Check your Ford Lectron Adapter! {Solution Post 28}

[Cvh8601]

FWIW, if the latch does not engage it won't energize.

The CCS latch to the lightning worked no problem and locked as normal. I’m talking about the NACS end of the Lectron adapter which I could 100% slide out of the Lectron while charging full tilt With minimal effort.

It took me a few successful supercharging sessions to notice that i didn’t need to even look at the Lectron adapter’s disengage switch with the NACS handle to let it slide out.

Silence from @Ford Motor Company is great.

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[TaxmanHog]

Silence from @Ford Motor Company is great.

There may be a strategy briefing with upper management happening on these reports, we may hear something 'soon' on a solution.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Happened to, at long last, receive a DCFC adapter from @Ford Motor Company right before a winter weather road trip this weekend.

Long story short, it was a Lectron type. And I happened to notice thankfully when it was not live, IT DOES NOT LATCH WITH THE NACS HANDLE!

This seems to me to be extremely dangerous. So, PSA give it a try on yours and extreme caution advised if you also don’t want to be exposed to 450 amps @ 360 volts because the NACS handle slips out.

Not sure if this is a known issue, but felt the need to share so all can be safe.

@Ford Motor Company, time to try again on shipping a working adapter

@Cvh8601 Really sorry you experienced this!

I have connected with our internal team and want to try and get this fixed for you. If you are open to it, can I have you do the following for me so we can figure out what is going on:

1.) Can you tell me (here so others can learn too) if the adapter plugged into the vehicle when the cord released without pushing the adapter latch?

2.) We will send you a return label either via email (Please DM me your email address, but keep in mind you would have to print it out) or we can ship one to you (Please DM me your name and address so I can send you the label)

3.) We will work on getting you a replacement right away

Feel free to respond here and/or DM with any other questions and I will make sure we handle this as fast as we can!

Thanks again for comments and stay tuned...

Brian, not AI, from Ford

 

[Ford Motor Company]

My adapter isn't latching either. Received last Tuesday, 2/4, and noticed the issue as well. Tested on 3 NACS cables, all bottom out into the adapter socket, but never latch and can be freely pulled out with surprisingly little effort. I posted about it the next day on the adapter shipping thread.

Also contacted the Ford BEV department late last week and they've opened a case. Will update on the outcome and point them in the direction of this thread, as well.

Thanks, @Cvh8601 for posting and bringing some visibility to the issue.

@DuBignon Really sorry you experienced this! Just like what I said to another user experiencing this (Cvh8601) -- Please see below....

I have connected with our internal team and want to try and get this fixed for you. If you are open to it, can I have you do the following for me so we can figure out what is going on:

1.) Can you tell me (here so others can learn too) if the adapter plugged into the vehicle when the cord released without pushing the adapter latch?

2.) We will send you a return label either via email (Please DM me your email address, but keep in mind you would have to print it out) or we can ship one to you (Please DM me your name and address so I can send you the label)

3.) We will work on getting you a replacement right away

Feel free to respond here and/or DM with any other questions and I will make sure we handle this as fast as we can!

Thanks again for comments and stay tuned...

Brian, not AI, from Ford

 

[DuBignon]

@DuBignon Really sorry you experienced this! Just like what I said to another user experiencing this (Cvh8601) -- Please see below....

I have connected with our internal team and want to try and get this fixed for you. If you are open to it, can I have you do the following for me so we can figure out what is going on:

1.) Can you tell me (here so others can learn too) if the adapter plugged into the vehicle when the cord released without pushing the adapter latch?

2.) We will send you a return label either via email (Please DM me your email address, but keep in mind you would have to print it out) or we can ship one to you (Please DM me your name and address so I can send you the label)

3.) We will work on getting you a replacement right away

Feel free to respond here and/or DM with any other questions and I will make sure we handle this as fast as we can!

Thanks again for comments and stay tuned...

Brian, not AI, from Ford

Hi Brian, appreciate the reply. If I understand your question, no, the adapter has not been plugged into the vehicle when the cable fails to latch. Have been following Ford's instructions of first attaching the adapter to the NACS cable 'until you hear a click', but no latch/click occurs and the adapter can be pulled free without pressing the cable release lever. Not willing to risk damaging the truck by attempting to pull it free while charging.

FWIW, discussed the attachment steps with two BEV reps and they weren't able to assist. With a healthy amount of self doubt, one of the questions I asked was whether the adapter locks to the cable only after connection to the truck, but didn't receive an answer and that would still contradict Ford's own instructions.

For quick background, I've owned and used A2Z's original Typhoon adapter, their replacement Typhoon Pro adapter, and the original Lectron adapter. Have had no issues with any of those. We're also a Tesla household, own Tesla NACS chargers, and have a long history using Superchargers with both our Tesla and the Lightning.

Have DM'd you my email address, thank you again for the assistance.

 

[detansinn]

I have the original A2Z adapter, the replacement A2Z adapter and now the Ford supplied adapter. I’ve not had any problems/glitches when using them with Tesla chargers.

