Hey everyone,
I’ve got my Ford Pro charger all set up and I’m upgrading my service from 200A to 400A. Also running a 100A cable to my circuit breaker box. My question is: does the 2024 Ford Lightning Flash need a derated 60A breaker, and should I manually set the charger to 60A max? Or will the truck automatically adjust the current?
If you’re in the US, unless you’re planning to pay extra for a 100% rated breaker, most of them are technically rated at 80% for continuous loads like EV charging.
So, a 60A breaker is technically rated for 60A, but when used continuously (like charging), electrical code requires derating it to 48A. This is to prevent overheating and potential fire hazards.
The 2024 Lightning has a single inverter for Level 2 charging and won’t pull more than 11.52 kW (48A at 240V).
@Theo
So if I understand correctly, I can install a 100A breaker and set the charger to 80A, but the truck will only pull 48A? I’ve got 70-80 feet of 1/0 copper wire being run, and my electrician son says at 75°C (167°F), it can handle about 140A. My charger maxes out at 80A, and my circuit breaker would be set at 100A. If the truck only draws 48A, then everything should work fine, right? Also thinking about future-proofing in case I get another EV that can handle more amps.
@Cooper
Yep, you got it. The Lightning will work fine but won’t take full advantage of the setup. If you get a different EV later, you’ll be ready to go.
@Cooper
That’s right. The Ford Charge Station Pro (FCSP) at full power needs a 100A breaker, but it maxes out at 80A of actual charging current.
EV charging uses a system where both the EV and the charger (EVSE) communicate to determine how much power to use. The charger will say, ‘I can provide 80A,’ and the truck will say, ‘I can only take 48A.’ So it’ll charge at 48A.
If you’re okay with the cost, go ahead and run the 100A setup. Just know your Lightning won’t use the extra capacity. One thing to watch out for: the FCSP wiring is rated for a max of 3 AWG, so if you’re using 1/0 cable, you’ll need a junction box or subpanel to transition wire sizes. I put in a 4-slot subpanel with a 100A breaker next to my FCSP, so it doubles as an emergency disconnect. If I ever install a second EV charger, I’m already set up for load sharing.
One thing to keep in mind: the Ford Charge Station Pro isn’t actually a charger. It’s what’s called an ‘EVSE’ (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment), which is basically a smart extension cord.
The actual charger is inside the truck. The EVSE just provides power and tells the truck how much it can pull. The truck then decides how much power to take.
For the 2024 Lightning Flash, the onboard charger is limited to 11.5kW, which means you need a Level 2 EVSE capable of 48A. To safely provide that, you need a 60A circuit.
If you install the FCSP on a 100A breaker, the Lightning will still only take 48A, so you won’t see any benefit unless you get a future EV that can use more power. Might save some money by sticking to a 60A setup instead of upgrading to 100A.
@Zion
That explanation makes a lot of sense. Thanks for breaking it down!
I have mine on a 60A breaker (Tesla Universal Charger) for my 2024 Lariat ER. Charges from 15% to 80% between 12A-6A. If you need more, go for it, but I’d say 100A is overkill. Cheers!
If you want to charge at 48A, just install a 60A breaker with wiring rated for 60A continuous. No need to go higher unless you’re planning for another EV in the future.
Qmerit installed a 100A breaker for me for free through Ford’s Power Promise program. I haven’t adjusted the charging limit, but my 2024 Lightning only pulls 10.7 kWh max like others have said. So yeah, overkill—but at least I’m future-proofed. Thanks, Ford! 
No reason to wire your Ford CSP for 100A—your 2024 Lightning is locked at 48A A/C charging.
I’d just run 6-gauge THHN wire in a conduit with a 60A breaker and set the FCSP to 48A max.
The EVSE (charger station) only tells the vehicle how much power is available. The truck’s onboard charger actually decides how much to pull. The EVSE itself isn’t a charger—it’s just a fancy power outlet with some communication logic built in.