Charging cable port cleaning.

[Greg Chick]

Is it a good idea to use electrical connection cleaner spray on the cable end sockets or the end in the charger port on the vehicle? Is this a way to help reduce heat in the coupler? I saw cleaning in the service done at the Service Center.... How and with what, and to what end?

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[CharonPDX]

In nearly four years of ownership, the only time I've cleaned my charge port is when I left the DC-pins flap open when charging AC, and some snow blew in. I brushed the snow out as I was unplugging the AC charging.

Eventually, maybe, the metal contacts may require better cleaning. But not yet.

 

[SANZC02]

Is it a good idea to use electrical connection cleaner spray on the cable end sockets or the end in the charger port on the vehicle? Is this a way to help reduce heat in the coupler? I saw cleaning in the service done at the Service Center.... How and with what, and to what end?

10 years with a Tesla Model S, 3.5 years with my R1S and have never cleaned the contacts on the charge ports.

I do look at the connector, especially at DCFC locations to make sure there is no debris or slime in them before I connect but otherwise I do nothing.

Neither vehicle has ever had an issue with the charge ports.

 

[Greg Chick]

It seems like a hot spot for arcing. Loose wirenuts in wires in buildings have caused many fires. It is common for regular 120 volt wall outlets to get debauched and spark causing black soot to be visible on the cover plate. Or to have the plugs loose tightness and fall out.
I guess the engineering and build quality of the power connection in the EV industry is above such things?

 

[Dasoss]

It seems like a hot spot for arcing. Loose wirenuts in wires in buildings have caused many fires. It is common for regular 120 volt wall outlets to get debauched and spark causing black soot to be visible on the cover plate. Or to have the plugs loose tightness and fall out.
I guess the engineering and build quality of the power connection in the EV industry is above such things?

Yes it is. If the charger and vehicle are working properly, no high voltages are present on the power connectors when the connectors are being connected and disconnected to prevent arcs. The lock is to keep you from disnonnecteng with the power on. The connectors have temperature sensors to lrevent damage to the contacts. Some adapters interfere with this. There csn be issues if the contacts are not mechanically secure. Level 3 chargers have active liquid-cooled cables and connectors. EV charging arrangements are really robust.

 

[Greg Chick]

Dasoss.
Thank you, again the Rivian Engineers are smart. But, I still keep a cap on the charger end when it is hanging on the wall. I do not rest it into the charger box because that is on otherside of the garage and I have a cable ramp on the floor encasing the cable in place. The garage is very dusty, so I go the extra effort in case anyway.

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