keep mobile connector plugged in? or unplug after use

[sonrantos]

Still waiting for my Model 3 LR but I pretty much bought all accessories I can think of. I also got Nema 14-50 outlet installed and just received the adapter that I ordered. To those who use the Gen2 mobile connector at home, do you leave the connector plugged in all the time or do you unplug it after every use?

 

[60Viking]

Tesla says a happy tesla is a plugged in Tesla. FWIW, I have an energy monitor installed in my electric panel. My mobile connector is always plugged into a Nema 14-50 outlet. It’s lights are always on. M3P plugged in, or not, this circuit only draws current when charging.

Except that it is always drawing a little current since the lights on the connector are always on.

 

[KawaC]

There is a good chance there is two different things being discussed here in this thread, both under the question of "do you leave IT plugged in or not"
=====================
Thing 1:

Do you leave the plug from the mobile connector in the wall, or do you unplug the plug from the wall each time you finish charging the car, or take the mobile connector with you all the time when you leave home?
=====================
Thing 2:

Do you plug the mobile connector into the car all the time to charge it, each time you get home?
====================


For "thing 1" (leaving the mobile connector plugged into the 14-50 socket at home, or unplugging it / taking it with you all the time). Most people will say, the answer to this one is, leave that plugged in unless you need to take the adapter with you on a trip or something. Plugging and unplugging sockets can eventually wear them out, and how fast this happens depends on what type / brand of 14-50 outlet you bought. More expensive ones last longer.

Big box store ones are generally made to be plugged in and left there (like a wall oven, or a dryer or something), so minimize unplugging the connector from the socket unless you need to take it with you.


For "Thing 2" (plug in and charge the car every time it hits your garage, or not?) Opinion on that is decidedly mixxed. The tesla manual says to plug in the car when you are not using it, but most long timers feel that is simply to minimize the chance "you might forget, then not have enough charge" to do what you need to do.

Thats a personal choice, however there is no real need to "run the car down, then charge it back up". You can plug the car in to charge it, or not, as your personal preference.

Hope that covers both of the things being discussed here in this thread, as I am not quite sure which one the OP asked, but am fairly convinced advice was being given from both "thing 1" and "thing 2" point of views.

But what I've observed is leaving the mobile charger in the wall outlet has caused the charger very warm (even hot). I've reached out to Tesla and asked for advice and was told I should unplug it when not charging the car.

 

[tm1v2]

But what I've observed is leaving the mobile charger in the wall outlet has caused the charger very warm (even hot). I've reached out to Tesla and asked for advice and was told I should unplug it when not charging the car.

@KawaC Warm when charging at a high rate, e.g. 32A+? That is normal.

Warm when not charging (and plenty of time to cool down since last charge)? That is not normal, at all. Something is very wrong with your equipment if that is happening. Is your UMC warm only when connected to a car (but the car isn't charging)? Or warm even when just plugged into the outlet without being connected into any car?

 

[KawaC]

@KawaC Warm when charging at a high rate, e.g. 32A+? That is normal.

Warm when not charging (and plenty of time to cool down since last charge)? That is not normal, at all. Something is very wrong with your equipment if that is happening. Is your UMC warm only when connected to a car (but the car isn't charging)? Or warm even when just plugged into the outlet without being connected into any car?

It stays very warm when not charging (unplug from the car). That's why I'm concerned and unplug it from the wall. Is it normal that the charger flashing green in the "TESLA" logo when not charging? Thanks

 

[tm1v2]

It stays very warm when not charging (unplug from the car). That's why I'm concerned and unplug it from the wall. Is it normal that the charger flashing green in the "TESLA" logo when not charging? Thanks

@KawaC No I don't believe that's normal at all. I have 2x gen1 and 1x gen2 UMC. None them gets or stays warm when the car isn't charging. And none of them flashes green in that scenario either that I recall.

When no car is charging, gen1 has the top green LED lit steady, and gen2 has the whole Tesla name lit steady green.

 

[Florida53]

Still waiting for my Model 3 LR but I pretty much bought all accessories I can think of. I also got Nema 14-50 outlet installed and just received the adapter that I ordered. To those who use the Gen2 mobile connector at home, do you leave the connector plugged in all the time or do you unplug it after every use?

We leave it plugged in. The light will stay on, but seems the best practice to not wear out the plug.

 

[davewill]

Thanks for the replies to my question..it remains somewhat unanswered for this 82 yr old..my question is this..”With a weatherproof 14-50 receptacle box outside, if I leave my Gen2 adapter ($45) plugged into 14-50 receptacle, (Gen2 adapter will not be connected to my Mobile cable that came with car), will Gen2 adapter be ok in rain weather?

I'd say no, not long term. It isn't designed to be exposed to the weather, and I would expect the contacts to corrode. The right way to handle this situation is either to install a wall connector, which is weather resistant, or put the ENTIRE mobile connector inside a weather resistant enclosure. Just the weather resistant outlet box is not sufficient.

 

[KawaC]

Thanks for the advices from everyone.