Will Mobile Connector controller drag on ground when plugged into my NEMA-14-50 receptacle?

[EG64]

I have a NEMA 14-50 receptacle in my carport (no garage) on a dedicated 40 amp circuit.
I believe the breaker is non-GFCI.
The receptacle is ~24 inches off the ground.

If I want to use that receptacle to charge a future Tesla, I believe I would need to get the Mobile Connector.

But I'm wondering if the Mobile Connector will fit if the receptacle is only 24 inches off the ground.
The Mobile Connector manual says that the controller is 7.1 inches long.
Combined with the length of the NEMA 14-50 Adapter, will it fit in the ~24 inches before hitting / dragging on the ground?

Thanks

 

[Thp3]

Yes, it will fit.

about 16 inches. But then you would want a hanger to hold the excess cable. I use a old wall mounted hose reel.

 

[E90alex]

You can always get a mounting bracket for the UMC body and mount it horizontal or at an angle so it’s not hanging straight down.

 

[EG64]

Thanks for the replies - and the picture was very helpful!

Tesla sells a bracket / chassis holder for use with the Mobile Connector.
https://shop.tesla.com/product/cable-organizer
I figure that would make sense to get.

I also have to deal with the "my electrician installed the receptacle with the ground pin down" issue:
Electrician installed my NEMA 14-50 receptacle upside down..

Thanks

 

[stopcrazypp]

Thanks for the replies - and the picture was very helpful!

Tesla sells a bracket / chassis holder for use with the Mobile Connector.
https://shop.tesla.com/product/cable-organizer
I figure that would make sense to get.

There are also a ton of various designs on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tesla+cable+organizer

I also have to deal with the "my electrician installed the receptacle with the ground pin down" issue:
Electrician installed my NEMA 14-50 receptacle upside down..

Thanks

Too bad, but should be easy to fix as per that thread.

 

[PianoAl]

And the answer to the inevitable question: Yes, it works fine to have the one charger shared by our two Teslas.

 

[nstig8]

I bought a 50 amp range cord from home depot and wired that up to the wall connector so I could plug it in. As a bonus, wall mounting above the outlet solves your "ground pin upside down" issue. Just be sure to set the wall connector to max charge at 40 amps (80% of 50 amp outlet limit).

 

[EG64]

While my NEMA 14-50 receptacle is in a covered area, it is still outside - so it has a weatherproof outlet cover on it. Please see the attached picture with the cover open.
So unless I want to remove the cover, I need to have the receptacle rotated 180 degrees (because as it stands now, I can't plug in anything that goes "up").

Thanks

 

[stopcrazypp]

While my NEMA 14-50 receptacle is in a covered area, it is still outside - so it has a weatherproof outlet cover on it. Please see the attached picture with the cover open.
So unless I want to remove the cover, I need to have the receptacle rotated 180 degrees (because as it stands now, I can't plug in anything that goes "up").

Thanks

That looks like a Leviton 14-50 with half sized contacts (you can even see it from your picture). It is highly recommended that you swap that out for practically any outlet with full sized contacts, especially since you have to flip it upside down anyway (which would likely require disconnecting at least two wires).
Master Thread: Definitive 14-50 NEMA Outlet Guide
That Leviton outlet is the main one that has caused problems (overheating or melting), due to relatively poor contact.

Even a $12 Legrand Pass/Seymour or $10 Utilitech outlet would be better than that.
Legrand Pass & Seymour 50 Amp 125/250-Volt NEMA 14-50R Flush Mount Range/Dryer/EV Charger Power Outlet 3894CC6 - The Home Depot
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Black-50-Amp-Round-Range-Industrial-Range/3775483

 

[EG64]

Thanks for the advice about the Leviton receptacle.
Since I have a 40 amp circuit, not a 50 amp circuit, won't it draw less current and heat up less (perhaps mitigating the problem)?

I definitely get what you're saying about replacing the receptacle (especially given that we're not talking too much money). Just want to understand if this is more of an issue with 50 amps.

Thanks

 

[stopcrazypp]

Thanks for the advice about the Leviton receptacle.
Since I have a 40 amp circuit, not a 50 amp circuit, won't it draw less current and heat up less (perhaps mitigating the problem)?

I definitely get what you're saying about replacing the receptacle (especially given that we're not talking too much money). Just want to understand if this is more of an issue with 50 amps.

Thanks

The Gen 2 Mobile Connector with the 14-50 adapter draws 32A, which is allowed for a 40A breaker (must derate using 80% for continuous loads like EVSEs so 40A*80% = 32A). Using it on a 50A breaker does not change this, given the Mobile Connector maxes out at 32A.
https://www.tesla.com/sites/default...bile_connector_owners_manual_32_amp_en_US.pdf
I presume this is what you have?
https://shop.tesla.com/product/mobile-connector

There are plenty of cases of Levitons melting or overheating even using the gen 2 at 32A.
Melted 14-50 Outlet

https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/yj9yh2

Mobile connector over heat?

Tesla did sell a Gen 1 Mobile Connector and a corded one with a 14-50 attached permanently, which could charge at 40A (max continuous allowed by 50A circuit: 50A*80%=40A), but fewer people had them. Charging at 40A would only make things worse.

Note if you have a Model 3 SR+ or RWD, it maxes out at 32A no matter what EVSE you use, because the onboard charger maxes at 32A.
https://www.tesla.com/support/charging/home-charging

 

[3sr+buyer]

Thanks for the advice about the Leviton receptacle.
Since I have a 40 amp circuit, not a 50 amp circuit, won't it draw less current and heat up less (perhaps mitigating the problem)?

The Tesla Mobile Connector (and many other plug-in EVSEs for 14-50 or 6-50 outlets) will do up to 32A, probably because 14-50 or 6-50 outlets on 40A circuits are common. As noted above, Model 3 SR/SR+/RWD cars do at most 32A AC charging anyway.

I had a Leviton 6-50 outlet with half size steel contacts that the Tesla Mobile Connector detect overheating on when charging at 32A in warm weather. The overheating detection resulted in reducing the charging amperage to 16A. I had to set the car to something like 26A to avoid the overheating until I could replace the outlet with a different one with full size brass contacts.