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Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
Tesla is warning users about a popular "charging hack" that can allegedly result in shorter wait times at select Supercharger stations. The trick, which has been circulating within the Tesla community for at least a few years now, involves wrapping a damp towel around a Supercharger handle when charging. The idea is that the wet rag acts as a cooling agent, tricking temperature sensors inside the handle into thinking the system is running cooler than it actually is.
Some claim the hack can increase the charging rate, especially on hot summer days, resulting in a faster charge and less waiting around. Now, Tesla has issued official guidance on the matter.
According to the official Tesla Charging account on X, placing a wet cloth on a Supercharger handle does not increase its charging rate. In does, however, interfere with the system's temperature monitors and could lead to overheating or damage. Tesla advises against the towel trick to help ensure their systems can operate correctly.
[...] Inside EVs points to several instances that seem to refute Tesla's claim that the trick does not work, at least with older V2 Supercharging systems. One Tesla user put a damp cloth over the charging handle on a V2 Supercharger, which increased the charging rate from 60 kilowatts to 95 kW on a hot day. Another user plugged in at two percent stage of charge and reached 147 kW before thermal throttling kicked in at 34 percent and slowed the rate down to 58 kW. Applying a wet rag reportedly drove the charging rate up to 119 kW.
V3 and newer Superchargers utilize active cooling. According to Inside EV, the towel trick does not really help at all on these systems unless you are charging a Cybertruck.
Tesla owners would probably be best served to take the company's advice and not fool with the trick. Saving an extra few minutes simply is not worth the risk of damaging your vehicle or Tesla's equipment.
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday July 31 2024, @09:36AM (2 children)
Wouldn't they just get a bigger towel then? To cover both sensors. It seems like somewhat of a bad idea to mix wet (or moist) towels with electricity. But then it's not my car. If the sensor senses wet shouldn't it assume it's raining instead of just being cold. Or perhaps it should at least check with its weather app to see what the weather is actually like.
That said if this is a thing, which it apparently is even tho I had never heard of it before, I'm surprised someone has not come up with some kind of device to make it even colder. Perhaps something you keep in the freezer and then just attach to the handle when you need super charging. How about just running liquid nitro along the pole. Then it's real cold. Super charge indeed. And frost damage.
(Score: 1) by pTamok on Wednesday July 31 2024, @12:29PM (1 child)
I see I did not make myself clear. The heat source is the copper wires (or possible the mechanical connection between the copper wires and the connector pins, or even the interface between the pins and the socket receptacles). A thermometer is needed as close as possible to the copper, then one 'further out', closer to the surface of the cable (or closer to the surface of the handle) - not two thermometers at different distances along the cable. So a bigger towel doesn't help. The aim is to measure the temperature gradient from the core of the cable (or handle) to the outside, and prevent it getting too steep.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 31 2024, @12:59PM
I got your meaning the first time (two temp sensors, at different distances from the heat source).
But I think this violates your other comment:
> Cutting corners allows you to beat the competition that doesn't cut corners - most of the time. Just occasionally you get a spectacular wipe-out.
Seems likely that Tesla cut this corner (only one sensor) to get their charging connector on the market at a low cost. Certainly Tesla has had some other "spectacular wipe-outs".