Tesla EVSE

[00049 (AKA SopFu)]

Does anyone know the trick to getting full power out of this charger?  I'm only getting 15 amps. Will the firmware update improve the "comparability"? I'm assuming I don't want to hit the charge button in the "high power connector" section, right?

[7racer]

I'm not sure....I'm on the Tesla forum.  Do you want me to cross post it there to see what the guys over there say?

[00049 (AKA SopFu)]

If you don't mind, I would like an answer. I did stop by the local Tesla showroom to specifically ask, and the salesperson had no idea. The plug cord has to be almost an inch in diameter, but I can't believe they would have DC charging at a bar.

This one is at Two Brother's Brewery in Warrenville, IL.

[7racer]

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/16061-Roadster-HPWC-to-J1772-to-Charge-Brammo-Empulse-R-motorcycle?p=322963#post322963

[protomech]

EVSE is way too small to be a DC charger. And I don't think the Roadster supported DC charging anyhow.

What's the plug end? J1772 I assume?

[00049 (AKA SopFu)]

Yes, it's  J1772. The only thing different from a chargpoint charger is the cord running to the pistol is quite a bit thicker. I'm not sure if that's to accomodate more current, or if it's added data cables specific to Teslas.

And there are buttons for high capacity charging.

It is a fairly new install. I have seen a Tesla S plugged in, too.

[protomech]

Roadster HPWC is capable of delivering up to 70 A AC (unlike most EVSE which can deliver 30 A or 32 A).

http://shop.teslamotors.com/collections/charging/products/high-power-connector

I see an adapter to convert the Roadster HPWC to Model S and adapters to go J1772 -> Roadster or Model S, but not anything to go Roadster HPWC -> J1772 pistol grip. I wonder if this is something custom.

Edit: scratch the below, see next post.
If you're 10A battery side then you're pulling about 1.2 kW AC. I wonder if maybe the J1772 EVSE is delivering 10 A @ 120 V AC.. 5 A @ 240 V AC would be weird. Does the HPWC say anything interesting while charging?

[protomech]

https://code.google.com/p/open-evse/wiki/J1772Basics

The J1772 Pilot is a 1khz +12V to -12V square wave, the voltage defines the state and the duty cycle defines the current available to the EV. The EVSE sets the duty cycle and the EV adds resistance from the pilot the Ground to vary the voltage. The EVSE reads the voltage and changes state accordingly.

70 A is 92% duty cycle for the pilot signal (provided by the EVSE). It's possible the Empulse charger reads this, doesn't know what to do with it, and steps down to 6 A (the lowest charge current).

208 V @ 6 A would be about right for 10 A DC delivered to the Empulse battery.

Edit: better theory if I didn't misread 15 A as 10 A. 15 A delivered is about 1.5 kW DC or 1.8 kW AC. Could still be stepping down to 120 V somehow (unlikely) or the Empulse charger is pulling 9 A @ 208 V, 7.5 A @ 240 V. Doesn't fit neatly into any of the J1772 charge limits.

[flar]

The latest firmware update provides "Improved compatibility with J1772 Level 2 public EVSE, particularly stations with high power capability" which may mean it negotiates that protocol better and over a wider range of duty cycles?

[7racer]

hcsharp is well respected on the tesla forum and replied to the thread.

I had totally forgotten that the Tesla charger is just a standard clipper creek unit so it should work.

How many amps can the Empulse take at L2?

[protomech]

I believe the Eltek Powercharger 3000 can accept up to 14A AC and output up to 25A DC @ 100V.

I assume Sopfu's 15A number was DC battery-side.

[00049 (AKA SopFu)]

I believe the dash displays amps on the DC side. On most Level II EVSEs I get about 24 amps.

So the question is, do I push the charge button under high power connector section to get full power? If it's Clipper Creek and universal, I imagine it won't overload my charger?

[protomech]

Don't know what the charge button does but I can't imagine it'd overload/damage your charger. Only real way to do that would be to raise the voltage > 265 V or change the waveform..

[7racer]

thanks guys for signing up on the Tesla forum.  You got some big names replying on the site.  Guys who are always knowledgeable on electrical stuff.

I'm a physician so have no idea what they are talking about!

but from what I understand it should work by hitting the charge button? 

00049 are you going to try it next time?  Wonder if some of the Brammo corporate guys will chime in.

[ttxgpfan]

Why do I see an image of some of the Brammo guys sitting around the computer sipping their coffee while they wait to see what happens when 49 hits the button?