CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 18/456,270, filed August 25, 2023, which claims benefit and priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 63/374,332 filed September 1, 2022, titled “PEDESTAL BASE AND RISER TO MOUNT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS,” both are incorporated in the present disclosure by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments described in the present disclosure relate to a pedestal base and riser to mount electric vehicle chargers.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated in the present disclosure, the materials described in the present disclosure are not prior art to the claims in the present application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Typical electric vehicles (EVs) operate on large on-board energy storage cells or rechargeable batteries. EV battery capacity limits the distances EVs can travel on a single charge from and/or between a user’s home EV charger system and commercial EV charger systems (e.g., charging stations). Commercial EV charger infrastructure has historically included sparsely located EV charger systems at haphazard or ad hoc locations. The sparsity of commercial EV charger infrastructure is an impediment to the widespread adoption of EVs.

The subject matter claimed in the present disclosure is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some implementations described in the present disclosure may be practiced.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. In an example embodiment, a pedestal base may include a skid base and a riser. The skid base may define a cable management system (CMS) opening and a base opening. The skid base may interface with a CMS via the CMS opening. The riser may define a riser opening. The riser may include a sidewall. The sidewall may mechanically interface with an EV charger. The riser may mechanically interface with the skid base to position the riser opening proximate the base opening. The skid base and the riser, when mechanically interfaced, may permit a cable to extend between the CMS and the EV charger and to extend through the base opening and the riser opening.

The object and advantages of the embodiments will be realized and achieved at least by the elements, features, and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example EV charger system;

FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate an example pedestal base that may be implemented in the system of FIG. 1;

FIGs. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D illustrate example cable management systems that may be included in the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an example method of assembling a pedestal base, all arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Approximately half of an EV charger system infrastructure deployment cost is associated with temporal aspects of the deployment: power entry equipment, cables, skids, extensive civil work, and long cable runs and connectors. To meet EV deployment goals, charge point operators need to speed deployment while simultaneously reducing costs. The EV charger system may include one or more EV chargers (e.g., EV wall chargers) configured to provide power to EVs. Various EV chargers may include different mounting configurations to mechanically interface with a pedestal base of the EV charger system. For example, different EV chargers (e.g., different EV wall chargers) may interface with a different mechanical interface (e.g., hole pattern), a different wiring configuration, or some combination thereof to attach the EV chargers to the pedestal base. The deployment costs associated with these EV charger systems may increase due to the pedestal bases being individually manufactured to only be compatible with a particular EV charger. The pedestal bases may include unique mechanical interfaces that are compatible with a limited number of EV chargers (e.g., a single EV charger). These and other pedestal bases may increase deployment costs of EV charger systems.

Some embodiments described in the present disclosure may include a universal pedestal base to which a variety of EV chargers may be mounted. The pedestal base may include a skid base and multiple risers to permit different EV chargers to mechanically interface with (e.g., attach to) the pedestal base. In addition, the pedestal base may include one or more overcurrent devices or fuse devices to prevent an overcurrent condition (e.g., an overload condition) or a short circuit condition from occurring at the EV chargers.

In some embodiments, the pedestal base may be configured to mechanically interface with a wall EV charger. Each of the risers may include a different mechanical interface and/or other features (e.g., depressions, protrusions, tabs, threads, mounting brackets, or the like) to accommodate a different mounting configuration. In some embodiments, the risers may include multiple mechanical interfaces to accommodate multiple EV chargers. The pedestal base may include a standardized configuration to permit standardized wiring configurations for different EV charger mounting dimensions. In addition, the pedestal base may permit at least a portion of the EV charger system (e.g., the pedestal base, one or more CMSs, a power platform, or some combination thereof) to be installed above ground.

The pedestal base may include the skid base and the riser. The skid base may define a CMS opening and a base opening. The skid base may interface with a CMS via the CMS opening. The riser may define a riser opening. The riser may include a sidewall configured to mechanically interface with an EV charger. The riser may mechanically interface with the skid base to position the riser opening proximate the base opening. The skid base and the riser, when mechanically interfaced, may permit a cable to extend between the CMS and the EV charger and to extend through the base opening and the riser opening. The pedestal base may include multiple risers and the skid base. Each of the risers may include a different mechanical interface. The different mechanical interfaces may permit a different EV charger to be attached to a sidewall of each of the risers. The skid base may define the CMS opening and the base opening. The skid base may interface with the CMS via the CMS opening. The skid base may mechanically interface with the risers. Each of the risers may define the riser opening. In addition, each of the risers may mechanically interface with the skid base to position the corresponding riser opening proximate the base opening. The skid base and the corresponding riser may permit the cable to extend between the CMS and a corresponding EV charger and to extend through the base opening and the corresponding riser opening.

