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877- 69 4-41 94240 Volt | Level 2 | EV CHARGING STATIONS startingat $379
Electric Car Charging Safety
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fterdecidingtobuya plug-inelectric
vehicle,oftenthenextdecisionis to
purchasea Level2 chargingstationfor
fasterchargingathome.Thetechnical
nameasdefinedinthe NationalElectric
Codefortheseproductsis EVSE(ElectricVehicleSupply
Equipment),commonly calledchargingstations.
Safetymightnotbethefirstconsiderationwhen
selectinga chargingstation,butsafetyis actually
themostimportantthingtoconsider.The primary
functionofa plug-invehiclechargingstationis to
provideelectricalsafetyfortheoperatorandelectrical
infrastructurethroughoutthe chargingprocessand
specificallytoaddressthe risks offireandelectricshock.
Thegoodnewsis charginganelectricvehicleis
actuallyverysafeandeasywhendonewithproper,
independentlysafety-certifiedequipment.The challenge
is thatnotallchargingstationsonthe marketare
independently safetytestedandcertified.
Whena chargingstationmanufacturerdevelops
a newproduct,ormakesevena minorchangeto
anexistingproduct,theyshouldsendsamplestoa
Nationally RecognizedTestingLaboratory(NRTL),such
asIntertek(ETLmark) orUnderwriter’sLaboratory(UL
mark).Safetyengineersattheselabsperformmonths
ofextensivesafetytestingthattheproductsmustpass
beforetheycanbe safetycertifiedandmade available
tothe publicforsale. Onlyproductswiththesemarks
appearingonthe manufacturedproduct’sratingplateare
safetycertified.
Lookforthese(ETLorUL)certificationmarkson
the station itselfwhenshoppingfora charging station:
BeCautiousofTheseThings:
DeceptiveMarkings-Somemanufacturersuseofficial-
lookingmarkssuchastheCElogo.If youonlyseea CEmark
thentheproducthasnotbeenindependentlycertified.CEis
a self-certifyingmarkandit shouldnotbetrustedintheUS,
Canada, andMexico.A CE mark inaddition tothe UL or ETL
mark is acceptable.DoNOTuse a product thatonlyyhas a CE
mark.Doa quickexperimentinyourownhome:look
aroundattheelectricalappliancespurchasedfroma
reputablesourceandyouwillseetheyareallmarked
witha safetylabel. Ifyoufinda productthatplugsinto
thewallthatis not marked,youmight want to consider
notusingit.
UncertifiedProductsarebeingsoldbywhatseems
likea reputableseller-Buyingthe productfromwhat
seemstobea reputablesellerdoesn’tmeanthecharging
stationhasbeensafetycertified. Mostlargehome
improvementretailerstoreslike LowesandHomeDepot
havestandards inplacethatrequireNRTLcertification
forelectricalappliances.However,thereareonline
retailers,suchasAmazon,directsellers,andsources
fromoutside the United Statesthat DO carryandsell
unlistedproducts.DeceptiveClaims-Whenselectinga chargingstation,
ifyouareunsureabouttheNRTLcertificationstatus
ofaproduct,reachouttotheproductsupplierandask
themtoprovide confirmationthatthe productyou are
interestedinis NRTL(ULorETL)certified.Non-GroundedPlugs -Ifyouarepurchasinga plug-in
chargingstation,NEVERbuya stationwitha NEMA
1 0-30or10-50plug. TheNEMA10-30andNEMA10-50
style outletsdo nothaveanearthgroundconnection.
Thereis NOpossibilitythata chargingstationdelivered
withoneoftheseplugs is properlyNRTLsafetycertified.
Oneofthekeysafetyfunctionsofa chargingstationis
providinganearthgroundconnectiontothe vehicle.
Thisassuresthe vehicle body is safelygrounded during
charging.For more information: http://www.ClipperCreek.com/Safety
ContentSponsoredbyClipperCreek, Inc.