Dumb question but do I leave cable plugged into NEMA 14-50 outlet? (Pics)

[Nguyenning]

Dumb question (just had NEMA 14–50 outlet installed outdoors with an outdoor covering)... Do I leave the charger plugged into the NEMA 14-50 outlet like this when not in use? Then when I need to, I’ll just connect the other end and extend to my car?

Pictures attached

 

[antoinearnau]

Not a dumb question. The way I answered it is by buying a second connector, this way I leave one connected and the other one in the car. Other than that, you could buy a very short extension, this way you unplug the connector from the wall without wearing out the connector... oh well, just an idea...

 

[eprosenx]

Dumb question (just had NEMA 14–50 outlet installed outdoors with an outdoor covering)... Do I leave the charger plugged into the NEMA 14-50 outlet like this when not in use? Then when I need to, I’ll just connect the other end and extend to my car?

Pictures attached

Optimally you would not unplug neither the NEMA 14-50 nor the connection to the UMC from the adapter on a daily basis. Neither are rated for a lot of connection cycles. It would be best to find a way to secure the UMC and leave it plugged in all the time to avoid the cycles.

If not, I would put the cycles on the nema plug since it is cheap to replace. Better than $300 for a new UMC.

 

[Nguyenning]

Optimally you would not unplug neither the NEMA 14-50 nor the connection to the UMC from the adapter on a daily basis. Neither are rated for a lot of connection cycles. It would be best to find a way to secure the UMC and leave it plugged in all the time to avoid the cycles.

If not, I would put the cycles on the nema plug since it is cheap to replace. Better than $300 for a new UMC.

So sounds like ideal option is to find a large outdoor housing unit to store the entire thing? Not sure I’ve ever seen that (Big enough to store the NEMA plug part AND the UMC)

I definitely do not want to be plugging in and unplugging this part in my picture (the NEMA plug part).... since I’ve read that’s a big no no for the outlet itself.

 

[glide]

Dumb question (just had NEMA 14–50 outlet installed outdoors with an outdoor covering)... Do I leave the charger plugged into the NEMA 14-50 outlet like this when not in use? Then when I need to, I’ll just connect the other end and extend to my car?

Pictures attached

No. That is not a good idea.

 

[ewoodrick]

So sounds like ideal option is to find a large outdoor housing unit to store the entire thing? Not sure I’ve ever seen that (Big enough to store the NEMA plug part AND the UMC)

I definitely do not want to be plugging in and unplugging this part in my picture (the NEMA plug part).... since I’ve read that’s a big no no for the outlet itself.

You may want to look at a housing for the NEMA 14-50 and something that can also hold the plug (maybe with a holder) and let the cord dangle underneath

 

[woof]

See @artsci's thread here: Tesla Outdoor Curbside Charging Station almost ready for Model S

 

[dmurphy]

You may want to look at a housing for the NEMA 14-50 and something that can also hold the plug (maybe with a holder) and let the cord dangle underneath

... and this is why I went with the HPWC instead of the 14-50 outlet. The water sealed nature of the HPWC saved me a ton of time and planning.

$300 for a mobile connector vs. $500 for HPWC was a no-brainer. $500 it is.

 

[Nguyenning]

... and this is why I went with the HPWC instead of the 14-50 outlet. The water sealed nature of the HPWC saved me a ton of time and planning.

$300 for a mobile connector vs. $500 for HPWC was a no-brainer. $500 it is.

$300 for mobile connector? It came with the car... or are you referring to something else?

 

[dmurphy]

$300 for mobile connector? It came with the car... or are you referring to something else?

That one would stay in the car. I want one with me when I drive, so I’d pickup a second charger to stay at home. Wholly uninterested in unplugging, disconnecting, coiling up, and packing away before every trip.

So that’s where the $300 would come from ...

 

[antoinearnau]

That one would stay in the car. I want one with me when I drive, so I’d pickup a second charger to stay at home. Wholly uninterested in unplugging, disconnecting, coiling up, and packing away before every trip.

