Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems 50 A, Industrial, Receptacle, Black, No Tamper Resistant HBL9450A - 1 Each

Appears to be well made and solid and hefty. Installed in garage for 220V tools. Very easy installation. Pricey item however.

Used another brand of 50 amp receptacle in my garage to charge up an EV. After 3 months, the old receptacle went kaputt due to heat buildup from the EV plug. Good thing it was not in a wall; it was in a metal junction box. Could have started a fire within a contained space. This Hubbel is the receptacle to get for any EV charging. It's way, way, more robust than the Leviton Nema 14-50R receptacle I purchased previously. The Hubbel did cost about 5X more but so worth it for peace of mind.

As several other reviews have said, this is the receptacle you want for an EV charger. I originally cheaped out and bought a Leviton outlet. After about a year of use, I started getting warning messages from my car that the outlet was overheating. Apparently, the Tesla charger plug has a built-in temp sensor.I don't unplug the charger often, so the issue wasn't caused by repeated removal and re-insertion of the plug.This outlet was easy to install, but I wouldn't recommend this as a DIY job unless you are familiar and comfortable with working on 240V circuits.I read a couple of reviews complaining that the "wires don't fit tight" into the socket. The wires are held in place with very effective clamps on each conductor. You will need a 3/16" Allen wrench to tighten them properly. You can't just stick the wires into the clamps without tightening them, unless you want create a fire hazard.It's difficult to pay 4X the price of the other receptacles, but this is a quality piece that crosses "burning down the house" off your list of things to worry about. (Apologies to Talking Heads!)

After seeing videos demonstrating how dangerous many of the NEMA 14-50 receptacles are when used to charge an EV, I decided to upgrade mine. The construction is very solid and the way the wires are secured is much more solid and reliable than the cheaper versions. Even though this was much more expensive, I sleep better knowing it is less likely to melt down and take my house with it.

So here's the deal. If you bought a Tesla or other EV and have, or are planning to add, a NEMA 14-50 outlet for it, you'll need a quality receptacle. Why? The cheaper plugs produced these days are not meant for continuous use, but for an oven or stove that cycles power, again not for a contentious power draw like an EV charger. That means that you need an outlet that won't melt and catch fire, which is this one. These industrial grade outlets are not cheap, but are made for continuous electric at 50 amp 250v. If you are a DIYer this is the product you need, along with a new breaker (probably), metal box by the same manufacturer for masonry (it's deeper with more install space, and probably new 6 awg wiring to your panel. Also you'll need a torque screw driver to clamp the wire at its listed specification. If you're an electrician or are hiring one, they may not know this is a concern yet depending on EV charger experience, it's on you now to make sure the correct grade of 50 amp 250 volt components are in your house. Don't take chances, this is your product, unless you are hardwiring directly, a new circuit and wire to your charger. Stay safe!