Campground charging checklist? What do I need?

[Firn]

I have not charged at a campground so take this as you will.

The tesla mobile charger can be equipped with half a dozen or so ends to fit different outlets. Each end changes the power draw of the charger to the max that outlet can support. For $500 you not only get a highly rated adjustable mobile charger, you also get a large number of adapters for different plug-ins.

It is possible that the power pedistal at the campsite will have 120v but on different phases. It is possible to get a special cable that will use the two 120v outlets to give you 240v (note, two 120v outlets doesn't automatically give you 240v). With a custom made adapter you can get your Ford mobile charger to provide 240v 12a, which will charge at almost three times faster than 120v 12a. This is much faster than 120v if the campsite does not provide a 14-50 connector.

There is a VERY SLIM chance the Cadilliac TT-30 connector end would work with out Ford mobile chargers to provide 24a on a 120v 30a plug. It has been tested with the Mach-E charger and does NOT work, however maybe the Lightning charger is different enough.

If you switch the 14-50 end with one from a Mach-E i believe your charger will provide 240v 32a instead of 30a.

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[Wattsgas]

Looking at the plugs, does this look compatible with our portable Ford Charger?

Yes it is

 

[Newton]

Campgrounds around here (in the Pacific NW) are getting fairly sticky about it - not to be mean but honestly many campgrounds electrical systems barely handle normal campground loads safely and are not designed for continuous maximum power draw from many EVs. It is best to call ahead, more modern ones that cater to big RVs are likely to have 14-50s which are a real score if you are in a hurry. We have had very good luck by asking nicely (not in the busy season). We have had really good luck at places with small/tiny buildings or dorms that you can stay at, many already have EVSEs somewhere. Sometimes they are ICEd. At our age, small buildings are really nicer than tents.

As a boater, I have a whole trunk full of adapters which you can get on Amazon. I use the Grizzl*E mini which allows you to set the amperage (very important!) and which comes with a few adapters. It is a bit fiddly but works, honestly though look for one that lets you set the amperage from the device rather than connecting to a private WIFI connector and playing internet games. Bring something to wrap the interface between the connectors and your cable.

 

[SMMD]

Having just completed a 10,000 mile coast to coast RV (not an EV) trip, from west to east on I80 and I90 and back mostly on I40, and staying at about 60+ campgrounds, I’d say about 20-25% explicitly state “No EV charging”. I can only imagine this percentage will increase with time as the infrastructure in campgrounds wasn’t designed to fill up our very large batteries. They might work in a pinch, but relying on them as a standard practice may not be optimal.

 

[WilliamRobert]

I made my own extension cord, 30’ , seal tight conduit UV resistant, 6awg thhn , out door 14-50 receptical box mounted to 1x6 treated lumber that I set on blocks and hold in place with the leveling jack. Charge at 40 amps! Some campground 50amp breakers maybe old and not take that load, then you charge at 32amps. I had a permanent camp site so I just put in a new breaker, I also payed for my own electric.

 

[Rthol21]

Those who charge at campgrounds on 30a or 50a what do I need? What works? What doesn’t? Gearing up for a lot of campground visits next year and I want to have any adapters I need and want to go into these trips with confidence they will work.

thanks!

How important is your charging need at the campsite? Are you towing a trailer or planning on tent camping at an RV spot just to charge? In a worst case scenario you could just trickle charge while you camp for a few days and that should be enough to at least get you back to civilization for a real charging station.

 

[TMND]

To the RV sites that say no EV charging even though they have 50 amp plugs at every station…..I’d rather take my business elsewhere. Thankfully, my experience has been different and I’ve even had some offer me to plug-in without even giving them a $10 bill

These RVs are running washing machines and dryers and water heaters and three different air conditioning units. I don’t think the draw of our mobile connector is maxing those plugs out more than an RV.

 

[Firn]

How important is your charging need at the campsite? Are you towing a trailer or planning on tent camping at an RV spot just to charge? In a worst case scenario you could just trickle charge while you camp for a few days and that should be enough to at least get you back to civilization for a real charging station.

