Yes I understand. It shows 12 amp draw on the screen and in the app. Nothing else was drawing from the circuit breaker either. However to my surprise the 15 amp circuit breaker tripped after a couple hours (it was getting cold at night). As I said, I had charged for hours from this exact same outdoor plug many times in the past with no issues. So what was different this time? It was much colder. I also charge from a 120V outlet (15 amp breaker) at home regularly no issues, but it never gets below 40 degrees. I think I'll dial the amps down to 10Amp next time I charge from 120v in the cold and see what happens.
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Charging on 110v outlet and cold weather
- Thread starter Bednarz42
- Start date
Condensation perhaps. Is it a GFCI outlet or circuit breaker? Was this an outdoor outlet? Were you using an extension cord? Was this using the Tesla Mobile Connector with the NEMA 5-15 power plug adapter?
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There must have been something else on the circuit drawing power.
House circuit breakers are thermo-magnetic. They will trip either magnetically from an instantaneous current surge, or thermally from long-term heat build-up with a moderate overload. The latter is less likely to occur with a cold weather.
gavine
Petrol Head turned EV Enthusiast
Slightly off-topic, but here's a video showing a breaker tripping in slow motion. It shows both overload (from heat buildup) and short-circuit trips. Definitely worth watching.
I was using the Tesla mobile connector with a 6 foot extension cord. GFCI outlet, it didn't trip, the 15 amp circuit breaker at the box tripped. Have used this same setup many times in the past, same outdoor outlet, same extension cord, nothing else drawing power from the outlet. 12A current on the screen. Charged for hours no issues.
BUT colder outside this time, around 30F. I wonder if using an extension cord in the cold increases the power draw just enough to trip the 15 amp circuit breaker. Next time will try it without the extension cord or lower the current draw to 10Amp on the screen.
The fact that you were using an extension cord, regardless of length, creates an additional interconnect. Since you stated that no other appliances, etc. are on this circuit I don't believe that the circuit was overloaded after charging for some time. What may have happened is condensation formed, most likely at the connection between the extension cord and the Mobile connector. Unless you say otherwise the extension cord and the Mobile Connector were laying on the ground where the air can be coldest. Like dew forming on a lawn the moisture from the night air settled on the extension cord and the Mobile Connector. Some moisture got into the connection and created a short circuit. This would immediately trip the circuit breaker (but not the GFCI as there was no ground fault.) If you have no other means of charging invest in a waterproof junction box like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-C...r+Tool,+Fountain,+Black&qid=1617653403&sr=8-1
