Tesla model S UMC with J1772 & JESLA(tm) conversion

[ground_gainer]

I plan to swing by the Tesla factory service center in Fremont for the UMC and adapters before the dealer. However, obtaining a 70a J1772 plug from TucsonEV or another source prior is not feasible. Does anyone in the bay area have a "spare" 70a plug for sale?

I thought that was the big problem with the UMC splice--finding a spare J1772.

 

[waidy]

One more note for EVians who want to convert a Model S UMC for J-handle. Please note that "some" Tesla made 14-50 adapters were poorly made. If you are the unlucky one who gets one of the poorly made 14-50 adapters, you may be at risk in melting it. Please see: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/15304-Plug-Adapter-on-my-Universal-Mobile-Connector-has-melted/page1

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
I stumbled across http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/18092-Schmelted-UMC-NEMA-14-50 today. Are these the same two parts that are melting?

 

[wimbro]

A 70A J1772 plug only can be purchased from TucsonEV for $155 http://tucsonev.com/index.html, but delivery time is my immediate issue.

Waidy - Thanks for the warning on the adapter. Is there a way to test the adapter to determine whether luck will play a role in charging safety and reliability?

 

[waidy]

Is there a way to test the adapter to determine whether luck will play a role in charging safety and reliability?

I am not expert but I used a laser temperature sensor gun to get the temperature reading. My recollection of the temperature readout was 110deg, after 30 minutes of plug-in.

 

[wimbro]

I will keep a close eye on the temp while charging. Can I use the Tesla model S UMC with J1772 connector setup to provide safe RAV4 charging at Tesla stations? Or, will the supercharger voltage fry my vehicle? Do you have to be a Tesla club "member" to use their chargers?

Found a CC CS-60 in the bay area which I will be purchasing tomorrow for garage charging. Similar question to the one above, how do higher powered ESVE's affect charging the 40a 10kw unit. Can I use a 50a receptable for the CS-60 if the car is only drawing 40a? Any mods necessary to throttle back from 60a to 40a?

 

[user 340]

Found a CC CS-60 in the bay area which I will be purchasing tomorrow for garage charging.

Where did you find one? I'd like to get one, and a local (Bay Area) pickup would be great. I have looked but have not found one yet for reasonable cost (< $1000).

Can I use a 50a receptable for the CS-60 if the car is only drawing 40a? Any mods necessary to throttle back from 60a to 40a?[/quote

You SHOULD use a 50A receptacle (and entire circuit including wiring and breaker) if you have a 40A EVSE. The circuit must be rated for higher current than the actual load. The accepted safety factor limits the load on a 50A circuit to 40A. You should hard wire your CS-60 in an 80A circuit to be safe, but you may be able to get away with a 50A circuit if you NEVER charge above 40A (not up to code though).

The car tells the EVSE its max charge rate. FIne to use a 60A EVSE with a 10kW charger (RAV4) or even a Chevy VOlt with a much punier one.

 

[yblaser]

You SHOULD use a 50A receptacle (and entire circuit including wiring and breaker) if you have a 40A EVSE. The circuit must be rated for higher current than the actual load. The accepted safety factor limits the load on a 50A circuit to 40A. You should hard wire your CS-60 in an 80A circuit to be safe, but you may be able to get away with a 50A circuit if you NEVER charge above 40A (not up to code though).

The car tells the EVSE its max charge rate. FIne to use a 60A EVSE with a 10kW charger (RAV4) or even a Chevy VOlt with a much punier one.

The CS-60 only supplies a max of 48A and thus only requires a 60A breaker assuming everything else in the circuit can handle the current.

 

[cwerdna]

Can I use the Tesla model S UMC with J1772 connector setup to provide safe RAV4 charging at Tesla stations? Or, will the supercharger voltage fry my vehicle? Do you have to be a Tesla club "member" to use their chargers?

I think you're a little confused. Tesla uses its own proprietary connector. It's not J1772. Nobody would use the UMC at a Supercharger station anyway.

The Supercharger uses pretty high voltage DC fast charging. J1772 as its implemented on currently shipping EVs only allows for AC charging.

On the Model S, you have to have paid $2K to have Supercharging enabled on the 60 kwh models. It's included on the 85 kwh models.

 

[wimbro]

I very well may be confused...new to the EV technology. My thought was to use the Tesla model S UMC with a modified vehicle side connector swapped to a 70a J1772. The Tesla input plug (connected to charger) remains the same sin use of any adapters. Is it correct that some Model S were built with a single 10kw charger (same as the RAV4)? If that is correct and I use the same UMC designed for the 40a 10kw chargers on the Model S then I could theoretically use the Tesla station chargers. Is my logic inaccurate?