Embodiments described herein relate to a pedestal base that may reduce deployment costs (e.g., installation times and/or overall costs) of an EV charger system. The pedestal base described herein may include modular components that cost less, use less site preparation prior to installation of an EV charger system, are readily portable, and/or offer availability to change scale in an amount of EV chargers supported.

The pedestal base described in the present disclosure may interface with the CMS, a lead assembly (e.g., a big lead assembly (BLA)), or some combination thereof to standardize installation of EV charger systems, install the EV charger system above ground, or some combination thereof.

These and other embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the accompanying figures. It is to be understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of such example embodiments, and are not limiting, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale. In the figures, features with like numbers indicate like structure and function unless described otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example EV charger system 100 (hereinafter “system 100”) that includes a power platform 102, a CMS 104, two or more lead assemblies and/or other wiring (not illustrated in FIG. 1), and one or more charger platforms 106 (generally referred to herein as “charger platforms 106”) arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The power platform 102 may be coupled to a power source (not illustrated in FIG. 1). The power platform 102 may be configured to transform power or otherwise condition power from the power source for compatibility with EVs and/or the charger platforms 106.

The charger platforms 106 may be electrically coupled through the lead assemblies to the power platform 102. Each of the charger platforms 106 may include one or more EV chargers, which may include, be included in, or correspond to other EV chargers herein. In some embodiments, the EV chargers may be configured to electrically couple to a vehicle or to any other device that may be configured to receive power from the system 100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each charger platform 106 includes four EV chargers. Alternatively, or additionally, each charger platform 106 may include more or less EV chargers than illustrated. For example, the charger platforms 106 may include one, two, three, four, six, nine, or any other number of EV chargers. In these and other embodiments, each of the charger platforms 106 may be installed at an intersection of four vehicle parking spots or stalls to allow up to four EVs to be charged simultaneously through the charger platforms 106. In instances in which the charger platforms 106 include more than four EV chargers, additional EVs and/or devices may be charged simultaneously with the EVs. For example, an electric motorcycle, a portable battery supply, and/or other devices may be charged concurrently with up to four EVs as the other devices may be sized to fit between the charging EVs.

The CMS 104 may extend between the power platform 102 and at least one of the charger platforms 106 and/or between two charger platforms 106 to house and secure the lead assemblies. The CMS 104 may eliminate the need for trenching as required in some other EV charger systems as the lead assemblies may be installed above ground and protected within the CMS 104. Although illustrated in FIG. 1 as being routed on the ground or floor (e.g., of a parking lot, parking structure, or the like), more generally the CMS 104 may be routed on any installation surface or structure, such as a floor, a wall, a ceiling, or other installation surface. The power platform 102 may be configured to receive input power (e.g., from the power source), and generate output power for operation of the charger platforms 106. For example, the power platform 102 may receive and transform an input power having a first current and voltage to an output power having a second current and voltage that is different from the first current and voltage.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may be a direct current (DC) powered system. For example, one lead assembly may be a positive lead assembly connected to a positive lead of each charger platform 106 and another lead assembly may be a negative lead assembly connected to a negative lead of each charger platform 106. In some embodiments, the system 100 may be an alternating current (AC) powered system. For example, the lead assemblies may be arranged to support single phase AC power (e.g., using a first lead assembly and a second lead assembly) and/or arranged to support three phase AC power (e.g., using a first lead assembly, a second lead assembly, a third lead assembly, and a neutral line).

Instead of or in addition to transforming voltage, the power platform 102 may convert AC input power to DC output power, in which case the power platform 102 may be or include an AC- to-DC converter, or may convert DC power to AC power, in which case the power platform 102 may be or include a DC-to-AC converter. In some embodiments, the output power may be or include DC power to charge batteries, such as EV batteries. In some embodiments, the output power may be or include AC power provided to the charger platforms 106. In these embodiments, the charger platforms 106 may convert the AC power to DC power to charge EV batteries.

