UMC gen1 v gen2

[sixela]

So that looks hopeful. Get a 32A plug for the UMC and plug it into a 32A soket and (something) will share the 32A between two or three on-board chargers to give a charging power of 7.6kw?

Correct. Which is, of course, a far cry from what is possible with three phases on a model X.

NB my earlier post about the 32A socket quality. It may the protected by a 32A trip at the consumer unit but if it is wired with 6mm cable which is bunched and runs under insulation it could get seriously hot if asked to carry 32A for several hours

I think we made the same point repeatedly (and it's an important one). I don't know about electricity codes in the UK enough to know how recent a 32A CEE plug installation needs to be to be safely used at 32A continuously.

 

[sk19]

I'm thinking the same thing if the 32a adapter is available for the UMC that comes with the M3. I would be getting a 32a commando outside. It can go on the opposite side of the wall to the consumer unit so less than 0.5m. The reason is that i have to pay full price for the wallpod or similar and no off street parking!

Yeah a cynical part of me thinks that Tesla changed the UMC to get people to buy the wallcharger, because by my maths if you have a single phase home (most homes in the UK) you'll get the same from a £6 32A commando socket as you will the £460 wall charger.

 

[sixela]

I don't think it's a sinister plot: you're a victim of the fact that the entire EU was designated "three phase countries", and that they only submitted the 3-phase TWC for regulatory approval in the EU.

Someone with a single phase and a 100 Amp circuit breaker is a lot closer to someone in the US on 208V or 240V than someone in continental EU (who'll tend to have 25-40A installations and three phases if one phase is not enough).

 

[sk19]

I don't think it's a sinister plot: you're a victim of the fact that the entire EU was designated "three phase countries", and that they only submitted the 3-phase TWC for regulatory approval in the EU.

Someone with a single phase and a 100 Amp circuit breaker is a lot closer to someone in the US on 208V or 240V than someone in continental EU (who'll tend to have 25-40A installations and three phases if one phase is not enough).

Fair enough thanks.

Update for the forum.

Disgusted with Tesla who have no phoneline to parts. After sevreal calls and a long wait spokje to someone in sales who was eventually helpful in giving me parts email. I emailled them early this morning and so far ignored.

Chinese companies *in CHina* I deal with respond within 10mins, sometimes instantly.

I'm honestly shocked by this.

 

[GSP]

European CEE 32A 6h Type 023 IP44 Blue Commando (Caravan Mains) Adapter for Tesla Model S/X/3 Gen 2

When you use this the UMC does 32A by delivering the same single phase to more than one on-board charger, at least on my model 3 (each of the three on-board chargers on that car is limited to 16A). I think it's different on an X but the UMC and car figure it out among themselves.

I wonder if Tesla offers an adapter like this. I think they did for the Gen 1 UMC in Europe IIRC.

It would be good if @arg would advise on the suitability of this adapter in the UK. I highly respect his knowledge on the subject.

GSP

 

[sixela]

Answer from the charging specialist of my Service Center:

What charging equipment comes standard with the Tesla?
Model S, X and 3 comes standard with the following equipment:
- Tesla Gen2 Mobile Connector, a cable that can be used for common outlets. The cable can be mounted with the following standard adapters:
- An industrial adapter rated at 3.7kW (16A) for use with the so-called ‘camping sockets’
- A domestic adapter rated at 2.3 kW or 3.0kW for use with domestic sockets. The domestic adapter that comes as standard with your vehicle matches the standard domestic socket in your country.
- A separate Type 2 charging cable for public stations

What charging equipment is optional for Tesla’s in Europe?
· The Italian adapter (2.3kW) for the Mobile Connector to charge at domestic outlets
· The 7.4 kW (32A) blue adapter for the Mobile Connector to charge at industrial (blue) 32A single phase outlets
· The (Gen1) Corded Mobile Connector with a red plug for 11 kW (red 16A, 3-phase) as a complete separate cable

So yes, you can use the EU Gen2 UMC with a 32A CEE plug adapter. To get 3-phase charging there is only the TWC or the Gen1 "corded" mobile connector (plus its 3-phase CEE plug adapter) -- or obviously an EVSE from another brand (there are oodles of them, especially in the Netherlands where increasing your three phase installation's amperage incurs a hefty monthly charge, making load balancing setups often necessary).

IIRC these "extras" are often not in the online shop, but you can grovel for them at your Service Center ;-).

 

[arg]

It would be good if @arg would advise on the suitability of this adapter in the UK. I highly respect his knowledge on the subject.

Unfortunately, I'm still trying to gather info about the Gen2 UMC.

