Charging on 110v outlet and cold weather

[Bednarz42]

Does charging on a standard 110v outlet become impossible in cold weather. I’ve noticed over the last week when I’ve been plugged into a standard 110v and temperature dips into the 30’s that charging basically doesn’t happen. My car is currently 87% charged, but the app is telling me it’s gonna be 24+ hours to get to 90%.

Is the car using whatever energy it’s pulling to keep the battery somewhat warm?

 

[ucmndd]

Is the car using whatever energy it’s pulling to keep the battery somewhat warm?

Yes. 120v, particularly at 12 amps with the included 5-15 adapter, isn’t gonna cut it near freezing.

 

[glide]

Does charging on a standard 110v outlet become impossible in cold weather. I’ve noticed over the last week when I’ve been plugged into a standard 110v and temperature dips into the 30’s that charging basically doesn’t happen. My car is currently 87% charged, but the app is telling me it’s gonna be 24+ hours to get to 90%.

Is the car using whatever energy it’s pulling to keep the battery somewhat warm?

Yep. The car is losing more energy keeping the pack warm than you are able to pump into it from a 110 outlet.

 

[SSedan]

It is possible that at marginal temps the pack could warm up enough and begin to actually charge, but winter just started and it will get colder

 

[Pianewman]

It is possible that at marginal temps the pack could warm up enough and begin to actually charge, but winter just started and it will get colder

Re-read posts 2 and 3. Even in marginal temps (whatever THAT means??? 40f?45f?) it's not going to work as quickly as during 65-75f temps.

 

[gavine]

From my experience in sub-freezing temps, the car will start charging after about an hour on 120V outlet. After the hour, it starts to ramp-up and will eventually get to you 4 or 5 MPH rate. I'm sure there's a low temperature point at which the 120V will never be able to provide enough power to warm the battery for charging but just-below freezing worked for me.

 

[SSedan]

At 40f the pack doesn't need heating for 120volt charging.
I was talking closer to freezing. Plugging in while the pack is still warm from driving will help, might even let you charge some below freezing.

I agree I should have been clearer about marginal temps here where an average uear swings from -15f to 95f my definition will be different than Ft. Worth or L.A.

 

[Pianewman]

SSedan...I figured that. Just yanking your chain a bit...

 

[Rocky_H]

Does charging on a standard 110v outlet become impossible in cold weather.

This depends greatly on what you think the word "cold" means.

I’ve been plugged into a standard 110v and temperature dips into the 30’s that charging basically doesn’t happen.

Well, that's if you plug it in and just look at it for the next few minutes, it will look like nothing is happening. But it's not going to stay that way.

From my experience in sub-freezing temps, the car will start charging after about an hour on 120V outlet. After the hour, it starts to ramp-up and will eventually get to you 4 or 5 MPH rate. I'm sure there's a low temperature point at which the 120V will never be able to provide enough power to warm the battery for charging but just-below freezing worked for me.

This. It is using all the energy at first to warm up the battery, but after some period of time, it will get warm enough to begin charging. If you start to get into like below 0 temperatures, it's just losing heat so fast that the 120V source just won't be able to warm it up fast enough to get there, so it won't work then. But in the 30's and probably 20's it will work, but will take maybe an hour or two before actually starting to charge.

 

[Bednarz42]

Thanks all.

I was getting a little nervous about relying on the 110 for travel in the winter. I’ve personally noticed both scenarios so far....

1. Car initially takes all the 110 energy to warm the battery then eventually begins to add about 1.5 kw’s an hour.
2. I’ve also noticed the car “tread energy” for 6-7 hours when the temp was in the 20’s. Not adding any percentage to the battery.

Planning to travel to Stratton, VT for Presidents’ Day weekend where I expect overnight temps to be in the teens or single digits at that time. Somewhat concerned about relying on 110 to charge there. Closest supercharger is pretty far.

 

[Rocky_H]

Planning to travel to Stratton, VT for Presidents’ Day weekend where I expect overnight temps to be in the teens or single digits at that time. Somewhat concerned about relying on 110 to charge there. Closest supercharger is pretty far.

Hmm, yeah, with temperatures in teens or single digits, I don't think that will work much if at all, and I would not rely on that. There's not much in Stratton, but I see on Plugshare that there are several decent charging options in Manchester, fairly close by, if you can somehow arrange part of a day there to leave the car charging for a few hours.

