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NEMA 14-50 UMC Adapter No Longer Included With New Purchases
- Thread starter ucmndd
- Start date
Unfortunately a lot of clueless new owners are going to think they need to have a Wall Connector installed, rather than just installing a 240V outlet. People were always amazed when I told them I didn't have to install a "charger" in the garage, all you need to install is a 240V 50A outlet like RVs use. Some new owners will surely be upset when they find out they didn't actually need to buy a Wall Connector and have it installed.
This would not be a big deal if delivery specialists were capable of explaining all the charging options and showing new owners what they can buy, depending on their situation.
However, in my experience, a lot of Tesla employees can't explain basic charging options. I was a my local Tesla dealership not long ago and listened to one of the employees explain available charging options... Let's just say I was not impressed.
However, in my experience, a lot of Tesla employees can't explain basic charging options. I was a my local Tesla dealership not long ago and listened to one of the employees explain available charging options... Let's just say I was not impressed.
eprosenx
Active Member
I actually applaud this from a technical standpoint.
14-50’s are really stupid ways to power EV “chargers” (or rather EVSE’s).
A 6-50 is much better. No wasted copper for a neutral. By not including a 14-50 it does not encourage the use of 14-50’s.
Their comments about GFCI’s being required on receptacles now make sense. They are expensive and prone to nuisance tripping.
Receptacles have a tendency to melt sometimes. (Yes, for the most part they are safe, but hard wiring is typically safer).
Now for the cynical side of me:
Yes, Wall Connectors earn Tesla more money than folks using the included UMC.
But really, I think a big incentive for Tesla is for them to build the moat deeper with the Tesla proprietary connector.
A 14-50 or 6-50 installed in your home can be trivially swapped to be used with a different brand of car by the homeowner just plugging in a different EVSE. A Wall Connector generally requires an electrician to swap out.
Overall though, I am a wall connector fan and I think it results in a good user experience.
14-50’s are really stupid ways to power EV “chargers” (or rather EVSE’s).
A 6-50 is much better. No wasted copper for a neutral. By not including a 14-50 it does not encourage the use of 14-50’s.
Their comments about GFCI’s being required on receptacles now make sense. They are expensive and prone to nuisance tripping.
Receptacles have a tendency to melt sometimes. (Yes, for the most part they are safe, but hard wiring is typically safer).
Now for the cynical side of me:
Yes, Wall Connectors earn Tesla more money than folks using the included UMC.
But really, I think a big incentive for Tesla is for them to build the moat deeper with the Tesla proprietary connector.
A 14-50 or 6-50 installed in your home can be trivially swapped to be used with a different brand of car by the homeowner just plugging in a different EVSE. A Wall Connector generally requires an electrician to swap out.
Overall though, I am a wall connector fan and I think it results in a good user experience.
That may be true if the choice for new owners was 14-50 or 6-50. But what this actually means is mass market, non-forum reading new owners won’t know about either of those choices, what they’ll do is default to buying a $500 Wall Connector that isn’t necessary.
I bought a Wall Connector; it gets installed Friday. Not out of lack of knowledge, but because of my situation.
I park outdoors in my driveway The idea of a high-amperage receptacle outside with a mobile connector dangling from it isn’t my favorite. The Wall Connector is better sealed for weather.
I wanted true no-hassle charging - the Wall Connector is worth a few bucks. Wish it had a reel attachment or a retractable cable of some sort.
That said .... we’re going to a campground next month, so I’m glad to have the 14-50 also.
I park outdoors in my driveway The idea of a high-amperage receptacle outside with a mobile connector dangling from it isn’t my favorite. The Wall Connector is better sealed for weather.
I wanted true no-hassle charging - the Wall Connector is worth a few bucks. Wish it had a reel attachment or a retractable cable of some sort.
That said .... we’re going to a campground next month, so I’m glad to have the 14-50 also.
ucmndd is correct. the nema 14-50 adapter would be derated to 40 amps, however, I was informed that the actual charging current, controlled by the car, would be only 32 amps. The story goes that Elon thought that a 50 circuit was to high of a charging current for most households and derated it to 40 amps. The car's charging circuiry drops it to 32 amps. For those using a 14-50 adapter for their home charging setup can check me out on this.
