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[Fran K]

I got my 120-volt j1772 plug/module/plug.  https://www.bizlinktech.com/products/id3-ev-portable-charger    I am reading on the cable to the 5 connectors plug that goes into the motorcycle.  2 14awg, 1 12awg, 2 16awg is formed into the cable in English even though it said made in China on the box it came in.  I get the idea is this is an evse just switch gear not really a charger.  It sends AC electricity to the motorcycle but why are not there two of the biggest conductors?




Wire Duties
Line 1 (L1): This wire carries the primary AC power from the charging station to the vehicle. It is responsible for delivering the electrical energy required to charge the vehicle's battery.
Line 2 (L2): Similar to Line 1, this wire also carries AC power. In a single-phase system, it may not be used, but in three-phase systems, it helps balance the load and can provide additional power.
Neutral (N): This wire serves as the return path for the current. It is essential for completing the electrical circuit and ensuring safe operation.
Control Pilot (CP): This wire is crucial for communication between the electric vehicle and the charging station. It sends a 1 kHz square wave signal that indicates the maximum allowable current for charging and ensures that the vehicle is connected before charging begins. It also helps prevent the vehicle from moving while connected to the charger.
Proximity Detection (PP): This wire detects whether the connector is properly inserted into the vehicle's inlet. It uses a voltage divider circuit to communicate the connection status, ensuring that charging only occurs when the connector is securely in place.

It was kind of hot between the outlet and the module after an hour or so, did not study the wire labeling and that part is short, but can I take it the actual charging is using the 14 gauge wires and the 12 gauge one is for ground?  It is supposed to draw 12 amps and be used on a 15-amp circuit is my understanding.  I think it was showing like 12 2/3 amps on my kil a watt meter.

[Specter]

if you are pulling 12 amps continuous, ie for hours and hours to charge you really should be using 12 ga wire or thicker.  yes the 14 might work for the time being but will eventually cause issues of overheating / possible fire, melting the plug heads etc etc.

Aaron

[Fran K]

I am sure the wires from the circuit breaker to the outlet are 12 gauge.  This is device to go from the outlet to the motorcycle.  It is UL certified according to the website and UL listed stated on the module part.  It is not unusual for actual devices to have smaller wires than the electrical code calls for to get to the outlet.  Just kind of puzzling why there is only one 12 gauge wire in the cord from what I call a module to the j1772 plug.

I am seeing sort of similar devices rated for 16 amps at 240 volts and 12 amps at 120 volts that I could use with the similar to kil a watt meter I use on the KTM battery bike.  They have a 6-20p plug and a pig tail to change that to 5-15p.

[Specter]

The ground wire in that case is larger, because in the event of a fault, it has to safely,  potentially carry the current from BOTH power leads to ground, until the fault trips out /clears.

Aaron.

[ESokoloff]

The ground wire in that case is larger, because in the event of a fault, it has to safely,  potentially carry the current from BOTH power leads to ground, until the fault trips out /clears.

Aaron.

Per the OP’s description this device is 115v so only ONE lead is hot the other neutral.
If you look at the end of the input plug you’ll notice just two round pins & no ground. (Edit: likely the UL offering has a ground)
More likely the answer is country of origin related (likely China/not necessarily logical). 

Here in N. America do you see examples of 220v devices having oversized grounds (larger than the two hotlegs?)  If anything grounds can be smaller as their not intended to carry current but rather sized to only carry current long enough to trip an overload.

[Fran K]

I just added that description of the pins after typing the rest copy and paste surely easily searched up.  This picture is from Wikipedia and actually calls out one pin as a ground where the first seems to call out two hots one might not be used and a common or neutral.

I am looking on ebay for another one to put up at the bike club, but many are over 20 feet long.  This one though is exactly what I linked in post1 says Rotax on it in big letters.

[Specter]

Some of the chargers are fairly versatile in their input voltages, and they are not just made for one country and it's sometimes oddball view of the electrical world.   ive seen them with voltage inputs from like 95 volts up to like 270 volts.   This means you can feed them off a 115 volt, with the right pigtail on it or an adapter.  That gives you one hot, one neutral / ground.  or you can plug it into 240 volt.  That gives it 2 hots, with the ground as a return for any faults, which could potentially come from both sides of the line, capacitors dumping, etc etc etc.
One should never just expect neutral to be a ground, or at ground potential, one wiring fault and you'll find that out real fast
Countries have varying rules too, so what you may get away with in one country, won't fly in another.  Instead of having 20 models of chargers, sometimes they build them to be a one size fits all / will work everywhere, which means from time time, something might be over spec'd for what is acceptable in your country.

Aaron