CHARGING IN THE WINTER

[dpwmc93]

I live in Michigan and recently bought an F-150 Lightning Flash. I typically charge overnight and, unfortunately, I have to park outside. After a recent snowfall, I went to leave for an appointment and couldn’t get the charger unplugged. The release button wouldn’t budge, so I assumed it had frozen. Even the manual release in the frunk didn’t help. I eventually got it disconnected, but I’m not sure how to prevent this from happening again.


Do you have any suggestions? I’ve seen some of those charging-port covers online, but I’m not sure how effective they really are. Any advice for dealing with freezing chargers when you have to park outside?

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[hturnerfamily]

simply lay a towel over the chargeport / door to keep snow/ice off the plug

you could also cut a piece of block foam in a somewhat curved shape to fit over the plug and against the top of the inlet to minimize water intrusion

also, if you set the truck to charge a little bit before you depart, the incoming Amperage, creating heat within the plug, will likely help solve any freezing issues...

 

[RLXXI]

The Ford accessories section of Ford parts has a rubber shield made for the charge port for foul weather.

 

[dpwmc93]

Thanks for the tip. Yea, thats what I thought. I always set my departure time but it was not helpful today. Its was around 13 degrees this morning when I went to leave. The truck was nice and toasty but I couldn't unplug. I have the Emporia home charger. When I first got the truck, I would charge at Tesla Super Chargers and remember how hot the adapter would get, but I haven't noticed that on my home charger

 

[21st Century Truck]

I use the Canadian Macapuche EV charging port cover. Works really well in heavy snow and in freezing rain and nasty slush.

www.macapuche.com

It is in French and in English - just click on the language on the top right left now... they changed their web page.

Universal EV accessory so it can move to Your next car eventually. Very well made, and all soft so it cannot break. Fairly cheap and a good value for the price. Easy to store in the warm season.

BTW, "ma capuche" means "my hood" as in a hoodie hood, in Francais.

 

[Heliian]

The truck doesn't lock the plug at 240v, it's your emporia plug which is cold and stiff.

A hair dryer works well for charge port icing and to get your plug warmed.

I haven't covered my port, no real issues in 3 years. Had to take a hair dryer to it once after an ice storm.

 

[21st Century Truck]

The truck doesn't lock the plug at 240v, it's your emporia plug which is cold and stiff.

A hair dryer works well for charge port icing and to get your plug warmed.

I haven't covered my port, no real issues in 3 years. Had to take a hair dryer to it once after an ice storm.

Yeah I agree... for me, the Canadian Ma Capuche port fabric cover is a convenience which lets me get going quickly without hassle. If this were a true technical risk, Ford would have had a different port design.

 

[Adventureboy]

I have the Emporia as well. The latch mechanism on the gun isn't the best design for icy weather. Note when you are plugging in and the latch mechanism is stiff, you may need to push the latch closed so the truck will charge. It's really annoying when you come out the next morning and it hasn't charged because the latch wasn't closed. When I have a few minutes, I'm going to make a weatherproof sock for the gun mechanism to add to my $2 foam port cover.

I've sent Emporia recommendations to improve the gun design both for pinching and for weather resistance. On the upside, it is a really reliable charger.

 

[Astrotrain00]

I'm also in Michigan, use the Emporia charger, and charge outdoors. I got my truck a few months ago, so first winter for me as well.

I ordered this from Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4319745621/ford-f-150-lightning-charge-port-weather

And was just thinking.... would something like this work to cover the gun? Just cut the end of it and slip the cable through? Tighten around the gun?

• https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-2-1-4-in-Sock-Faucet-Cover-FC3/203221860
• https://www.amazon.com/Hometopia-Outdoor-Faucet-Cover-Winter/dp/B0B7RJXZX1?th=1

 

[unicorn1]

Why wouldn’t a bread bag and a few rubber bands shield like 99% of the gun against all but hurricane force sleet and snow?

I’m in NW Wisconsin and never had an issue the few times I’ve had to L2 outside.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Why wouldn’t a bread bag and a few rubber bands shield like 99% of the gun against all but hurricane force sleet and snow?

I’m in NW Wisconsin and never had an issue the few times I’ve had to L2 outside.

Many times the simplest of solutions is also the best.
I live in Michigan and charge outdoors and haven't had an issue so far.
Sometimes the trigger / release will get a bit sticky but nothing too crazy.

I don't cover it, but a plastic bag of some sort and rubber bands (might get brittle in the cold), zip ties, electical tape or whatever you've got in your kitchen utility drawer will most likely do the trick.

 

[Adventureboy]

I'm also in Michigan, use the Emporia charger, and charge outdoors. I got my truck a few months ago, so first winter for me as well.

I ordered this from Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4319745621/ford-f-150-lightning-charge-port-weather

And was just thinking.... would something like this work to cover the gun? Just cut the end of it and slip the cable through? Tighten around the gun?

• https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-2-1-4-in-Sock-Faucet-Cover-FC3/203221860
• https://www.amazon.com/Hometopia-Outdoor-Faucet-Cover-Winter/dp/B0B7RJXZX1?th=1

It would need to be open on both ends so the gun latch mechanism is protected by the cover while plugged into the truck.

It can be pretty simple. I like @unicorn1 's bread bag and elastics. Functional but probably not very durable. Something like a waterproof forearm protector is cheap and would give a bit more durability to the same concept: Arm Gaiters

 

[bc1]

I had my charge point stick the other morning from a little 1 inch snow but nothing bad. I see two issues.

1. For the snow a sleeve over the charger may work. Might cut off the sleeve of an old kid's coat or jacket in the closet, maybe one with and end that grips around the wrist.

2. For the blizzards blowing through something to cover the whole port and door. Maybe take an old jacket or kid's coat and wrap around and over the door and plug and tie off with the arms or use a rope 3' or 4' long to wrap around and tie off or get a role of double sided velcro to wrap around. In heavy snow or ice I wouldn't want to have to untie anything smaller than 1/4" rope, no rubber bands or bread ties or zip ties or electrical tape.

As an aside, I first thought I didn't want the neighbors to see me out there with messing around with a hair dryer. Then it dawned on me, while those ICE bozos are busting their butts scraping ice off their windshields, I could be plugging my hair dryer in on the inside of the cab, with charger still connected, and clear the ice off of the windshield with it while sipping on my coffee assuming I didn't get a chance to set start the climate control before hand. Then when I'm inside I can use the hair dryer pointed at the windshield or any window for a quick defrost or just pointed at me or my fingers to help warm me up. The handle would slip into the cup holder. Only downside is that the wife will have to go out and sit in the pickup every morning in her robe to dry her hair. Guess I'll carry a hair dryer around during the winter for emergency heating purposes and maybe a ceramic heater in case I would get stuck in the ditch somewhere. At least we won't die from carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

[Maxx]

On the topic of winter charging, I forgot what the verdict was on how low the temp has to be for plugging in to make sense, to keep the battery warm enough for longevity. We dipped just bellow freezing recently and I had it plugged in because I thought I read somewhere that threshold temp for heating the battery is different when you are plugged in vs when you are not. I didn’t see any energy going in while it was plugged in. Maybe battery temp never went bellow freezing while it was bellow zero outside.

I don’t want to plug in when it does not make any difference. I am sure this was discussed here before but I ran out of patience with search. Anyone remembers or have experimented with this? At what temp battery heater kicks in? And is it different when plugged in?

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