Charging R1T at 30amp RV site Question

[VandalSibs]

This is the first time I learned that Rivian doesn't sell TT-30 adapters like Tesla does w/ its mobile charger.

Unless something changed in the last few years (and a quick look at their site seems to confirm my thinking), Tesla doesn't sell one either. TT-30 & 10-30 are not the same plug.

The TT-30 adapters sold are either literal adapters, or a pigtail for the portable charger... the only one I've seen is made & sold by EVSEadapters.com

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[dubaigary]

Code allows a NEMA 14-50 outlet to be on a 40A circuit. That is why most portable chargers with a NEMA 14-50 plug limit the current to 32A (80% of 40A).

Trying to draw 40A continuous from a NEMA 14-50 is dangerous unless you have verified that the circuit really does have a 50A breaker and really does have 50A wiring. In most places, like AirBnBs, campgrounds, etc, that is not something you can do. That's why it's always safest to assume a 32A maximum draw.

I wouldn't recommend that anyone use a portable charger that can pull 40A continuous from a NEMA 14-50 unless they really know what they're doing. However you can't go wrong with the 32A portable chargers.

Every campground that I’ve stayed at with a 50 amp service (ie the 14-50 outlet) has a 50 amp breaker on the post. The problem is that even 50 amp wiring is not adequate for the continuous load from an EV, which is why you see “NO EV CHARGING” signs at many campgrounds. Ask, and if they do allow it, limit yourself to 32 amps. You’ll still be topped up by morning.

 

[VandalSibs]

Every campground that I’ve stayed at with a 50 amp service (ie the 14-50 outlet) has a 50 amp breaker on the post. The problem is that even 50 amp wiring is not adequate for the continuous load from an EV, which is why you see “NO EV CHARGING” signs at many campgrounds. Ask, and if they do allow it, limit yourself to 32 amps. You’ll still be topped up by morning.

I ran into this exact issue camping at a state park in Oregon, had to throttle the truck down to 16 amps because the breaker was getting so hot. Apparently they have re-built the electrical infrastructure since then...... guess I need to go camp there and see if things are better now!

 

[dubaigary]

I ran into this exact issue camping at a state park in Oregon, had to throttle the truck down to 16 amps because the breaker was getting so hot. Apparently they have re-built the electrical infrastructure since then...... guess I need to go camp there and see if things are better now!

They will eventually catch up. Like a place we stay in Paso Robles, where I can charge at max amps…and get charged $20 for the privilege. It’s a new revenue stream for commercial rv parks, so they will be upgrading as soon as they can afford the capital outlay.

 

[VandalSibs]

They will eventually catch up. Like a place we stay in Paso Robles, where I can charge at max amps…and get charged $20 for the privilege. It’s a new revenue stream for commercial rv parks, so they will be upgrading as soon as they can afford the capital outlay.

I was raised on camping in state parks, so I'm a bit spoiled in that I am really used to either bigger spaces with more distance between sites, or a ton of trees so there's more privacy. And I've never run into a state park where they told me no charging my truck (or Tesla back when I had one).

For the commercial campgrounds, it is kinda sad that so many refuse even if their infrastructure is up to snuff. I do think you are right that eventually it'll be something that's unavoidable for them.

 

[dcdttu]

You are referring to a TT-30 receptical, at 120V. I have an adapter for my Model 3 that works on this using my Tesla Mobile Connector, and it works well. However, the rate of charge on a 30A, 120V circuit is not great. I get about 9 miles of range per hour of charge, so a R1 would get far less.

The circuit is separate from the 240V, 50A circuit so using one shouldn't diminish the other, I wouldn't think.

Your mobile charger needs to be able to connect to a TT-30 adapter to have the right plug, and the mobile charger needs to be able to handle 120V @ 30A, which might be rare. Tesla charging equipment seems to be the best at handling nearly any type of charge rate and plug type. Not sure about Rivian's mobile connector if that's what you have.

As mentioned, using adapters to convert the 120V 30A circuit to a NEMA 14-50 might not get you 30A of charging. It might be easier to use an adjacent camping spot's 14-50 to charge, if that's an option.

 

[Weck]

I ran into this exact issue camping at a state park in Oregon, had to throttle the truck down to 16 amps because the breaker was getting so hot. Apparently they have re-built the electrical infrastructure since then...... guess I need to go camp there and see if things are better now!

Had similar happen to me at a WI state park. 50A square d pedistal breaker couldn't handle 32A draw of the Rivian charger for more than about 45 minutes. God only knows what was done to that thing....