In some embodiments, the power platform 102 may be configured to perform a transformation of an input power to an output power. For example, an input AC power may be received having a first voltage and current and the power platform 102 may convert the input AC power to an output AC or DC power having a second voltage and current that are different than the first voltage and current. In these and other embodiments, the power platform 102 may be electrically coupled to and receive input power from the power source, which may include a solar array, an electrical grid, or other power source. In some embodiments, the power platform 102 may include an EATON 300 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) general purpose ventilated transformer (item number V48M28T33EE) having a primary voltage of 480 volts (V) and a secondary voltage of 208 Y/120 V. The forgoing transformer is provided only as an example, as the transformer of the power platform 102 may include any other transformer which may include the same or different primary voltage, secondary voltage, make, and/or model.

In some embodiments, the lead assemblies may each include a feeder cable, one or more drop lines, one or more drop line connectors, and/or one or more in-line fuses. Alternatively, or additionally, the lead assemblies may include one or more load side breakers and/or in-line fuses (e.g., electrically coupled between the feeder cable and the drop lines) to electrically protect the drop lines and the chargers. Each lead assembly may be configured to transmit the output power from the power platform 102 to the charger platforms 106 or return current from the charger platforms 106 to the power platform 102.

In some embodiments, the CMS 104 may extend from the power platform 102 to the charger platforms 106 or between the charger platforms 106 in a continuous trajectory and/or on the same surface on which the power platform 102 is installed or located. For example, the CMS 104 may extend on a surface on which the power platform 102 is located, and from the power platform 102 to the charger platforms 106. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more raceways included in the CMS 104 may include corners, bends, curves, etc., in extending between the power platform 102 and the charger platforms 106. For example, the power platform 102 may be installed on a garage floor, the charger platform 106 may be disposed on the garage wall, and a raceway of the CMS 104 may include a bend, curve, 90-degree turn, or the like to transition from the garage floor to the garage wall. Additional details regarding example embodiments of CMSs which may be implemented herein are disclosed in US Provisional App. No. 63/362,952, filed April 13, 2022, and titled CABLE MANAGEMENT IN EV CHARGER SYSTEMS, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. In addition, some example details regarding the CMS are disclosed in and discussed with respect to FIGs. 3 A-3D in the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include multiple pairs of lead assemblies in which each pair electrically couples the power platform 102 to a different set of one or more charger platforms 106. Alternatively, or additionally, each pair of lead assemblies may electrically couple the power platform 102 to a different set of one or more EV chargers. For example, one pair of lead assemblies may electrically couple the power platform 102 to a first set of four EV chargers of a first charger platform 106, another pair of lead assemblies may electrically couple the power platform 102 to a second set of four EV chargers of a second charger platform 106, and so on.

The charger platforms 106 may each include a pedestal base 108 and one or more EV chargers. The pedestal bases 108 may mechanically interface with the CMS 104 and the EV chargers. The pedestal bases 108 may permit the CMS 104 and the charger platforms 106 to be installed above-ground. In addition, the pedestal bases 108 may permit the CMS 104 to function as an above-ground wiring run.

FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate an example pedestal base 208 that may be implemented in the system 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with at least one embodiment described in the present disclosure. FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the pedestal base 208. FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded view of the pedestal base 208. The pedestal base 208 may correspond to the pedestal bases 108 described in relation to FIG. 1. For example, one or more of the pedestal bases 108 of FIG. 1 may have a similar or identical configuration as the pedestal base 208.

The pedestal base 208 may include a skid base 210 and multiple risers 212a-c (generally referred to in the present disclosure as “riser 212” or “risers 212”). In FIG. 2A, a single riser 212 is illustrated to show an example of the skid base 210 interfaced with the riser 212. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the pedestal base 208 may include multiple risers 212. In use, the pedestal base 208 may be installed with a single riser 212 coupled to the skid base 210 in some embodiments. Thus, the pedestal base 208 including a skid base 210 and multiple risers 212 should be broadly construed to mean that the skid base 210 is configured to interface with any of multiple different risers 212. When installed, however, the pedestal base 208 may generally include the skid base 210 and at least one riser 212. The skid base 210 may define a first CMS opening 214a, a second CMS opening 214b, a third CMS opening 214c, and a fourth CMS opening 214d (generally referred to in the present disclosure as “CMS openings 214”). The skid base 210 may define a base opening 216 (illustrated in FIG. 2B) and mounting openings 230. A single instance of the mounting openings 230 is denoted in FIGs. 2A and 2B for ease of illustration. The base opening 216 is defined in a first side of the skid base 210 and the mounting openings 230 are defined in tabs or brackets of the skid base 210 at a second side of the skid base 210 opposite the first side. The first side may be referred to as the top side while the second side may be referred to as the bottom side. The pedestal base 208 may include one or more base plates 232. A single instance of the base plate 232 is labeled in FIG. 2A for ease of illustration.

