Umm, how is charging with the Tesla adapter supposed to work?

[zvez]

Oh sure, I'm happier having the adapter than not having it, as it makes my potential charging network much larger. I don't want to complain too much.

But it's definitely a surprisingly janky experience, and I'd only use one of these chargers if I found myself with low charge in an Electrify America desert.

don't forget tesla has said it's ok for non teslas to double park because of cord length

https://insideevs.com/news/710789/tesla-ford-multiple-supercharger-stalls/

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[RickMachE]

There is another issue that I encountered recently. I stayed at a hotel which had Tesla Destination chargers but they were not free! The hotel front desk told me that there was no charge to use them, which was true as far as they were concerned - no charge on my hotel bill. However, they required the Tesla app and a Tesla account to function and Tesla most definitely charged me for their use. IIRC, it was $0.25/kw - not exactly cheap, cheap but somewhat cheaper than the SuperCharger rate.

Has anybody else encountered that non-free Tesla hotel charging?

I have not. I have found a significant shift from free hotel charging to paid hotel charging. It appears that one company, Blink, has made huge inroads into converting hotels from free charging to their network. Some exits every hotel has Blink charging.

It also varies geographically. On our most recent trip through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana - I was unable to find hotel charging at most of our selected overnights, including in Bozeman, MT. I found free hotel charging at one stop, but it was a paltry 4.1kW per hour, which for the Lightning meant I gained like 35% charge overnight.

I love hotel charging for the cost (free), and more importantly to avoid a charging stop AND wake up with 100%. But it's getting to be more and more work to find them.

 

[bbulkow]

It's unfortunate that so many people keep doing this.

The Ford provided adapter is for Tesla SuperChargers. You tried charging at a Tesla Destination Charger. That adapter won't work. If you go back to the box your Ford adapter came in, they provided directions and there's very clear messaging that tells you this.

You need to buy this - Lectron J1772 adapter or A2Z Stellar adapter.

I am sure A2Z would have come out with an "all in one" if practical , but i always wondered exactly what pin is reused such that a single adapter can't be made. It would certainly be a little more pleasant for the L3 (dc) adapter to also support L2 (ac).

I guess, thinking about it, the issue is nacs, in that they have 2 power pins, and sometimes they emit ac, sometimes dc, so they have to be routed to the correct output pins, which requires smarts and an impractcally high watt relay?

 

[Madtroniks]

I hope I can pivot this discussion just a bit. It's been helpful as I haven't tried using a Tesla charger on my extended range MME until last weekend. I was at a resort in the Pennsylvania Poconos and they had 1 Chargepoint and 2 Tesla chargers but they were all free L2 chargers that essentially looked like home chargers. When I plugged into the Chargepoint I got a "Charger not found" error and nothing I did worked. When I used both Tesla chargers, with my Ford provided adapter, I got a "Charger paused" error and nothing I did worked. I know for sure the Tesla chargers were working for Tesla's, I didn't see anything else connect to them. The Chargepoint charger light was green, just like my home charger.

Any ideas? Unfortunately I'm not close enough to try it again but I've been to this resort before and will most likely go again.

Thanks

Lots of folks use a NACS Level 2 charger / Tesla destination chargers and pair it with an adapter to use it on their vehicle with J-1772 plug.

I would recommend the A2Z Stellar NACS to J-1772 adapter which is available for $88, compact build, has a built in lock, good customer service / warranty and overbuilt for futureproofing.

Discount promo code “FORD” is still working and free shipping is also available.

A2ZEV NACS To J1772 adapter (Hotel Destination Charger for Hotels / Shopping centers) | Up to 80A | 20kW | 12 Months Warranty

 

[jmcbrew]

I hope I can pivot this discussion just a bit. It's been helpful as I haven't tried using a Tesla charger on my extended range MME until last weekend. I was at a resort in the Pennsylvania Poconos and they had 1 Chargepoint and 2 Tesla chargers but they were all free L2 chargers that essentially looked like home chargers. When I plugged into the Chargepoint I got a "Charger not found" error and nothing I did worked. When I used both Tesla chargers, with my Ford provided adapter, I got a "Charger paused" error and nothing I did worked. I know for sure the Tesla chargers were working for Tesla's, I didn't see anything else connect to them. The Chargepoint charger light was green, just like my home charger.

Any ideas? Unfortunately I'm not close enough to try it again but I've been to this resort before and will most likely go again.

Thanks

As others have mentioned, you need a different adapter to use Tesla destination/home AC chargers. I’ve been using Lectron’s adapter for about 3 years. It works great!

https://amzn.to/3Qr6CXH

Also make sure you check to see if the hotel has the new Tesla universal charger that has an adapter built in. One of the hotels here in Annapolis has two of them installed.

 

[MonkeyNutz]

Based on some limited research on supercharge.info, it seems like there are very, very few v4 stations so far. Is that accurate?

That is accurate. Very few V4 chargers exist so far. Some V3 chargers do have longer cords now too and some are equipped with the MagicDock -- which is they have the CCS adapter docked to the charge station that can be used instead of your own.

