Extension Cord “Charge Kit”

[Hamtech]

Wha? How's that? The gen2 Tesla UMC is also only rated for 32A. Gen1 was rated for 40A and has melted a few cheap Leviton receptacles though since there was no temperature sensor in the plug on the gen1...

Do you mean some people blew up their gen1 UMC because someone installed a 40A breaker on their 14-50 circuit? That's apparently possible and legal due to an exception in the NEC, though I still think it's weird.

Not 100% clear. It was a few years ago that I read it. I will see if I can find the thread. I try not to spread rumors or comment on stuff I only have a limited grasp of. Clearly I am out of my league in the max amperage conversation.

 

[MickeyAO]

When properly set up, the EVSE and the OBC will communicate via PWM on what current levels to use.

Basically, the car asks for a current level
The vehicle says I can accept 80 A
The EVSE says sorry, I can only provide 32 A
The vehicle says fine, give me the 32 A.

Now, if you don't set up the EVSE correctly (it says I can provide 80 A when it is only a 40 A circuit, and not a 100 A circuit), you will run into problems and could burn your house down.

EVSE - Electric Vehicle Servicing Equipment
OBC - Onboard Charger
PWM - Pulse Width Modulation

 

[Maquis]

When properly set up, the EVSE and the OBC will communicate via PWM on what current levels to use.

Basically, the car asks for a current level
The vehicle says I can accept 80 A
The EVSE says sorry, I can only provide 32 A
The vehicle says fine, give me the 32 A.

Now, if you don't set up the EVSE correctly (it says I can provide 80 A when it is only a 40 A circuit, and not a 100 A circuit), you will run into problems and could burn your house down.

EVSE - Electric Vehicle Servicing Equipment
OBC - Onboard Charger
PWM - Pulse Width Modulation

A small nit to pick:
The in step three, the vehicle just “takes” the current the EVSE says it can provide. That fact is not communicated back to the EVSE. The EVSE doesn’t regulate the current itself. That’s done by the OBC.

Maybe that’s what you’re saying, but I thought best to clarify.

 

[hturnerfamily]

even in the 'worst' case scenario, and you 'only' have access to a regular household 120v outlet, if you are parked for several days, this will still be able to charge your Truck... having access to any 240v power options, though, outside of specific EVSE Level 2 chargers, is very rare, especially in the situation you describe.

Campgrounds and RV Parks can be one of the exceptions, as many now have the NEMA 50amp 240v outlet at some, or all, sites. That's an easy one. I have MANY experiences at MANY, MANY campgrounds and rv parks around the country, in Canada, and even ALASKA - while the electric options are NOT always the same everywhere, there are some steps you can take to make a better 'power option' out of what seemingly would not seem so great, at first. Our travels in our 50amp 240v motorhome taught us that finding a creative solution is sometimes required:

Options - if there is NOT a 50amp 240v outlet, take the right steps and have the right adapters...
A) if you have a 30amp 120v RV outlet, AND the typical 20amp 120v outlet(usually part of the same campground power pedestal), there are adapters that allow you to 'Y' these two outlets into a NEMA 50amp outlet for your truck's Mobile Charger to plug into. This would allow for up to 20amps from both 'sides' of the combined 240v power that these two create.
This would work with a 'regular' 120v outlet, but if it happens to be the newer GFCI type, you may have to find another 120v outlet, such as at a nearby building, and use an extension cord to it, for this adapter to work.

B) if you have access to TWO 120v 'regular' outlets, there is a similar 'Y' adapter that does the same as above, providing the same 15 to 20amps per 'side', to create 240v power. Again, find outlets that are not GFCI types.

C) if you have access to TWO 30amp 120v RV outlets, such as from ajoining or neighboring campsites, you can get a 'Y' adapter for that, too. This then gives you 30amps of 240v power, for even faster truck charging.

D) if you ONLY have access to a single 30amp 120v RV outlet, you can also purchase at most any *mart or hardware store the simple 30amp to 15amp 'puck' adapter, or a 'dog bone' adapter, and use your 120v EVSE connector plug end on your Mobile Charger. This will only by 120v power, and much slower, of course, but the adapter may allow more amperage to the EVSE, from the 30amp outlet, than the traditional household outlet would.

 

[Tony Burgh]

A small nit to pick:
The in step three, the vehicle just “takes” the current the EVSE says it can provide. That fact is not communicated back to the EVSE. The EVSE doesn’t regulate the current itself. That’s done by the OBC.

Maybe that’s what you’re saying, but I thought best to clarify.

The EVSE never says it’s sorry. (I’m sorry for typing that).

 

[beatle]

That weird 30A 120v RV receptacle is called a TT-30R. I'm guessing this is what RV parks refer to when they say they have "30 amp electric." At least the one I stayed in had a TT-30 and was not a 6-30 or 14-30. Fortunately I didn't really need the juice to get home, and the park owner had a 5-15 adapter available that he let me use, but it's something to plan for.

