Tired of tripping over your EV charging cables in your garage? Many electric vehicle owners face the challenge of managing charging cables, especially in shared garage spaces. If you own a Carport Vw or park your Volkswagen EV in a garage, keeping the charging area tidy and safe can be a hassle. This article explores a simple and effective DIY solution for managing your EV charging cables, perfect for your garage and adaptable for carport VW setups.
One innovative approach, inspired by the concept of a “Tool Balancer,” offers a practical way to keep your charging cables organized and off the floor. This method is particularly useful for households with multiple EVs, like a Tesla and a Volkswagen ID.4, sharing a garage space.
Let’s delve into the setup. Imagine a standard two-car garage with a single overhead door. Typically, cars are parked nose-in. Locate your electrical panel – in this example, it’s in the back-right corner. Install two NEMA 14-50 outlets approximately nine feet from the panel, positioning them roughly halfway between the back of the garage and the front door. This placement strategically centers the charging points.
For a dual EV household, consider parking a Tesla Model 3 on one side and a Volkswagen ID.4 on the other. The Model 3’s charge port is conveniently located at the driver’s side rear, while the ID.4’s is on the passenger side rear. This parking arrangement places both charge ports close to each other in the garage’s center aisle, near the garage door, optimizing cable reach and convenience.
Now, for the core of the DIY cable management system: the “Tool Balancer” concept. Utilize two Tesla Universal Mobile Connectors (UMC) chargers. Each charger plugs into one of the newly installed 14-50 outlets. Run each charging cable up the garage wall and suspend it overhead, above each car. The car plug end of the cable should hang down from the ceiling, ideally near the center aisle, within easy reach.
To implement the “balancer” system, you’ll need nylon rope for each cable. Securely tie one end of the rope to the car plug end of the charging cable. The rope then runs straight up to a pulley mounted on the ceiling, across the ceiling to another pulley on the opposite wall, and then down the wall. The other end of the rope is attached to a counterweight – a repurposed half-gallon milk jug filled with kitty litter works perfectly.
Using this system is straightforward. When you’re ready to drive, simply unplug the charging cable from your EV in the center aisle and lift the plug. The milk jug counterweight will smoothly lift the cable up and out of the way. Upon returning home, just reach up, pull the charging cable down, and plug it back into your carport VW or garage-parked EV. For VW ID.4 owners using Tesla UMCs, a TeslaTap adapter ensures compatibility.
This DIY cable management solution not only tidies up your garage or carport VW charging area but also protects your charging cables from damage and keeps them readily accessible. The “Tool Balancer” system offers a visually appealing and highly functional method for managing EV charging cables, simplifying your daily charging routine.
