Tesla charging connector too hot to hold on to

[K6CCC]

Had a slightly entertaining one this afternoon. I did a fairly short - 14 minute 32 KWH charge session at a V3 SuperCharger today using my A2Zev CCS-1 adapter. When I was done, I disconnected the adapter from the truck while holding onto the adapter. Then I grabbed the Tesla connector to disconnect it from the adapter, and it was hot enough that I could not hold onto it. Fortunately for unrelated reasons I always have a pair of gloves in the truck, so I put those on and disconnected with no issue. I will point out that it was 105 degrees at the time. Also, the station was busy and the stall I used was in use just prior to me pulling in - a Tesla MY backed out and I immediately pulled in. I have had the Tesla connector quite a bit warmer than the A2Zev adapter, but never this hot. Glad I had the gloves.

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[Mal106]

I have twice had the Tesla dispenser shut down due to overheating. Both times were in the sun with temperatures in the 90's I could still hold both the Tesla and the Ford adapter but they were really hot.
I even started carrying a damp microfiber cloth in a zip lock bag but have used it just once since. I suspect one or both of 2 things happened to you. The contacts in the Tesla plug were slightly corroded and/or the thermal shutoff failed to cut charging at the normal cutoff temperature..

 

[flyct]

I’ve recently had my Tesla home Wall Connector slow charge rate down due to the handle getting too hot. It’s happened on both of my Tesla Wall Connectirs when charging my Lightning. One uses a generic adapter and the other the Tesla Adapter with the Universal Wall connector. . It only happens when charge handle is in the sun. The charge rate goes from 11 kw to 6 kw.

 

[RickLightning]

Tesla OWNERS have posted that they put wet rags over the handle, this is NOT a Ford issue.

 

[potato]

And yet people gush over how superior the tiny NACS connector and cables are lol.

Tesla has some great engineering but it seems like their overall philosophy is to do the bare minimum. Nothing is overbuilt.

 

[garsh]

Tesla OWNERS have posted that they put wet rags over the handle, this is NOT a Ford issue.

That's only for the older V2 superchargers, which had no active cooling. I've used that trick myself when driving through Texas in summer.

And yet people gush over how superior the tiny NACS connector and cables are lol.

The V3 and V4 superchargers have liquid-cooled cables. They are able to maintain high charging rates in very warm weather because of this. Those cables are actually thinner than the cables for V2 superchargers, because the liquid cooling allows it.

I'm not sure why @Mal106 experienced a shutoff on a V3 station. I've never had that happen with my Tesla, and the one time I charged my Lightning at a supercharger, it was only pulling about 75kW.

 

[RickLightning]

That's only for the older V2 superchargers, which had no active cooling. I've used that trick myself when driving through Texas in summer.

The V3 and V4 superchargers have liquid-cooled cables. They are able to maintain high charging rates in very warm weather because of this. Those cables are actually thinner than the cables for V2 superchargers, because the liquid cooling allows it.

I'm not sure why @Mal106 experienced a shutoff on a V3 station. I've never had that happen with my Tesla, and the one time I charged my Lightning at a supercharger, it was only pulling about 75kW.

Tesla SuperChargers put out the same as other chargers for the Lightning. 180s to low 190s peak.

 

[K6CCC]

The V3 and V4 superchargers have liquid-cooled cables. They are able to maintain high charging rates in very warm weather because of this. Those cables are actually thinner than the cables for V2 superchargers, because the liquid cooling allows it.

The cable was not hot, just the connector.

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