Charger Possible Source of Garage Fire

[Steve A.]

Very sad for this Rivian home owner but thankfully no one was seriously injured including the pets.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/electric-car-fire-destroys-home-odenton-maryland

When your anti-EV associates bring up EV fires please remind them that there are FAR more ICEV fires than EV fires annually. Last I read there were ~1,500+ ICEV fires per 100K sold as compared to ~25 EV fires annually.


Did made me realize I should put a smoke detector in our garage though. :-o


Some more details in this article...

https://eletric-vehicles.com/ford/rivian-and-ford-evs-cleared-as-cause-of-maryland-house-fire/

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[kanundrum]

just a heads up dont think it was EVSE related at all at least not from the initial investigation (I Run mid atlantic and have been in touched with the owner in case they need any resources/meals/etc) they are well covered and its such an amazing feeling at least to know.

 

[mikehmb]

Electrical issues are a genuine threat if not treated with respect and professionalism.

The images below are from a previous NEMA 14-50 that my electrician installed for one of my EVSEs in the garage. I caught it before it burned my house down.

PSA - Only install commercial-grade connectors if you're using a plug-in EVSE. Ideally, hardwire. Consumer / dryer-grade are simply not rated for the duty cycle of a constant 40-amp draw, and will inevitably fail.

 

[SANZC02]

just a heads up dont think it was EVSE related at all at least not from the initial investigation (I Run mid atlantic and have been in touched with the owner in case they need any resources/meals/etc) they are well covered and its such an amazing feeling at least to know.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Heimat]

Electrical issues are a genuine threat if not treated with respect and professionalism.

The images below are from a previous NEMA 14-50 that my electrician installed for one of my EVSEs in the garage. I caught it before it burned my house down.

PSA - Only install commercial-grade connectors if you're using a plug-in EVSE. Ideally, hardwire. Consumer / dryer-grade are simply not rated for the duty cycle of a constant 40-amp draw, and will inevitably fail.

Good thing you caught that before it got out of hand. This is why I'm glad I had mine hard wired

 

[CrazyOne]

Electrical issues are a genuine threat if not treated with respect and professionalism.

The images below are from a previous NEMA 14-50 that my electrician installed for one of my EVSEs in the garage. I caught it before it burned my house down.

PSA - Only install commercial-grade connectors if you're using a plug-in EVSE. Ideally, hardwire. Consumer / dryer-grade are simply not rated for the duty cycle of a constant 40-amp draw, and will inevitably fail.

As bad as ICE vehicles are in crashes, they don't usually burn down homes(unless it's a Hyundai/Kia). There are relatively easy steps to mitigate this though.

This is why I got mine hardwired. Also used 80 amp rated wires and metal conduit.

 

[akc5247]

When your anti-EV associates bring up EV fires please remind them that there are FAR more ICEV fires than EV fires annually. Last I read there were ~1,500+ ICEV fires per 100K sold as compared to ~25 EV fires annually.

This only works if the folks on the other side actually listens and understands the words coming out of our mouth. As a species, we can all agree that of late, that's not happening.

I sure am not wasting my time trying to convince or change their minds.

 

[Riviot]

Did made me realize I should put a smoke detector in our garage though

I recommend a heat detector instead. Modern "smoke" detectors rely on sensing particles, not actual smoke, and dust can set them off.

 

[SoCal Rob]

I recommend a heat detector instead. Modern "smoke" detectors rely on sensing particles, not actual smoke, and dust can set them off.

I installed a heat detector in our garage and another in the kitchen. They’re tied together so we will hear an alarm in the house if the detector in the garage is triggered.

 

[Steve A.]

I recommend a heat detector instead. Modern "smoke" detectors rely on sensing particles, not actual smoke, and dust can set them off.

Well my garage gets pretty hot in the summer so I assume the heat threshold is adjustable. Any particular brands recommended?

 

[beatle]

Electrical issues are a genuine threat if not treated with respect and professionalism.

The images below are from a previous NEMA 14-50 that my electrician installed for one of my EVSEs in the garage. I caught it before it burned my house down.

PSA - Only install commercial-grade connectors if you're using a plug-in EVSE. Ideally, hardwire. Consumer / dryer-grade are simply not rated for the duty cycle of a constant 40-amp draw, and will inevitably fail.

Looks a lot like my old receptacle, but yours was a nicer Hubbell.

This happened after over 2 years of use charging at 40A. I have a couple of Tesla UWCs now. Also good advice to periodically check the breaker to see if it's getting hot.

 

[captainjp]

Well my garage gets pretty hot in the summer so I assume the heat threshold is adjustable. Any particular brands recommended?

Typically the unit detects and alarms based on rate-of-rise in temperature.

 

[kanundrum]

I installed a heat detector in our garage and another in the kitchen. They’re tied together so we will hear an alarm in the house if the detector in the garage is triggered.

Which?

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Electrical issues are a genuine threat if not treated with respect and professionalism.

The images below are from a previous NEMA 14-50 that my electrician installed for one of my EVSEs in the garage. I caught it before it burned my house down.

PSA - Only install commercial-grade connectors if you're using a plug-in EVSE. Ideally, hardwire. Consumer / dryer-grade are simply not rated for the duty cycle of a constant 40-amp draw, and will inevitably fail.

Wow I am glad all are ok. This is exactly why I strongly advise against 14-50 outlets. Hard wire your charger is much safer and faster too. These outlets were never designed for the long, continuous draw of EV charging. Especially when you consider that a couple of years ago the average EV had a 60 kWh battery. These EV trucks have batteries more than double that size. My Silverado is nearly triple that size at about 212 kWh usable.

Stories like this are why I am so passionate about it.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Which?

I bought two of these https://a.co/d/2nO9go1
It looks like this is a newer version https://a.co/d/8sMwM2G

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