Finally! A simple & effective solution to "locking" your Ford NACS adapter -- 3D Print Lock

[Wsl346]

In a couple weeks I will be heading out on a long road trip by myself. Half the trip I'll be driving through a semi-charging desert where Tesla SuperCharges are the only DCFCing sites that output more than 50kW and have more than 2 stalls. A concern I've had is the extremely small, but potentially devastating chance of my NACS adapter being stolen. Given that I'll be on my own with no one to watch over the truck, nothing would stop someone from stealing my adapter if I left to use the restroom or have a bite to eat. Searching the internet, I found this thread on the Mach-E forum. Neat idea but I didn't like how conspicuous the design is and how it requires a padlock to work. Deeper into the thread on post #40, OP shares a few more ideas, one of them I personally think is nearly a perfect solution to protect against adapter theft. While it isn't a true lock, it appears to be very difficult to remove unless you have the "key" and if printed in black, 99.9% of people wouldn't even realize it's there. Generalizing a bit, petty theft happens because an opportunity arises and this shuts the door on that opportunity if one can't quickly grab it and go.

I had a friend 3D print one out for me. I don't know what type of filament he used, but its a type of plastic that can handle high heat.

I just picked the lock up today and am blown away by how simple, yet effective it is. Trying to get it out with my hands is impossible as it's recessed in the gap. You'd be able to pick it out with a screw driver or a key but once again, you'd have to know it's there and what it is. I'm feeling very confident that in the extremely rare chance that someone tries to steal my adapter, they would give up long before figuring out that 1, there is a small plastic piece preventing them from unlocking the adapter and 2, how to remove it.

Video below demonstrating the lock in action and a HUGE thanks to JustBob on the Mach-E forum.

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[flyin525]

Thats great! Do you have the .stl file for it so others can print it as well? Id like to print it.

Edit - nevermind I see now it was linked above.

 

[Wsl346]

Thats great! Do you have the .stl file for it so others can print it as well? Id like to print it.

It's linked above but I'll also link it here for additional visibility.

 

[The Weatherman]

Very ingenious.

 

[Wsl346]

The adapter is locked to the truck when actively fast charging but anyone can press the unlock button next to the port and yoink your adapter out.

 

[Heliian]

Better than having your charge port damaged by vandals.

 

[Maxx]

They could probably fix it with an OTA (If it is not already working like this) by requiring the key be close or door be unlocked for the button to work.

 

[Heliian]

Nah, I'm talking about removing the plug. Tesla locks it in but it can still be forcefully removed, damaging the port in the process. It's really a non issue though. I'm glad that my Ford is not a tesla.

 

[kstype]

I like what a simple solution this is. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

Thanks for sharing this to the OP.
Dang I’m going to have to buy myself a 3d printer for Xmas this year..!! lol
I’d love to get myself one of these.

 

[THX1138]

It's linked above but I'll also link it here for additional visibility.

Dumb question, is the STL file in mm units?

 

[queuewho]

Generalizing a bit, petty theft happens because an opportunity arises and this shuts the door on that opportunity if one can't quickly grab it and go.

100% agree with you there.

As for the adapter, I wish they had just left a little opening for a locking pin. I have a slow charging adapter that has a hole through the unlock mechanism, and I found a small combination lock that works with it. Would it stop someone determined? -no. But if someone walking by sees the lock they will say well I don't have anything to cut that with at the moment.

I gotta find someone who can print this in something higher heat than PLA. Usually I say PLA is fine but this might be the limit where I come back and find PLA soup all over my charge port.

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