EV Charging from your RV...kinda.

[johndjmix]

Ive had a few people ask me how i charge the tesla when on the go. Usually im able to charge right at the same 14-50 plug i plug the RV into, but to make things easier (Which i always try to do) i have a splitter.


So basiclly here is how I do it:


50AMP RV PLUG (NEMA 14-50)
-
TO
-
50 AMP "Y" SPLITTER -
-
TO
-

LEG 1 of the splitter: TESLA MOBILE CONNECTOR USING 14-50 ADAPTER

-
Leg 2 of the splitter: RV (DX3)


I bring a 30' 50A extension and a 70' (Custom made) 50A extension with me so i always can route cables where i want. The 70' extension cost me about $550 to make, but has saved me many times to get a spot where others could not reach.



Now before someone says it....yes, you need to take some care to not overload the 14-50 circuit and pop the breaker on the parks panel. BUT....the charger can only use a max of 38A, so just dont run both AC's and the stovetop at the same time, or just turn down the max charge rate in your cars app. Personally i have never popped the breaker and have done this setup many times.



So thats it, when you travel you will enjoy "free" fuel as long s your there.


In the future i plan to put a junction box on the RV and break the incoming 50AMP to a EV charger on the coach, so i dont need to bring all these cords and splitters.



--John

[richp]

I don't own an EV, so this is a question from an uninformed guy who is toying with idea of getting one.

How do campground owners/managers react to what I'm guessing is the significant power consumption that a system like that entails?

Rich Phillips

[arghhh40k]

How do you tow the Tesla?

Does it need to be trailer towed with all 4 wheels off the ground?

[KMP44]

Wasn't aware that a Y adapter exists. Ordering one now. 50 amp plug worked perfectly for charging the Mustang Mach e, but was using the 30 amp for trailer. Will give the adapter a shot.

And, we are on a seasonal site much of the time, so I only charge the EV there, and we pay the electric. But pretty handy that EV chargers use the same 14-50 plugs as the cg pedestals.

[johndjmix]

Originally Posted by arghhh40k

How do you tow the Tesla?

Does it need to be trailer towed with all 4 wheels off the ground?

Unfortunately yes. Have to throw it on a trailer. Oh well, at least you save a ton in fuel at your destination if your staying a while.

—john

[Phreak480]

Originally Posted by richp

I don't own an EV, so this is a question from an uninformed guy who is toying with idea of getting one.

How do campground owners/managers react to what I'm guessing is the significant power consumption that a system like that entails?

Rich Phillips

Some campgrounds prohibit charging of EVs, some make you pay for actual usage, some have no rules in place yet, some just raise the site costs across the board.

[tomkatb]

Electric vehicles are a rarity most places. Less than 5%

The RV parks have fully designed their systems to provide for the RV’s.

If everyone plugged their ev in the park would go dark. Have to likely double the feeder size. Every wire to the pedestals. Not cheap!

Which would not be a problem except, the state only has the power it has today. No options. Blackouts again. On a state wide basis.

We are,many years from a lot of electric cars. I suspect plugging in your ev will not be encouraged in the rv parks soon.

I suspect a different crisis in 4 years. There are not a lot of new power plants being built! It’s the math.

[eric1514]

Originally Posted by johndjmix

Ive had a few people ask me how i charge the tesla when on the go. Usually im able to charge right at the same 14-50 plug i plug the RV into, but to make things easier (Which i always try to do) i have a splitter.


So basiclly here is how I do it:


50AMP RV PLUG (NEMA 14-50)
-
TO
-
50 AMP "Y" SPLITTER -
-
TO
-

LEG 1 of the splitter: TESLA MOBILE CONNECTOR USING 14-50 ADAPTER

-
Leg 2 of the splitter: RV (DX3)


I bring a 30' 50A extension and a 70' (Custom made) 50A extension with me so i always can route cables where i want. The 70' extension cost me about $550 to make, but has saved me many times to get a spot where others could not reach.



Now before someone says it....yes, you need to take some care to not overload the 14-50 circuit and pop the breaker on the parks panel. BUT....the charger can only use a max of 38A, so just dont run both AC's and the stovetop at the same time, or just turn down the max charge rate in your cars app. Personally i have never popped the breaker and have done this setup many times.



So thats it, when you travel you will enjoy "free" fuel as long s your there.


In the future i plan to put a junction box on the RV and break the incoming 50AMP to a EV charger on the coach, so i dont need to bring all these cords and splitters.



--John

And this is why we will see electric meters at each site sooner than later.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by eric1514

And this is why we will see electric meters at each site sooner than later.

