Help With Porsche Charger Upgrade

[BigAndy1234]

I appreciate this is going to sound like a very stupid question but here goes.

When I got my 2024 Taycan 4S a year ago I was told there was an issue with the charger cable which I assumed was the cable to connect the Porsche charger to a NEMA 14-XX outlet because the charger arrived with just the standard 110V plug. They also sent me an ENEL Juicebox which remains in its box because at the time it didn't bother me because my garage only had 110V circuits and I was going to upgrade the entire garage (take down to the studs and rebuild). Now the time has come and the garage rebuild will entail a full electrical update (my wife also has a PIH requiring L2 7.2KW).

I'd really like to use the Porsche charger for my Taycan and repurpose the Juicebox to my wife's car. Am I right in thinking that I need to replace the cable which currently is 110V plug with a NEMA plug cable and do I need to now try and get that from Porsche?. so, do I need a NEMA 14-50 circuit ?

Apologies if its a stupid question.

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[daveo4EV]

Porsche discourages charging with 120V household outlet - see this tech bulletin:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10222530-0001.pdf
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...-related-porsche-ntsb-article-analysis.13902/

General Precautions on (125V) Supply Cable Use

The “domestic” (125V) supply cable is provided for emergency use only, and should not be used by customers for daily home charging. Please discuss installation and use of a suitable 250V circuit withall customers.

porsche does not recommend charging any of their products on a daily basis with 120V EVSE (L1 charging) - see their words in their tech bulletin not mine

to properly use the porsche charger you need to obtain any of the the following 240V charging cables from Porsche - either by getting it from your dealer or purchasing:

• NEMA 14-50
• NEMA 6-50
• NEMA 14-30
• NEMA 6-30

I hope it's also obvious you would need to having an appropriate outlet installed to use any of the 4 cables listed above.

• NEMA 14-50 and 6-50 are 50 amp North American 240V L2 outlets
• NEMA 14-30 and 6-30 are 30 amp North American 240V L2 outlets

any competent bonded/licenced electrician should be able to review your home electrical situation and advise on installing a 30 or 50 amp circuit with any of the outlets mentioned above.

if you decide to go with a NEMA 14-50/6-50 outlet make sure to get a Hubble or Leviton EV rated circuit as Porsche recommends/requires in their document linked in this posting. Otherwise this may happen:

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/failed-14-50.23289/

if you need help deciding between NEMA 14-50/6-50 this thread may or may not help:
https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/faq-north-america-nema-14-50-vs-6-50-new-ev-owner-garage-setup….16974/

You can use _ANY_ North American J-1772 EVSE (EV charger) to charge your Taycan/Macan EV (or any other North American EV/PHEV). You do not have to use the Porsche EV charger (EVSE) provided with the vehicle.

the Porsche chargers have a questionable/challenging history - fully and painfully documented here: https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...uide-to-the-porsche-evse-pmc-pmcc-pwcc.13886/ - they are better post recall but still present some challenges - you're welcome to review the thread for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

these threads may or may not help you with home charger recommendation:

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/us-home-charging-recommendation-this-is-as-simple-as-i-can-make-it…honestly-bare-bones-least-amount-of-text….11745/
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/us-over-the-top-the-well-equipped-ev-home-garage…for-those-that-wish-to-over-do-it-….2343/
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/failed-14-50.23289/
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/why-would-i-get-the-14-30-6-30-or-6-50-supply-cables.2320/

if it were me I'd avoid the Porsche charger and hardwire/plug-in any of the following excellent high quality chargers (EVSE's) listed below (in random non-preferential order)

• Wallbox Plusar - adjustable - can be hardwired unto 60 amps
• ChargePoint Flex - adjustable - can be hardwired unto 70 amps
• Tesla Universal Wall Charger - adjustable - can be hardwired unto 60 amps
• enphase/clipper creek - any size you want 15-100 amps
• Autel
• others

I hope this helps.

 

[whitex]

If already rebuilding a garage, just hardwire a pair of 240V/48A (or higher) EVSE's. You can get ones which will load share if you cannot dedicate a 60A (or higher) circuit for each.

 

[SergeyIndy]

As mentioned by a well-known expert @daveo4EV above, make it simple.

- 110/120v charging at home is useless and only should be done in absolute emergency
- do not use anything Porsche branded and get yourself a 3rd party EVSE
- you are doing garage rebuild so make it hardwired with a 60Amp circuit

This is my hardwired setup with a 3rd party EVSE and 25ft cable reaching 2 cars.
Panel 60Amp -> invisible copper behind the wall -> 3rd Party EVSE -> Happy Porsche EV

 

[daveo4EV]

As mentioned by a well-known expert @daveo4EV above, make it simple.

