Jdapter and TeslaTap charging adapters?

[ChasingCoral]

Excuse me, I am a little slow on the uptake here, why does the website say, " This adapter is NOT COMPATIBLE and is not to be used with the Tesla Super Charger Network. "
Isn't that the whole idea?

It’s for Tesla destination chargers (L2), not Super Chargers (DCFC).

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[MerryBrown]

It’s for Tesla destination chargers (L2), not Super Chargers (DCFC).

so I can't use a Tesla charging station?

 

[macchiaz-o]

so I can't use a Tesla charging station?

Correct. This is one of the very few times I'll agree with the silly Tesla/other-BEV, Macintosh/other-PC analogies.

A Supercharger only supports charging a Tesla just like an Apple Watch requires an iPhone.

This restriction is based on business policy decisions moreso than any technical limitation.

 

[macchiaz-o]

so I can't use a Tesla charging station?

Correct. This is one of the very few times I'll agree with the silly Tesla/other-BEV, Macintosh/other-PC analogies.

A Supercharger only supports charging a Tesla just like an Apple Watch requires an iPhone.

This restriction is based on business policy decisions moreso than any technical limitation.

By the way, the situation with Tesla chargers might get worse before it gets better. As far as I understand it, newer Tesla "destination chargers" have the ability to authorize billing for usage to the vehicle's associated Tesla owner payment mechanism.

So for now, if you find a Tesla destination charger at a hotel parking lot, it is very likely that it will work with a J1772 adapter such as TeslaTap. But going forward as new ones are installed or old ones are replaced, the property owner might elect to make them paid charging locations instead of free. You'll have no way to pay, since you're not driving a Tesla.

 

[BlueMach]

so I can't use a Tesla charging station?

You can use Tesla Destination Chargers with this adapter (while they still allow it, new Destination Chargers may be able to detect this adapter), no Mach-E can use Superchargers.

 

[ChasingCoral]

so I can't use a Tesla charging station?

Yes and no.

Yes. There is no commercial mechanism by which a driver can recharge their non-Tesla car using a Tesla Super Charger.

No. With a Tesla Tap you can use Tesla Destination Chargers with this. Those are the L2 chargers (240v AC, like most of us are installing in our garages and are found at many destination points (hotels, restaurants, museums, parking garages).

I used mine yesterday at a restaurant where we had a long lunch and I recharged from about 20% to 50%.

 

[silverelan]

Here's the 50A adapter i'm planning on getting for my Mach-E. I would steer clear of the 40A version since the Mach-E will pull more power than the entry-level version is rated for.

http://www.umc-j1772.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=99

*Edit- disregard my advice and see @generaltso's response below.

 

[Maquis]

I wonder how much trouble we're going to have with people stealing these things?

 

[TheVirtualTim]

I watched a review on these and the drive ordered the 40 amp version ... and couldn't get it to work with his car.

Apparently (I'm no expert here) you have to:

1. Plug the adapter into the Tesla charger first.
2. Wait about 30 seconds (somehow the Tesla charger seems to check out the adapter?)
3. Plug it into your car last.

(do the reverse when disconnecting)

It was failing and ... it seemed to be failing because the Tesla destination charger was set to 80 amps and the adapter could only handle 40 ... and it didn't like that (even though the car being charged wouldn't pull more than 40 amps).

The recommendation seemed to be that you should get the adapter based on the amperage the charger can supply ... regardless of what the car will actually draw.

I considered getting the 50 amp (since the Mach-E wont draw more than 48) ... but wondered if I might run into a problem if the Tesla EVSE is able to offer higher (e.g. 80 amp) charge and might decide it doesn't like the adapter.

So my REAL strategy is to use the rest of you as guinea pigs ?. I'll wait for reports of how the 50 amp adapter works out ... and decide if I need the 80. Thanks!!

 

[timbop]

Here's the 50A adapter i'm planning on getting for my Mach-E. I would steer clear of the 40A version since the Mach-E will pull more power than the entry-level version is rated for.

http://www.umc-j1772.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=99

Which is fine if you plug into a >40A tesla destination charger for less than 3 hours. Overnight it can potentially overheat.

Again:

When drawing constant current for more than three hours, the draw should be no more than 80% of the rated capacity. So, since the MME can draw up to 48A it is recommended to get the 80A teslatap (or this new minitap). If the charger you're plugging into only does 40A max, then the 50A teslatap is OK.

 

[generaltso]

If you’re buying a new one right now, I’d go with the 80A or Mini to keep all your options open. If you already have a 50A, I don’t think it’s worth upgrading unless you plan to use it all the time. My old one was 32A, so I went with the 80A. I would have gone with the Mini if it was available a few weeks ago.

 

[Louv]

I carried one of these on a 11,000 mile Taycan road trip in early 2020. I needed it three times (all were at hotels). It worked perfectly each time. I will definitely be carrying one in my Mach-E.

 

[silverelan]

Which is fine if you plug into a >40A tesla destination charger for less than 3 hours. Overnight it can potentially overheat.

Tesla Tap specifically says the 50A adapter is rated for cars that can pull up to 12kW. It appears to be geared towards cars like the MME with a 48A OBC.

"To the best of our knowledge the adapter should be compatible with any vehicle that uses the J-1772 connector and protocols up to 12 KW."

 

[silverelan]

I wonder how much trouble we're going to have with people stealing these things?

It's not a problem. The MME should lock the J1772 into the charge port when the car itself is locked.

 

[generaltso]

Tesla Tap specifically says the 50A adapter is rated for cars that can pull up to 12kW. It appears to be geared towards cars like the MME with a 48A OBC.

"To the best of our knowledge the adapter should be compatible with any vehicle that uses the J-1772 connector and protocols up to 12 KW."

Yes, it's rated for 50A, which is 12kW at 240V. In all likelihood, the MME pulling a sustained 48A would be totally fine with the 50A version. But it puts it closer to the safety margin than is recommended. It would probably get warmer than the 80A version, but not hot enough to cause any problems if everything's working correctly. I think the safety margin is really recommended in case something is not working correctly and ends up pulling more than it should.

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