⚠️ WARNING: Tesla Supercharger Extension Cable Derating Update!

[Cbowe]

After 3 successful tests, I went out to retest the Tesla Supercharger Extension Cable after seeing @TomMoloughney’s findings. What followed was a bizzar day.

Random unrelated 12V faults that found me in an AutoZone parking lot.

180kW 35kW derating and
Yo-yo charging.

Video live now.

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[Montecarlossfan]

I’ve used mine a few times on this road trip (2000 ish miles roundtrip). It derated once on a relatively cool day to 85kw, although today (95-99) out I had no issues… 187kw in at peak. It definitely came in handy as 24/28 stalls full at one stop. My unit is an EVbase variant but essentially the same

 

[Cbowe]

I’ve used mine a few times on this road trip (2000 ish miles roundtrip). It derated once on a relatively cool day to 85kw, although today (95-99) out I had no issues… 187kw in at peak. It definitely came in handy as 24/28 stalls full at one stop. My unit is an EVbase variant but essentially the same

I really haven’t figured out why sometimes it’s been fine and other times not

 

[Montecarlossfan]

I really haven’t figured out why sometimes it’s been fine and other times not

Yeah I had no idea why I was derated at 85 that one time , the successful times I’ve plugged in the nacs plug last just because how the stall landed but that shouldn’t make any difference. The derate happened at the same exact charger on my way down but not back .. but the vehicle itself didn’t seem to be causing the derate.

 

[MountainAlive]

Interesting. I’ll test my cable again sometime this week to see if I can replicate the derating behavior. On my first try with the extension cable it worked totally fine.
Is low state of charge (under 10%) another commonality with these derating experiences? I’m remembering when I first tried this I was above 30 or 40% if I recall correctly.

 

[SFsparkie]

I have used my Hansshow twice with no problems (once in 99° temperatures) but never started below 35% SOC. The cord did get warm. Thanks for the update so I can anticipate charge times.

 

[Cbowe]

Yeah these attempts were all started below 10% and the successful ones were higher but I haven’t absolutely confirmed if that’s part of it or what that threshold might be. It’s expensive and time consuming to test just because it takes about a week to get back low enough to charge and then I’m paying 3x what I do at home. I wish I could do a more thorough test.

 

[K6CCC]

As I said in your other recent video post, I will wait for the A2Z and evaluate if I want to spend the money...

 

[Cbowe]

If anyone is going to get it right will be them!

As I said in your other recent video post, I will wait for the A2Z and evaluate if I want to spend the money...

 

[MaintGrl]

Would have been nice to have a thermal gun, to test the temp of that cable connection.

 

[Cbowe]

Would have been nice to have a thermal gun, to test the temp of that cable connection.

I have one in the original video and show it in the short I made at Kettleman City. I also took them when I tested at Gateway near Lucid but cut out that in the interest of time. The external thermals were actually lower than I was getting in Kettleman city when I didn’t have an issue but the problem we are thinking is the internal pin temps at the coupling that we can’t see

 

[Laphuks]

Not worth to buy it, just occupy 2 spots,

 

[Cbowe]

Not worth to buy it, just occupy 2 spots,

You can’t if there are not 2 spots to occupy which their weren’t in my first video, or in my Vegas roadtrip stop at Kettleman City or in San Leandro or in this video when you watch it. You can’t take spots that don’t exist.

 

[K6CCC]

Not worth to buy it, just occupy 2 spots,

As Chris said, often not possible at busy stations. Had that happen to me last weekend. I planned on stopping at an eight stall V3 station in Temecula, CA. A while out I started checking the Tesla app and saw that the station was anywhere from full to a max of 3 stalls available. When I drove by, there was one stall open. Fortunately just two offramps up the I-15 freeway, there was a shopping center with a 16 stall V3, 12 stall Rivian, and 20 stall V4 station all available (also a 10 stall V2 (I think), but it was Tesla only). I charged at the V4 - and more importantly, added air to my leaking tire.
This was only the 2nd time I have not been able to charge at a V3 in 15 months and in neither case did it cause a problem. I have come close to not being able to charge at a V3 a couple more times. When A2Z comes out with their cable, I will have to give serious thought as to whether I buy one or not. Honest opinion is that as time goes on, the requirement is going down because of the explosive growth of other charging networks that mostly do support CCS-1 with longer cables.

 

[Laphuks]

Too bad for u guys that 2 spots are not available, in my area there are plenty of open spots normally. In my opinion that thing is a piece of junk, NOT worth buying.

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