Hi All,
I'm expecting a Model Y later this year and I've been tossing up over which charging equipment for portable charging I really need. As a newbie, my understanding is that 1) a type 2 to type 2 cable is definitely needed for public charging. 2) a type 2 to type 1 adaptor would be helpful.
Now I've seen companies like EVSE offer portable 5 pin, 32A, 3-phase chargers that can charge up to 22kW (
KWIK Portable Type 2 Charger | 32 Amp | 22kW - EVSE Australia), which would be fantastic to have when on road-trips. However, this is only a 5-pin charger. I'd love the flexibility of having Tesla UMC charger that I can just plug into any socket, though the charging speeds are slow. I could purchase both and be prepared for most charging situations.
Does anyone know of a single portable charger that supports adaptable tails that can charge from 2.3-22kW? or is this just a pipe dream and that the only realistic option is to purchase a Tesla UMC + a 32A 3pin/5pin adaptor that supports but to 7.2kWs and then purchasea 22kW 3 phase charger?
Also, I'd love to hear what portable charging cables/adaptors/chargers you have and what you think is necessary.
Cheers!
Lots of great questions and kudos for asking...
First the basics:
1) As Mark said in above post, Model 3 and Y maximum charge rate is 11kW, i.e. 16A 3 phase.
2) Tesla Gen2 UMC is single phase EVSE capable of delivering 32A to the car on single phase only, therefore max charge rate is 7kW.
Now to your questions:
1) [is] a type 2 to type 2 cable ... needed for public charging ?
Depends on what is available where you are frequently parked for a few hours.
Worth doing some investigating.
Most Type 2 untethered (i.e have a socket) public charging stations are 3phase 32A, but some are 32A single phase. If you know you will mostly use a T2 station at say your local shopping centre and it is 3phase then a 11kW 3phase T2-T2 charging cable is fine. It's lighter and cheaper. However if you stop at a
single phase T2 charging station, you will only get 4kW as the cable is limited to receiving power on the first phase. Some people say get the 22kW cable as it will deliver 11kW at 3phase AND 7kw at single phase, and yes that's true but consider it is heavier and more "unwieldly".
2)
a type 2 to type 1 adaptor would be helpful.
Depends on what is available where you are frequently parked for a few hours.
Worth doing some investigating.
Type 2 to Type 1 adaptor is useful as there are many Type 1 charging outlets still out there and you'll get 7kW. Check Plugshare.com and set your filter to Type1.
3)
which would be fantastic to have when on road-trips.
Provided you
ONLY charge at
32A 5pin outlets. Yes they're common but some sites in the outback ONLY have 20A 3phase. The KWIK portable charger is a SINGLE-USE 32A 5pin solution. Plugshare filters for 3phase but does not discern between 32A or 20A but in most cases previous visitors will leave notes as to which socket is there, but you're relying on the goodwill and honesty of previous users. Imagine you arrive somewhere with less than 10% on the battery and you're expecting to find 32A socket, and it is 20A.. and it's dark and raining. What do you do?
4)
I could purchase both and be prepared for most charging situations.
"
Most" being the key-word. You've just outlaid $1830 and you still can't charge at 20A 3phase.
See point 3 above.
5)
know of a single portable charger that supports adaptable tails that can charge from 2.3-22kW?
You don't need to be able to go to 22kW,
See Basics Rule #1.
6)
[is the] only realistic option is to purchase a Tesla UMC + a 32A 3pin/5pin adaptor that supports but to 7.2kWs and then purchase a 22kW 3 phase charger?
Here' the math: $550 + $175 + $1280 = $2005, and you'd still be missing 20A 3phase.
See point 3 above.
7)
I'd love to hear what portable charging cables/adaptors/chargers you have and what you think is necessary.
Sure - here goes:
(a) For my charging needs, from
10A single phase (at home) to
15A single phase (caravan parks), to
20A 3phase (community centres, country showgrounds) to
32A 3phase (almost everywhere else in the bush) I use
this charger and tails bundle.
(b) For my local shopping centre, Council carparks etc I use an 11kW Type2 charging cable and Type 1 (J1776) to Type 2 for some shopping centres. If I wander far from home and connect to a single phase Type2 outlet I'll grab the 4kW and give thanks while doing so. (Note, in 6 years of car ownership I've never come across a single phase T2 outlet).
My total outlay was $1830 coincidently same as your outlay but I can
additionally charge at 20A 3pin, Type 2 and Type 1 outlets.
This works for me as I have 3phase at home and charge at 11kW. I charge from 10% SoC to 90% SoC in 5hours.
Most folks only have single phase at home, so most you'd get from the portable charger linked to above at 7(b) is 16A on single phase, a bit under 4kW.
If you have single phase at home and you want to charge at the highest rate then you'd swap out the 11kW portable charger and select the 22kW variant. It's a $300 uplift in cost, but you would be guaranteed to fully charge your car overnight at 7kW single phase if that is important.
PS - The only sockets still not covered are 32A single phase (3pin) and 20A single phase (3 round pins). If you absolutely need 32A 3pin, I'm sure you can purchase an extra tail.
PPS - The Juicer Booster is expensive but will automatically adjust to the current depending on the connected tail. The portable chargers linked to above are *not* automatic, after you connect to power and before plugging it into the car you need to set the amperage appropriately.
Choosing between spending a thousand dollars or more, or tapping a button for a few seconds was an easy decision for me.
is this just a pipe dream
maybe not - one need only ask.
![[Zombie]](/tmc/data/avatars/l/236/236453.jpg?1658216431){kind=avatar}
