Sponsored

Ford equivalent to Tesla mobile connector?

beatle

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
885
Reaction score
992
Location
Springfield, VA
Vehicles
Model S, Ridgeline, Miata, motorcycle(s)
It looks like the Ford mobile charger (connector) includes interchangeable plugs for both 5-15 and 14-50 receptacles. That's nice, but none of my family members have those. I charge my Model S on either a 6-20 or a 14-30 in their garages. I'm curious if anyone knows about planned availability for other Ford connectors beyond the 5-15 and 14-50.

Alternatively I wonder if you can use the Lectron Tesla to J1772 adapter and connect with a Tesla UMC. The Gen2 UMC has several adapters already available and provides up to 32A @ 240v. A gen1 Tesla UMC could provide up to 40A @ 240v. The Lectron adapter would also come in handy at hotels and some parking garages that only have Tesla HPWCs.
Sponsored

 

Sklith

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2021
Threads
0
Messages
196
Reaction score
162
Location
Georgia
Vehicles
Model 3 Performance, Energica Ego
I don't see any issues with using the Tesla to J-plug adapter. It'll definitely come in handy when staying in hotels. Most of the Tesla destination chargers are much more powerful than the J1772 ones.
 
OP
OP
beatle

beatle

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
885
Reaction score
992
Location
Springfield, VA
Vehicles
Model S, Ridgeline, Miata, motorcycle(s)
Well, I should have also stated that a 5-15 is basically useless for charging unless you only need to add a few percentage points overnight, so I don't consider that a viable option when traveling.
 
OP
OP
beatle

beatle

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
885
Reaction score
992
Location
Springfield, VA
Vehicles
Model S, Ridgeline, Miata, motorcycle(s)
I don't see any issues with using the Tesla to J-plug adapter. It'll definitely come in handy when staying in hotels. Most of the Tesla destination chargers are much more powerful than the J1772 ones.
I can't find the info now, but I though I'd read somewhere that not all EVs are "smart" enough to negotiate the charging current when plugged into the adapter and Tesla UMC. Basically they would always attempt to draw at the UMC's maximum output which could be 32A. If you're plugged into a 6-20 or a 14-30, you'd want it to negotiate to 16A or 24A, respectively. I did read somewhere that the MME does not allow the user to limit the amperage the car's charger will draw, so you're left to the connector to autonegotiate properly.
 

Sponsored

DoomTrain

Member
First Name
Chad
Joined
Sep 14, 2021
Threads
0
Messages
19
Reaction score
11
Location
IL
Vehicles
Sierra, Model S
Well, I should have also stated that a 5-15 is basically useless for charging unless you only need to add a few percentage points overnight, so I don't consider that a viable option when traveling.
It did come in handy staying in the middle of georgia nowhere. Chattanooga was the closest supercharger, stayed in the hills at a resort for 3 days it charged it enough to get it to knoxville.
 

Sklith

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2021
Threads
0
Messages
196
Reaction score
162
Location
Georgia
Vehicles
Model 3 Performance, Energica Ego
It did come in handy staying in the middle of georgia nowhere. Chattanooga was the closest supercharger, stayed in the hills at a resort for 3 days it charged it enough to get it to knoxville.
Even charging a 131 kWh Lightning for 3 days on a 5-15 can add more than half the capacity so I agree. It's impractical but doable.
 
OP
OP
beatle

beatle

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
885
Reaction score
992
Location
Springfield, VA
Vehicles
Model S, Ridgeline, Miata, motorcycle(s)
I have used a 5-15 when available, but It's not something I can rely on, especially with a battery that is close to 2x the usable capacity of my S.

Regardless, this thread isn't about what a 5-15 or 14-50 can do since those come with the Ford connector already. This is about being able to charge on a variety of other receptacle types that Ford doesn't (yet?) provide.
 

