TESLA Adapter + DIY locking plate to keep it secure while plugged in.

[21st Century Pony]

Seems like wire cutters would take that right off.

So would a battery grinder... so would good quality tin snips... so would a good hacksaw. In the extreme case, so would a sledgehammer.

And all of the above tools aren't likely to be walking by in the hands of a miscreant, are they?

Besides: damage + tool + potential nearby video = higher risk for the miscreant because it raises the stakes from a "he said, she said" scenario to a scenario with intent and means and observable damage.

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[mkhuffman]

So would a battery grinder... so would good quality tin snips... so would a good hacksaw. In the extreme case, so would a sledgehammer.

And all of the above tools aren't likely to be walking by in the hands of a miscreant, are they?

Besides: damage + tool + potential nearby video = higher risk for the miscreant because it raises the stakes from a "he said, she said" scenario to a scenario with intent and means and observable damage.

I am just going to plug it in and not worry about it. That said, this is yet another reason I hate, HATE, public charging. It sucks. I need more range.

 

[360alaska]

I thought about this, my solution is to put a single zip tie around the front of the adapter to secure it to the car, isn't that simpler?

 

[Brons2]

Or you could just stay with your car while charging it.

Honestly, a Tesla supercharger would be my last resort, but maybe that's just me.

 

[4sallypat]

Has anybody heard of any adapters actually getting stolen? Seems like there’s a lot of angst over what could happen. I like the Alfred E. Newman approach.

Just in case of theft, I have a backup!

 

[BHound1981]

Someone has got to have an STL for a 3D printable basic adapter lock. If not, anyone out there good with CAD?

 

[ipca204]

Has anybody heard of any adapters actually getting stolen? Seems like there’s a lot of angst over what could happen. I like the Alfred E. Newman approach.

yeah, I'm of the mind this is solving a problem that does not wildly exist..

 

[PalsyWalsy]

yeah, I'm of the mind this is solving a problem that does not wildly exist..

In the end, he did solve a problem: he created something in his spare time that gives him peace of mind. He just happen to share it with all of us as many of us do when we mod or do things to our cars.

He did not ask for people to buy it.

Kuddos to you @21stcenturypony

 

[ponEpwr]

I think it’s a pretty cool solution. Not sure how often adapters are or will be stolen but the odds of this one being stolen is way lower lol

If someone stole my adapter they’d have to do it while I was sitting in the car. And that’s if I ever use the thing lol.

 

[VaporTrails]

In a land where fools are stealing DCFC cables outright, I get it. However, many V3 and V4 pedestals have a dock built-in. I think this is only a 3-4 year problem as those older pedestals are slowly life-cycled. The solution you came up with looks pretty good! At the very least, it makes your thief take more time.

 

[AhardFSU]

yeah, I'm of the mind this is solving a problem that does not wildly exist..

Same. When you think about it.....the people that are likely to be at the station are people who already have the means to charge there. So why would they need your adapter? Are they gonna steal it out of spite bc they don't like you charging there? C'mon man! Most of those Tesla drivers aren't even worried about you.

And it would be a real stretch for some stranger driving or walking by to all of a sudden determine that they need your adapter so that they can get paid by selling it on eBay. And then it's even a bigger stretch to think that there roaming groups of NACS adapter thieves looking to make a killing on those sweet, sweet NACS adapters.

 

[dawger007]

I wonder - what is the "zip-tie" made of? the idea is pretty good , but with side cutters, press the stop charge button, cut the "tie" and remove your orange plate , pull everthing out of charge socket , disconrct the adapter , leave or take the orange plate and be on their way...... kinda like the "cutting the cable" bandits ! Just a thought , it is thinking in the right direction.....

 

[21st Century Pony]

I wonder - what is the "zip-tie" made of? the idea is pretty good , but with side cutters, press the stop charge button, cut the "tie" and remove your orange plate , pull everthing out of charge socket , disconrct the adapter , leave or take the orange plate and be on their way...... kinda like the "cutting the cable" bandits ! Just a thought , it is thinking in the right direction.....

The yellow bike lock strap is a steel band mostly but not wholly covered with yellow plastic.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Same. When you think about it.....the people that are likely to be at the station are people who already have the means to charge there. So why would they need your adapter? Are they gonna steal it out of spite bc they don't like you charging there? C'mon man! Most of those Tesla drivers aren't even worried about you.

And it would be a real stretch for some stranger driving or walking by to all of a sudden determine that they need your adapter so that they can get paid by selling it on eBay. And then it's even a bigger stretch to think that there roaming groups of NACS adapter thieves looking to make a killing on those sweet, sweet NACS adapters.

The occasional curious sticky-fingers is not a Tesla driver. Nor another EV driver.

I've been a curious and slightly nefarious teen myself, back in my irresponsible days. I've known plenty of really irresponsible, at times not wholly ethical teens back then. Usually, they are bored... idle hands, and all that. The one time I and Eddie M did something really idiotic and hurtful when we were 12... well, the police dealt with my Dad and my Dad then dealt with me. And I was one of the "good kids" haha.

And later as an adult, I've met and dealt with plenty of shifty drunks, curious freeloaders and bag people who were focused on making a quick cheap buck much more than on Socratic discussions about ethics. The kind of peeps who'll gladly buy teenagers a bottle at the liquor store for a 10-spot. That's the target audience for prevention of a potential 20-second opportunity theft. They sometimes do hang out at strip parking lots, often mostly unseen, to nap in a corner. Oh, that's where a majority of Superchargers I've seen are located as well.

Anyway, the Ford adapter is unfortunately without a built-in securing mechanism, and it's a darn shame. 96% of adapter users will for sure never face a loss of one. Those who sit / sleep in our cars while DC Fast charging will be in this crowd.

Those of us, myself included, who will DC Fast charge on long trips and who always prefer to amble about or get a bite to eat rather than sitting in the same seat we've already sat in for hours, or who have dogs who need to walk during stops, might find some use in this or other (better?) adapter locking ideas.

If this locking plate keeps my adapter in place once out of the likely 50+ times I'll use it, then it will have done its job. If on the other hand the unprotected adapter were to disappear in the middle of absolutely nowhere on another of our Summer trips through South Dakota or the Jersey Shore etc., well, then it would be on me, right? ...and I'd start to feel sorry for myself, etc. etc.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I thought about this, my solution is to put a single zip tie around the front of the adapter to secure it to the car, isn't that simpler?

It is indeed simpler. I tried it as a 1st attempt, and the zip tie slides right off because the overall shape of the adapter is consistently smooth and the same cross-dimension front-to-back. That's what made me look how to keep the added security mechanism from sliding off... and hence the two front curled prongs.

All Ford / Tesla should have done is add a protruding lock loop on the top of the silver adapter latching lever to the outside of its pivot pin, either near or right on top of the round thumb push spot... problem solved for those of us who want to slap a cheapie combo travel lock on it while in use.

Those of us, myself included, who have our TeslaTap Level 2 connectors, we do lock them onto the car when in use, right? The TeslaTap is at a similar price point EXCEPT the TeslaTap we bought wasn't a freebie, and it stays on the Mach E all night so more chance for sticky fingers... and no one AFAIK has had a thief pull on one to test it and break it off, right? They see the lock and just move on... that's the general idea for this DIY locking plate.

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