Borrowing a Tesla Brand NEMA 10-30 Adapter for Road Trip

[dchan81]

Hello everyone. I have been searching futilely for a Tesla brand (not aftermarket) NEMA 10-30 Adapter for purchase for a long time, and I have not been able to secure one yet.

In several weeks, I am going on a road trip to Yellowstone National Park. In case we have a charging emergency, I would like to borrow someone's Tesla brand NEMA 10-30 Adapter beforehand.

I would be willing to leave a security deposit plus a small additional fee in return for a 3 week loan from an interested party in the Southern Calfornia area.

FYI, I live in Huntington Beach (in western Orange County close to Long Beach). If a fellow Tesla owner from Orange County, Los Angeles County, or San Diego County would like to help me out, I would really appreciate that too.

As stated above, I am also interested in buying a Tesla brand NEMA 10-30 adapter as well, but I haven't had any lucky so far...which I why I am posting here in the hopes that someone might loan me one for 3 weeks.

Please PM me if you would be interested in helping a fellow Tesla owner out.

 

[Derek Kessler]

Good luck, those were recalled several months ago and haven't been re-released. And there's no guarantee you'll have access to a 10-30 outlet — you might see a 14-30 outlet instead. Either way, you're asking to plug into somebody's dryer outlet.

Alternative is to get the Tesla 14-30 adapter and either make or purchase an adapter to bridge the two.

Best bet would be to just research RV parks (50-amp 14-50 outlets) and EV chargers in the region. For example: there are Tesla Superchargers at Idaho Falls, West Yellowstone (NW corner), and Jackson (south).

 

[SoCalLawyer]

Actually, they were recently released by Tesla and I ordered one just to be safe for future road trips. I don't mind selling it to you for what I paid $55 bucks. I live near Whittier, it's still in the box as it was received last week.

If I do need it during a trip - lend it to for me for a small fee. Cool?

 

[dchan81]

Thank you SoCalLawyer. Your offer is most appreciated, and I will be happy to extend you opportunities to borrow it back from me from time to time when you anticipate a road trip.

Let's PM each other to set up the logistics for making the transaction.

Again, thank you very much for the offer.

 

[dchan81]

Derek,

Thank you also for the informative post.

I have also researched RV parks in the area too, so I could have alternative emergency 14-50 charging if necessary.

Apparently, one of the chargers at Old Faithful is a 10-30 (there is a 14-50 as well).

I like having the 10-30 adapter in case I crash at a friend or family member's house because most people have the older 10-30 dryer connections unless their house is fairly new.

 

[yeahsci]

Aren't they available in the shop now?
Tesla — NEMA 10-30

 

[thecloud]

Good luck, those were recalled several months ago and haven't been re-released.

As @yeahsci pointed out above, they recently returned to the online store.

 

[dchan81]

I had been checking the online Tesla store several times a week and never saw it pop up until now. Thanks for letting me know that it showed up there. I guess that I will just purchase it online from Tesla. Thank you.

 

[yeahsci]

And poof...just like that it's gone again after they changed the store around. I was just about to buy one for myself.

 

[thecloud]

And poof...just like that it's gone again after they changed the store around. I was just about to buy one for myself.

Well, that blows. They had been available for over a week last time I checked.

The new page has a drop-down menu but it currently only shows these options: 14-30, 14-50, 5-15, 5-20, 6-50.

Paging @supratachophobia !

 

[supratachophobia]

Well, that blows. They had been available for over a week last time I checked.

The new page has a drop-down menu but it currently only shows these options: 14-30, 14-50, 5-15, 5-20, 6-50.

Paging @supratachophobia !

Can't borrow mine, I still haven't received my non-fire hazard replacements for my personal collection yet.....

 

[SoCalLawyer]

I think I know why it keeps on disappearing, many people including myself who have purchased the unit believed it would fit a 10-30 "old dryer" plug, however - Derek is correct you still need an Adapter to connect the 14-30 (Tesla Adapter) to an old 10-30 plug. Per Tesla's charging specs, they only recommend the newer 14-30 plug as it has a Ground wire versus the old 10-30 plugs which do not. Overall, lots of confusion causes a lot of returns and more importantly, Tesla believes it's not safe to use an ungrounded outlet.

 

[CmdrThor]

I think I know why it keeps on disappearing, many people including myself who have purchased the unit believed it would fit a 10-30 "old dryer" plug, however - Derek is correct you still need an Adapter to connect the 14-30 (Tesla Adapter) to an old 10-30 plug. Per Tesla's charging specs, they only recommend the newer 14-30 plug as it has a Ground wire versus the old 10-30 plugs which do not. Overall, lots of confusion causes a lot of returns and more importantly, Tesla believes it's not safe to use an ungrounded outlet.

NEMA 10-30 has a ground so I don't know why Tesla would think it is unsafe to use.

 

[yeahsci]

NEMA 10-30 has a ground so I don't know why Tesla would think it is unsafe to use.

NEMA 10-30 has neutral but no ground.

 

[CmdrThor]

NEMA 10-30 has neutral but no ground.

Right you are. For some reason I was thinking it was hot-hot-ground like NEMA 6 receptacles.

 

[thecloud]

And someone at Tesla must be paying attention to this thread... the drop-down menu on the store page now shows 10-30.

@dchan81 , order it quickly before it's gone!

 

[GSP]

Apparently, one of the chargers at Old Faithful is a 10-30 (there is a 14-50 as well).

.

Are you sure it isn't a TT-30. They are what "30 Amp" RVs use, and are only 120 Volts.

GSP

 

[supratachophobia]

Are you sure it isn't a TT-30. They are what "30 Amp" RVs use, and are only 120 Volts.

GSP

Very likely a tt-30 if it's a camp ground

 

[deonb]

Apparently, one of the chargers at Old Faithful is a 10-30 (there is a 14-50 as well).

That seems unlikely. If there is a -30 paired with a 14-50 it will be a TT30, not a 10-30.

14-50 with TT30 is a very common pair in national parks. 14-50 with 10-30 is pretty much nonsensical anywhere.

Unfortunately Tesla has never shipped a TT30 adapter for some reason. The engineers need to come out of Silicon Valley for a while and visit the gorgeous national & state parks around them to see what's going on in the world.

 

[supratachophobia]

That seems unlikely. If there is a -30 paired with a 14-50 it will be a TT30, not a 10-30.

14-50 with TT30 is a very common pair in national parks. 14-50 with 10-30 is pretty much nonsensical anywhere.

Unfortunately Tesla has never shipped a TT30 adapter for some reason. The engineers need to come out of Silicon Valley for a while and visit the gorgeous national & state parks around them to see what's going on in the world.

You can make one easily and safely, but it is much preferred to pair it to your 14-30 so you never have to remember to dial down the amperages.