• The Gen2 UMC supplied with the M3 definitely comes with a 16A single-phase commando adapter (I've seen one).
• Gen1 UMC used to come with 32A single-phase commando adapter (supplied standard in the UK), or 16A three-phase commando (supplied standard in rest of EU). There was significant demand for 16A single-phase for use at campsites etc. but Tesla never bothered to supply one.
• Gen1 UMC was significantly different between EU and Europe - USA had higher current but single phase only; EU had only 16A per phase but 3-phase (the 32A single phase adapter cheated by paralleling the phase inputs in a fashion which would damage non-Tesla vehicles). Gen2 seems to be substantially the same between USA and EU - limited to single phase, just differing in the connectors. If it actually is the same internally, then it would be rated for 32A.

So the question is why is Tesla supplying only a 16A adapter for the Gen2 UMC when they'd previously supplied 32A and seen no need to bother with a 16A one? My initial guess was that the Gen2 had been cost-reduced and was intended only as a "granny cable" for charging away from home, while the Gen1 was intended in many markets as the main means of charging - in the days before wall-mount EVSE were widely available. However, this third-party adapter suggests that the Gen2 UMC itself can do 32A and the switch to 16A in the supplied adapter is for some other reason - perhaps that in markets where they used to supply the 16A 3-phase adapter, 32A single phase is not widely available and (given no possibility of 3-phase), 16A was considered more useful to the average customer.

If that is true, then there's no reason why there shouldn't be a 32A adapter for the Gen2, and quite possibly this third-party one is entirely satisfactory.

One question is how they are getting the parts: historically, the UMCs have used custom parts developed by Tesla, so there was no off-the-shelf connector you could buy, and the cost of tooling up to make a third-party equivalent would be excessive. In this case, if the USA/EU models of the Gen2 are in fact the same, I might speculate that they are buying USA 14-50 cables from Tesla, cutting the plug off and replacing with a commando.

 

[MidhurstNigel]

One question is how they are getting the parts: historically, the UMCs have used custom parts developed by Tesla, so there was no off-the-shelf connector you could buy, and the cost of tooling up to make a third-party equivalent would be excessive. In this case, if the USA/EU models of the Gen2 are in fact the same, I might speculate that they are buying USA 14-50 cables from Tesla, cutting the plug off and replacing with a commando.

Seem plausible - if you look at the EVSE online product list they show a pigtail with a 16A commando plug (whole thing Ex Tesla?) and a pigtail with a 32A plug. If you compare the pictures the cable on the 32A version is much shorter than that on the 16A version

 

[sixela]

Of course you can't “just” cut a NEMA 14-50 adapter and replace the plug: you need to keep the widget that tells the UMC how much amperage is supported. From the looks of the NEMA 14-50 adapter that's probably at the wall socket end.

Also, my service centre mentioned a single phase 32A adapter as an option, but it's possible he meant the third party one.

 

[sk19]

Answer from the charging specialist of my Service Center:



So yes, you can use the EU Gen2 UMC with a 32A CEE plug adapter. To get 3-phase charging there is only the TWC or the Gen1 "corded" mobile connector (plus its 3-phase CEE plug adapter) -- or obviously an EVSE from another brand (there are oodles of them, especially in the Netherlands where increasing your three phase installation's amperage incurs a hefty monthly charge, making load balancing setups often necessary).

IIRC these "extras" are often not in the online shop, but you can grovel for them at your Service Center ;-).

Brilliant sixela. Thank you!

 

[sk19]

Update: parts have messaged me back and will be ordering it in for me. £32 + vat

I'm assuming this means they give their blessing so it at least won't be dangerous.

I'll keep you all posted about charge rates when I get it. Watch this space. I should know hopefully in a week when it is here!

 

[cizUK]

Update: parts have messaged me back and will be ordering it in for me. £32 + vat

I'm assuming this means they give their blessing so it at least won't be dangerous.

I'll keep you all posted about charge rates when I get it. Watch this space. I should know hopefully in a week when it is here!

What's the email address for parts?

 

[WannabeOwner]

cynical part of me thinks that Tesla changed the UMC to get people to buy the wallcharger,

Although Tesla wall charger gets no grant, so anyone buying that is paying £400+ more than buying a grant-aided wall charger, so I'm doubting your assumption that this is a Tesla Get Rich Quick Scheme !!

 

[Yannick]

[...]
I'll keep you all posted about charge rates when I get it. Watch this space. I should know hopefully in a week when it is here!

Any update @sk19?

 

[Adopado]

I'd be a bit cautious about using a 32A plug on the UMC without a blessing from Tesla.

Blessing given! Tesla supply a 32amp adapter. I've got one. It's not a problem.

 

[Adopado]

I'm thinking the same thing if the 32a adapter is available for the UMC that comes with the M3.

It is. I've got one. £32 if picked up from a SC or £8 delivery if posted.