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Hey Tesla, there is a need for that NEMA 14-30 adapter still!

Discussion in 'Tesla, Inc.' started by supratachophobia, May 12, 2016.

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As a Model S/3/X owner, how would I use a NEMA 14-30 adapter (now discontinued)?

  1. I need to use the 14-30 adapter as my primary charging option.

    24.2%
  2. I need to use the 14-30 adapter on trips/destinations where the only other option is NEMA 5-15/20.

    39.7%
  3. I would like a 14-30 adapter "just in case".

    42.9%
  4. I have no interest in a 14-30 adapter.... yet.

    11.9%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. SdpLV

    SdpLV Member

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    Glad I was able to pick up the 14-30.
    We unplug our dryer, and run the 14-30 w/ UMC from our laundry nook out to the garage. Works well when we need a higher charge rate.
     
    • Like x 1
  2. supratachophobia

    supratachophobia Active Member

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    Higher charge rate is better for battery health and pack balancing I do believe. Might want to get something more permanent.
     
  3. hill

    hill Active Member

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    link, that gives that belief?
    .
     
  4. supratachophobia

    supratachophobia Active Member

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    All the Jeff Dahn lectures, efficiency of AC to DC conversion, anecdotal evidence from owners with dual-chargers that charge at 40amps and up have less overall degradation (adjusted for supercharger use).
     
  5. bjb77833

    bjb77833 New Member

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    :ast Spring I saw the 14-30 adapter listed in the owners manual and my electrician installed a 20amp circuit in my garage. I have been happily charging at 30 amps ever since.
     
  6. thecloud

    thecloud As rhythm raced inside, the ship came alive

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    That's great! I would have expected your garage to catch fire if you were charging at 30 amps on a 20 amp circuit! :eek:

    (The 14-30 adapter limits its charging draw to 80%, or 24 amps maximum. Are you sure the electrician didn't install either a 30 amp or 50 amp circuit? Those would be more common.)
     
    • Like x 2
    • Love x 2
  7. Rocky_H

    Rocky_H Well-Known Member

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    Error--please try again.
     
  8. wws

    wws Member

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    If anyone from Tesla is reading this, here is a suggestion: Elide the neutral blade from the 14-30 adapter plug. It would allow the 14-30 adapter to also plug into a 14-50 (and the very rare 14-60). Yet since it will always set charging to 24 amps max, it is safe in all cases. It would also save a few pennies on manufacturing costs.
     
  9. Rocky_H

    Rocky_H Well-Known Member

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    You are right that it would work. As a matter of fact, I had already done that with my hacksaw here at home and cut the neutral pin off my 14-30 adapter so I can use it with the 14-50 extension cord I have.

    But I would expect that it will be a no-go to think that Tesla could officially sell them that way. Principally because NEMA is an official standard that defines what things are called. And Tesla would not be allowed to sell an adapter that is referred to as a 14-30 if it does not conform to the 14-30 standard and have that pin. The small company EVSEAdapters has a few adapter parts and extension cords that they refer to as "14-XX", which are missing that neutral pin, as you suggest, so they can work in any of the 14-30, 50, 60 outlets.
     
    • Like x 4
  10. dgpcolorado

    dgpcolorado high altitude member

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    Yes. Anybody with a hacksaw and a vise can make the modification in a couple of minutes. I did:
    14-30 adapter with neutral pin removed2352crop 3-26-20.JPG
    I use it on my home 14-50 outlet as well as with the TT-30P to 14-50R adapter that I use with "30 amp" RV pedestals at campgrounds, so that it automatically limits current to 24 amps. Works fine.
     
    • Like x 3
    • Informative x 1
  11. wws

    wws Member

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    I actually do it the other way around. I bought a TT-30 adapter from evseadapters. Then use TT-30 parts and cables - both at 120V and 240V (with the 6-30 in my garage). The off-the-shelf TT-30 extension cord I bought is rated at 600V, and only three conductors instead of the four that would be needed for a 14-series version. So cheaper, lighter, and much easier to handle.
     
    • Like x 1
  12. dgpcolorado

    dgpcolorado high altitude member

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    That is a clever way to use a readily available three wire extension cord!

    The 20 foot cable on the MC has always been long enough that I have never needed an extension cord. You must have some unusual charging situations to need one.

    Now that EVSEadapters.com has a TT-30 adapter that fits a gen2 MC, that is the way to go. I got my TT-30P to 14-50R adapter four years ago when that was all that was available to make a gen1 UMC work at "30 amp" campground RV pedestals. Since my old adapter works fine, I see no reason to replace it.

    For most people here, the real advantage of cutting the neutral pin off of a 14-30 adapter is that it will then work on both 14-30 dryer outlets and the ubiquitous 14-50 outlets, albeit limited to 24 amps x 240 volts = 5.76 kW. That's fast enough for easy overnight charging.
     
  13. supratachophobia

    supratachophobia Active Member

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    Why the vice? Use your hand and live on the edge.
     
    • Funny x 3
    • Love x 1
  14. wws

    wws Member

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    Finally getting around to responding on this - though it is slightly off topic from 14-30s...

    The few times I've done car charging at RV campgrounds, I've been able to use 14-50s for charging. However I still ended up using the TT-30 extension cord - but for my laptop. Off-the-shelf 5-15<->TT-30 and 5-20<->TT-30 adapters are readily available for cheap in the RV world. So I plugged the TT-30 extension into the TT-30 in the electrical pedestal, then used a TT-30P->5-15R adapter for my laptop. No need to carry a second extension cord for 5-15 or 5-20.

    I also have a home made 6-30P->TT-30R extension that is about 50' long - in order to use the receptacle in my garage and go around a couple of other cars. I could have made both ends 6-30, and technically should have. But then I'd have to buy yet another adapter from evseadapters...

    If Tesla were to poll me on which one additional adapter they should offer, I'd have a hard time choosing between TT-30 and 6-30. But would lean towards TT-30 because of all the RV usage and cheap off-the-shelf adapters, extensions, repair parts (e.g., plugs and receptacles intended for temporary use) and so on.
     
    • Informative x 1
  15. Guvnah

    Guvnah Member

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    I don’t see the 14-30 adapter for Gen 1 on the Tesla Shop. Is it discontinued or just out of stock?
     
  16. FlatSix911

    FlatSix911 Porsche 918 Hybrid

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    It's discontinued... you can mod the 14-50 as shown above or just order the Gen-2 14-30.

    Gen 2 NEMA Adapters
     
  17. wws

    wws Member

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    Location:
    Northern California
    • Helpful x 1
    • Like x 1
  18. dgpcolorado

    dgpcolorado high altitude member

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    Yes.

    I purchased a Gen-2 MC and 14-30 adapter (modified, as shown above) because:

    1) It was surprisingly inexpensive (by EVSE standards and more than eight years of experience).
    2) The Gen-2 MC has improved safety features versus the Gen-1.
    3) I like having a spare MC to leave in the car, since I use one to charge at home, and to add redundancy for my many road trips.
     
    • Like x 1
  19. Vern Padgett

    Vern Padgett Proud and Grinning Model S90D owners

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    What circuit box do you have? 100 amps? 200 amps? Maybe time to replace it?
     
  20. Vern Padgett

    Vern Padgett Proud and Grinning Model S90D owners

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    Time for a new circuit box? Are you running 100 amps?
     

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