Ford NACS Adapter Poor Temperature Control

[TheBigBezo]

I’ve noticed on my current road trip coast to coast along I-10 that the Ford Adapter performs poorly compared to alternatives. For example: I am stopped at a Tesla station, ambient temps are 88F and I’m in direct sunlight. After 9 minutes, my ford adapter is leading to my charging derating to 86kW. I swapped to my A2Z on the same stall, battery still warm, and after 9 minutes of charging I was holding 110kW. Keep in mind the NACS cord was still hot from the first charging session.

This behavior has been true the entire trip. The moment it’s a bit hot out, the Ford Adapter just doesn’t shed the heat. I’ve actually had my best charging at CCS stops. Nothing beats Tesla for availability but I think I might go back to using my A2Z adapter since leaving 30+ kW on the table really slows things down.

Has anyone else seen this?

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[RickLightning]

Yes.

Two solutions.

1) Store the adapter in the air conditioned vehicle with you.
2) Take a wet towel and drape it over the adapter to keep it cool.

Or, use the A2Z to begin with.

 

[TheBigBezo]

Both adapters are in the cab with me so can’t improve there.

Your second point is valid, though, I might try that as an experiment later today.

 

[RocketGhost]

Are you using the Tesla-made Ford adapter or the Lectron-made Ford adapter?

 

[Yellow Buddy]

I’ve noticed on my current road trip coast to coast along I-10 that the Ford Adapter performs poorly compared to alternatives. For example: I am stopped at a Tesla station, ambient temps are 88F and I’m in direct sunlight. After 9 minutes, my ford adapter is leading to my charging derating to 86kW. I swapped to my A2Z on the same stall, battery still warm, and after 9 minutes of charging I was holding 110kW. Keep in mind the NACS cord was still hot from the first charging session.

This behavior has been true the entire trip. The moment it’s a bit hot out, the Ford Adapter just doesn’t shed the heat. I’ve actually had my best charging at CCS stops. Nothing beats Tesla for availability but I think I might go back to using my A2Z adapter since leaving 30+ kW on the table really slows things down.

Has anyone else seen this?

As @RocketGhost pointed out, the adapter matters.

I've used a Lectron adapter (both NACS/CCS and NACS/J1772) and both heated up much too quickly for my liking. I ended up getting rid of both of them.

I currently have an A2Z, and that handles heat the best IMO. Second to that is my Gen1 Ford adapter, I've never had any heat issues with it. Last would be my Gen2 Lectron made Ford adapter which I admittedly haven't used given my past experiences.

That said, that's with heat generation as the adapters transfer electricity. If it's hot enough out, in direct sunlight, and with a pickup in travel season. I've seen a lot more derating of chargers across all manufactures (Tesla still does the best due to # of stalls) and the adapters themselves don't do much to "shed the heat" as there's no active cooling.

 

[TheBigBezo]

Are you using the Tesla-made Ford adapter or the Lectron-made Ford adapter?

I had the free one then replaced it during the ford adapter recall. No idea who manufactured it but it’s the first gen. Got it from ford last June or so.

 

[RickLightning]

The replacement is made by Lectron.

 

[TheBigBezo]

The replacement is made by Lectron.

Well that’s disappointing then. Did A2Z ever get signed off by Tesla for use? The main reason I use my ford one is because it’s ‘official’.

 

[K6CCC]

Did A2Z ever get signed off by Tesla for use?

Not that I'm aware of, but I have and use my A2Z Typhoon Pro when I visit a Tesla SC.

 

[RickLightning]

Well that’s disappointing then. Did A2Z ever get signed off by Tesla for use? The main reason I use my ford one is because it’s ‘official’.

Nope.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

Well that’s disappointing then. Did A2Z ever get signed off by Tesla for use? The main reason I use my ford one is because it’s ‘official’.

They had to recall the 1st Gen A2Zs because Tesla rejected it and cited safety hazards. The 2nd gen was created to rectify that with the Pro version but no word on official approval from Tesla

 

[The Weatherman]

Interestingly enough the original A2Z was replaced because it could overheat by a degree or two. So now Ford’s Lectron adapter is overheating and derating. The replacement for A2Z seems to be more heat stable the ones Ford and Tesla say are good to go.

 

[bmwhitetx]

So now Ford’s Lectron adapter is overheating and derating.

I have the Lectron-made Ford adapter (was a replacement for a recalled Tesla-made one). Have used it four times and all 4 times my average kW rate was in the 130kW+ range.

I'm confused on which adapter @TheBigBezo is referencing. He said it was a recall replacement but first gen. The recall replacements have been both the Tesla-made and Lectron-made. First-gen was Tesla.

@TheBigBezo - which style is giving you issues: Left (Tesla) or right (Lectron):

 

[TheBigBezo]

I have the Lectron-made Ford adapter (was a replacement for a recalled Tesla-made one). Have used it four times and all 4 times my average kW rate was in the 130kW+ range.

I'm confused on which adapter @TheBigBezo is referencing. He said it was a recall replacement but first gen. The recall replacements have been both the Tesla-made and Lectron-made. First-gen was Tesla.

@TheBigBezo - which style is giving you issues: Left (Tesla) or right (Lectron):

Interesting, I definitely have a Tesla one then. It’s the big clunker on the left. I tried multiple times on this trip and each time the A2Z performed better than my ford one. I can’t imagine why.

 

[flyct]

Interesting, I definitely have a Tesla one then. It’s the big clunker on the left. I tried multiple times on this trip and each time the A2Z performed better than my ford one. I can’t imagine why.

Call the BEV group and let them know it gets hot and derates. They should swap it out for safety issues.

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