TRP

Well-known member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Jun 4, 2021
Threads
5
Messages
201
Reaction score
201
Location
TN
Vehicles
2021 Mach E Premium 4X, 2018 Ford F150xlt Sport
If you run across an outlet that doesn't fit Fords supplied connectors you can buy a plug adapter. Amazon is full of them
 
OP
OP
beatle

beatle

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
885
Reaction score
992
Location
Springfield, VA
Vehicles
Model S, Ridgeline, Miata, motorcycle(s)
Specifically for Ford? Like these, but for connecting to the Ford adapter? I don't think those are available, but would love to be wrong.

https://shop.tesla.com/product/gen-2-nema-adapters

Or do you mean something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/CircleCord-C...+14-30+to+14-50+adapter&qid=1641396690&sr=8-3

The latter would allow someone to plug the Ford 14-50P into a 14-30R, but if the charger's draw cannot be reduced to below 24A, it will attempt to pull 32A and will blow the breaker at best, or cause a fire at worst.
 

Sponsored

TRP

Well-known member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Jun 4, 2021
Threads
5
Messages
201
Reaction score
201
Location
TN
Vehicles
2021 Mach E Premium 4X, 2018 Ford F150xlt Sport
Specifically for Ford? Like these, but for connecting to the Ford adapter? I don't think those are available, but would love to be wrong.

https://shop.tesla.com/product/gen-2-nema-adapters

Or do you mean something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/CircleCord-C...+14-30+to+14-50+adapter&qid=1641396690&sr=8-3

The latter would allow someone to plug the Ford 14-50P into a 14-30R, but if the charger's draw cannot be reduced to below 24A, it will attempt to pull 32A and will blow the breaker at best, or cause a fire at worst.
Was referring to the latter, but I am no electrical expert so..........
 

tbinmd

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 23, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
228
Reaction score
129
Location
USA
Vehicles
18 KR F150
Wife bought an EV last month and we have been waiting to get the 50amp circuit installed into the garage. In the meantime, we have used 5-15, which charges fast enough when she does a run, maybe uses about 20% of charge. But for heavier battery use, we are using the 30amp dryer plug with this adapater.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086SSNKJP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The charger runs at 100% amperage when on the 5-15 (pulls 12 amps). But when I plug it in to the dryer outlet, I change the setting to 50%, so it only pulls 22 amps.

For the electrical load, you don't want to exceed 80% of the rated circuit, since it's a continuous load.
 
OP
OP
beatle

beatle

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
885
Reaction score
992
Location
Springfield, VA
Vehicles
Model S, Ridgeline, Miata, motorcycle(s)
The charger runs at 100% amperage when on the 5-15 (pulls 12 amps). But when I plug it in to the dryer outlet, I change the setting to 50%, so it only pulls 22 amps.
That seems to be the catch. From what I've read on the MME forums, they don't have the ability to reduce the draw. If they did, I could actually make my own adapters and plug the Ford 14-50P into any 240v receptacle and just adjust from the truck. Instead, I think we need to have the wall connector properly identify its maximum current so the truck autonegotiates to the proper draw. The Tesla UMC does this when plugging into a Tesla, but I'm not sure about when you use the Lectron adapter. I don't think it is that smart.
 

Maquis

Well-known member
First Name
Dave
Joined
May 20, 2021
Threads
9
Messages
3,417
Reaction score
4,291
Location
Illinois
Vehicles
2021 Mach-E E4-X; 2023 Lightning Lariat ER
I have a TeslaTap adaptor that allows my Mach-E to connect to Destination chargers. I have the 60A mini.
http://www.umc-j1772.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=146

You are correct in that you cannot simply adapt the Ford Mobile Charger to a less than 40A receptacle. Unless the Lightning has the capability to limit the charge current (unlike the MME).
 
OP
OP
beatle

beatle

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
885
Reaction score
992
Location
Springfield, VA
Vehicles
Model S, Ridgeline, Miata, motorcycle(s)
That's pretty disappointing, but thanks for confirming. With the connector being modular I would think it's only a matter of time before Ford sells connectors that allow you to plug the mobile connector into different receptacles and adjust the current based on the receptacle's respective rating. That said, the MME has been out how long now?

Truthfully I have not needed to adjust the charging amps on my car, but it was nice to have the option in case I needed to jerry rig something for some obscure plug that Tesla doesn't offer.
Sponsored

 
 





Top