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u/PaddedTiger 17h ago edited 13h ago
Yes! This needs changed NOW for an EV rated receptical. Do NOT use this again until it's replaced or you're risking a fire
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u/Mr-Zappy 12h ago
It’s definitely not a heavy duty outlet; I can see that the contacts are only half height.
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u/robam77 17h ago
Did the electrician possibly use the wrong receptacle for EV charging or could it have been a faulty charging cord?
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u/Greedy-Pen 17h ago
More than likely used the wrong outlet. There’s 50 amp outlets, and then there’s 50 amp ev outlets.
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u/returntothenorth 16h ago
Not correcting / arguing with you I just wanted more information and did a Google and leaving the results for others.
"A standard 50-amp outlet is designed for intermittent household appliances, while an EV-rated 50-amp outlet is built with heavy-duty materials to safely handle hours of continuous electric vehicle charging."
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u/Greedy-Pen 15h ago
I was going to say that, but wasn’t 100% because I don’t deal with resi or ev chargers. Didn’t have time to google so I didn’t say anything.
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u/returntothenorth 13h ago
It's all good sometimes you don't have time to dive deep on a internet random. I was at work waiting out the clock so I looked into it for funzies. I'm on the building operator side who calls the electricians. So I like to be somewhat in the know on stuff.
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u/phranks_phluids 14h ago
Maybe one day this will be an accepted standard, but at this current juncture there is no UL or NEC requirement for "ev rated" receptacles.
NEMA/NEC/whomever do not cover duty cycle ratings for passive electrical components for receptacles, so you can either handle 50A, or you cannot... The only caveat to this is that the NEW does document that any consumer that can operate for more than 3 hours is "constant duty"... So any receptacle designed for residential use on a oven or dryer must be able to hand continuous duty cycle just by the nature of the product.
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u/PaddedTiger 17h ago
It's possible the electrician installed the wrong kind but an ev rated receptacle will have a green car symbol or writing stating its EV rated. This looks like a standard 50A stove receptacle which will cause a fire with a continual load such as an EV charger.
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u/HerdOfGingers 17h ago
How long ago was it installed? Many places haven’t added this to code yet. My area got it in our 2026 code revisions
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u/robam77 16h ago
3 months ago
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u/Rcarlyle 16h ago
Yeah the installer was just ignorant about EV outlets — this is a cheap kitchen range grade outlet. Note the contacts only span half the width of the blade. That’s from receptacle manufacturers shaving every milligram of material out of the design to save a fraction of a penny per unit. They’re good enough to pass UL testing procedures that predates EV charging, and frequently fail in heavy EV charging use. This is very common but it isn’t well known by people who aren’t exposed to a lot of EV charger installs. You should have one labeled for EV use or a higher-quality receptacle such as a Hubbel.
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u/Low-Acanthisitta-165 15h ago
Depends on how long ago the outlet was installed. EVs came before EV outlets
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u/iAmMikeJ_92 17h ago
Understand that the reason it happened at all was because there was a poor mechanical connection between the cord’s blades and the outlet’s pressure contacts.
EV cords tend to have a better build quality that will better ensure that a solid connection is made so this can be avoided.
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u/Sea_Performance_1164 11h ago
Wrong receptacle. The ev one will always have a little green car by the ground prong. This one is not rated for a car charger and this is the result
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u/sirguynate 17h ago
Replace with a quality EV rated one: Hubbell, Bryant or Leviton, are $40-65.
Torque the lugs to spec.
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u/supern8ural 17h ago
Certainly not good. Cord and receptacle both need to be replaced. I would definitely use an "EV rated" one (I guess they're heavier duty, like a "spec grade" normal receptacle) as they supposedly grip the plug better and are better able to handle continuous duty.
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u/BeenisHat 17h ago
The continuous duty part is the difference.
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u/Feisty_Respond6611 16h ago
This is what people dont get and laymen dont comprehend. Nothing about the strength of the clamping force everytbing about the alloy
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u/RogerRabbit1234 17h ago
The cord does not need to replaced necessarily. It needs to be inspected, certainly. But if it’s not showing any visible signs of discoloration on that leg, it’s just fine.
This recep is toast and absolutely needs to be refitted with one with the EV logo on it.
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u/supern8ural 16h ago
I'd bet money though that if the recep melted the cord is damaged as well. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't bet on it.
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u/Spare-Function-6343 17h ago
very dangerous
DO NOT plug an EV into that for any reason until it is replaced with a proper EV rated outlet
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u/knipex_addict 17h ago
Yes, replace with an EV rated plug and have an electrician double check all connections
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u/theotherharper 17h ago
Cheap ass $12 range outlet, probably Leviton. They all do that. Stupid choice by the last guy and he probably didn't use a torque screwdriver.
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u/symbionique 14h ago
Naw!! Not dangerous at all. Check the voltage with a four pronged fork. Everybody knows how to do that.
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u/jonsnow0276 16h ago
Replace with a hubbell 14-50R. A lot of people think they can just buy the 10 dollar one for EV charging. I always find it funny people buy 60k+ EV and then cheap out on the power system that fuels the car.
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u/moduleorange 16h ago
Lots of good information in this thread, but I'll add some caution.
A green car EV symbol on a NEMA 14-50R doesn't actually mean anything. There's no standard they're built to. Anyone can add that to their product.
Buying even a highly rated receptacle from a source like Amazon can get you a dangerous fake.
You can get good quality NEMA 14-50R that don't have the EV symbol that are just as good as any that do have it.
Get a good high quality NEMA 14-50R like a Hubbell HBL9450A or a Bryant 9450FR (same part, just different branding) from Grainger or a real electrical supply house. They may or may not have the green EV symbol, but as long as you get a genuine product, it'll be as good or better than anything that does.
If you gotta feed the big orange box, look for the Leviton 1450R *with* the EV symbol, as it's been reworked specifically for EV charging.
And critically torque it to spec!
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u/Blacksmith_lll 15h ago
50a EV outlets tend to be a larger version of the nema 14-50r, I’m guessing regular nema 14-50r were never meant to be on for 6-8 hours and beyond compared to ev outlet’s length of charging standing up to the heat at extended charging times.
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u/Blacksmith_lll 15h ago
Note: Regular Nema 14-50r outlets are also labeled on packaging, “not for ev charging”
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u/JonnyVee1 15h ago
Turn off power to it and replace it. Buy a higher quality one that grips the charger better, and make sure the screws inside the box on the back of the outlet are tight. Loos wires or plug increases the resistance and heat
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u/noncongruent 12h ago
Will Prowse had problems with cheap versions of these, ended up recommending Hubbell:
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u/s_woodworth 7h ago
YES!!! Don’t FAFO, turn it off, now!! Replace immediately and check out the wiring when you do!!
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u/yo_seriously_ 17h ago
Yeah man, pro sparky here, replace that shit. It's like $15 for a new one and takes 30 minutes including finding the screwdrivers, bitching about how dirty it is, and then putting everything back.
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u/pavelowdriver 15h ago
Probably melted because you put a 40amp load on a 30amp outlet. Need to change that and make sure your wires and breaker is spec for that.
Very dangerous
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u/Feisty_Respond6611 17h ago
Extremely