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CCS Adapter for North America

Discussion in 'Supercharging & Charging Infrastructure' started by Can37, Sep 8, 2019.

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  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Active Member

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    Can you post the address and/or Plugshare link to that station?

    Blink is not known for maintaining their equipment properly and it seems they've taken over some locations that used to be owned/managed by other providers (e.g. Blink Charging Acquires U-Go Charging and its Portfolio of EV Charging Stations). That software looks just like what I've seen on EVgo BTC FatBoy DC FCs which I've personally had very mixed experiences with in terms of charger reliability with my Bolt (and it's definitely NOT my car).
     
  2. RandyS

    RandyS Fan of Elon

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    I tried again to charge today with the adapter on my 2013 Model S and received the same error messages as I did yesterday with my Model 3. I have sent Setec an email asking to start the refund process, and if they don't cooperate, then I'll contact PayPal and open a dispute. My expectations are higher than zero success with four tries and two cars.

    I will post here with more information as it develops...My advice to others is not to buy this adapter for now...
     
    • Informative x 6
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  3. SageBrush

    SageBrush REJECT Fascism

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    No tech support ?
     
  4. RandyS

    RandyS Fan of Elon

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    Decided not to pursue that. This is obviously a bigger issue than "you plugged it in wrong"...It's pretty clear that they didn't do any testing here in the US before marketing the adapter or they would have seen these errors right up front. I'm not interested in being a firmware guinea pig with multiple trips to the charging station for testing, etc (I paid a lot for the adapter and just expected it to work). Plus, there's also the possibility of something going wrong in the troubleshooting and firmware tweaking process and damaging the car when using a non-functional adapter multiple times. It's just not worth the risk and time to me...
     
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  5. henderrj

    henderrj Member

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    I'm confused. I thought the latch was part of the car, not part of the connector that goes into the car. Do I have that wrong?
     
  6. MP3Mike

    MP3Mike Well-Known Member

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    Yes, but the adapter essentially becomes the car and has to be able to lock the CCS cable in itself.
     
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  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Active Member

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    He's talking about something to lock the CCS plug/handle to the adapter in the same way the charging lock is on (above) the round portion of a CCS inlet.

    See 2nd and 3rd videos at Tesla needs to move to CCS in North America for what the silver-colored metal piece that theoertically locks the handle to the car on my Bolt.
     
    • Like x 1
  8. Boeingpilot

    Boeingpilot Member

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    Rutters in Mountville PA - former EVGo charger
     
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  9. Boeingpilot

    Boeingpilot Member

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    Let us know what Setec says..
     
  10. cwerdna

    cwerdna Active Member

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    Thanks!

    Wasn't showing up unless I turned on CHAdeMO on Plugshare, so it's incorrectly marked now.

    I'm guessing it's PlugShare - Find Electric Vehicle Charging Locations Near You at 3849 Hempland Rd, Mountville, PA 17554, USA? Someone w/a Bolt checked in on 12/28/20 saying it works.
     
    • Informative x 1
  11. henderrj

    henderrj Member

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    Okay, that's embarrassingly obvious!
     
  12. cwerdna

    cwerdna Active Member

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    ^^^
    Sorry about my typos. Anyway, that metal piece (lock) doesn't move if you just L1 or L2 charge over J1772. GM vehicles don't lock J1772 handles to their cars.
     
  13. Ingineer

    Ingineer Electrical Engineer

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    Yes, the lock is only required for DC. If you open an AC circuit, the current stops flowing 120 times a second (in the US), so this generally helps break any arcs, whereas on DC this is not the case. Having an explosion/fire start if someone unplugs the connector doesn't sound like good outcome. I don't think Setec knows what they are doing.
     
    • Informative x 3
  14. MP3Mike

    MP3Mike Well-Known Member

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    Is there some reason you think they don't have the lock?
     
  15. cwerdna

    cwerdna Active Member

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    #475 cwerdna, Dec 29, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
    I don't see any sort of lock from glancing thru the pics from jmbloom_m3p (posts 439 and 440). if it were present, it'd expect it to above the part the SAE Combo handle latches onto.

    That said, I was surprised when I pressed the trigger on the SAE Combo handle attached to my Bolt (2nd video of Tesla needs to move to CCS in North America) that I was actually able to (as opposed to being mechanically blocked). The DC FCing stopped and the Bolt's charging lock released. I'd never done that before and figured it'd be mechanically blocked.

    On other vehicles (non-GM) which lock the J1772 handle to the car when AC charging (e.g. some e-Golfs, HyunKias, BMW i3, BMW 3 and 5-series PHEVs, Volvo PHEVs, and a few others), there isn't usually enough upwards allowed tang movement to trigger the proximity switch in the J1772 handle, let alone the ability to disconnect. Those cars mechanically block the tang via a pin that extends or other mechanism.

    I can't speak to the behavior of those cars on DC FCs, where applicable. We don't have DC FCs at my work, only (tons of) L2 EVSEs + Tesla wall connectors + some NEMA 5-20 plugs under another building.
     
  16. RandyS

    RandyS Fan of Elon

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    Refund in progress via PayPal...

    Note: Setec website has changed. When I ordered in early December, price was $660 delivered. Now it says price is $980 and it is on sale for $660 through 1/1/21. Recommend not purchasing until issues are resolved and adapter is proven to work...
     
    • Informative x 1
  17. Can37

    Can37 Member

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    There is no need for a lock, just a place for the charger side connection to latch to. The charger cuts the current when you press the latch release. Not all cars lock the connector for DC charging, but they all latch.
     
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  18. Saghost

    Saghost Well-Known Member

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    I have been told that with the voltage and current levels involved, the cutoff systems available may not be able to act quickly enough to ensure safety without the locking mechanisms.
     
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  19. mspohr

    mspohr Well-Known Member

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    Probably best to have a physical lock to prevent disconnection of the plug with power applied. You're dealing with high voltage and current (even with L2) and you can get arcing, sparks, fire, disaster.
     
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  20. Ingineer

    Ingineer Electrical Engineer

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    I have actually developed with CCS. The electromechanical interlock is most definitely required. Show me a production car anywhere that doesn't have such a device on it's DCFC connector. Once the vehicle detects that current has stopped flowing it will release the interlock. Depending on the charger, pressing the release button will request an immediate charge stop. (change in proximity state)

    Again, this isn't needed for standard AC charging.
     
    • Informative x 7
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