Hey, we’re planning a camping trip but I’m unsure about the electrical hookups. If I’m using the Level 1 adapter that comes with the Hi5, should I try to book a 30A or 50A hookup? Does it matter what I set the charging module to?
Are you in North America? The OEM Level 1 charger is limited to 12A on 120V, so you’ll need a 15A circuit. If you’re looking at 30A or 50A hookups, those are typically 240V, and you might need a portable Level 2 charger for faster charging. But if you’re not in North America, this info might not be accurate.
@Vale
In North America, a 30A outlet is actually 120V, and most cars, including the Ioniq 5, don’t take full advantage of that current. A 50A outlet is 240V, which is better for portable Level 2 chargers and can work well for most cars.
@Arden
Good to know! I honestly didn’t know much about campgrounds before but learned something new today!
@Arden
If you get an adapter for a 14-50 (or 6-50) receptacle, you can plug in the OEM Level 1 charger and boost the charging rate to about 2.8kW. But make sure nothing else that isn’t expecting 240V gets plugged into that adapter.
@Arden
Don’t forget, for 120V Level 1 charging, the Ioniq 5 caps out at 20A. The charger will need to be able to handle at least 15A or 12A anyway.
@Addison
If you’re getting a full hookup, you won’t need sewer, but you’ll need a 15A/120V outlet for the Level 1 charger. Don’t expect much charging overnight with that—maybe 4 miles per hour. If you’re planning on moving from campsite to campsite, a Level 2 charger with a 50A plug would be a good idea. Look for a 50A site for that.
@Addison
Most Level 2 chargers need a 14-50 or 14-30 outlet. Check with the property management to make sure the 50A site will support that. You could also just use the OEM Level 1 charger if you’re ok with slow charging. If you’re staying just overnight, that might be enough.
@Vale
Yeah, I don’t have a Level 2 charger, just the Level 1 that came with the Hi5. I’m not too worried about charging speed but just want to make sure I can use the Level 1 at the site. I guess I’ll just call ahead.
@Addison
If you’re staying at the campground for a while, there’s no need for a portable Level 2 charger. Just ask if the site has a standard NEMA 5-15 outlet on a 15A circuit, like your home outlet, and maybe bring a heavy-duty extension cord.
A 30A campsite outlet is 110V, while 50A service is 220V. But using the 50A doesn’t give much of a benefit, as you’ll only use one side of it for the car. Many campsites now have a 15A 110V outlet in addition to the 30A, so you might want to get a 30A to 15A adapter just in case.
@Kelley
So, should I look for 30A outlets? Do I need an adapter for that?
Addison said:
@Kelley
So, should I look for 30A outlets? Do I need an adapter for that?
Yes though this specific one seems absurdly overpriced. Any store that sells RV accessories should have them.
@Kelley
Thanks a lot for your help! Is the adapter just to limit the power draw? I don’t know much about this part of physics, sorry.
Addison said:
@Kelley
Thanks a lot for your help! Is the adapter just to limit the power draw? I don’t know much about this part of physics, sorry.
Yes, you’re right. The charger that came with your car can’t draw too much power. It will charge slowly, and you need the adapter to make it work. It might take up to 70 hours to fully charge the car with the Level 1 charger. If you get a portable Level 2 charger, you can use the 50A socket and charge much faster. If you’re staying a while, the Level 1 charger will be fine. But if you’re moving often, you might want to get a Level 2 charger and book a 50A site.
@Hollis
With a 50A site, make sure you have the right adapter for the charger.
Addison said:
@Kelley
So, should I look for 30A outlets? Do I need an adapter for that?
For Level 1 120V charging, the Ioniq 5 limits itself to 20A. You’ll need an EVSE that doesn’t limit it to 15A or 12A.
@Kelley
One thing is a bit off here. If you use an adapter to hook the OEM Level 1 charger to the 50A 240V outlet, it will work fine, and you’ll charge at 12A of 240V, which is about double the charge rate compared to a standard 120V outlet.
@Kelley
A 50A campsite gives 240V of power, split into two 120V circuits. You won’t be able to use a Level 2 charger unless you bring one yourself. But if you’re only using the car’s charger, you can just choose whether to use one circuit or two. If you plan to run extra appliances, go with the 50A site. If not, it doesn’t matter.
@Bran
You could still bring a portable Level 2 charger if you want. I have one that works up to 48A and plugs into a 14-50. I also have an adapter to plug it into a 6-50 if needed. The OEM Level 1 charger will also work with 240V if you use the right adapter, giving you around 2.8kW charge rate.