Battle Old Man Winter With Tips on How To Charge Your EV in Any Outlet
Winter is coming and it's time to prepare for the elements. For those who have to deal with winter, what does your prep plan look like? Do you swap out tires on a certain date? Do you store your car for the winter? Or do you have an emergency kit ready? Here are some tips on how to battle Old Man Winter.
Parking your car in a heated garage overnight can help keep the battery warm and ready to go. Assembling a charging adapter kit and signing up for every charging network available can also be helpful. Investing in a NEMA 14-50 pigtail on the Rivian Portable charger is a great way to adapt to dozens of other NEMA outlets. Buying a 30ft 50amp RV extension cord can make the connection from the door to the portable charger. Tesla makes it easy with their mobile EVSE + NEMA kit which allows you to plug into any NEMA outlet in the US. The kit is cheaper than assembling yourself and has temperature sensors in the heads, allowing it to automatically derate itself if the outlet is worn and starts to heat up. It also monitors line condition and will derate if it detects a problem.
A J1772 extension cord is another option as it is "Rivian formated" and can be used with any J1772 EVSE plugged into whatever receptacle is on the other side of it. A dryer receptacle in the US is a NEMA 10-30 or 14-30 so an adapter that converts this into a 14-50 is needed. Electric clothes dryers in the US are 30-amp appliances so if you plug into one of those, you need to set the truck to limit charging to 24 amps.
Tesla's rely on adaptors to plug into CCS/J1772 stations every day by the thousands and they are made for high, sustained loads and do their jobs well (as long as you buy a quality brand). Building a DIY kit of "dogbones" will likely cost more than buying Tesla's setup, and is dangerous. Buying Tesla's kit will likely cost less, you end up with a safe, proven setup, it will do all the calculations for you and comes in super tidy stow cases.
The NEMA kit lets you use 5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 10-30, 14-30, 6-50 & 14-50 outlets which is powerful when you're on the road & need a charge! The Mobile unit will self-adjust to each of these outlets capabilities, and also monitor them to make sure that they are in good repair. For the EV adventurer that wants to make sure they can use any outlet they find, there is not a better kit on the market. With this setup you can literally use any outlet, including Tesla Destination chargers. So make sure you're prepared for Old Man Winter with these tips!
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What is the best way to prepare for Winter?
Park your car in a heated garage overnight and assemble an emergency kit with charging adapters. Consider signing up for every charging network you can find, and look into getting a Tesla mobile EVSE + NEMA kit, which will allow you to plug into any NEMA outlet you find in the US.
What type of adapter should I buy?
Look for a NEMA 14-50 pigtail on the Rivian Portable charger as the goal, and adapt the dozens of other NEMA outlets to this with many of the adapters available out there on Amazon or eBay. You may also want to purchase a 30ft 50amp RV extension Cord to make the connection out the door to the portable charger. Additionally, consider buying a Tesla Adapter, as well as a sprinkler head cover that can be cut to cover charger handle when plugged into outdoor wall charger and the truck.
What is the difference between using a Tesla mobile EVSE + NEMA kit versus assembling my own NEMA kit?
The Tesla kit specifically fits the Tesla EVSE and allows you to use any plug you should ever encounter. It is designed for high, sustained loads and will automatically detect outlet capability, adjust temperature sensors in the heads, and monitor line condition. If you are going to use the Rivian mobile adapter, you would need to assemble your own kit of nema adapters, however results can be flaky and it will not configure itself based on the NEMA plug or test circuits like the Tesla EVSE will.
What do I need if I want to use an electric dryer plug?
You will need an adapter that converts a 10-30 or 14-30 receptacle into a 14-50. Electric clothes dryers in the US are 30-amp appliances so if you plug into one of those you will need to set the truck to limit charging to 24 amps. You will also need to make sure that the dryer plug is rated for 30 amps and not just 20 amps.
What should I do if I don't have access to a garage?
If you don't have access to a garage, consider investing in a car cover and a trickle charger. A trickle charger will keep your battery topped off and prevent it from draining while it's parked outside. Additionally, look into getting a portable EVSE that can be used with any NEMA outlet you find in the US. This will allow you to charge your car wherever you go.