NEMA "15-40"?

[Patrick W]

I've been using a NEMA 14-50 per Tesla recommendation at home since I bought my first S 3 years ago. Always seems to work fine.

But I just saw a YouTube video with a guy constantly referring to a NEMA "15-40". But all the images of the outlet in the video sure look like 14-50.

I checked a saw that 15-40 is a real thing. But all Tesla documents I can find refer only to 14-50.

Anyone here tried a 15-40?

Or does the guy in the video just have his numbers confused?

 

[brianman]

I checked a saw that 15-40 is a real thing.

Link?

I glanced over at least a half dozen of the PDF charts (easier to read) but here's an html one:
NEMA Plug Types - NEMA Straight Blade Reference Chart | Stay Online

No sign of a 15-40 at any of the places I looked.

There following 15s are shown everywhere I looked:

• 15-15
• 15-20
• 15-30
• 15-50
• 15-60

 

[Patrick W]

Link?

I glanced over at least a half dozen of the PDF charts (easier to read) but here's an html one:
NEMA Plug Types - NEMA Straight Blade Reference Chart | Stay Online

No sign of a 15-40 at any of the places I looked.

There following 15s are shown everywhere I looked:

• 15-15
• 15-20
• 15-30
• 15-50
• 15-60

Well this is weird. Now I can't find it either. Maybe like the guy in the video I got my numbers confused.

BTW, here's the video. Notice that someone attempts to correct him in one of the comments.

 

[BerTX]

This is an infamous hole in the array of receptacle standards. There is no 40 Amp plug. Appliances on 40 Amp circuits are allowed to use a NEMA 14-50 receptacle, which causes some issues when Tesla's try to plug into the outlet, and the mobile connector assumes it is a 50 Amp circuit so draws 40 A.

 

[Derek Kessler]

Sounds like he just got it mixed up in his head.

 

[TexasEV]

Just because someone knows how to make a video doesn’t mean he knows anything else.

 

[AudubonB]

Are you sure he wasn't saying 15W-40?

 

[nogasbiker]

He fessed up in the comments that he is not an electrician, and is not surprised that he flubbed it. Unfortunately, he mis-speaks it maaaany times in the video. I hope new people won't get the wrong number in their heads after watching this video.

 

[rhumbliner]

While I agree the video probably just got the terms mixed up, there actually is a NEMA 15 series — it’s a 3-phase 250-volt designation:

NEMA connector - Wikipedia


NEMA 15
NEMA 15 connectors are similar in size and appearance to the 14-series, however they are meant for use with three-phase power up to 250 V, with no neutral conductor (hot-hot-hot-ground).

 

[JPoldo]

Well this is weird. Now I can't find it either. Maybe like the guy in the video I got my numbers confused.

BTW, here's the video. Notice that someone attempts to correct him in one of the comments.

Yes, Chris at Crosstalk Solutions got his NEMA numbers flubbed-up in the video. The title is correct using NEMA 14-50, but narration often incorrectly refers to 15-40. The second video comment quickly exposes the mistake. But lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater because this video is the best comparison of a wall connector and NEMA 14-50 outlet. All other data is spot on and valuable to Tesla owners.

My NEMA 14-50 has performed excellent for 2 years, but notice it is getting warmer with age due to road trip UMC unplugging about a dozen times. To avoid a melt down, I'll replace the cheap $6 receptacle. While the wall connector is very slick, my 14-50 provides 29 mph charging and have never needed faster overnight charging.

 

[bruce3]

Anyone else have supercharger speed data radically different from Chris? I've only used 2 SuperChargers (one in CT, one in NY) so far and got ~150 miles of charge in 15-20 minutes (showing 500-600 mph) with my Model 3 Dual Motor. In one case all plugs were occupied (but cars may have been fully charged or in slowing phase?) and I saw ~ 500 mph, while in the other case I was the only car there and saw 600 mph. In each case I stopped charging 75-80% full.