The skid base 210 may interface with and/or receive an end or other portion of the CMS (e.g., the CMS 104 of FIG. 1) via the CMS openings 214. Alternatively, or additionally, the skid base 210 may interface with and/or receive an end and/or other portion of a raceway included in the CMS. The skid base 210 may interface with the CMS via any of the CMS openings 214. For example, the skid base 210 may interface with the CMS via the first CMS opening 214a. Alternatively, or additionally, the skid base 210 may interface with multiple CMSs via the CMS openings 214. For example, the skid base 210 may interface with a first CMS via the first CMS opening 214a and a second CMS via the third CMS opening 214c. The CMS openings 214 may encase a portion of the interfaced CMS. For example, the CMS openings 214 may include a complementary size and shape to that of the CMS (or portion thereof) such that the CMS may pass partially, substantially, or completely through the CMS openings 214.

The risers 212 may define a riser opening 218. The risers 212 may include sidewalls 220a-d (generally referred to in the present disclosure as “sidewall 220” or “sidewalls 220”). The sidewalls 220 may be configured to mechanically interface with one or more EV chargers (not illustrated in FIGs. 2A and 2B). The sidewalls 220 may mechanically interface with the EV chargers such that the EV chargers are physically positioned proximate a surface 224 of the sidewalls 220. For example, a first sidewall 220a may mechanically interface with an EV charger such that the EV charger is physically positioned proximate the surface 224. Alternatively or additionally, a given EV charger may be mechanically coupled to a corresponding one of the sidewalls 220.

The risers 212 may mechanically interface with the skid base 210 to be physically positioned within and/or extending across at least a portion of the base opening 216. Alternatively, the risers 212 may mechanically interface with the skid base 210 to be physically positioned proximate and/or extending partially or completely across the base opening 216. Additionally, the risers 212 may mechanically interface with the skid base 210 to position the riser opening 218 proximate and/or aligned to or with the base opening 216. The skid base 210 and the risers 212, when mechanically interfaced with the skid base 210, may define a volume 228.

The skid base 210 and the risers 212 may mechanically interface to permit a cable (e.g., a lead assembly) of the CMS (not illustrated in FIGs. 2A and 2B) to extend between the CMS and the EV charger. In addition, the skid base 210 and the risers 212 may mechanically interface to permit the cable of the CMS to extend through the base opening 216, the riser opening 218, the volume 228, or some combination thereof. For example, the skid base 210 may cover at least a portion of the CMS such that a portion of the cable may exit from the CMS within the volume 228 and extend to the EV charger via the base opening 216 and the riser opening 218. The skid base 210 may cover at least a portion of multiple CMSs such that a portion of cables within the CMSs may exit from the CMSs within the volume 228 and extend to another CMS. The cable may include a lead assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3A of the present application and further described in US Patent No. 10,992,254 issued April 27, 2021, and titled LEAD ASSEMBLY FOR CONNECTING SOLAR PANEL ARRAYS TO INVERTER, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Each of the sidewalls 220 may define a mechanical interface 222 (generally referred to in the present disclosure as “mechanical interface 222” or “mechanical interfaces 222”). Each of the risers 212 are illustrated in FIGs. 2A and 2B as defining a single mechanical interface 222 for ease of illustration. Each of the risers 212 may define two or more-mechanical interfaces (e.g., two or more sidewalls 220 may each define a mechanical interface 222) to permit two or more EV chargers to mechanically interface with the sidewalls 220 of a single riser 212. For example, a first of the mechanical interfaces 222 may be complementary to and facilitate coupling the riser 212 to a first EV charger with a first mechanical interface while a second of the mechanical interfaces 222 may be complementary to and facilitate coupling the same riser 212 to a second EV charger with a second mechanical interface that is different than the first mechanical interface.

