Failed with A2Z

[MarkW.]

Hi All,
Made my first attempt to use my new A2Z charger and failed. Tried five different superchargers and got the same charging fault notice, so I assume the problem was me. I read somewhere here that when you first attach the charger to the Tesla cable, you should hear a nice comforting click. Push as I might, I didn’t hear anything. Second, the lock/unlock button barely moved when I pushed it to lock. It didn’t move much when I just played with it before plugging in either. Finally, the cable was very tight and barely reached the car. (I wasn’t smart enough to park the car sideways.)

Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark

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[Mach-Lee]

Plenty of topics on this: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/a2z-adapter-needs-to-break-in.36537/

You need to insert the cable a dozen times to loosen up the adapter enough for it to fully lock. Otherwise it fails if not fully latched.

When you park at a supercharger, you have to put the nose of the car over the curb and pull past the pedestal on the right side so the cable reaches. Do not park sideways.

 

[tbrumleve]

From Elmo himself:

 

[AKgrampy]

And just to float this out there they were superchargers that were set up to work with other vehicles? Not all are.

 

[MarkW.]

Plenty of topics on this: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/a2z-adapter-needs-to-break-in.36537/

You need to insert the cable a dozen times to loosen up the adapter enough for it to fully lock. Otherwise it fails if not fully latched.

When you park at a supercharger, you have to put the nose of the car over the curb and pull past the pedestal on the right side so the cable reaches. Do not park sideways.

Lee,
Thanks very much. Great intel, and I see I was one of many. Back to practice charging!
Thanks again,
Mark

 

[VaporTrails]

If you are near any chargers with a MagicDock, you could use that instead to verify everything else is working. I seem to remember that several posters mentioned that the A2Z adapter is tight at first.

 

[Jlbern27]

Hi All,
Made my first attempt to use my new A2Z charger and failed. Tried five different superchargers and got the same charging fault notice, so I assume the problem was me. I read somewhere here that when you first attach the charger to the Tesla cable, you should hear a nice comforting click. Push as I might, I didn’t hear anything. Second, the lock/unlock button barely moved when I pushed it to lock. It didn’t move much when I just played with it before plugging in either. Finally, the cable was very tight and barely reached the car. (I wasn’t smart enough to park the car sideways.)

Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark

What i did was put the aa2z. Adapter in the lock position first then plug the Tesla charger into the adapter. This will work.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Hi All,
Made my first attempt to use my new A2Z charger and failed. Tried five different superchargers and got the same charging fault notice, so I assume the problem was me. I read somewhere here that when you first attach the charger to the Tesla cable, you should hear a nice comforting click. Push as I might, I didn’t hear anything. Second, the lock/unlock button barely moved when I pushed it to lock. It didn’t move much when I just played with it before plugging in either. Finally, the cable was very tight and barely reached the car. (I wasn’t smart enough to park the car sideways.)

Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark

Did you use the Tesla app to confirm the station(s) was compatible with the NACS-adapter?

Are you sure you have the P&C update and have the P&C certificate in your car?

Did you try starting the charging session using the Tesla app?

 

[generaltso]

What i did was put the aa2z. Adapter in the lock position first then plug the Tesla charger into the adapter. This will work.

Then your adapter is defective, and you should return it. The NACS cable should not be able to be seated into the adapter with it in the lock position.

 

[CameraCarl]

I have the same problems with my adapter. I even started a thread about it. What I now do after reading lots of discussions/suggestions is:

I make sure that the locking tab in in the Unlocked position. I partially insert the Tesla plug into the adapter. I put a 2x4 wrapped in a towel on the ground. I put the adapter on the piece of wood (being careful not to put any pressure on the locking tab). I push the plug hard into the adapter. When I feel a little click, I check to see if the locking tab can be moved to the Locked position. If it can be locked, I proceed to plug in the car and charge. If it can't be locked then I push the plug into the adapter even harder. Sometimes even if I feel the plug snap into the adapter and I can lock it, the car won't charge. Then I have to separate the plug from the adapter and try all over again.

I've only done about 5 or 6 charges. The plug does seem to insert a bit more easily now, so it might get easier with time as A2Z claims, but I still need the wood now. Don't give up. It takes a lot more force than you can imagine when you have a new adapter, but as I mentioned, A2Z claims it gets better after 10-15 charges.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Then your adapter is defective, and you should return it. The NACS cable should not be able to be seated into the adapter with it in the lock position.

It is quite possible the Supercharger was a v2 or otherwise not compatible. It's also quite possible the OP doesn't have the P&C update &/or certificate for Tesla P&C.

The OP tried to plug & charge, didn't use the app to start.

 

[generaltso]

It is quite possible the Supercharger was a v2 or otherwise not compatible. It's also quite possible the OP doesn't have the P&C update &/or certificate for Tesla P&C.

The OP tried to plug & charge, didn't use the app to start.

Yes, but I wasn’t replying to the OP.

 

[SimS]

"I put a 2x4 wrapped in a towel on the ground. I put the adapter on the piece of wood (being careful not to put any pressure on the locking tab)"

"If it can't be locked then I push the plug into the adapter even harder"

I'm sorry these two steps seem a little low tech. I'm glad I waited for the Ford adapter solution. Be careful.

 

[4sallypat]

3 month A2Z user experience:

First use of the A2Z is very stiff to slide lock the NACS plug.

I had sprayed some silicone lube on the slide lock to help ease the effort needed to lock the plug.

First 5-6 times I had to place the adapter on the ground with a piece of cloth underneath, standing over the adapter with the NACS end up, press fit the NACS plug with my weight to feel the slight slight click then slide the lock lever.

After this, I no longer had to press fit the plug - after 30x charging, the plug fits easily in.

A2Z is tight - needs to be worked in.

Now it's super easy and haven't had any issues with V3 chargers.

Yesterday, charged at a new location on my road trip - Traver, CA Supercharger:

 

[Pearce]

Lee,
Thanks very much. Great intel, and I see I was one of many. Back to practice charging!
Thanks again,
Mark

Also - using the Tesla app + a good smack on the end when putting on the supercharger plug works 100% of the time for me.

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