Mobile Connector not working with 14-50 adapter (Gen 1)

[JSD17]

Hey guys,

Recently purchased a 2012 Model S. It came with the mobile connector and the standard NEMA 5-15 adapter and a 14-50 adapter. The connector works with the 5-15 adapter, getting about 6-7KM/H (Canada). However, when I try to connect it to my 14-50 adapter, I get 4 flashing red lights. I thought this had to do with the grounding or if the outlet was not installed correctly. However, today I had a friend come over with his dad's adapter for his Model 3 (second gen) and it was green. We couldn't test it on the car unfortunately because he didn't have the Model 3 and my Model S wasn't there, but it seems it would work.

What could the issue be with the connector. It still works fine with 5-15, so I am wondering if it is an outlet issue, an adapter issue, or a connector issue. I have tried connecting the 14-50 adapter + connector on other outlets around my house (removing the stove) and it has the same flashing lights. Tesla indicates 4 lights means "The ground assurance monitoring circuit has detected loss of ground"

How would you recommend proceeding?

 

[DerbyDave]

If you have GFCI power outlets, try using the mobile connector with a non-GFCI power outlet. This can cause problems with the mobile connector ground detection.

 

[ShawnA]

Hi @JSD17 ,

Did you use your friend's 14-50 adapter on your mobile connector??? If you did your 14-50 adapter is likely bad.
Or did you plug his mobile connector with his 14-50 connector into your outlets??? If you did it could mean your
mobile connector is bad or your 14-50 adapter is bad...

Shawn

 

[JSD17]

Hi @JSD17 ,

Did you use your friend's 14-50 adapter on your mobile connector??? If you did your 14-50 adapter is likely bad.
Or did you plug his mobile connector with his 14-50 connector into your outlets??? If you did it could mean your
mobile connector is bad or your 14-50 adapter is bad...

Shawn

No, I did not use his adapter as his adapter (and connector) is second gen and mine is first gen. So I'm unsure if it is the adapter. I plugged his adapter + connector into the outlet. So it can be either my connector or 14-50 adapter. However, 5-15 works with mine so I don't know if that means the connector is fine or if it is possible for one to work and not the other.

If you have GFCI power outlets, try using the mobile connector with a non-GFCI power outlet. This can cause problems with the mobile connector ground detection.

I am unsure if I do, I will look into it. Is there any way to determine if it is versus isn't easily? Not too familiar with how to determine that.

 

[ShawnA]

Hi @JSD17 ,

Thank you for your response.
I was not trying to be difficult, it's just these things are complicated and to give good
advice we need good information...

At this point I would check if you are comfortable, and can be safe, to determine if you have a
good grounding connection in your house and in your panel.
Can you safely remove the cover of your main electric panel to see if a ground wire is connected???
Does that ground wire connect to s metal stake outside of the house or a water pipe???

If not,, other choices are to take your UMC-1 to a campground or to a Tesla Service Center or the friend's house
plug it in and see if the lights are green or red...
If they are green the problem is in your house grounding system.
If they are red - You are back to the 14-50 adapter or more likely that the UMC-1 is now bad...

Good luck,

Shawn

 

[DerbyDave]

GFCI circuits have at least one outlet in the circuit with a reset and test button on it to test that gfci is working.

 

[JSD17]

Hi @JSD17 ,

Thank you for your response.
I was not trying to be difficult, it's just these things are complicated and to give good
advice we need good information...

At this point I would check if you are comfortable, and can be safe, to determine if you have a
good grounding connection in your house and in your panel.
Can you safely remove the cover of your main electric panel to see if a ground wire is connected???
Does that ground wire connect to s metal stake outside of the house or a water pipe???

If not,, other choices are to take your UMC-1 to a campground or to a Tesla Service Center or the friend's house
plug it in and see if the lights are green or red...
If they are green the problem is in your house grounding system.
If they are red - You are back to the 14-50 adapter or more likely that the UMC-1 is now bad...

Good luck,

Shawn

Hey, no worries. I appreciate the help. I'm just not that well versed in the electrical wiring side but I will definitely look into it.

I'm curious though, if my friend's Gen 2 connector works, doesn't that completely eliminate the possibility of it being an outlet issue? I would think it's probably either an adapter issue or a connector issue if his works. Unless they changed certain things which would make it possible for a Gen 2 connector to work on the same outlet that a Gen 1 cannot?

I want to find a way to isolate the issue so that I know what the problem is. Maybe I could take it to Tesla and have them test it. I already took my vehicle to them once and they said they would test it, but never obviously did.

