Extension Cord to Mobile Charge Cord

[CdnCGM23]

Wandering if anyone has had success with this?

At my work, the closest 120v outlet is 70 ft away. I was thinking of a 12g extension cord to my mobile charge cord.

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[Amps]

The cord has plenty of capacity for Lightning's maximum Level 1 - 12A charging. But, if that truck is only there for eight hours, you're only looking at adding about 20 miles of range and that may be on the high side. I'm not sure it's worth it in a public location like an office park. In the corner of an industrial parking lot, or similar, maybe. If that 20 miles of range keeps you from making a DCFC stop, it would be very valuable.

 

[Henry Ford]

I haven't tried it but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You seem to understand electricity well enough to suggest a 12g extension cord and not an old lamp cord so I say go for it! I think you could probably get away with a 14g cord since I haven't heard of Mobile Chargers tripping breakers when plugged into standard 15amp circuits.

 

[CdnCGM23]

Thank you, I'll give it a shot. I live at work and I'd have it plugged in most of the week to get me home Friday night. I know it'll be slow but it's all I got to use for now.

 

[Amps]

I know it'll be slow but it's all I got to use for now.

Slow and steady wins the race! Slowly.

Theorectically, 131,000 Wh (ER batt capacity)/1440 Wh (Level 1 12A@120V) = 91 hours for a 0-100% charge. Five days should be plenty to get you charged, even if you pull into work on electron fumes.

 

[COrocket]

It should work fine. It’s a long story but this was how I charged my Tesla almost exclusively for the first 18 months of ownership. And I would absolutely use a 12 gauge cord.

The mobile cord will still ask for the same amount of amps regardless to what it’s plugged into, but a quality 12 gauge cord will minimize the voltage drop that is delivered to the truck. E.g. a 5% drop in voltage is a 5% reduction in total power so when you are slow charging every watt counts when plugged in for days at a time.

 

[RickLightning]

In the winter, you won't be able to precondition the battery. Also, in very cold weather, the Ford Mobile Charger may just crap out. Make sure it's not sitting on the snow.

 

[Grumpy2]

Military, so I assume your charger and cord will be secure. If you have a volt meter, slightly expose the charger plug-in at the truck while it is still supplying a charge to the truck, and check for 120 volts. Too much voltage drop (line loss) and your EVSE will not be happy.

After about 12 hours of operation, feel the cord ends. Typically, the cheaper ones will become hot under constant demand. If they do you can replace the cord ends yourself with better quality connectors, just follow directions on the packaging.

 

[queuewho]

If you have a volt meter, slightly expose the charger plug-in at the truck while it is still supplying a charge to the truck, and check for 120 volts. Too much voltage drop (line loss) and your EVSE will not be happy.

Isn't it nuts that Ford doesn't have the relevant info output in the truck or the app so that we wouldn't have to contemplate doing this??

My model 3 would tell me exactly what it was getting, and I saw a difference between one extension and another. There's no reason Ford can't do the same. What they provide now is useless. My app says 1kw less than whatever I am actually providing it.

 

[CdnCGM23]

Military, so I assume your charger and cord will be secure. If you have a volt meter, slightly expose the charger plug-in at the truck while it is still supplying a charge to the truck, and check for 120 volts. Too much voltage drop (line loss) and your EVSE will not be happy.

After about 12 hours of operation, feel the cord ends. Typically, the cheaper ones will become hot under constant demand. If they do you can replace the cord ends yourself with better quality connectors, just follow directions on the packaging.

Yes I've had no security issues as I do this with my wife's Tesla being plugged in for 16 hrs a night for 2 nights to top it up. I suspect as my drive in on Monday's is only 80 mi I'd be able to get away doing the same for 2-3 nights 12-16 hrs each night.

 

[Deleted member 14880]

Wandering if anyone has had success with this?

At my work, the closest 120v outlet is 70 ft away. I was thinking of a 12g extension cord to my mobile charge cord.

It works, I've been using a 75 ft extension cord for 110v until I got my 25Ft 220v extension cord to reach my dryer outlet.

 

[s_c]

I need to use an extension cord and just went through this.

I wanted a white cord with a flat plug to blend in the garage and sought 10 gauge or 12 gauge, but best I could find was 14 gauge. I was only running 25 ft and 14 gauge was rated for the constant 12A, so I went for it. However, I noticed the plugs getting too warm for my liking as @Grumpy2 mentioned. It wasn't a good brand either, which is something I was looking for but couldn't find. I'm guessing the heat has more to do with the no-name than the gauge, but at any rate it was only a matter of time before it became a problem.

Ended up getting the Polar Solar 10 gauge. It's yellow and has straight plugs but they aren't too big and never even gets warm running 24+ hours.

 

[TomZ]

... the cheaper ones will become hot under constant demand. If they do you can replace the cord ends yourself with better quality connectors, just follow directions on the packaging.

So, I used a 10 gauge, 100 foot extension from Harbor Freight - Vanguard brand. It worked fine for about 5 months, but then one day there were burn marks on the outlet where the cord plugged in, and it no longer worked. I'm guessing it's because of the brand. I mean, Harbor Freight isn't exactly known for top-quality tools. I'm thinking of upgrading to the Rigid brand from Home Depot - 10 gauge, 100 feet - I have no choice, my truck is parked about that far from the closest outlet. Do you folks think this will work for me?

 

[The Weatherman]

I think you would be better served by a larger gauge wire 8Awg.

 

[Maquis]

So, I used a 10 gauge, 100 foot extension from Harbor Freight - Vanguard brand. It worked fine for about 5 months, but then one day there were burn marks on the outlet where the cord plugged in, and it no longer worked. I'm guessing it's because of the brand. I mean, Harbor Freight isn't exactly known for top-quality tools. I'm thinking of upgrading to the Rigid brand from Home Depot - 10 gauge, 100 feet - I have no choice, my truck is parked about that far from the closest outlet. Do you folks think this will work for me?

Your problem isn’t the cord, it’s the plug/receptacle connection. You need an industrial-quality of each. Go to an electrical supply house - you can’t them at Home Depot.

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