I have re-purposed my electric dryer circuit (30 amp breaker), using the nema 10-30 adapter from Tesla. The cost, almost a year ago, was $25 plus tax. I am charging at 22amps, which gives me about 22 miles per hour.
I have re-purposed my electric dryer circuit (30 amp breaker), using the nema 10-30 adapter from Tesla. The cost, almost a year ago, was $25 plus tax. I am charging at 22amps, which gives me about 22 miles per hour.
Uh, no. That is a requirement of electric code, not some concerned suggestion from fatherly Elon Musk. Continuous loads must be on a circuit rating that is 125% of the constant current load.
I really am curious. Where did you hear that story?
That’s nonsense. Continuous loads can only draw 80% for safety, and that rule was developed long before EVs. The Gen 1 UMCs for the Model S and X drew 40A and it wasn’t until Gen 2 UMCs last year that the draw was reduced to 32A.
So now Tesla has a path to reducing the included mobile charger to 120V 12A. That should save a lot. But I think the 14-50 adapter will stage a comeback. It's not just at campsites anymore.
eprosenx
Active Member
I was thinking the same thing... And the next step beyond that is not including anything with the car. Eventually once EV charging becomes mainstream I suspect cars won't come with them at all since every residence will have them built in and there will be public chargers (fast and otherwise) all over the place.
I can’t imagine Tesla would do that. I haven’t seen a survey in a while but I would guess that >50% of those Tesla owners who charge at home do so using a 240V outlet rather than a Wall Connector, plus some of those with a Wall Connector use 240V charging at a vacation home or friends/family member house when traveling. Even when Tesla tried to discontinue the less common 30A adapters a few years ago there was such an uproar from owners that Tesla brought them back.
Encouraging Wall Connector installations now, when for years Tesla was agnostic between options of 14-50 and Wall Connector use at home, is obviously just a way to try for an additional $500 revenue per car from the less informed mass market that Tesla is selling to. But I thought of an additional motive that hasn’t been mentioned yet— if someone has a Wall Connector installed in their garage when they buy a Tesla, it’s more likely that the next EV they buy will be a Tesla too.
..and accordingly using UMC1 to deliver maximum benefit needs a 50A breaker and capable branch wiring to the outlet, to safely deliver a sustained 40A to the car. It's always worth mentioning the wiring and breaker if people find themselves with UMC1 at a 14-50 outlet. If unsure, dial it down to 32A in the car.
Sorry I was not clear. The NEMA 14-50 adapter that comes with the Tesla M3 (or used to) requires a 50 AMP circuit breaker outlet and is designed to deliver 40 amps, due to the required 20% derating requirement. If the Tesla 14-50 adapter is used, it programs the charging current to the car at 32 amps--not 40 amps. My son has the 50 amp NEMA 14-50 outlet installed in his garage. When using the 14-50 Tesla adapter the charging current to the car is 32 amps. I was informed by another poster that the 14-50 adapter no longer delivered 40 amps but was lowered to 32 amps which I have confirmed. That change was made more than a year ago.
To correct something on my post, the NEMA 10-30 Tesla adapter delivers 24 amps (not 22 amps).
For Canada they did it earlier to get ULC approval, and the problems with 40A was well known and ranged from RV parks often having problem with 40A to the UMC often getting hot.
New owner. Haven't even taken delivery yet. I bought a wall connector specifically not to have the pigtail.
People research before buying cars.
The m3p has a 48amp onboard charger. My wife will be putting some miles down. I'm installing a 60 amp 240v breaker hardwired to connect for an output of 48 amps. I'm looking for great charge rates just for convenience. NEMA 15-40 limits you to 30 amps, right?
People research before buying cars.
The m3p has a 48amp onboard charger. My wife will be putting some miles down. I'm installing a 60 amp 240v breaker hardwired to connect for an output of 48 amps. I'm looking for great charge rates just for convenience. NEMA 15-40 limits you to 30 amps, right?
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