- 110/120v charging at home is useless and only should be done in absolute emergency
- do not use anything Porsche branded and get yourself a 3rd party EVSE
- you are doing garage rebuild so make it hardwired with a 60Amp circuit

This is my hardwired setup with a 3rd party EVSE and 25ft cable reaching 2 cars.
Panel 60Amp -> invisible copper behind the wall -> 3rd Party EVSE -> Happy Porsche EV

this is _EXCELLENT_ advise I would make "one" minor change:

you are doing garage rebuild so make it hardwired with at least 60Amp circuit - more is also good up to and including 100 amps

apologies @SergeyIndy we normally are in complete agreement

if you're doing a garage rebuild - get a 100 amp sub panel - and then you can do specific/individual circuits for one or more EVSE's as needed.

 

[BigAndy1234]

Porsche discourages charging with 120V household outlet - see this tech bulletin:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10222530-0001.pdf
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...-related-porsche-ntsb-article-analysis.13902/



porsche does not recommend charging any of their products on a daily basis with 120V EVSE (L1 charging) - see their words in their tech bulletin not mine

to properly use the porsche charger you need to obtain any of the the following 240V charging cables from Porsche - either by getting it from your dealer or purchasing:

• NEMA 14-50
• NEMA 6-50
• NEMA 14-30
• NEMA 6-30

I hope it's also obvious you would need to having an appropriate outlet installed to use any of the 4 cables listed above.

• NEMA 14-50 and 6-50 are 50 amp North American 240V L2 outlets
• NEMA 14-30 and 6-30 are 30 amp North American 240V L2 outlets

any competent bonded/licenced electrician should be able to review your home electrical situation and advise on installing a 30 or 50 amp circuit with any of the outlets mentioned above.

if you decide to go with a NEMA 14-50/6-50 outlet make sure to get a Hubble or Leviton EV rated circuit as Porsche recommends/requires in their document linked in this posting. Otherwise this may happen:

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/failed-14-50.23289/

if you need help deciding between NEMA 14-50/6-50 this thread may or may not help:
https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/faq-north-america-nema-14-50-vs-6-50-new-ev-owner-garage-setup….16974/

You can use _ANY_ North American J-1772 EVSE (EV charger) to charge your Taycan/Macan EV (or any other North American EV/PHEV). You do not have to use the Porsche EV charger (EVSE) provided with the vehicle.

the Porsche chargers have a questionable/challenging history - fully and painfully documented here: https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...uide-to-the-porsche-evse-pmc-pmcc-pwcc.13886/ - they are better post recall but still present some challenges - you're welcome to review the thread for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

these threads may or may not help you with home charger recommendation:

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/us-home-charging-recommendation-this-is-as-simple-as-i-can-make-it…honestly-bare-bones-least-amount-of-text….11745/
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/us-over-the-top-the-well-equipped-ev-home-garage…for-those-that-wish-to-over-do-it-….2343/
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/failed-14-50.23289/
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/why-would-i-get-the-14-30-6-30-or-6-50-supply-cables.2320/

if it were me I'd avoid the Porsche charger and hardwire/plug-in any of the following excellent high quality chargers (EVSE's) listed below (in random non-preferential order)

• Wallbox Plusar - adjustable - can be hardwired unto 60 amps
• ChargePoint Flex - adjustable - can be hardwired unto 70 amps
• Tesla Universal Wall Charger - adjustable - can be hardwired unto 60 amps
• enphase/clipper creek - any size you want 15-100 amps
• Autel
• others

I hope this helps.

Wow. Super helpful and many thanks. Lesson learned and I see you are over the hill from me. I'm in San Jose!

 

[SergeyIndy]

@BigAndy1234, just listen to @daveo4EV, yes a 100Amp panel is ideal so you can charge 2 cars at the same time. My point was to demonstrate simplicity for a one car setup with at least a 60Amp circuit is a perfect correction.

 

[trycan]

If you are re-doing your garage, consider putting the EVSE on the ceiling. This will give you the most flexibility to reach any corner of a vehicle, plus the cables won't have to sit on the ground or be placed back on a holder. I have a retractable tool cable to pull down the EVSE cable when I need it.

Get that 14-50 cable for your Porsche Mobile charger and TEST to make sure it works.

