Using Porsche Destination Chargers

[GrahamW42]

I’m hoping for some words of comfort from a more tech-savvy member than me …

I noticed a Porsche charger at a hotel and thought that I would give it a try. After all, “What’s the worst that could happen” (!)

My 2016 pre-facelift MS only has the small Type 2 connector ... which took the Porsche plug. After a few handshake messages on the unit, charging started at 16A.

I looked in the car and saw that the in-car display showed 235V and 16/16A … quite normal and expected. However the charge rate was showing as 10kW … NOT the expected 4kW (as 16A x 235V = 3.7kW).

The “time remaining” seemed to reflect 10kW too. If the 16A is correct (being something that the car and charger agree on) then the voltage must surely be much higher than the 235V that the car is “expecting” (and designed for). I decided to disconnect. I then noticed that the charging plug had a small etching on it of a high voltage number – ISTR ~ 400V. Perhaps I dodged a bullet (or a conflagration !).

Can anyone explain what was going on please … and is it safe ?

Does anyone routinely use Porsche chargers ?

FWIW my car has had the CCS upgrade and therefore a new module inside the car – I don’t know if this has any bearing on Level 2 charging or not.

 

[WllXM]

This would be a tri-phase charger at 16A, so times 3 (as opposed to your regular 3.7kW single phase supply) = 11kW.
You have 230V per phase. Formula is 230 * sqrt(3) = 400V total.
This looks pretty normal and your car supports it natively. Nothing to be worried about.

 

[Adopado]

I looked in the car and saw that the in-car display showed 235V and 16/16A … quite normal and expected. However the charge rate was showing as 10kW … NOT the expected 4kW (as 16A x 235V = 3.7kW).

There should have been a tiny number 3 under/beside the 16A indicating the 3 phase (as per @WllXM post).

 

[Adopado]

Does anyone routinely use Porsche chargers ?

No, but I'll be looking out for them now! I've seen up to 12kW on 3 phase ... nominal max for most Teslas is 11kW on 3 phase but if there's a high mains voltage in the locality I've see up to 12kW.

 

[94jdh]

No, but I'll be looking out for them now! I've seen up to 12kW on 3 phase ... nominal max for most Teslas is 11kW on 3 phase but if there's a high mains voltage in the locality I've see up to 12kW.

Yes I also get 12kW at work

 

[spdpsba]

Yes I also get 12kW at work

Can we use the 12kw for a model 3 if nothing else is available or will the charging unit blow up like one of the other OP who used a supercharger for his Honda e?

 

[WannabeOwner]

Can we use the 12kw for a model 3

Yes, but you won't get the full benefit

www.tesla.com/en_GB/support/home-charging-installation/wall-connector

Vehicle	230 V Single-phase	230 V Three-phase delta	400 V Three-phase wye
Model 3	7.4 kW (32 A)	11 kW (28 A)	11 kW (16 A)
Model S and Model X*	7.4 kW (32 A)	8.5 kW (32 A)	16.6 kW (24 A)

Some (older) Model S / X had single charger and they are limited to 11kW

 

[GrahamW42]

This would be a tri-phase charger at 16A, so times 3 (as opposed to your regular 3.7kW single phase supply) = 11kW.
You have 230V per phase. Formula is 230 * sqrt(3) = 400V total.
This looks pretty normal and your car supports it natively. Nothing to be worried about.

Ah !

Thanks for that comprehensive and authoritative reply.

 

[Sparkeur]

On my trip from Bordeaux to South Spain, which I do three or four times a year, I stop at a hotel in Zaragoza which has a Porsche charger. I use it every time for overnight charging as no else ever seems to be needing it. Never had a problem.

Just noticed you have an S - mine is a 3.

 

[94jdh]

Yes, but you won't get the full benefit

www.tesla.com/en_GB/support/home-charging-installation/wall-connector

Vehicle	230 V Single-phase	230 V Three-phase delta	400 V Three-phase wye
Model 3	7.4 kW (32 A)	11 kW (28 A)	11 kW (16 A)
Model S and Model X*	7.4 kW (32 A)	8.5 kW (32 A)	16.6 kW (24 A)

Some (older) Model S / X had single charger and they are limited to 11kW

Are you saying although my display on the car is showing 12kW it's only charging at 11kW ( which I know is the maximum it should be)?

 

[m3gt2]

Are you saying although my display on the car is showing 12kW it's only charging at 11kW ( which I know is the maximum it should be)?

You will be getting what the display is showing. The car will max out at 48amp (3*16) which on 230 gives 11kW but if the voltage is higher, say 250 that gives 12kW (48*250)

 

[Adopado]

Are you saying although my display on the car is showing 12kW it's only charging at 11kW ( which I know is the maximum it should be)?

Nominal voltages e.g. UK 230v doesn't mean that the mains is at 230 volts all the time. In fact much/most of the UK is 240+. Our own mains hovers around 247 to 250v. (One of the reasons is that older hardware was built to different standards ... if its not above 253v then it's regarded as being within spec.)

Also bear in mind that the car display will be rounding up or down so it might be 11.6kW when displaying 12kW or when reading 11kW it might be 10.8kW for example. The car is clever enough to know that it shouldn't accept a an inappropriate charging rate ... it isn't a Honda E !

 

[94jdh]

Nominal voltages e.g. UK 230v doesn't mean that the mains is at 230 volts all the time. In fact much/most of the UK is 240+. Our own mains hovers around 247 to 250v. (One of the reasons is that older hardware was built to different standards ... if its not above 253v then it's regarded as being within spec.)

Also bear in mind that the car display will be rounding up or down so it might be 11.6kW when displaying 12kW or when reading 11kW it might be 10.8kW for example. The car is clever enough to know that it shouldn't accept a an inappropriate charging rate ... it isn't a Honda E !

I wasn't probably clear enough, the comment previously said you wouldn't get the full benefit, but clearly you do ( apart from any rounding).

 

[Adopado]

I wasn't probably clear enough, the comment previously said you wouldn't get the full benefit, but clearly you do ( apart from any rounding).

Indeed. What you don't get in most recent Teslas is the full 22kW that 3 phase charge points are usually capable of supplying. Some earlier Model S could take the full whack but we only get "half".