Portable Charger Stopped Working

[Alice]

Got my R1S 3 weeks ago, and have used the portable charger multiple times. Plugged it in today and after less than 20 miles, it suddenly stopped. No blown fuse. The light on the charger near the outlet is red though, so it appears no juice is getting to the vehicle. Anyone have ideas about this? My guide isn't responding. Many thanks!

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[jjwolf120]

Check it on multiple outlets that you know are working. Then report to service. My portable charger never worked and they sent me a replacement after having me test it on various outlets.

 

[VSG]

Check to see if the adapter cable is fully pushed in to the body of the charger. If your charger is hanging from the outlet without support, the weight of the charger can pull the adapter cable out partially which causes the charger to stop. If you're going to use the portable charger like this is you should put a screw in the wall and hang it off that - see the manual.

 

[R.I.P.]

The Rivian portable charger is pretty flaky. I drive places where I depend on a working Mobile cord, and would be stranded if it failed, so I use a Tesla branded Mobile cord as my primary, and was using the Rivian unit as a backup.

After watching the Rivian EVSE flake out on other trucks (and rescuing them with the Tesla charger) I gave my Rivian unit away and now carry a Clipper Creek as my backup.

 

[VSG]

My Rivian portable charger has worked flawlessly for about 18 months - I use it almost every day at work and especially on long trips when we camp. The only issue I ever had was with the adapter cable pulling out (once) like I described above. With proper strain relief, like the screw for hanging it on the wall, or bungee cords to secure it to the power pole at a campsite, it never fails.

I'm sure the Tesla unit is fine too.

 

[R.I.P.]

My Rivian portable charger has worked flawlessly for about 18 months - I use it almost every day at work and especially on long trips when we camp. The only issue I ever had was with the adapter cable pulling out (once) like I described above. With proper strain relief, like the screw for hanging it on the wall, or bungee cords to secure it to the power pole at a campsite, it never fails.

I'm sure the Tesla unit is fine too.

Guessing by your success rate with that unit that you don't attempt charging much from flaky Central and South American power outlets.
?

 

[VSG]

Guessing by your success rate with that unit that you don't attempt charging much from flaky Central and South American power outlets.

Then your problem is not the portable charger ... Regardless, I thought this thread was about helping the OP with a charging problem. Ditching the Rivian portable charger (which is under warranty) at the first sign of trouble and throwing $400-$500 at the problem (Tesla mobile charger plus J1772 adapter) doesn't necessarily solve anything - the issue might be with the vehicle, for example.

 

[R.I.P.]

Then your problem is not the portable charger ... Regardless, I thought this thread was about helping the OP with a charging problem. Ditching the Rivian portable charger (which is under warranty) at the first sign of trouble and throwing $400-$500 at the problem (Tesla mobile charger plus J1772 adapter) doesn't necessarily solve anything - the issue might be with the vehicle, for example.

Lol.

No, it all comes down to the quality of the electronics used, and the ability of the EVSE to adapt to less than perfect connections (as in being capable of reducing draw if the connection cannot withstand a full power pull).

It comes down to how much you depend on your equipment, and the consequences should it fail on you.

 

[GregJ]

Got my R1S 3 weeks ago, and have used the portable charger multiple times. Plugged it in today and after less than 20 miles, it suddenly stopped. No blown fuse. The light on the charger near the outlet is red though, so it appears no juice is getting to the vehicle. Anyone have ideas about this? My guide isn't responding. Many thanks!

I had exactly the same thing happen with my portable charger after using it regularly for 6 months with no issues. In my case the portable charger started failing within 10 minutes to an hour of starting to charge with the light turning red and a message in the app that the charging session had failed. There were no circuit issues or tripped fuses. I had an appointment with service anyway and after testing it at the service shop Rivian replaced it at no charge.

 

[DanielOBenson]

Mine quit after I left it out in the rain. Shook it. Water inside.
Red light is ground fault, and won't reset. Rivian was super at replacing it, even though it was totally my fault.

 

[R.I.P.]

Mine quit after I left it out in the rain. Shook it. Water inside.
Red light is ground fault, and won't reset. Rivian was super at replacing it, even though it was totally my fault.

Um, totally your fault? They are not waterproof? Can't charge in the rain?

That would make life difficult in a lot of areas in just the US alone lol.

No, it was not "your fault". It is a cheap piece of equipment that is prone to failure. If you _need_ your EVSE to work every time, & failure would strand you, replace it; or carry a spare.
?

 

[tragicmonkey049]

Mine quit after I left it out in the rain. Shook it. Water inside.
Red light is ground fault, and won't reset. Rivian was super at replacing it, even though it was totally my fault.

I have been using the portable charger as my primary outdoor-mounted charger since I got my R1S in August 2023. (My house has 100-Amp service and I only had room in my panel for a 40A GFI breaker, so the portable charger is actually max power delivery for me.) Mine hangs from the power cord because the mount that I really want to buy from TWRAPS is perpetually sold out.

Water runs down the input line and dwells in the socket and causes the unit to quit and give red error.

I cut the corner off a plastic tortilla bag, threaded the plug through it, and taped it with electrician's tape. Problem solved.

 

[DanielOBenson]

Hey cool!

 

[HaveBlue]

I have been using the portable charger as my primary outdoor-mounted charger since I got my R1S in August 2023. (My house has 100-Amp service and I only had room in my panel for a 40A GFI breaker, so the portable charger is actually max power delivery for me.) Mine hangs from the power cord because the mount that I really want to buy from TWRAPS is perpetually sold out.

Water runs down the input line and dwells in the socket and causes the unit to quit and give red error.

I cut the corner off a plastic tortilla bag, threaded the plug through it, and taped it with electrician's tape. Problem solved.

You were on a mission

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