I ended up dialing the truck back to 20 amps or so and it held. 20A at 240 was still a way faster charge rate than using the 120v TT-30 outlet at 24A.

And as far as asking first... Unless there is some huge sign and it's posted all over the reservation receipt, I'd rather ask for forgiveness after the fact. It's not hard to be discreet when plugged in.

 

[Dark-Fx]

What?! Holy cow. I thought the code was supposed to help keep problems from happening, but this seems to be inviting them...

I have been discussing charging at campsites on EV forums for 16 years, and hadn't heard that before. Thanks for mentioning it!

There's no 40A nema plug, which is why it's allowed. A device might need more than 30A but less than 40, so the circuit can be set up to support that single device that way on a 50A outlet. If the circuit feeds more than one device it has to be 50A.

 

[denverag03]

Unless something changed in the last few years (and a quick look at their site seems to confirm my thinking), Tesla doesn't sell one either. TT-30 & 10-30 are not the same plug.

The TT-30 adapters sold are either literal adapters, or a pigtail for the portable charger... the only one I've seen is made & sold by EVSEadapters.com

I should have said 10-30. Tesla sold a kit with lots of dongles you could plugin to their mobile charger. And they signaled the right current limit via 1772. Rivian seems to just include the 2 (120v and the nema 14-50 dongle).

 

[VandalSibs]

I should have said 10-30. Tesla sold a kit with lots of dongles you could plugin to their mobile charger. And they signaled the right current limit via 1772. Rivian seems to just include the 2 (120v and the nema 14-50 dongle).

Yeah, it would be nice to see Rivian sell a similar kit - and with a TT-30 pigtail in it! It would fit into the Rivian ethos for sure.

 

[babock]

Many campground's power is marginal at best even before EVs came around. That's why I have an EMS in my trailer that cuts my power in the case of low voltage which is common at campgrounds when its warm out and everyone is running AC.

 

[SwampNut]

I've charged a lot on TT-30s, it's always fine, and obviously, limited to 2880 watts. So for an R1 that's about 6MPH.

 

[Dasoss]

I'm going to Colorado in a month and one of my stops is a campsite that has a 30amp RV plug in instead of a 50amp plug. Our portable chargers are either 50amp plug or 110 plug, so my question is, Can i charge at all from this 30amp plug, and if so, is there an adapter that is recommended to hook up the 50amp portable charger into the adapter so i can plug in at this site and get any charge? If so, I'd suspect the charge rate would be somewhat diminished vs if the site had 50amp service. I just want to be prepared and make sure i don't fry anything with the wrong adapter. Thanks for any info you can provide here.

You need an adapter. It's an unusual adapter. It's sort of dangerous. Here's why: The 50 amp connector is wired for 240 V between the the line terminals--there is no neutral conductor--the 3rd pin is safety ground. The 30 A connector at the RV site likely has 120 V between each of the line terminals and the neutral pin. Here's the catch--the voltsge between the line terminals is zero! The supply is not split phase as it is in most wiring. This i because RVs have no 240 V appliances. Their load center is wired differently. You need s special adapter that connects one of the 50 A connectors pins to one of line conductors on the 30 A plug. The other pin to on the 50 A pin connector is connected is connected to neutral on the 30 A side. The remaining connector on the 30 A connector. If you use such an adapter on a 240 V appliance, such as a dryer, it could cause damage. The adapter should be labeled NOT for RV use and for charger use only and a maximum of 24 A. You can achieve a maximum of 2.8 KW charge rate.
BTW, the Tesla L1 charger has available adapters for several kinds of plugs. They also automatically set the current limit.

 

[VSG]

The adapter is neither unusual nor dangerous.

Yes, the adapter for EV charging is wired differently than the adapter for RV use, so you have to buy the right one. That's already been said above and in a hundred different threads. But there are many brands available, and you're not going to damage your EV by using an RV adapter by mistake. As evidenced by the dozens of people posting in this forum who originally bought the wrong adapter - it just doesn't work, it doesn't fry the electronics or kill you.

 

[Mathme]

Can you charge with an adapter, yes.

Should you charge with an adapter, I wouldn't.

The reason being is some of those campsite light posts were installed decades ago and who knows what state those wires and connections are in and if they will be able to handle 30amps continuous load? As such, ask any RV owner if the plug directly into one of those posts without a surge protector (a good one will set you back $200) and many will say no. I'm an RV owner and I've plugged into more than one of those posts in the past year that has tripped my surge protector and had to move sites. For that reason, it's not worth hosing the $$$ electronics in your Rivian.

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