Leviton Manufacturing, Co., Inc. Ground Fault Current

Leviton Manufacturing, Co., Inc.

Ground Fault Current Interruption use with Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment

EPRI IWC Quarterly Meeting

PHEV Working Group

2 Leviton Confidential

Agenda

Introduction

Background on GFCI

Systems approach to GFCI use with Electric

Vehicles

Raising consumer awareness

2011 Code Changes

GFCI / WIU Product Selection

GFCI Testing

Emerging Trends


Leviton is the market share leader in North

American electrical devices We Make Wiring Devices, Cable,

Lighting Mgmt. Systems, & Voice &

Data Products

We make millions of units each day

Leviton Manufacturing

Owned and Operated by the Leviton

Family for over 106 yrs

We don’t answer to Wall Street

Diverse sales across multiple

industries

Worldwide presence

Facilities (including plants) in the

U.S., Mexico and China

Engineering Sites Worldwide

Leviton is the preferred

supplier of EVSEs

Leviton managed turnkey installation


A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter is an electrical wiring device

that disconnects a circuit…

…whenever it detects that the electric current is not balanced

between the energized conductor and the return neutral conductor


0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

GF

CI's (

millio

ns)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ele

ctr

ocu

tio

ns

# of GFCI's # Electrocutions

Use of GFCIs has reduced the number of

electrocutions


GFCI provide protection at 5mA

20

15

10

4

.050

.030

.015

.010

.005

.001

4 AMPERES AND OVER Heart Paralysis, Serious Tissue and Organ Burning

.050 AMPS TO 4 AMPS

.1 - .2 Certain Ventricular Fibrillation

.05 - .1 Possible Ventricular Fibrillation

15 mA - Muscles “Freeze” in 50% of the Population

>10 mA - Let-Go Threshold

5 mA - GFCI Trip Level

1 mA - Perception Level

30 mA - Breathing Difficult, Fibrillation in Small Children


Developing tendencies on consumer GFCI

installations

Safety is important to consumers

Consumers are DIYs and cost sensitive

Level 1 cord set features impact the experience

Most consumers are unaware of their GFCI use

At this point nuisance tripping is a minor

customer concern

Consumers are primarily using their GFCIs to

charge their PHEVs

Many consumers will combine their GFCI and

Level 2 installations


Level 1 EVSE Cord Set

Required Circuit: Single Pole Breaker -

120V, 15A; Leviton offers 2-pole breaker

NEMA 5-15P for Power Connection

NEMA 5-15R or 5-20R may be used

Stores in the Vehicle Trunk or Hangs on

the Wall

NEMA 4 Outdoor Enclosure

Auto re-closure feature

CCID – Ability to respond to a 20mA

ground fault

Select Charging Amperage: 7A or 12A

EV cord selection – 14AWG

Travel cord set features may impact

customer experience with GFCI

Indoor Use:

Height: 450 mm (18 in.) and not more than 1.2 m (4 ft) above the floor level

Outdoor Use:

Height: 600 mm (24 in.) and not more than 1.2 m (4 ft) above the parking surface.


Customer GFCI readiness is important to

reduce or eliminate field issues

EVSE location

Check consumer GFCI

Educate consumer

on shared versus

dedicated circuits

Cord management

Cord set holder


GFCI device must be installed at a readily

accessible location


GFCI protection for receptacles located in

nondwelling unit garages


A 15A or 20A, 125V receptacle is not required

in dwelling unit accessory buildings


Selecting the correct GFCI will enable

consumers to optimize their EVSE experience


While in use covers resist moisture and dust…

…and can vary by depth


In addition to meeting NEMA/UL/NEC requirements we

recommend further testing GFCIs with EVSEs

Every GFCI must pass the following “in-line” manufacturing tests

no trip below 4mA (no load)

must trip at 6mA (no load)

no trip below 4mA (with load)

must trip at 6mA (with load)

must trip with 2 ohm grounded neutral

must trip within 25 ms with a 500 ohm fault

must trip with “test button”

must not trip with “noise”

calibration test at 102V

test button at 132V

1500V hi-pot

Repeatable insertion

tests

Impact of

environmental

conditions on GFCIs

Testing GFCI at and

above load

Real-world use indoor

and outdoor with

multiple travel cord

sets


Emerging trends…

Electrical contractors should educate and

understand how the consumer is using their Level

1 cord set

Receptacles and Level 1 cord set compatibility

impacts the consumer experience

Indoor and outdoor use require different GFCIs and

additional weather protection

NEMA GFCI meet EVSE test requirements

Consumers are using receptacles to charge their

EV s and may DIY

Documents

Leviton Manufacturing, Co., Inc. Ground Fault Current