Using any non-Tesla EVSE has some minor drawbacks because you need Tesla's J1772 adapter and the button on the plug's handle won't open the Tesla's charge port door.
Why do people continue to keep mentioning this? For about the last 3.5 to 4 years, all cars that Tesla has made let you just touch the port door with your finger, and it will pop open.
I did specifically say that it's a
minor drawback.
Pressing the port is just as simple as pressing the button.
Not necessarily. Pressing the button can be done less awkwardly one-handed (say, if you've got something in your other hand). Also, the port may be covered in grime, whereas the button on the handle is more likely to be clean, particularly if it's in a garage.
Like I said, these are
minor points.
Zaxxon said:
It is a minor pain to use the adapter and have to pull both out each time, then stow the adapter so I can plug the J1772 back into its holster. First-world problem to be sure, though. Also a minor thing that a random passer-by can unplug your cable when using J1772 (as the adapter locks to the car, not the plug), which they cannot do with a locked Tesla cable.
A small padlock and second adapter
may be able to help with both of these issues. Many J1772 handles can be fitted with locks that can theoretically keep the handle from being removed. On my Clipper Creek, there's still enough play in the latch/button to interrupt current, which enables the combination to work much like a Tesla handle for removing the combination J1772/adapter from the car. Unfortunately, with mine, pressing hard enough on the button also enables the J1772 handle and J1772/Tesla adapter to separate, so as an anti-theft device or to prevent neighborhood pranksters from stopping your car from charging if the EVSE is mounted outside, it's pretty useless.
In terms of stowing the handle, you can either replace your EVSE's J1772 holster with a Tesla holster; or you can use an adapter, like
this one I designed.
I also often have to wake up the car in one way or another to unplug the EVSE, but I don't know if the same would be true with Tesla's EVSE.
Going back to this point, I tried charging my car on 120v using the Tesla portable EVSE the other night, and I found that the same problem exists with it -- after charging was complete and the car had gone to sleep, I couldn't remove the plug by pressing the button; I had to wake up the car to unplug it.