Just for arguments sake, if you showed up with 10% battery and wanted to charge fully, using 120v on the Ford mobile charger would take about 120 hours or so, or 5 days. And that's assuming you didn't use the truck for anything in that timeframe.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Just for arguments sake, if you showed up with 10% battery and wanted to charge fully, using 120v on the Ford mobile charger would take about 120 hours or so, or 5 days. And that's assuming you didn't use the truck for anything in that timeframe.

...or time enough to hike up that mountain ridge, camp out on the way, and take the long scenic way back down I'm sure a good shower would come in handy at the end, and of course I'll assume decent Spring or Summer weather.

 

[Firn]

To the RV sites that say no EV charging even though they have 50 amp plugs at every station…..I’d rather take my business elsewhere.

These RVs are running washing machines and dryers and water heaters and three different air conditioning units. I don’t think the draw of our mobile connector is maxing those plugs out more than an RV.time frame.

The issue is that those loads are temporary, they are only running for at most an hour (AC is 120v iirc). They may have a peak demand that requires a 50a connection, but they hardly have a long term draw.

If you look at the NEC for campground their total location sizing can be as low as 40% of the sum of the sites, and the sites themselves are not the sum of ALL connectors. This creates a problem when a few people hook up EVs and start drawing a lot of power and do so for many hours. My truck will pull 40a for 12 hours, that's a lot if there are three or four doing that PLUS a handful of 240v glampers.

 

[Rthol21]

Just for arguments sake, if you showed up with 10% battery and wanted to charge fully, using 120v on the Ford mobile charger would take about 120 hours or so, or 5 days. And that's assuming you didn't use the truck for anything in that timeframe.

Yup, and assuming you don’t need to get to a full charge to get to a charging station on your way back you’d probably be fine. Unless you are camping for one night, which doesn’t make for that fun of a camping trip anyways.

 

[TMND]

The issue is that those loads are temporary, they are only running for at most an hour (AC is 120v iirc). They may have a peak demand that requires a 50a connection, but they hardly have a long term draw.

If you look at the NEC for campground their total location sizing can be as low as 40% of the sum of the sites, and the sites themselves are not the sum of ALL connectors. This creates a problem when a few people hook up EVs and start drawing a lot of power and do so for many hours. My truck will pull 40a for 12 hours, that's a lot if there are three or four doing that PLUS a handful of 240v glampers.

When there are 50 RVs that are bigger than my house all with multiple ACs buzzing nonstop and it’s 95° outside, I beg to differ

 

[Firn]

Yup, and assuming you don’t need to get to a full charge to get to a charging station on your way back you’d probably be fine. Unless you are camping for one night, which doesn’t make for that fun of a camping trip anyways.

Pulling a camper isn't like driving empty, you need a lot more charge to still only get a rather short range. Also, if you CAN charge fully, why would you not do so and instead go to a charger that is not only very inconvenient but also quite expensive?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

The list of adapters kept in our Lightning:

• 6-50P to 14-50R -- for connecting to welder outlets.
• L14-30P to 14-50R -- for charging other EVs from the Lightning
• 14-50P to 3x 5-20R (T-slot) -- for distributing the Lightning's 30A to 120v appliances
• TT-30P to 5-20R -- for charging at a 30A RV site
• 25 foot 10-Ga exterior extension cord -- For when the L1 cord isn't long enough
• TT-30 extension -- for when the 30A RV site electrical post is far from where I'm parking
• 14-50 extension -- For when the 50A RV site electrical post is far from where I'm parking
• A2ZEV DCFC NACS adapter
• Teslatap L2 NACS adapter

A few other miscellaneous adapters that are for unique charging situations.

 

[Firn]

When there are 50 RVs that are bigger than my house all with multiple ACs buzzing nonstop and it’s 95° outside, I beg to differ

Yes, two 120v AC units. Neither of which is likely running full out, max draw, continuously. And even if it does those two units STILL draw less than the 9600w a 240v 40a charger draws.

My very energy inefficient 3600 sq ft home with a 6 car attached garage pulls around 55kwh per day. That's HALF the battery of my truck. I can guarantee that no RV is going to come close to what my house draws, which is still half of what my truck can draw in 12 hours.

There is a reason code let's campgrounds size their electrical to WELL less than HALF of ONE receptical per campsite. And that's because they DONT draw that much power.

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