The mechanical interfaces 222 defined by the different risers 212 may correspond to different EV chargers. The different mechanical interfaces 222 may permit a different EV charger to be attached to the risers 212 proximate the corresponding surface 224. For example, the mechanical interface 222 of a first riser 212a may correspond to a first EV charger (or more generally to any EV chargers that have a first mechanical interface), the mechanical interface 222 of a second riser 212b may correspond to a second EV charger (or more generally to any EV chargers that have a second mechanical interface), and the mechanical interface 222 of a third riser 212c may correspond to a third EV charger (or more generally to any EV chargers that have a third mechanical interface). The mechanical interfaces 222 may include a charger opening (not illustrated in FIGs. 2 A and 2B) configured to permit the cable of the CMS to connect to the EV charger when physically positioned proximate the surface 224.

The mechanical interfaces 222 may be defined to permit a charger platform (e.g., the charger platforms 106 of FIG. 1) to be located at an intersection of four parking stalls such that one or more EVs may charge from the charger platform. In an example, a first EV charger may be coupled to the first sidewall 220a having a corresponding mechanical interface 222, a second EV charger may be coupled to the sidewall 220b having a corresponding mechanical interface 222, a third EV charger may be coupled to the sidewall 220c having a corresponding mechanical interface 222, and a fourth EV charger may be coupled to the sidewall 220d having a corresponding mechanical interface 222.

The base plates 232 may mechanically interface with the skid base 210 proximate and/or across one or more of the CMS openings 214. The base plates 232, when mechanically interfaced with the skid base 210, may prevent debris (e.g., rocks, garbage, etc.) from entering the volume 228 via the corresponding CMS opening 214. The base plates 232 may further define the volume 228 when mechanically interfaced with the skid base 210. Alternatively or additionally, the base plates 232 may be selectively removable from the skid base 210 to permit a technician to selectively access the volume 228 to service cables passing therethrough and/or for other reasons.

The pedestal base 208 may include one or more fasteners 227 (illustrated in FIG. 2B) (generally referred to in the present disclosure as “fasteners 227”) configured to mechanically interface with the corresponding mechanical interface 222 and the corresponding EV charger. A single set of the fasteners 227 is illustrated and numbered in FIG. 2B for ease of illustration. The fasteners 227 may mechanically couple the EV charger to the risers 212. In an example, the fasteners 227 may each include a threaded shank extending from a head. The riser 212 may include one or more welded on nuts, threaded through holes, threaded blind holes, or the like configured to mate with the fasteners 227. The fasteners 227 may compress a portion of an EV charger between the head of a cover fastener 227 and a portion of the riser 212 to cause EV charger to mechanically interface with the skid base 210.

The pedestal base 208 may include one or more riser fasteners 229 (illustrated in FIG. 2B) (generally referred to in the present disclosure as “riser fasteners 229”). The riser fasteners 229 may mechanically interface with the risers 212 and the skid base 210 to cause the risers 212 to mechanically interface with the skid base 210. The riser fasteners 229 may include a threaded shank extending from a head. The skid base 210 may include one or more welded on nuts, threaded through holes, threaded blind holes, or the like configured to mate with the riser fasteners 229. The riser fasteners 229 may compress a portion of the risers 212 (or of a single riser 212) between the head of the riser fasteners 229 and a portion of the skid base 210 to cause the risers 212 (or a single riser 212) to mechanically interface with the skid base 210.

The pedestal base 208 may be installed on various surfaces. For example, the pedestal base 208 may be affixed to a concrete pad, an asphalt surface such as a parking lot, the ground including grass, dirt, rock, etc., walls, and/or ceilings (e.g., concrete walls or ceilings of parking garages, dry wall and/or wood walls or ceilings of homes, etc.). The pedestal base 208 may be affixed to the various surfaces using various mechanical fasteners (not illustrated in FIGs. 2A and 2B) configured to mate with the mounting openings 230. The mechanical fasteners may include, but are not limited to, screws, earth screws, masonry screws, bolts, lag bolts, anchors, concrete anchors, expanding anchors, nails, and the like.

The pedestal base 208 may include an overcurrent device 226 and one or more access plates 236a-b (generally referred to herein as “access plates 236”). The risers 212 may define one or more access openings 234a-b (generally referred to herein as “access openings 234”). In FIGs. 2A and 2B, the pedestal base 208 is illustrated as including two access plates 236 and defining two access openings 234 for exemplary purposes. The pedestal base 208 may define more or fewer access openings 234 and include a corresponding number of access plates 236. For example, the risers 212 may define one, three, four, or more access openings and include one, three, four, or more access plates 236. The access openings 234 may permit access to the overcurrent device 226 disposed within the volume 228. In addition, the access plates 236 may mechanically interface with the risers 212 proximate the access openings 234. The access plates 236 may further define the volume 228 when mechanically interfaced with the risers 212.

