[Joel S.]

My first post. I have a 2017 Volt Premier , and I have been charging it at work, roughly 4 times per week, with the provided EVSE, at 12Amps. Each charge has been about 4-5 kWH. After about six months, I noticed that the cable of the EVSE had become so twisted internally that I was unable to stretch it out --sort of like the old coiled telephone wires. I returned the cable to our dealer, who replaced it with a new one, about two months ago, and now that one is twisting itself as well. Has anyone seen this? Is it an issue?

 

[Steverino]

No, I don't have that issue and I have 3 (1 gen 1, 2 gen 2). I suspect it's the way you are handling the cord. You are likely introducing the twist as you wind it up.

 

[obermd]

I don't have this issue. I see a lot of people with "twisted" cables and hoses. It's all about how you wind them. I let my J1772 connector drag across the grass when I wind it so any twists fall out as they form. If there's no grass I leave the J1772 on the concrete at my feet and wind, carefully forcing any twisting down to the "unwound" section of the cable as I go. When the J1772 lifts off the concrete it spins to unwind the effect of the twisting.

 

[Steverino]

I don't have this issue. I see a lot of people with "twisted" cables and hoses. It's all about how you wind them. I let my J1772 connector drag across the grass when I wind it so any twists fall out as they form. If there's no grass I leave the J1772 on the concrete at my feet and wind, carefully forcing any twisting down to the "unwound" section of the cable as I go. When the J1772 lifts off the concrete it spins to unwind the effect of the twisting.

Yes, winding it from a twisted state, especially with any force, will tend to "set" the twist. Wind it untwisted and it will be untwisted when unwound.

If it's already been set as twisted, you could try unwinding as flat and untwisted as possible on the driveway to heat under the sun to soften the plastic. Then carefully wind onto the holder removing twist as you do. You may be able to reset the plastic cabling memory that way.

 

[FI Spyder]

I've done this with longer regular extension cords. It happens(ed) over a period of time in cooler weather when you wrap/wind up a cord without dragging the end to allow the end to twist along the ground as you roll them up. The trick is to let the end drag and turn as it wants while wrapping it up. With EVSE I wind it up turning it in my hand so it doesn't induce any turning of the cord within the sheath. Hard to describe, easier to show.

 

[Joel S.]

Got it. So the internal wires are free to move with respect to each other! In most of the extension cords I've used, they are embedded in some matrix. Here, apparently, not so. At any rate, a half hour, and burning wrists later, I've gotten out most of the kinks. I should have thought of just untwisting, but I figured there was something more complicated. Thanks to all of you!

 

[edk-austin]

Note the printed text along the length of the cable. It should run straight down the cable. If it appears to spiral around, I can assure you it didn't start that way!

 

[TSquare]

I don't know why no one mentioned this, but your cord is NOT twisting itself. YOU are twisting it with the way you hang it up and remove it every day. I have been using my charger since 2012 and it is still straight, no twists in the cable. If you put a half twist in it when you unplug, then make sure you put a reversed half twist in the OPPOSITE direction when you plug in.

 

[dznf0g]

I wind my portable, when putting in the car rear compartment, one time holding the evse in left hand and coiling with right. Next time reverse hands.

 

[caskConditionedAle]

I never wind my cord. My EVSE just hangs from a hook in my garage.

 

[turboguy327]

It’s operator error, it’s not doing it on its own.

 

[wws]

My wife gets wires twisted like that. Not just the EVSE, but the various home appliances too. Annoys the heck out of me, because I then have to spend my time untwisting them all (an OCD thing, no doubt) before the they get ruined.

 

[jcanoe]

This is why wireless charging for PEVs can't come soon enough.

 

[uchual]

My Turbocord Level 2 cable is twisted as well. I've tried the "twist this way, then counter-twist" to prevent twisting, to no avail. I just gave up and let it be. Life's too short to worry about things like these.

 

[Barry]

It is very normal that coiling something will twist it up. This happens with rope and garden hoses, for example.

My evse cord even tends to twist up when it is not coiled, but just plugged and unplugged daily and hung on a hook. Even some public EVSEs I use twist up from use. It is because every time it is handled, it is typically given a half twist to put it into position. If most of those half twists are in the same direction, then the cord twists up eventually. Whenever I notice it happening, I give it a few spins in the opposite direction to untwist it. I also try to alternate my half twists.

 

[Steverino]

This is why wireless charging for PEVs can't come soon enough.

It's been available for years. Kinda pricy and with greater loss than a wired charge. But yes, no cord.

 

[JuneBug]

This guy shows the proper way to wind any cable or hose to prevent twisting and tangling. It's really very simple once you know the trick: