Tesla Network - Destination vs. Supercharger, what do I need?

[TheBertShow]

So (I think) I know that for a Tesla Supercharger, I will need the NACS adapter that Ford says they will eventually (one day) ship to us for use with our Lightnings.

However, from what I’ve read online, it’s not as clear to me what, if anything, I need to charge my Lightning at a Tesla Destination Charger.

For example, I’m planning a 600 mile trip in the next month. There is a perfect halfway point at a Hampton Inn that according to PlugShare, has 2 Tesla J1772 chargers. There are reviews for it suggesting other EV’s besides Teslas have been charged here. But of course the only Lightning that attempted it said it wouldn’t activate!

I’ve attached 2 screenshots. So, what would I need to charge here? Btw-Tesla’s website calls this a Destination Charger. And if I don’t need anything for this particular Desination Charger; what is an adapter I can use for other Destination Chargers, and how will I know when I need it?

sorry for the stupid question…

 

[TaxmanHog]

Hard to know if that unsuccessful attempt was due to not having the right adapter or other issues.

This is what you need https://a2zevshop.com/products/a2z-stellar-plug

If you're tired of waiting for FORD: get this as well https://a2zevshop.com/products/nacs-ccs1

Buy them as a package..................

 

[GDN]

Per the first screen shot you post, if the hotel knows what they truly have, you don't need anything. it lists the Tesla charger as a J-1772, which they have sold in the past and per the picture I would say the plug is much larger than their NACS plug, so I think you are good to go.

Tesla destination chargers are the very same charger they sell for home use - typically referred to as L2 and Superchargers being L3. They have been sold most typically with NACS, some with the J-1772 and most recently the one with the both NACS and J-1772 using the dock.

 

[Rip]

My dealer didn't hint that Ford would send me an adapter, but I bought adapters from Lectron and they worked well. I traded in a Model Y, so still had the L2 Tesla charger on my wall. The Tesla-1772 adapter is what I'm using at home (still waiting to hear about the Ford charger they are supposed to install). So, yes...that adapter works.

 

[Jseis]

I’d called the front desk at a few hotels on my route from the coast to Montana and gave up asking re: What type of plugs they had? Then started using PlugShare and that really helped. I’ve used Destination chargers at hotels in Chelan, Great Falls, Moses Lake, and found them very convenient before NACS adapters showed up. Great Falls was a real black hole until NACS adapters showed up.

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

I concur with GDN – it appears that this Tesla charger has a J1772 connector. If it does, you are good to go without an adapter.

That said, I travel with both the NACS to CCS adapter, and the NACS to J1772 adapter. On my most recent road trip of 1500 miles, I used both multiple times.

Side note: At hotels in my experience, Tesla chargers are more likely to be 40 or 48 amp than the J1772 chargers, that are usually 32 amp. When I have a choice, I almost always use the Tesla charger with an adapter because it’s charging speed is about 30% faster.

 

[Jimbalf]

Always use the Tesla app to make sure the destination charger will work with your non-tesla. I wrongly assumed all destination chargers work for my truck, but learned the hard way that some are not compatible with my truck.

 

[richl025]

So (I think) I know that for a Tesla Supercharger, I will need the NACS adapter that Ford says they will eventually (one day) ship to us for use with our Lightnings.

However, from what I’ve read online, it’s not as clear to me what, if anything, I need to charge my Lightning at a Tesla Destination Charger.

For example, I’m planning a 600 mile trip in the next month. There is a perfect halfway point at a Hampton Inn that according to PlugShare, has 2 Tesla J1772 chargers. There are reviews for it suggesting other EV’s besides Teslas have been charged here. But of course the only Lightning that attempted it said it wouldn’t activate!

I’ve attached 2 screenshots. So, what would I need to charge here? Btw-Tesla’s website calls this a Destination Charger. And if I don’t need anything for this particular Desination Charger; what is an adapter I can use for other Destination Chargers, and how will I know when I need it?

sorry for the stupid question…

I (may have) run into a similar issue.

I purchased the A2Z NACS-CCS1 adapter (ie, the one you need for L3 charging), and then on a road trip the first time I tried to use it, was at a Tesla destination (L2) charger - and it would not work. I dont exactly remember the error messages I was getting, but I seem to recall it was "failure to connect" or some other generic message.

Later, I used the same connector at several Tesla Superchargers (L3s) and it worked fine.

Months later, reading this forum, I discovered that you need a DIFFERENT adaptor to use the L2s - the same one @TaxmanHog posted the link to. Duh - I just assumed since the connector "fit" that it would work.

I now have one of the NACS-J1772 connectors from A2Z on order but have not yet tried it.

I strongly suspect you should buy & carry BOTH of them.

Just because it fits doesn't mean it will work

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

Just because it fits doesn't mean it will work

The AC pins in the NACS>CCS adapter are NOT connected. Under certain circumstances, using that adapter on a destination charger could be dangerous, to either you or the truck. Good rule: NEVER use a NACS>CCS adapter to do L2 charging. If you do a lot of traveling, you need to carry both kinds of adapters.

 

[RickLightning]

Always use the Tesla app to make sure the destination charger will work with your non-tesla. I wrongly assumed all destination chargers work for my truck, but learned the hard way that some are not compatible with my truck.

Just to be clear, most Tesla Destination chargers aren't on the app, you plug in and charge. Yes, some could be set to not charge non-Tesla vehicles by the owner of the charger. I have never encountered one.

Sponsored