The overcurrent device 226 may be physically positioned (e.g., disposed) within the volume 228. The overcurrent device 226 may be configured to electrically couple to the EV charger and the cable of the CMS. The overcurrent device 226 may electrically couple between the EV charger and one or more cables of the CMS. For example, a first end of the overcurrent device 226 may electrically couple to the cable of the CMS and a second end of the overcurrent device 226 may electrically couple to the EV charger (e.g., via an additional cable). The overcurrent device 226 is illustrated in FIGs. 2A and 2B as including circuit breakers for exemplary purposes. The overcurrent device 226 may include one or more circuit breakers, fuse holders, electrical switches, fuses, or some combination thereof. The overcurrent device 226 may include one or more devices that each include an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, the devices may electrically decouple (e.g., isolate) the EV charger from the cable of the CMS. In the closed configuration, the devices may electrically couple the EV charger to the cable of the CMS. In some embodiments, the overcurrent device 226 may be configured to protect the cable, the EV charger, or some combination thereof from a short circuit condition or an overcurrent condition, by tripping and disconnecting the cable from the EV charger.

Each device may be tripped (switched from closed to open) and/or reset (e.g., switched from open to closed) automatically or manually. For example, a device may trip automatically in response to the over current condition or the short circuit condition to prevent or reduce damage to the EV chargers or the EV(s) being charged and/or may be reset automatically when the over current condition or the short circuit condition is resolved. As another example, a device may be tripped manually by a person to inspect, service, or otherwise interact with the cable, the EV charger, the charger platforms, or some combination thereof downstream of the device, and may be reset manually by the person when finished with inspecting, servicing, or otherwise finished.

In some embodiments, the overcurrent device 226 may include one or more fuses that each include a closed state and a failed state. In the closed state and when installed, the fuses may electrically couple the EV charger to the cable of the CMS. In the failed state, the fuses may electrically decouple (e.g., isolate) the EV charger from the cable of the CMS. When the fuses are removed, the EV charger may be electrically decoupled from the cable of the CMS. In some embodiments, the fuses may be configured to protect the cable, the EV charger, or some combination thereof from a short circuit condition or an overcurrent condition, by blowing (e.g., failing) and disconnecting the cable from the EV charger.

Each fuse may be rated for a maximum current level. If a current flowing through a fuse exceeds the maximum current level (e.g., the over current condition), a portion of the fuse may overheat and may blow (e.g., melt) to create an open (e.g., the fuse may transition from the closed state to the failed state). The fuse may blow automatically in response to the over current condition to prevent or reduce damage to the EV chargers or the EV(s) being charged. In some embodiments, a fuse may be removed by a person to inspect, service, or otherwise interact with the cable, the EV charger, the charger platforms, or some combination thereof downstream of the fuse, and may be replaced by the person when finished with inspecting, servicing, or otherwise finished. If a fuse transitions to the failed state, the fuse may be removed by a person to inspect or otherwise interact with the cable, the EV charger, the charger platforms, or some combination thereof. The fuse may be replaced by a different fuse in the closed state.

FIGs. 3A-3C illustrate an example CMS 300, arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The CMS 300 may include, be included in, or correspond to the CMS 104 of FIG. 1. FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 3C respectively include a top front perspective view, a bottom front perspective view, and an exploded top front perspective view of the CMS 300. As illustrated, the CMS 300 may include one or more multicable clips 302, one or more retention plates 304, a cable raceway 306 (which may include, be included in, or correspond to other raceways herein), and/or one or more risers 308. FIG. 3A additionally illustrates example feeder cables 310 that may be managed, protected, and/or housed by the CMS 300. The feeder cables 310 may be part of corresponding lead assemblies and/or may be the same as or similar to other feeder cables herein. Only one of the feeder cables 310 is labeled in FIG. 3 A for simplicity. The feeder cables 310 are omitted from FIGs. 3B and 3C for clarity.