I am going to recommend the opposite of what many said above about hardwired EVSE. While hardwired is the only way to get 48A/11.5kW delivered to your vehicle, unless you have a high duty cycle or frequent short turnaround, it just isn't necessary to get the MAX. 40A / 9.6kW from a NEMA 14-50 outlet makes no difference from hardwired when plugging in for overnight charging.
Why?
Flexibility is the main reason. When your EVSE decides to blip and doesn't want to charge, you just pull the cord from the outlet and plug-in the Porsche Mobile Charger. Instant workaround, and you can easily troubleshoot or replace a faulty plug-in EVSE without involving electrical work.

If you are hardwired, then your only fallback charging option becomes 120V. For a recent example, see this thread:
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...ible”-with-chargepoint-cph50-hardwired.23869/

 

[trycan]

@BigAndy1234, just listen to @daveo4EV, yes a 100Amp panel is ideal so you can charge 2 cars at the same time. My point was to demonstrate simplicity for a one car setup with at least a 60Amp circuit is a perfect correction.

An alternative to the subpanel is to just run two pairs of 6 AWG wires that each feeds its own 14-50 outlet at different points in the garage.
Depends on your situation, but my electrician quoted that cheaper than a sub-panel install. You won't have the shutoff switch that the subpanel provides, but in 4+ years I have not missed not having a shutoff switch.

 

[figure1a]

I appreciate this is going to sound like a very stupid question but here goes.

When I got my 2024 Taycan 4S a year ago I was told there was an issue with the charger cable which I assumed was the cable to connect the Porsche charger to a NEMA 14-XX outlet because the charger arrived with just the standard 110V plug. They also sent me an ENEL Juicebox which remains in its box because at the time it didn't bother me because my garage only had 110V circuits and I was going to upgrade the entire garage (take down to the studs and rebuild). Now the time has come and the garage rebuild will entail a full electrical update (my wife also has a PIH requiring L2 7.2KW).

I'd really like to use the Porsche charger for my Taycan and repurpose the Juicebox to my wife's car. Am I right in thinking that I need to replace the cable which currently is 110V plug with a NEMA plug cable and do I need to now try and get that from Porsche?. so, do I need a NEMA 14-50 circuit ?

Apologies if its a stupid question.

If you currently only have the 120V pigtail but your Porsche charger has the recall, when you take it in the for the recall they will give you the 240V pigtail. At least, that's how it went down for me.

 

[daveo4EV]

nothing prevents you from having a NEMA 14-50 installed but not using it if you go hardwired - an unused NEMA 14-50 consumes no AMP capacity if it not being used - therefore just having it around for "emergencies" is no problem

I have a NEMA 14-50 unused in case any of my hardwired EVSE's fail or need it to test things

just my $0.02 YMMV

 

[daveo4EV]

for me personally the ideal setup is as follows:

• subpanel in the garage 100/125/150 amp
  • subpanel makes it easier/cheaper to change things in the future without pulling a lot of new wire
  • easy to add/remove/change breakers with out affecting the rest of the home
• at least two power shared EVSE's
  • hardwired for safety
  • each EVSE configured for at least 60 amp max power
  • power shared to split load of entire sub panel circuit
    • this supports charging multiple EV's at once but will not "go over" the max budget of AMP's
• NEMA 14-50 for temporary use, backup, testing (Hubble or Leviton EV rated outlet)
  • this outlet will spend 98% of it's life "unused" but it's there for quick/dirty/easy EV charging
• heavy duty NEMA 5-15 outlet(s)
• heavy duty NEMA 5-20 outlet(s)
• the garage's subpanel if necessary is _NOT_ battery backed up by the home's solar/battery system - so that charging an EV overnight does not drain your home's backup power while you sleep
  • I have a NEMA 14-30 that _IS_ part of my solar/battery system so that I can choose to charge my EV from solar/battery power if I so desire

but again this listed above is just me - but it's worked well for me the past 8+ years…

 

[trycan]

nothing prevents you from having a NEMA 14-50 installed but not using it if you go hardwired - an unused NEMA 14-50 consumes no AMP capacity if it not being used - therefore just having it around for "emergencies" is no problem

I have a NEMA 14-50 unused in case any of my hardwired EVSE's fail or need it to test things

just my $0.02 YMMV

Sure, if you already have the sub-panel in the garage, then a 14-50 to supplement a hardwired solution seems like a good add. Just the cost of copper + breaker + outlet.
For runs from the main panel though, probably not worth the cost of copper to get an extra outlet that will always be idle.

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