So that’s where the $300 would come from ...

Did the same.

 

[dmurphy]

Did the same.

Well, I went the HPWC route instead. Since I park and charge outdoors, and the HPWC is weather sealed, that just made more sense.

 

[antoinearnau]

Well, I went the HPWC route instead. Since I park and charge outdoors, and the HPWC is weather sealed, that just made more sense.

Sounds like a good choice. However I never had any issue with the rain and snow using the mobile. But for me, the main thing is, owning a MR, there is no speed gain with the HPWC.
Now, if money wasn't an issue I would have bought it cause it certainly looks nicer and it does a cleaner set up.

 

[dmurphy]

Sounds like a good choice. However I never had any issue with the rain and snow using the mobile. But for me, the main thing is, owning a MR, there is no speed gain with the HPWC.
Now, if money wasn't an issue I would have bought it cause it certainly looks nicer and it does a cleaner set up.

For sure. I do get a little gain on charging speed with the LR (not that it really matters ...) but since I had to put a 240v circuit in anyway, it was just a question of terminating with a 14-50 outlet or the HPWC. The actual circuit cost would be the same. Since I was going to buy either another mobile charger or the HPWC, I figured I was in this far, let’s go all the way. I’m glad I did - it works well for my situation, where I need it to be. If I parked in the garage, it’d likely have been the 14-50. Just my $0.02.

 

[eprosenx]

For sure. I do get a little gain on charging speed with the LR (not that it really matters ...) but since I had to put a 240v circuit in anyway, it was just a question of terminating with a 14-50 outlet or the HPWC. The actual circuit cost would be the same. Since I was going to buy either another mobile charger or the HPWC, I figured I was in this far, let’s go all the way. I’m glad I did - it works well for my situation, where I need it to be. If I parked in the garage, it’d likely have been the 14-50. Just my $0.02.

You save about $100 on the circuit when you go wall connector vs. 14-50 since you don’t have to buy an expensive GFCI breaker.

Also the Wall Connector has a built in cable holder and holster for the end connector. You can otherwise buy a plastic piece from Tesla for this purpose. Plus you don’t need to purchase a heavy duty 14-50 receptacle.

So the net net is that buying a second UMC vs buying a wall connector is about a wash in cost (also now you have to separately buy the 14-50 UMC adapter for $35).

So yeah, Wall Connector all the way!

 

[M3BlueGeorgia]

Dumb question (just had NEMA 14–50 outlet installed outdoors with an outdoor covering)... Do I leave the charger plugged into the NEMA 14-50 outlet like this when not in use? Then when I need to, I’ll just connect the other end and extend to my car?

Pictures attached

Normally yes.

I leave my Mobile Connector plugged into the socket, except when heading out on a road trip.

 

[dmurphy]

You save about $100 on the circuit when you go wall connector vs. 14-50 since you don’t have to buy an expensive GFCI breaker.

Also the Wall Connector has a built in cable holder and holster for the end connector. You can otherwise buy a plastic piece from Tesla for this purpose. Plus you don’t need to purchase a heavy duty 14-50 receptacle.

So the net net is that buying a second UMC vs buying a wall connector is about a wash in cost (also now you have to separately buy the 14-50 UMC adapter for $35).

So yeah, Wall Connector all the way!

I agree on all counts! The one 'challenge' I had was what to do with the holster. Long story but the HPWC sits behind our fence gate; the driveway (and thus, Model 3) sits in front of it. I passed the cable thru between the corner of the house and the fence post, so instead of opening the gate and having to un-snake it thru that passageway every day, I wanted to hang the plug on the "driveway side" of the fence gate. The challenge is that I had nowhere good to mount the Tesla-branded cable holster.... needed something more compact. So I found this 3D printed holster: Tesla Model S Enclosed Charger Holder by betamax

Worked out great! The HPWC sits out of sight behind the gate, the plug is easy to reach and super convenient.