Each multicable clip 302 includes multiple channels to receive and secure multiple feeder cables 310. For example, each of the multicable clips 302 illustrated in FIGs. 3B and 3C includes five channels to receive and secure five feeder cables 310. FIG. 3D illustrates an alternative embodiment of a CMS 300 A in which each multicable clip 302 A includes eight channels to receive and secure eight feeder cables (not shown in FIG. 3D). More generally, the number of channels included in each multicable clip may be one or more, such as five or eight as illustrated in FIGs. 3B-3D, three, seven, ten, or other desired number of channels. Additionally, while each of the channels in the multicable clips 302 have been described as receiving and securing a single feeder cable 310 in each channel, more generally each channel may receive and secure one or more feeder cables 310, such as two feeder cables 310 per channel, three feeder cables 310 per channel, or other number of feeder cables per channel. The dimensions of each channel and/or feeder cable may be selected according to the number of feeder cables to be received in each channel. In these and other embodiments, the number of feeder cables 310 that may be included in the CMS 300 may be determined based on the National Electric Code. The retention plates 304 or 304 A may couple to the multicable clips 302 or 302A to retain the feeder cables 310 in the channels after placement therein. As illustrated, each of the multicable clips 302, 302 A may be stacked with another multicable clip 302, 302A through the risers 308, 308A. The risers 308, 308A may couple the multicable clips 302, 302A together (optionally with one or more threaded fasteners or other fasteners).

A set of stacked multicable clips 302, 302 A together with corresponding retention plates 304, 304A and risers 308, 308A (and optional fasteners) may be referred to herein as a stacked retention assembly 312, 312A. Two stacked retention assemblies 312 are at least partially visible in each of FIGs. 3B and 3C and one stacked retention assembly 312A is visible in FIG. 3D. The stacked retention assemblies 312, 312A may be spaced apart along a length of the cable raceway 306, 306A to provide support and management of the feeder cables 310 along the length of the cable raceway 306, 306 A. For example, the stacked retention assemblies 312, 312A may be spaced every eighteen to twenty -four inches. By stacking multiple multicable clips 302, 302A together, each stacked retention assembly 312, 312A may secure in a single location along the length of the cable raceway 306, 306 A more feeder cables 310 than a single multicable clip 302, 302A by itself. The illustrated embodiment of FIGs. 3A-3C depicts ten feeder cables 310 secured by each of the stacked retention assemblies 312 which is twice as many as one of the multicable clips 302 alone. Similarly, in the embodiment of FIG. 3D, the stacked retention assembly 312A may secure sixteen feeder cables (assuming there is one feeder cable per channel), which is twice as many as one of the multicable clips 302A alone. Within each stacked retention assembly 312, 312 A, one of the multicable clips 302, 302 A will be closer to and/or coupled directly to an installation surface 314 while the other multicable clip(s) 302, 302A is(are) spaced further from the installation surface 314. The multicable clip 302 that is closest to and/or coupled directly to the installation surface 314 may be referred to herein as a base multicable clip 302, 302A. The multicable clip(s) 302, 302A that is(are) spaced further from the installation surface 314 than the base multicable clip 302, 302A may be referred to herein as the elevated multicable clip(s) 302, 302 A because it is spaced apart from or elevated relative to the installation surface 314. The use of “base” and “elevated” in describing the multicable clips 302, 302A in stacked retention assemblies 312, 312A should not be construed to require that the stacked retention assemblies 312, 312A have a particular orientation relative to any given reference frame. Rather, the use of “base” and “elevated” in describing the multicable clips 302, 302 A in stacked retention assemblies 312, 312A is merely used as an aid in distinguishing between the multicable clips 302, 302A in a stacked retention assembly 312, 312A notwithstanding any particular orientation they may have relative to a given reference frame. In FIG. 3C, the installation surface 314 may be a floor or ground (i.e., gravity is down in the orientation of FIG. 3C) such that the multicable clip 302 at the bottom of each stacked retention assembly 312 is the base multicable clip 302 while the other multicable clip 302 in each stacked retention assembly 312 is the elevated multicable clip 302. If the installation surface 314 were instead a ceiling surface (i.e., gravity is up in the orientation of FIG. 3C), the multicable clip 302 that is closest to the installation surface 314 would still be referred to as the base multicable clip 302 and the multicable clip 302 that is furthest from the installation surface 314 would still be referred to as the elevated multicable clip 302 despite being lower than the base multicable clip 302 relative to the gravitational reference frame.

The cable raceway 306, 306A may be configured to engage at least one of the multi cable clips of each stacked retention assembly 312, 312A along its length to enclose the stacked retention assemblies 312, 312A at least partially (or portions thereof) and the feeder cables 310. For example, a retention flange or other structure of the cable raceway 306, 306 A may be configured to engage a shoulder or other structure defined in a bottom of each base multicable clip 302, 302 A.