 

[Hydrocarbon302]

Back when I drove a 6.0 Ford Power Stoke diesel in Colorado if the temps dropped below freezing I would plug in the block heater into a 15a standard outlet overnight. In the morning, even at 0F, my edge insight would read coolant temp of 140f before starting.

I wonder why the Tesla battery heating system can’t keep the temps up to at least 60f and leave a bit left over for charging? Does the battery have that much more heat loss then a 6 liter iron engine block?

 

[DaveORD]

Back when I drove a 6.0 Ford Power Stoke diesel in Colorado if the temps dropped below freezing I would plug in the block heater into a 15a standard outlet overnight. In the morning, even at 0F, my edge insight would read coolant temp of 140f before starting.

I wonder why the Tesla battery heating system can’t keep the temps up to at least 60f and leave a bit left over for charging? Does the battery have that much more heat loss then a 6 liter iron engine block?

Surface area? That engine block is much more compact and perhaps shielded better?

 

[SSedan]

Engine was probably 200+ when parked

 

[2101Guy]

Hmm, yeah, with temperatures in teens or single digits, I don't think that will work much if at all, and I would not rely on that. There's not much in Stratton, but I see on Plugshare that there are several decent charging options in Manchester, fairly close by, if you can somehow arrange part of a day there to leave the car charging for a few hours.

And in a pinch, there is this Tesla destination charger that appears to be close by?

289 Handle Rd, Mt Snow, VT 05356

Drop it off there for a few hours to fully charge (with permission of the destination place) then Uber back to pick it up

 

[jcanoe]

Thanks all.

I was getting a little nervous about relying on the 110 for travel in the winter. I’ve personally noticed both scenarios so far....

1. Car initially takes all the 110 energy to warm the battery then eventually begins to add about 1.5 kw’s an hour.
2. I’ve also noticed the car “tread energy” for 6-7 hours when the temp was in the 20’s. Not adding any percentage to the battery.

Planning to travel to Stratton, VT for Presidents’ Day weekend where I expect overnight temps to be in the teens or single digits at that time. Somewhat concerned about relying on 110 to charge there. Closest supercharger is pretty far.

1.44kW is the maximum power you can draw from a standard 120V/15A circuit when charging. The charging amperage is limited to 80% of 15 amps; so 12 amps.

 

[SmartElectric]

Canadian reporting in.

Charged our Model S on 120V for a year in cold weather, below -10C the car never added any range, needed to make a stop at local supercharger to boost battery temps on truly cold days or otherwise drive the car very very hard to warm battery sufficient so 120V would add charge.

Even on 240V 24A (10-30 30A receptacle) our Model S would have trouble adding range on -25C nights (happens only a few times per year). The battery heater takes 6kW peak on it's own, so you need to be charging at 30A or more to add range.

Highly recommend installing a 14-50 40A receptacle dedicated to your car when you get a chance.

 

[SmartElectric]

120V charging tips.

Ensure the car is set to charge always, no scheduled charging. When you arrive home from driving, plug in right away, battery will generally be warm enough to charge.

If the yellow dotted lines or dreaded blue snow flake battery icon are showing, the car may heat the battery before starting.

 

[newcarbuyer123]

Does charging on a standard 110v outlet become impossible in cold weather. I’ve noticed over the last week when I’ve been plugged into a standard 110v and temperature dips into the 30’s that charging basically doesn’t happen. My car is currently 87% charged, but the app is telling me it’s gonna be 24+ hours to get to 90%.

Is the car using whatever energy it’s pulling to keep the battery somewhat warm?

Something definitely changes at cold temps. I was charging from a 110V outlet a bunch of times, no issue, then recently when charging from the same outlet, the circuit breaker tripped. Only difference I know of this time, it was colder (around 30F).

 

[jcanoe]

Something definitely changes at cold temps. I was charging from a 110V outlet a bunch of times, no issue, then recently when charging from the same outlet, the circuit breaker tripped. Only difference I know of this time, it was colder (around 30F).

It would most likely be an issue with the 120V receptacle and wiring or the power plug connection. At 120V the Tesla vehicle should never draw more than 12 amps while charging using a 15 amp circuit.