Failed with A2Z

[Jgg181]

What he said…Ditto for me

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[bbulkow]

New A2Z "user". Haven't managed to get the "CLICK" yet. Have applied maximum force. Have tried a number (3 is a number?) different stalls. Have now watched a number of YT videos, it seems you really need to make sure the bottom slide is hard pushed to OPEN when you're putting the NACS end in, then pushing to closed. Gonna try that. Also, not a small person.

It looks to me like the charge cable end needs to go in about 5mm more. I've tried putting the adapter against the tire (handy soft rubber bit inches from my charge port ) and leaning my full weight in, slamming the entire cable in, etc. No joy.

I don't get a click, and I don't get a charge. Tried to charge and got the expected result. Good interlock, A2Z guys!

Attempting to figure out where the best spot to apply some lube is. The most tenacious stuff I have is silicone motorcycle chain lube, maybe a little in the lower part of the shaft.... I also have some electric spray cleaner I could use ( evaporates clean ) on the charger side itself to remove extra dirt, not an actual lubricant, could help.

I am also willing to go after the thing with a Dremel if I could figure the spot that's hung up. Just take off a few mm. Yes, I understand that's a functional concern because you're fighting thermal and you want the heat transfer from plug to adapter to be maximal. (Pretty sure the supercharger end has a thermal monitor, so it would all throttle instead of burn, but still)

At least for me, the "it's a little stiff" is an understatement....

Maybe I should have stuck with my Lectron order :-( They sent me a friendly note about how they have chargers now and gave me a code good for some amount off for the next few days in case I change my mind and want to re-order.

 

[milepost1]

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

At most tesla stations we already take 2 spot pulling in forward. Pulling in sideways can take 3 or 4 charging spots. Don't know why adapter didn't work but tesla charging will become a problem when all EVs start using them. Pull in forward usually to far right as much as possible.

 

[DRCal68]

New A2Z "user". Haven't managed to get the "CLICK" yet. Have applied maximum force. Have tried a number (3 is a number?) different stalls. Have now watched a number of YT videos, it seems you really need to make sure the bottom slide is hard pushed to OPEN when you're putting the NACS end in, then pushing to closed. Gonna try that. Also, not a small person.

It looks to me like the charge cable end needs to go in about 5mm more. I've tried putting the adapter against the tire (handy soft rubber bit inches from my charge port ) and leaning my full weight in, slamming the entire cable in, etc. No joy.

I don't get a click, and I don't get a charge. Tried to charge and got the expected result. Good interlock, A2Z guys!

Attempting to figure out where the best spot to apply some lube is. The most tenacious stuff I have is silicone motorcycle chain lube, maybe a little in the lower part of the shaft.... I also have some electric spray cleaner I could use ( evaporates clean ) on the charger side itself to remove extra dirt, not an actual lubricant, could help.

I am also willing to go after the thing with a Dremel if I could figure the spot that's hung up. Just take off a few mm. Yes, I understand that's a functional concern because you're fighting thermal and you want the heat transfer from plug to adapter to be maximal. (Pretty sure the supercharger end has a thermal monitor, so it would all throttle instead of burn, but still)

At least for me, the "it's a little stiff" is an understatement....

Maybe I should have stuck with my Lectron order :-( They sent me a friendly note about how they have chargers now and gave me a code good for some amount off for the next few days in case I change my mind and want to re-order.

Contact A2Z; they replaced my adapter after I had the same problem last week when I received it. The replacement is due on Monday. EXCELLENT service!

 

[RSF]

Are these adapters approved by any accreditation like UL? Seems like using 2x4s is a bit extreme. Relying on someone with a popular YouTube channel to test and recommend a device like this is I'll advised.

 

[MarkW.]

Hi ALL,
Thanks to all for your responses. First, I’m visiting in Mammoth Lakes Ca, and I was at a 12 charger station that was deserted. So no harm pulling in sideways. I would never do that if it was busy. Plus I’d probably get mugged!

tried to charge from both the Tesla app and the ford app and got nada. I’m sure it’s me not being strong enough to push it all the way in. Guess I can try the 2x4 method, but boy that seems to be a bit inelegant and brutal for what’s supposed to be a high tech piece of equipment. So I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed.

