Electric vehicle supply equipment

Abstract

An electric vehicle charging system includes a portable housing having an integral holder to hold a connector for an electric vehicle supply circuit. An electric vehicle supply equipment enclosure includes an integral chamber to store all or part of a cord. A mounting bracket for an electric vehicle supply equipment enclosure covers an open portion of the enclosure. A method for facilitating use of an electric vehicle includes providing a prewiring kit for the electric vehicle. An electric vehicle supply equipment enclosure includes an integral disconnect switch. An electric vehicle supply circuit includes a grounding monitor circuit having automatic test functionality. Another electric vehicle supply circuit includes a contact monitor circuit to monitor the state of one or more of the contacts.

1 . A system comprising:
 a portable housing;   an electric vehicle supply circuit disposed within the portable housing and constructed and arranged to provide power to an electric vehicle from a power source;   an electric vehicle charging connector;   a charging cord having a first end coupled to the electric vehicle charging connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit; and   a holder integral with the portable housing to hold the electric vehicle charging connector.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where the holder comprises a recess in the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  where the recess has a contour that matches a contour of the electric vehicle charging connector. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  where the holder comprises a frame attached to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  where the frame is movable relative to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  where the fame may slide relative to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  where the frame may be configured to function as a hanger for the charging cord. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  where the housing comprises a mechanism to attach the housing to a structure. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  where the mechanism comprises a slot. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  where the mechanism comprises a handle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  where the handle is movable relative to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a power connector; and 
 a power cord having a first end coupled to the power connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a storage connector configured to engage a charging connector when the charging connector is not in use. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  where the storage connector is configured to engage a latch on the charging connector. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  where the storage connector is rotatably attached to the housing. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 an electrical enclosure;   an electric vehicle supply circuit disposed within the electrical enclosure and constructed and arranged to provide power to an electric vehicle from a power source;   a power connector; and   a power cord having a first end coupled to the power connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit;   where the electrical enclosure includes an integral chamber to store all or part of the power cord.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  where the chamber is contained entirely within the enclosure. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  where the chamber is at least partially open to allow access to a structure on which the enclosure is mounted. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  where the chamber includes an opening to allow the cord to pass outside of the enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  where the opening comprises a knockout. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16  where the chamber is separated from an inner portion of the enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising an opening between the chamber and the inner portion of the enclosure. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  where the opening comprises a knockout. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  where:
 the electric vehicle supply circuit is located in the inner portion of the chamber; and 
 the power cord is coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit through the opening between the chamber and the inner portion of the enclosure. 
 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16  where the chamber is at least partially open to allow the power connector to be plugged into a receptacle on a structure to which the enclosure is mounted. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a mounting bracket to cover at least a portion of the chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  where the mounting bracket may function as a panel for the enclosure. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  where the mounting bracket is arranged to be attached to building members having standardized spacing. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  where the mounting bracket includes a portion that is exposed when attached to the enclosure. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  further comprising a holder for an electric vehicle charging connector arranged to cover at least a portion of the exposed portion of the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 16  where the enclosure comprises a sloped top. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 16  where the system further comprises a channel arranged at the top of the enclosure to receive a cord. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  where:
 the system further comprises a cap arranged at the top of the enclosure; and 
 the channel is formed in the cap. 
 
     
     
         34 . A method comprising:
 providing an electric vehicle to an electric vehicle user;   providing a prewiring kit to the electric vehicle user, where the prewiring kit includes one or more components adapted to facilitate connection of electric vehicle supply equipment to premises wiring at the electric vehicle user's premises; and   providing the electric vehicle supply equipment to the electric vehicle user.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  where the prewiring kit comprises a receptacle. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  where the prewiring kit comprises a receptacle cover. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  where the prewiring kit comprises a mounting bracket for electric vehicle supply equipment. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  where the prewiring kit comprises electric vehicle supply equipment. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  where the electric vehicle supply equipment comprises a wiring device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  where the electric vehicle supply equipment comprises a plug-in device. 
     
     
         41 . An electric vehicle supply circuit comprising:
 a charge circuit interrupting device arranged to interrupt power to an electric vehicle;   a grounding monitor circuit; and   a controller coupled to the grounding monitor circuit and the charge circuit interrupting device, where the controller is constructed and arranged to control the charge circuit interrupting device in response to the grounding monitor circuit;   where the grounding monitor circuit includes automatic test functionality to enable the controller to test the operation of the grounding monitor circuit.   
     
     
         42 . The circuit of  claim 41  where the grounding monitor circuit comprises a resistor and a switch coupled in series between a hot conductor and a grounding conductor, where the switch is constructed and arranged to be operated by the controller. 
     
     
         43 . The circuit of  claim 42  where the switch comprises an optically isolated coupling. 
     
     
         44 . The circuit of  claim 42  where the grounding monitor circuit further comprising a monitor device coupled in series with the resistor and switch and arranged to enable the controller to monitor the operation of the grounding monitor circuit. 
     
     
         45 . The circuit of  claim 44  where the monitor device comprises an optically isolated coupling. 
     
     
         46 . An electric vehicle supply circuit comprising:
 a charge circuit interrupting device arranged to interrupt the flow of power from a power source to an electric vehicle;   a fault monitor circuit; and   a controller coupled to the fault monitor circuit and the charge circuit interrupting device, where the controller is constructed and arranged to control the charge circuit interrupting device in response to the fault monitor circuit;   where the fault monitor circuit includes automatic test functionality to enable the controller to test the operation of the fault monitor circuit.   
     
     
         47 . The circuit of  claim 46  further comprising a zero crossing detection circuit coupled to the controller and is constructed and arranged to detect a zero crossing of the power source. 
     
     
         48 . The circuit of  claim 46  where the fault monitor circuit comprises a GFCI integrated circuit. 
     
     
         49 . The circuit of  claim 46  further comprising a sense connection between the fault monitor circuit and the controller to enable the controller to determine that the fault monitor circuit has detected a fault during a self-test process. 
     
     
         50 . The circuit of  claim 46  further comprising a trigger connection between the fault monitor circuit and the controller to enable the controller to prevent the fault monitor circuit from triggering the charge circuit interrupting device during a self-test process. 
     
     
         51 . The circuit of  claim 46  further comprising a trigger connection between the fault monitor circuit and the controller to enable the controller to prevent the fault monitor circuit from triggering the charge circuit interrupting device during a self-test process. 
     
     
         52 . The circuit of  claim 46  further comprising a timing control circuit constructed and arranged to enable the controller to change a timing parameter of the fault monitor circuit. 
     
     
         53 . A system comprising:
 an electrical enclosure;   an electric vehicle supply circuit disposed within the electrical enclosure and constructed and arranged to provide power to an electric vehicle from a dedicated power source;   a power connector adapted to connect to a receptacle to receive power from the dedicated power source; and   a power cord having a first end coupled to the power connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit.   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53  where the power connector is a NEMA 6-50 plug. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 53  where the electric vehicle supply circuit and the power connector are adapted for AC Level 2 vehicle charging.