Charge port cover options?

[TaxmanHog]

I keep my truck outside and charge daily. Never worried about the rain. So far so good. I do get the water accumulation in the DC flap but I dry it out as much as I can before I close it.

Too bad there's no weep hole to let it drain out the bottom of the DC pin wells

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[ddbrooke]

I made this with a gooseneck gopro clamp I got on Amazon for $10 and a sheet of plexiglass. I've used it in hard rain and snow and it work perfectly

 

[sotek2345]

Too bad there's no weep hole to let it drain out the bottom of the DC pin wells

I thought about drilling one, but figured that might impact resale at some point.

 

[ciferguson37733]

Similar to the goose neck idea, there is a small slot in the charge port door hinge mechanism.

Playing with 3D printing an insert and putting light weight plexiglass cover attached to the insert

Working on some refinements like more precise angles, softer rubber gasket seal against body, neo-magnets to hold the plexiglass and insert together rather than a screw for easy take down, attachment to the latch pin (currently just rests on it), making it look pretty, etc.

Your ideas welcome.

The door mechanism looks to hold lots of options - but need to keep weight to a minimum.

Obviously too much time on my hands.

 

[hturnerfamily]

with the J1772 or the CCS, or future NACS handles, you'll have no issues plugging in or unplugging even in the worst rain storms - there is no safety issue. Otherwise, as you can imagine, we would not have the ability to 'touch' anything to do with charging cables...even in 'good' weather.

Water and electricity is OUR fear, but it's not reality. We are not touching ANYTHING metal...the plugs/handles and connections are already designed to protect us from these fears. Water touching electricity is not the issue, it's only if YOU are grounded(standing in water, etc) and then are toughing something that is energized/has current power flowing. We are not touching anything of the sort.

If you are concerned about your truck or your charge cable being 'wet', just look up at your overhead electrical lines running up and down your street, or across your yard and into your home - those two 'uncoated' electrical wires that bring in your 240v power are NOT protected from rain. They don't need to be. Water is not the enemy to wiring.

As for your own protection 'worries':
When you stop charging, there is no more electricity flowing from EVSEs or DC Chargers.
The moment you push the 'disconnect' button/latch on the top of the J1772 or CCS handle, you are disconnecting any electrical flow.
When you put your hand around the handle, you are protected by the very design of the handle.
Water in the 'dc pins' door is not any issue... it would work even with water.

Your greatest 'possible' hazard is actually at your own OUTLET, if you are trying to pull out your NEMA 14-50 male plug. That's not designed by Ford. it's not something they can control.

J1772 and CCS and NACS is designed for every weather issue you can imagine, without any intervention from the user. We don't need 'covers' for rain. DC fast charges don't have covers for rain. Level 2 chargers don't have covers for rain. I don't know of a single EV that is designed to have any 'cover' for rain.

but, I am also very comfortable with electricity... many are not, and will always be uncomfortable with the thought of having to 'touch' anything electrically related when there is any 'moisture' in the vicinity. I think the designers and risk managers at every manufacturer have already thought through these 'issues', and have realized that the protections are already in place.

If EV charging had any real hazards, we would not have any EVs to be driving. There are reasons why there are J1772, CCS, and NACS 'standards'.

 

[RichB-HTX]

Mine charges outdoors in Houston, Texas. It’s been raining hard this week and I’ve charged without issues, if we had a hurricane with 100mph blowing rain, I brobably would not charge.

 

[Zaptor]

I thought about drilling one, but figured that might impact resale at some point.

I'm amused by the level of scrutiny of a used vehicle this would take to discover, as well as the realistically negligible impact on value, plus if you explain it, they'll see the point. I was close to just snapping or dremeling mine off entirely since I charge 95%+ on my FCSP and it annoys me to flip it up and down every time like a damn toilet seat; but I might just drill first to solve at least part of the shortcoming...

 

[Sparky!]

I used a piece of craft foam and pressed it in to keep out the snow and freezing rain.

 

[ciferguson37733]

Wow - I like that even better!
Doing that this weekend.
Thanks!!!!

 

[Maxx]

Not a permanent ent solution but if you are in a jam, you can always jam something in there:

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