I have encountered a Tesla charger where I know the Lightning couldn't charge unless I were to pull in perpendicular. I can't recall which one it was and I was there in my Model Y. but the pedestals were a bit more back from the curb than normal an instead of a normal curb it was like a 16" tall mini wall that was 6" thick concrete. Had to back the model Y up real close. And from the looks of that little curb/wall, some people get too close. Very weird arrangement.

 

[Tampamike]

Also make sure you check to see if the hotel has the new Tesla universal charger that has an adapter built in. One of the hotels here in Annapolis has two of them installed.

Oh yeah, the Tesla units at my hotel had both plugs. There were 4 posts with 2 plugs each and the two outside plugs were J1772.

 

[aaugust512]

Doesn’t help with how short the cables are but noticed you said you plugged the adapter onto the cable first and the manual that came with mine specifically said to attach the adapter to the car first and then plug the cable into it. Not sure how much that matters but that’s how I’ve been doing it (along with parking in the space to the left of the station). I always try to get a spot on the end so I’m not sucking up two charger spots.

 

[Sawdusty]

Doesn’t help with how short the cables are but noticed you said you plugged the adapter onto the cable first and the manual that came with mine specifically said to attach the adapter to the car first and then plug the cable into it. Not sure how much that matters but that’s how I’ve been doing it (along with parking in the space to the left of the station). I always try to get a spot on the end so I’m not sucking up two charger spots.

I don't think it matters, although my experience is very limited. I recently found myself about 65 miles from home with about 60 miles of range left, so had to find a charging station en route. I eventually made it to a Tesla charging station at a Wawa and was actually happy to try out the Tesla adapter I received last summer. I'm 99% sure I attached the adapter to the cord first then plugged it into the car port, and it charged right up. If I read the instructions back when I received the adapter, I long since forgot there was a preferred order to it. Hey, it was late, dark, snowing, I was tired and it was the 3rd charging station I had been to that night. I wasn't inclined to bust out an instruction manual.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Doesn’t help with how short the cables are but noticed you said you plugged the adapter onto the cable first and the manual that came with mine specifically said to attach the adapter to the car first and then plug the cable into it. Not sure how much that matters but that’s how I’ve been doing it (along with parking in the space to the left of the station). I always try to get a spot on the end so I’m not sucking up two charger spots.

That won’t work with the Tesla made adapter. It has an interlock that prevents the supercharger cable from being inserted while plugged into CCS. You have to put the adapter on the end of the cable first. The order can be different depending on which adapter you have.

 

[kamorela]

Lots of folks use a NACS Level 2 charger / Tesla destination chargers and pair it with an adapter to use it on their vehicle with J-1772 plug.

I would recommend the A2Z Stellar NACS to J-1772 adapter which is available for $88, compact build, has a built in lock, good customer service / warranty and overbuilt for futureproofing.

Discount promo code “FORD” is still working and free shipping is also available.

A2ZEV NACS To J1772 adapter (Hotel Destination Charger for Hotels / Shopping centers) | Up to 80A | 20kW | 12 Months Warranty

Wow, thanks for this, and for that matter: thanks everyone for this thread, there's lots of good useful info. For one thing, I hadn't known about Tesla destination chargers until this thread. Now I realize I've seen them at a resort hotel I've visited a while ago but presumed they were for Tesla only so I bypassed them. Now I'll be able to take advantage because I just ordered this adapter, and yes, it was USD$88 with Ford discount and free shipping. Yay! ? Oh, P.S. I also recently got their Typhoon Pro several weeks ago, so I think I'm prepared.

 

[jmcbrew]

I recently found myself about 65 miles from home with about 60 miles of range left, so had to find a charging station en route.

If you are really in a pinch, you almost certainly could have made it home if you slowed down. This might have involved turning on the 4-way flashers and sticking to the right lane, but you can add significant range this way if it is an emergency.

 

[fpasta]

Charged at a Tesla Supercharger first time today. Awesome! I plugged in first out of habit. Got an error message. So through Ford App, hit activate first then plugged in and was charging.

This is about 5-10 minutes from where I work and is in an Asian shopping mall parking lot. Almost the same time to get to the EVGO. Where it is sorta in a no so good neighborhood but in the parking lot for city hall, library and auditorium. I'm going to crunch some numbers here soon. But if anyone knows. Which is cheaper? I pay the monthly for EVGO. if I just use non membership with Tesla Supercharge. Is it cheaper.

 

[kens]

I plugged in first out of habit. Got an error message. So through Ford App, hit activate first then plugged in and was charging.

If you set up plug and charge with Ford it will start charging without any extra steps, just plug it in.

Which is cheaper? I pay the monthly for EVGO. if I just use non membership with Tesla Supercharge. Is it cheaper.

Tesla is much cheaper here, but verify with each station you plan to use. The Tesla app will show you both the full rate and the member rate.

Tesla's paid tier will break even with only two charges at the rates here, so if you charge often it's worth it. If you do get the membership don't use plug and charge, use the Tesla app to activate before plugging in to get the member rates.

 

[fpasta]

If you set up plug and charge with Ford it will start charging without any extra steps, just plug it in.

Thanks.

Thats why I just plugged in, I thought I am set up to plug and charge. Last time I checked I was set up for this.

I'll check my settings.

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