 

[wimbro]

[/quote]

Where did you find one? I'd like to get one, and a local (Bay Area) pickup would be great. I have looked but have not found one yet for reasonable cost (< $1000).
[/quote]

I may have spoke too soon, having difficulty making contact. Private party sale $725...nothing in quantity. Sorry.

 

[cwerdna]

(Unfortunately, http://www.teslamotors.com/ is down right now, so I can't look anything up there.)

I very well may be confused...new to the EV technology. My thought was to use the Tesla model S UMC with a modified vehicle side connector swapped to a 70a J1772. The Tesla input plug (connected to charger) remains the same sin use of any adapters. Is it correct that some Model S were built with a single 10kw charger (same as the RAV4)? If that is correct and I use the same UMC designed for the 40a 10kw chargers on the Model S then I could theoretically use the Tesla station chargers. Is my logic inaccurate?

Nobody uses ANY UMC to plug into Tesla's Superchargers. The Supercharger's handle plugs straight into inlet on the Model S. The Model S UMC is just an EVSE. I just found this video showing Supercharging: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5vd0D-C5VA. Sucks that it has an ad.

For "Tesla station chargers", if you're referring to their Superchargers, it's DC fast charging, not 120 to 240 volt AC charging. The diagram at http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=262630#p262630 (that applies to the Leaf) is probably correct for a Model S, although the DC fast charge voltages may be different.

J1772 for L1 and L2 AC charging does not support DC charging. There's a "Frankenplug" standard aka J1772 CCS (pics at http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/12357-SAE-vs-CHAdeMO/page9?p=325895&viewfull=1#post325895) that allows for DC fast charging, but has 2 extra pins. As a side note, stopcrazypp (seemingly a fanboy of Frankenplug) did post a pic afterward of a Leaf showing the CHAdeMO inlet on the left and the J1772 inlet right.

IIRC, what's inside the Superchargers is based upon the on-board chargers in the Model S.

I just stumbled across http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showwiki.php?title=Supercharger while doing some Googling. It has a link to a few pics at http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/10733-SuperCharger-Launch/page3?p=202717&viewfull=1#post202717.

 

[wimbro]

Ok...got it. Thanks for explanation.

 

[cwerdna]

I just stumbled across http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc1BVbrhmJw. I haven't watched the entire video. 255 amps @ 360 volts as mentioned in the video at ~4:40 is crazy! Adding 273 miles per hour (at ~5:40) of charge is insane!

Compare that to rates at http://www.myrav4ev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3517#p3517.

 

[TonyWilliams]

... If that is correct and I use the same UMC designed for the 40a 10kw chargers on the Model S then I could theoretically use the Tesla station chargers. Is my logic inaccurate?

Superchargers ARE the actual charger sitting on the curb in a big box (it's actually 9 to 12 of the 40 amp AC chargers in your Rav4 and Tesla Model S/X). Those output DC !!!!!

The 40 amp onboard charger requires AC power (just like the Supercharger does).

The Supercharger stations do not supply AC power. Sorry.

 

[wimbro]

Understand now...no worries. I will come up to speed shortly with all the great info provided in this forum. Thanks.

I should have the CC CS-60 and Model S UMC before picking up the RAV4 today. Once I order and install the 70a J1772 plug on UMC, I should be set for now.

 

[user 340]

I should have the CC CS-60 and Model S UMC before picking up the RAV4 today. Once I order and install the 70a J1772 plug on UMC, I should be set for now.

Excellent - nice planning. Where are you getting your RAV4? I got mine from Toyota 101 in Redwood City a few weeks ago and was very pleased with the low pressure purchase and the price.

 

[wimbro]

I am pleased with how efficient this one trip for the CS-60, UMC and the RAV4 turned out. We purchased from Hayward Autonation. I was truly impressed with the price negotiation and purchase process. My wife and I were in and out within 1.5 hours, including the test drive and review of features. I would highly recommend the dealer...great service and overall experience.

 

[TonyWilliams]

A properly crimped "four indent" termination pictured below.

I will offer this service to a group of ten. Generally, it will work like this; you buy the Tesla Model S UMC, and you buy the Tucson EV 70 amp J1772 plug.

Send them to me, and I will assemble, test and return the unit. No warranty expressed or implied. $200 each, with 10 units total (basically, I'm going to buy the machine to do it with the money). List your name below:

 

[wimbro]

If removed and wired to ModS EVSE, will the J1772 plug on the stock EVSE handle 40a loads?