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Charging the Roadster

Discussion in 'Roadster 2008-2012' started by malcolm, Sep 14, 2008.

  1. GSP

    GSP Member

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    #101 GSP, Jan 31, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2009
    My "Roadster wishlist" has several items related to charging.


    7) SAE/DIN standardized charging connector that can be used at any public recharge point worldwide.

    SAE's J1772 committee is working on a spec for this. I think they are talking to their counterparts in the EU, Japan, China, etc. Hopefully they can agree on a worldwide standard, since that would lower costs and be better for customers.​

    8) optional high voltage DC fast charge connector for 3-phase external charger

    Hopefully the 600v, 550 ADC standard that I posted here http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/technical/1381-charging-station-standards-7.html#post20420 will be accepted for fast high voltage DC external chargers. Cars could be equipped with two standard charge points. One to provide AC (probably only single phase) to an on-board charger, the other to provide DC directly to the battery from an external charger. Like the iMiEV.​

    9) V2G communications to allow utility to control charging (but no power to grid)

    Hopefully SAE, EPRI, the EU, etc can agree on worldwide standard protocols for vehicle to charger to grid interfaces for both on-board chargers, and off-board "45-60 min" chargers.​

    10) Mobile charge connector with 110v 15A, 220v 30A, 220v 50A, and 220v70A capability for $500 or less.

    In addition to plugs that work with 110v and 220v outlets found in households, RV parks, golf courses, etc. It also would be good to have plug(s) for the IEC 60309 connector system, as suggested by dpeilow.​

    GSP
     
  2. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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    Right, a way around needing a relay on your cord (and part of general electrical safety) is to plug the cord into your device before you plug it into the outlet. Of course not everyone does that. I guess that that pilot signal is needed to close a relay inside the car (that clunk you hear), and to tell the car how much current is available.

    I'm curious how charging works with the 120V cable (MC120) my only guess is that the circuit for that pilot signal, if present, is embedded in the Tesla connector, since the GFCI plug and cable are an off the shelf item.
    3115372670_40f93370ab_m.jpg 3115176646_d747ce6fc5_m.jpg

    The vendor appears to be North Shore Safety Ltd, maybe part of their LineGard Plus GFCI series.
    [​IMG]

    Still waiting for word on when the 240V mobile connector (MC240) will be available. I'm curious as to why it's limited to 30 amps, instead of say 50. Is that part of the same legal restrictions that have been mentioned before? If Tesla is using the same vendor, it looks like of the portable 240V GFCI units they have, the highest available current rating is 30 amps, and perhaps that's a reason for the limitation.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. vfx

    vfx Well-Known Member

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    Maybe so they can sell another one in 6 months.
     
  4. TEG

    TEG Teslafanatic

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    30 amp circuits are much more common than the higher current ones.
     
  5. donauker

    donauker Member

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    This is true around the normal home, but the mobile high power connector description lists it as having a NEMA 14-50 plug. This means that the circuit will need to be a 50 amp circuit so by regulation this device could draw 40 amps. This is also by far the most available 230 volt connector when traveling. There are hundreds of thousands in RV parks all over the country.
     
  6. TEG

    TEG Teslafanatic

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    Well, if you use one of those Avcon to NEMA14-50 adapter boxes, it still isn't safe to draw a whole lot more than 30 amps because they generally have 40 amp breakers behind them. Even though the NEMA 14-50 connector can support up to 50amps you have to consider other regulations, standards and "lowest common denominator" breakers.

    My RangerEV draws [email protected] (7.68kW) and was following some sort of "Level 2" charging standards.

    Some related info here:

    Charging Station Notes
    Ev Archive for August 1999
    PFC-50 testing ...

    How to Size a Circuit Breaker | eHow.com
    (So with 40 amp breakers it is only considered safe to draw 32amps.)
     
  7. dpeilow

    dpeilow Moderator

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    #107 dpeilow, Feb 15, 2009
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2009
  8. graham

    graham Active Member

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    So this parking structure is apparently about 160 miles from my house (theoretically within Roadster driving range). I wonder how long a charger such as this would take to fully recharge a Roadster?

    8 hours? 16 hours? If I ever wanted to take a Roadster on a really slow trip to Southern California, this charger might make it possible. Maybe 1 night in SLO, and a second night in Santa Barbara or something.
     
  9. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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  10. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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    #110 doug, Feb 16, 2009
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2009
  11. DaveD

    DaveD EVs Kick Gas!

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    #111 DaveD, Feb 16, 2009
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2009
    Clipper Creek HPC unboxing

    These are taken with my crappy cell phone camera. I'll try to get some better pics soon.

    I'll also get the printed documentation scanned and posted soon.

    3285864388_f5634c522a_b.jpg

    3285045537_9a66f49edd_b.jpg

    3285864464_228c2a0c0c_b.jpg
    Green Button label: Charge, Red button label: Stop

    3285864504_93aa99ed19_b.jpg
     
  12. Palpatine

    Palpatine Banned

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    What are the improvements from the new version of the HPC from Clipper Creek vs the original verision of the HPC?
     
  13. vfx

    vfx Well-Known Member

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    Three thousand dollars? :rolleyes:
     
  14. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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    #114 doug, Feb 16, 2009
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2009
    Interesting, Dave, that you got a Clipper Creek HPC, and Todd got a Tesla one when your delivery time was essentially the same. Perhaps he got one of the last Tesla made units.

    I don't think Clipper Creak one will have as many safety interlocks?



    .
     
  15. Joseph

    Joseph Member

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    Which charger is Tesla giving to customers? Clipper's or Tesla's HPC?

    (No wonder their charger isn't economical if they're producing two different ones a the same time!)

    Elon complained that the Tesla's connector/cable/whatever just itself was $$$ because of its low volume; is Clipper's connector/cable/whatever different? Are their capabilities different?

    Is Tesla going to phase out their old charger or what?
     
  16. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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    #116 doug, Feb 16, 2009
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2009
    I thought you answered your own question here:

    Both are going to customers, but I think Tesla stopped making their own and will just use Clipper Creek as a vendor. Interesting to finally see a Tesla branded Clipper Creek one.

    Btw, the folks at EVcast did an interview with Dave Packard (not the HP guy) from Clipper Creek last week. You can hear it here: EVcast #176: Charging Stations, VW, and Dog Seizures
     
  17. dpeilow

    dpeilow Moderator

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    Is this new type able to be installed outside, like their AVCON counterparts seemed to be? I presume it was one of these that we could see in the reflection on the Smart.
     
  18. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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    More photos of the Tesla branded Clipper Creek HPC:

    Front and back:
    3286256215_23295f157f.jpg 3287072830_0fc82640e5.jpg

    View from underneath:
    3286258071_98f61aaa08.jpg

    Side view:
    3287074914_1ea7ff4473_o.jpg
     
  19. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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    #119 doug, Feb 17, 2009
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2009
    Tesla branded Clipper Creek HPC internals.

    3286256847_8a5c089680_o.jpg

    from another angle:
    3287074172_bca6821257_o.jpg


    Both sides of the PCB:
    3287075194_d3745d3e30.jpg 3287073452_f8202221c8.jpg

    Compare with the original Tesla HPC.
     
  20. doug

    doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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    The construction of the box suggests yes, a possible advantage for some owners.
     

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