Exactly.

[sdelam]

I would rather have a meter at each site than have to pay an increased site fee for others charging their EVs. But its easier/cheaper for the park to just raise everyone's fees.

[Phreak480]

Many parks will need infrastructure upgrades to properly support it so expect that cost to be passed on to everybody.

[Sandiegodoug]

I like that y cable idea, maybe I’ll make a 30 amp version. Right now , I just unplug our isata 3 and dry camp overnight, juice up Tesla 3. Many pedestals have 120, 30 and 50 amp plugs. Always wondered if I could use 30 and 50 at same time, since our 3 draws little power unless using air.

[llr]

Originally Posted by Sandiegodoug

I like that y cable idea, maybe I’ll make a 30 amp version. Right now , I just unplug our isata 3 and dry camp overnight, juice up Tesla 3. Many pedestals have 120, 30 and 50 amp plugs. Always wondered if I could use 30 and 50 at same time, since our 3 draws little power unless using air.

The upstream breakers are probably 50A, if the charger and camper use less then 50A total it will be ok.

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by Sandiegodoug

I like that y cable idea, maybe I’ll make a 30 amp version. Right now , I just unplug our isata 3 and dry camp overnight, juice up Tesla 3. Many pedestals have 120, 30 and 50 amp plugs. Always wondered if I could use 30 and 50 at same time, since our 3 draws little power unless using air.

I've done that with the Mustang - put the camper on the 30A. (Don't hate - the electric is metered, so we pay the bill - wouldn't do it otherwise). Works fine - we rarely run the AC where we are, so that keeps the camper load down.

I've never seen how the pedestals are wired - Not sure if they bring the 240V and the 120V in separately or if its just one 240V line and then pull off one leg each for the 15 and 30 amp receptacles. Either way, it works on the brand new service where we are. The pedestal is adequate, but as others have pointed out, especially with older cg's, the ever increasing loads from rv's and then extra load from ev's will probably become an issue.

I would think if we reach a tipping point where ev's are more common, cg's would put in dedicated charging spots by the office or somewhere close to their main service entrance and not allow charging at the site. Any business can partner with one of the charging station manufacturers to put the equipment in and manage and maintain it. The fees from charging cover the costs, so a cg wouldn't have to foot the upfront cost - but you need to be at a point where you have enough users to generate the revenue.

[johndjmix]

For eveyone saying “what will the park think of this electric usage” and “they will start charging for electric”….no no and no.

I’m not sure most non EV owners realize this but it costs less than $2 to fully charge the car. I don’t think any campground would have a problem with this.

So, no…there shouldn’t be any issues! The cost of installing meters would Probably never pay for itself with so low of an increase with the EV charging.

—job.

[Flybob]

Some state park systems are already working to add dedicated charging stations for both campers and day use visitors.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by eric1514

And this is why we will see electric meters at each site sooner than later.

There are electric meters now, at the permanent sites where the Cherokee 38P is permanently sited. Been that way for decades. Monthly usage when we're not there is about $15 for one residential refrigerator and a 30 pt. dehumidifier. In the summer it goes up a few bucks because we turn on the second refrigerator to cool beverages.

If we use the A/C or oil-filled radiators, it jumps a lot.

[Bob2019]

Sometime ago I asked why the rates keep going up each year at a casino. They said you can't believe our electric bill. When I see RVs as big as a mobile home, 3 A/Cs running, especially for the dogs, (how did dogs survive in the early 1800-1900s)? electric heaters running in the Fall and Spring, and lights on outside all night, the rest of us are sure paying for all that. And now add an EV to the mix. Many campgrounds in MN do not have individual electric meters. They just raise the rates for everyone who feels it is all FREE electricity. Let everyone use some common sense and help the environment. Feel global warming is a hoax? Just ask areas with constant deadly tornadoes, floods and fires that keep coming at them if they think it is a hoax.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

There are electric meters now, at the permanent sites where the Cherokee 38P is permanently sited. Been that way for decades. Monthly usage when we're not there is about $15 for one residential refrigerator and a 30 pt. dehumidifier. In the summer it goes up a few bucks because we turn on the second refrigerator to cool beverages.

If we use the A/C or oil-filled radiators, it jumps a lot.

It makes sense on permanent sites. But it's pretty rare to see them on weekend sites in my experience.

[richp]

Ah, yes, but does the average campground have wiring that will carry an increased load beyond that created by the occasional user?

How many of us already have had sagging voltages in the summer, when widespread use of air conditioning alone almost takes electrical distribution systems to their knees?

Rich