GFCI circuits have at least one outlet in the circuit with a reset and test button on it to test that gfci is working.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the fact that my friend's Gen 2 charger showed green lights eliminate the possibility it could be a GFCI circuit issue? Unless Gen 1 and Gen 2 have different issues when it comes to that.

 

[DerbyDave]

Hey, no worries. I appreciate the help. I'm just not that well versed in the electrical wiring side but I will definitely look into it.

I'm curious though, if my friend's Gen 2 connector works, doesn't that completely eliminate the possibility of it being an outlet issue? I would think it's probably either an adapter issue or a connector issue if his works. Unless they changed certain things which would make it possible for a Gen 2 connector to work on the same outlet that a Gen 1 cannot?

I want to find a way to isolate the issue so that I know what the problem is. Maybe I could take it to Tesla and have them test it. I already took my vehicle to them once and they said they would test it, but never obviously did.



Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the fact that my friend's Gen 2 charger showed green lights eliminate the possibility it could be a GFCI circuit issue? Unless Gen 1 and Gen 2 have different issues when it comes to that.

GFCI probably is not the issue.

 

[ShawnA]

Hi @JSD17 ,

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter which is a circuit breaker of sorts agreed - probably not an issue.

That does NOT mean that your house ground is good.
I know Toronto is not an easy place to get around but PLEASE plug it in somewhere that is not your house...

Also start making a backup plan - Replace with GEN-1 or GEN-2 ???
Check out your service center and there are always many of both generations on eBay.

Good luck,

Shawn

 

[Rocky_H]

If you have GFCI power outlets, try using the mobile connector with a non-GFCI power outlet.

He already did:

I have tried connecting the 14-50 adapter + connector on other outlets around my house (removing the stove)

Stoves are not on GFCI breakers.

GFCI circuits have at least one outlet in the circuit with a reset and test button on it to test that gfci is working.

Well not always. These can be done either of two ways. The GFCI may be in one of the outlets, and then it has a normal breaker (what you are thinking of), or it is the other way--with a GFCI breaker and then normal outlets--never both.

I'm curious though, if my friend's Gen 2 connector works, doesn't that completely eliminate the possibility of it being an outlet issue? I would think it's probably either an adapter issue or a connector issue if his works.

Yeah, I am tending to think that it is a problem with your 14-50 adapter.

 

[DerbyDave]

Rocky_H, I already responded I don't think it is the GFCI, but thanks for your analysis.

 

[JSD17]

He already did:

Stoves are not on GFCI breakers.

Well not always. These can be done either of two ways. The GFCI may be in one of the outlets, and then it has a normal breaker (what you are thinking of), or it is the other way--with a GFCI breaker and then normal outlets--never both.

Yeah, I am tending to think that it is a problem with your 14-50 adapter.

Hey,

So I was able to grab a new gen 2 cable that works. Now, is there anyway to confirm if my entire gen 1 wall connector is bad or just the adapter? I checked the voltage and it is going through to the wall connector as it is flashing 4 red lights. The only purpose of the adapter is to provide electricity right? So does that completely eliminate that it can be the adapter?

The easiest way would be to test a different adapter but I don't know where to find one. Maybe the service center will let me test it before I buy it, I'll give them a call.

 

[Rocky_H]

So I was able to grab a new gen 2 cable that works. Now, is there anyway to confirm if my entire gen 1 wall connector is bad or just the adapter?

Ah, well, the way to find out which one is the problem is just to mix and match variables to eliminate one or the other. In this case, it obviously would be cheaper to try a replacement adapter first.

The easiest way would be to test a different adapter but I don't know where to find one. Maybe the service center will let me test it before I buy it, I'll give them a call.

You don't know where to find one? You order it from Tesla's website. They still sell both the Gen1 and the Gen2 adapters:

Gen 1 NEMA Adapters

Simply attach the appropriate adapter to your Gen 1 Mobile Connector (Model S and Model X vehicles produced before 2018), plug into the corresponding outlet and begin charging. Gen 1 NEMA Adapters and corresponding charging speeds: Adapter Max mileage gained per hour of charge Model S...

shop.tesla.com

You would probably need to click through to the Canadian version of this page, but that's what you're looking for. They have a few types of these for $45 U.S. each, and with a known good adapter, then you can confirm if your cable is bad. But yes, maybe a service center would let you try one first if they have a way to hook that up.

I checked the voltage and it is going through to the wall connector as it is flashing 4 red lights. The only purpose of the adapter is to provide electricity right? So does that completely eliminate that it can be the adapter?

I just don't follow this. You're talking about a wall connector. If it's flashing red lights, that sounds like something is not working, but I still don't see what a wall connector has to do with UMC adapters.