If you go the Tesla UMC route for mobile charging in an RV park, note that they don't offer a TT-30P adapter. Tesla does have a 5-20P adapter, and you can use a TT-30R to 5-20R adapter on the receptacle. That'll get you another 600 watts out of the receptacle over a 5-15. Not much, but every bit counts,

 

[hturnerfamily]

right, the common misconception with RV Park and Campground '30amp' power is that it is the same as the more common 'household dryer' 30amp outlet, but which is at 240v volt for the dryer, but the RV outlet is only a 120v 30amp outlet. The configuration of the prongs is not the same either.

for RVs and Campers:
- 30amp 120v outlet, the most common for the VAST majority of campers, rvs, motorhomes, etc.
It is ONLY 120v of power, and it is a SPECIFIC outlet for this application.
- 50amp 240v outlet - the LEAST common at campgrounds, and for mostly LARGE motorhomes, but also the most in DEMAND right now since 'two air conditioner' RVs are becoming more the 'norm', needing more and more power. It is also used now in homes for Clothes Dryers, Ovens, and now ELECTRIC VEHICLE charging. It has multiple applications, and many, many ADAPTERS available.
- 20amp 120v 'household' outlet(s), which is also becoming more common as a GFCI outlet, per code. The outlet is just like you have in your own home's bathroom and kitchen, required near 'wet' areas. The GFCI outlet, though, can present some problems with campers and RVs that already have their own GFCI outlets - two GFCI's sometimes don't play well 'together'. Many home owners who want to use one of their existing outside GFCI outlets when parking their RV close to the home sometimes find that it immediately trips, and don't understand why. Using a 'regular' non-GFCI outlet typically works with no issues.

 

[Maquis]

I hang out on an electrician/EE forum. From what those guys are saying, virtually all new campgrounds are gettin these:

If a new campground can’t provide a 50A hookup, they are going to miss out on a lot of modern motorhome business.

 

[hturnerfamily]

it's true that there is a big push for campgrounds, state parks, rv parks, and anywhere RVs go to have the 'BIG' options for power, specifically the 50amp 240v outlet.
While that's true, and some state parks have lobbied for either higher fees or more funding to do this, it's not always a simple or inexpensive proposition - a LOT of digging up existing infrastructure and a LOT of upgrades to local equipment and even Utility upgrades to larger and more transformers to handle the loads. It ain't cheap.

There is also a segment of the younger 'campers' who want to be 'off grid' and live a lifestyle more in 'tune' with nature - tents, smaller 'off grid' capable campers, adding solar to their motorhomes, etc. There will certainly continue to be some parks which only have 120v outlets, or only 30amp outlets, for some time into the future. The new 'codes' also cost them much more to make these improvements, even if they are considering it - the 50amp 240v wiring and power requirements create a LOT more work.

There are certainly even a lot of campgrounds with NO power. Some folks are trying their best to make that a more available option, especially if they have a generator, solar, etc., but the LIGHTNING will obviously make that a MUCH EASIER reality, at least for the power needs. : )

 

[GoGoGadgetTruck]

I have a J1772 extension cord now, that I carry on my Mach-E road trips (actually I forgot it on my most recent trip earlier this week ), and I have been in situations where Teslas have effectively ICE'd a charger ("oh I'm an EV so I'll park in the EV space even though I'm not charging because screw you all, I'm a Tesla!"), and the extension cord is what let me get charge to the car.

you have a ton of space in the frunk and under the seats and such to hold such stuff.

that and the mentioned TeslaTap or equivalent for destination chargers will get you pretty far, as it were.

 

[VTbuckeye]

I have a J1772 extension cord now, that I carry on my Mach-E road trips (actually I forgot it on my most recent trip earlier this week ), and I have been in situations where Teslas have effectively ICE'd a charger ("oh I'm an EV so I'll park in the EV space even though I'm not charging because screw you all, I'm a Tesla!"), and the extension cord is what let me get charge to the car.

you have a ton of space in the frunk and under the seats and such to hold such stuff.

that and the mentioned TeslaTap or equivalent for destination chargers will get you pretty far, as it were.

I would be tempted to use the extension and park directly behind them so that they could not get out. If only it wouldn't block other traffic

 

[Tomwilli2025]

Here's a website with some adapters that are available. https://www.evseadapters.com/collections/adapters-for-tesla/

 

[williams]

what would be epic is a kit like tesla sells for their cars. I had one with my Y just in case.

https://shop.tesla.com/product/nema-adapter-bundle

 

[Tomwilli2025]

what would be epic is a kit like tesla sells for their cars. I had one with my Y just in case.

https://shop.tesla.com/product/nema-adapter-bundle

Yes, that would be awesome.

 

[williams]

Yes, that would be awesome.

I had it in the under storage are in the trunk with an extra charger. No matter where i went I could plug in. Never needed it, but dang it I had it. Boat dock, rv park, heck i could sneak into anywhere with a plug.

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