You should destroy that original adapter and provide A2Z with proof, because it helps their insurance.

 

[astrand1]

As @Firn pointed out - not a big deal safety-wise - but a bummer if you walk away thinking it's charging and someone yoinks the cord - causing charging to stop.

Well until/unless we get the new updates all someone has to do is press the unlock button and then pull out the adapter.

 

[Cvh8601]

@Cvh8601 Really sorry you experienced this!

I have connected with our internal team and want to try and get this fixed for you. If you are open to it, can I have you do the following for me so we can figure out what is going on:

1.) Can you tell me (here so others can learn too) if the adapter plugged into the vehicle when the cord released without pushing the adapter latch?

2.) We will send you a return label either via email (Please DM me your email address, but keep in mind you would have to print it out) or we can ship one to you (Please DM me your name and address so I can send you the label)

3.) We will work on getting you a replacement right away

Feel free to respond here and/or DM with any other questions and I will make sure we handle this as fast as we can!

Thanks again for comments and stay tuned...

Brian, not AI, from Ford

Brian - appreciate the prompt response and invitation for additional feedback.

1) When I noticed that i did not need to press the Lectron NACS end latch at all to remove the NACS handle from the adapter, the Lectron adapter was not inserted into the vehicle on the CCS end. Is that the question?

Since I had already started charging sessions each time I actually had the CCS end engaged with the vehicle, it did not occur to me to attempt to disengage the NACS handle as a troubleshooting step because the charging session was active. Is the Lectron adapter's NACS latch supposed to lock only when engaged on the CCS end also?

The Lectron adapter freely accepts the NACS handle, and when I press the two together as hard as I can, the Lectron to NACS latch does not engage. I replicated this at several supercharger sites.

Will DM to work on the others.

 

[Grumpy2]

I wonder if Lectron sold Ford their previously rejected adapters ... ?

 

[carys98]

Lectron made a change to their Ford version that is related to the NACS lock. @tommolog describes the changes in his video linked below (the key part is about 4:45 in). There is a pin on the CCS side between the DC pins that locks the NACS side when it is depressed. That means you have to disconnect the CCS side before you can disconnect the NACS side. One way to test is to plug a Tesla AC charger into the CCS adapter and plug the adapter into the truck. Then see if you can pull the NACS plug out. This is a safe way to test since the charger will not activate.

 

[TaxmanHog]

 

[DuBignon]

Brian - appreciate the prompt response and invitation for additional feedback.

1) When I noticed that i did not need to press the Lectron NACS end latch at all to remove the NACS handle from the adapter, the Lectron adapter was not inserted into the vehicle on the CCS end. Is that the question?

Since I had already started charging sessions each time I actually had the CCS end engaged with the vehicle, it did not occur to me to attempt to disengage the NACS handle as a troubleshooting step because the charging session was active. Is the Lectron adapter's NACS latch supposed to lock only when engaged on the CCS end also?

The Lectron adapter freely accepts the NACS handle, and when I press the two together as hard as I can, the Lectron to NACS latch does not engage. I replicated this at several supercharger sites.

Will DM to work on the others.

@Ford Motor Company, if you could answer the question in bold above, you'll save us some time and concern.

Also, if anyone else has a moment to confirm with their new Lectron/Ford adapter and a NACS cable, would be a big help to know if your adapter latches to the cable prior to CCS connection to the vehicle.

Very possible Ford's instructions are wrong and causing undue concern.

 

[Maquis]

@Ford Motor Company, if you could answer the question in bold above, you'll save us some time and concern.

Also, if anyone else has a moment to confirm with their new Lectron/Ford adapter and a NACS cable, would be a big help to know if your adapter latches to the cable prior to CCS connection to the vehicle.

Very possible Ford's instructions are wrong and causing undue concern.

If that were true, there’d be no need for the NACS release lever.

 

[Cvh8601]

If that were true, there’d be no need for the NACS release lever.

Concur - Based on the state of charge video, that pin would appear to be a NACS release lever lockout device (which is an excellent safety feature to add, so thumbs up for at least the design @Ford Motor Company). The lockout would only be effective if it had successfully latched in the first place if I’m understanding the mechanism properly.

I will experiment and report back at my next opportunity which won’t be immediately. There aren’t any easily accessible Tesla handles that aren’t pretty far out of the way.

 

[DuBignon]

Concur - Based on the state of charge video, that pin would appear to be a NACS release lever lockout device (which is an excellent safety feature to add, so thumbs up for at least the design @Ford Motor Company). The lockout would only be effective if it had successfully latched in the first place if I’m understanding the mechanism properly.

I will experiment and report back at my next opportunity which won’t be immediately. There aren’t any easily accessible Tesla handles that aren’t pretty far out of the way.

Tested the adapter on Level 2 this AM. CCS end locked to the truck and locked out the cable release lever (underneath) while locking the cable to the adapter. Gave it a tug and for the first time, the NACS cable was securely attached to the adapter.

As @Maquis commented, the NACS release lever is functionless, at least in the case of my adapter. Also appears Ford needs to revise their included instructions.

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