 Electric Vehicle Charging System Equipment
WallWattz is a wall-mounted J1772 charger available in three models:
WallWattz Model 40 requires one independent, properly fused and/or breakered 50 Amp circuit that can be plugged into a 240 VAC outlet 14-50R. WallWattz Model 48 requires one independent, properly fused and/or breakered 60 Amp circuit that can be plugged into a 240 VAC outlet 14-60R.
WallWattz Model 75 requires one independent, properly fused and/or breakered 100 Amp circuit that features a six-foot wire (whip) that can be directly wired directly into an electrical panel.
Doesn't say anything about units shipped to the US coming standard with a pigtail and requiring that a 14-60P be requested by the customer.
https://www.wattzilla.com/pdfs/Black-Mamba-Installation-and-Operation-Guide.pdf
Safety Features
Black Mamba supports all the safety features required (and a few more) by standards documents for EV charging from standard SAE J1772, NEC and UL, including:
UL2251 Standard for Plugs, Receptacles and Couplers for Electric Vehicles
UL2231 Standard for Personnel Protection Systems for Electric Vehicle (EV) Supply Circuits
SAE J1772™ Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler Standard
NEC Article 625 Electric Vehicle Charging System Equipment
To Charge a Vehicle Using Black Mamba:
1. Plug Black Mamba into a properly grounded 240v 14-50R (Black Mamba Model 40 with 40 Amp output) or 14-60R (Black Mamba Model 48 with 48 Amp output) electrical outlet.
I think that the safety claims are deceptive, and cast some doubt on the other certifications they list. Frank insists he sits on several UL boards and that their products meet all UL and CUL requirements. He also states that UL reviewed their documentation and that the UL approved the statement that their 14-60P products comply with Article 625 of the NEC. I don't know if UL certification reviews all safety claims and the various codes behind them in documentation and on websites before they allow their symbol to be used, but it seems doubtful to me.
I have no idea why their site and documentation makes no mention of a pigtail on 48A products. His response was "there is lots of information that is not in our documentation nor on the site". I think it would be useful for those customers in the US looking to have a code compliant install to know that they will be getting a hardwired unit with a pigtail and not a 14-60P and be able to plan accordingly. Frank disagrees and says it is no problem since they call before shipping.
He claims that using a 14-60 on an EVSE poses no significant safety hazard, but does not think that the claim that they comply with US safety standards when they do not is an issue and at one point said the NEC was wrong to limit plugs to 50A. My beef is not on whether it is safe or not, but with their claim of compliance that is blatantly false.
Do they make a good product? Very likely. Are they completely straightforward and trustworthy? Not in my book. They said basically it was the customers responsibility to verify that the specs on their units do indeed meet the safety standards they claim. NEC compliance is easier to verify than the UL certifications. He insisted that it was clear on the web site that the Canadian versions would not meet US Code, and that the customer would have to specifically request the 14-60P or they would be shipped the pigtail. I looked again after the phone call and could find no mention anywhere of this policy.
It has come up in multiple forums that I am active on where people have looked at the Wattzilla site and insisted that a 14-60P meets the NEC because it is stated clearly on the website that it does. It is often then asked how they can get away with selling it in the US, and the answer is just as Frank asserted - " it is not illegal for us to sell a product that does not meet NEC". Is it false or deceptive advertising? Perhaps.
It is important to note that this affects only the 48A versions of the WallWatts and Black Mamba as they are the only products that ship with a 14-60P.
Caveat Emptor.
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