Substitutions, modifications, additions, etc. may be made to FIGs. 3 A-3D without altering the scope of the disclosure. For example, the CMS 300, 300A may have a single multicable clip 302, 302 A and retention plate 304, 304 A at each supported location along the length of the feeder cables 310 instead of a stacked retention assembly 312, 312A. Alternatively or additionally, while a height of the cable raceway 306, 306A is illustrated as accommodating a base multicable clip 302, 302 A and one elevated multicable clip 302, 302 A, the height of the cable raceway 306, 306 A may be reduced to accommodate a single multicable clip 302, 302 A (e.g., a base multicable clip 302, 302 A without any elevated multicable clips 302, 302 A) or increased to accommodate three or more multicable clips 302, 302 A (e.g., a base multicable clip 302, 302 A with two or more elevated multicable clips 302, 302 A) in a given stacked retention assembly 312, 312A.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 400 of assembling a pedestal base, in accordance with at least one embodiment described in the present disclosure. In some embodiments, assembling the pedestal base may include attaching a riser to a skid base and attaching an EV charger to the pedestal base. The method 400 may be performed to assemble any suitable pedestal base. For example, the method 400 may be performed to assemble the pedestal bases 108 of FIG. 1 or the pedestal base 208 of FIG. 2. The method 400 may include one or more blocks 402, 404, 406, or 408. Although illustrated with discrete blocks, the steps and operations associated with one or more of the blocks of the method 400 may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the particular implementation.

At block 402 a riser may be attached to a skid base. The skid base may define a base opening. The riser may define a riser opening. The riser may be attached to the skid base to position the riser opening proximate the base opening. For example, the riser 212 of FIGs. 2A and 2B may be attached to the skid base 210 of FIGs. 2A and 2B. At block 404, a cable may be extended between a CMS and an EV charger. The cable may be extended through the base opening and the riser opening. For example, the cable may extend through the base opening 216 defined by the skid base 210 and the riser opening 218 defined by the riser 212. At block 406, the cable may be attached to the EV charger. At block 408, the EV charger may be attached to the riser. For example, the EV charger may be attached to the sidewall 220 of the riser 212 to be physically positioned proximate the surface 224 of the sidewall 220.

In some embodiments, the method 400 may include additional steps and/or operations. For example, the method 400 may also include interfacing the skid base with the CMS. The skid base may define a CMS opening and the skid base may interface with the CMS via the CMS opening. As another example, the method 400 may include attaching the skid base to a ground surface. The skid base may be attached to the ground surface to permit the skid base, the riser, and the CMS to be physically positioned above-ground and the CMS to function as an aboveground wiring run.

In some embodiments, the pedestal base may include an overcurrent device. In these and other embodiments, the method 400 may include attaching the overcurrent device to the riser. The riser may include sidewalls that define an access opening positioned proximate the overcurrent device. For example, the overcurrent device 226 of FIGs. 2A and 2B may be disposed within the volume 228 defined by the sidewalls 220. In these and other embodiments, block 404 may include electrically coupling the EV charger to the overcurrent device. In these and other embodiments, block 404 may also include electrically coupling the cable to the overcurrent device.

In some embodiments, the riser may define the access opening and the skid base may define another CMS opening. In these and other embodiments, the method 400 may also include attaching an access plate to the riser proximate the access opening. In addition, the method 400 may include attaching a base plate to the skid base proximate the another CMS opening. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the method 400 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the operations of method 400 may be implemented in differing order. Alternatively, or additionally, two or more operations may be performed at the same time. Furthermore, the outlined operations and actions are only provided as examples, and some of the operations and actions may be optional, combined into fewer operations and actions, or expanded into additional operations and actions without detracting from the essence of the described embodiments. Terms used herein and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).

Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, it is understood that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” or “one or more of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended to include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc. For example, the use of the term “and/or” is intended to be construed in this manner.

Further, any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” should be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

Additionally, the use of the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are not necessarily used herein to connote a specific order or number of elements. Generally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used to distinguish between different elements as generic identifiers. Absence a showing that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., connote a specific order, these terms should not be understood to connote a specific order. Furthermore, absence a showing that the terms first,” “second,” “third,” etc., connote a specific number of elements, these terms should not be understood to connote a specific number of elements. For example, a first widget may be described as having a first side and a second widget may be described as having a second side. The use of the term “second side” with respect to the second widget may be to distinguish such side of the second widget from the “first side” of the first widget and not to connote that the second widget has two sides. All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.