On the other hand, stopped in Mojave, Coso Junction and Bishop on the way up and had perfect experiences using EA chargers. Yay!

 

[Sikkun]

Are these adapters approved by any accreditation like UL? Seems like using 2x4s is a bit extreme. Relying on someone with a popular YouTube channel to test and recommend a device like this is I'll advised.

Product certifications :

• Tested and compliant with UL2252's outline
• Will be UL2252 certified once released by UL
• CE certification (coming soon)
• FCC certication (EMI) (coming soon)

 

[danielcb]

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.

Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that all v4 dispensers do include magic dock.

I just charged in a V4 super charger in Blaine, WA and they all had magic docks.

I still used my A2Z adaptor anyways. Some of the magic docks were a bit stuck and didn’t came out easily from the holder.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

tried to charge from both the Tesla app and the ford app and got nada. I’m sure it’s me not being strong enough to push it all the way in. Guess I can try the 2x4 method, but boy that seems to be a bit inelegant and brutal for what’s supposed to be a high tech piece of equipment. So I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed.

A new A2Z adapter is typically fairly tight fitting but will loosen up with a few uses. I tried for about 15 minutes without success … but EVENTUALLY it worked.

The key is the sliding lock. That doesn’t just lock … it also engages the proximity pilot to tell the car it is connected. So without the lock, the car will refuse to start charging because it doesn’t think it is connected (think of the lock as if it doubles as an on/off switch). It MUST slide to the lock position.

Once you get it to work the first time, you’ll probably have very little trouble with it ever again.

I suggest anyone who gets one to drive to a non-crowded Tesla sight even if you don’t need a charge and get it to loosen up and work. That way you’ll have no problem on a road trip when you actually _need_ it to work.

 

[kennelh]

I suggest anyone who gets one to drive to a non-crowded Tesla sight even if you don’t need a charge and get it to loosen up and work. That way you’ll have no problem on a road trip when you actually _need_ it to work.

You could also loosen it up with an AC adapter, too, since it's just the locking mechanism being broken (just don't try plugging into the car). Is that correct?

 

[VaporTrails]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that all v4 dispensers do include magic dock.

My sample size is exactly one at a frequent road trip stop. At that one site 3/12 of the v4 pedestals would not release a dock. I generally agree with your statement and I would not hesitate to hold the activation button for 2 seconds to get that satisfying “chunk” for an unlock of the hidden dock.

My local site only has V2’s. I never charge there, but it leaves EA as the only metropolitan area option.

 

[CarsIMBwife]

Failed for me too. Tried at least 10 times at one location (multiple chargers), and again at a second location. I noticed that I cannot get it to lock at all. ? Was hoping to use it for a road trip later this week, but I just can’t count on it.

 

[uclavic]

It must be luck of the draw as I've used my A2Z adapter 4 times now without using any lube. I only had an issue once where I thought the vehicle was too far from the charger. After I pulled up and gave it a little more slack everything worked like a charm. I kept wondering if I was going to struggle using it like I did getting the magic doc equipped stations to release the magic dock.

 

[silverelan]

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

I just went to a V3 today to test the official Tesla adapter and the A2Z. The Ford one worked the first time, no sweat. The A2Z was a PITA but after about 10+ times of putting it on/off the Tesla handle, the sliding lock finally latched.

You can easily confirm if the A2Z is latched by giving it a tug. If the slider is locked, it will not separate from the Tesla plug. If it’s not latched, the A2Z easily separates from the Tesla plug.

 

[MarkW.]

I just went to a V3 today to test the official Tesla adapter and the A2Z. The Ford one worked the first time, no sweat. The A2Z was a PITA but after about 10+ times of putting it on/off the Tesla handle, the sliding lock finally latched.

You can easily confirm if the A2Z is latched by giving it a tug. If the slider is locked, it will not separate from the Tesla plug. If it’s not latched, the A2Z easily separates from the Tesla plug.

Back home from my trip where I had zero success using the A2Z. Called the company, guy called back and had me go to a tesla supercharger, then FaceTimed me telling how to do it. No go. Passed me on to anothe guy, he helped, no go. Now they are overnighting me another adapter.

The company’s customer service is great, can’t say enough good things about them. I really, really want this adapter to work and this company to be successful. But…damn.. So. Fingers crossed!

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