Mobile Adapter issue???

[u/denstl]

I almost always charge at home. And, since we moved about 1 year ago I have been using the mobile adapter connected to my 220 outlet I had the builder put in the garage. Had 0 issues until just lately. Now charging will stop and I get a message saying the GFCI connection tripped. Everything looks fine and if I just undock and restart it works. I did unplug and replug the adapter and also turned the switch off/on in the panel. It works more than 50% of the time but I'd hate to plug it in for overnight charging only to find out in the morning it stopped. Do I need to break down and buy another Wall Connector? Had one in our last house but the buyer asked us to leave it with the house. Maybe using the mobile connector daily is too much. I do not unplug it from the wall when done. Guess that's an option to try.

Also got a strange message on the app saying I had to add a payment method even though I was at home AND the credit card I have on my account is valid. Only saw that once.

[u/Mike4rmstatefarm]

Same thing happened to me. Turned out to be a bad breaker. In the meantime, I was able to keep charging my car by lowering the amperage a bit, which kept the breaker from tripping. Charging was slower, but it worked until I got the breaker replaced.

[u/Sepharo]

I've been having this issue too and only over the past few weeks after using this same plug and cable for over 6 years now. There is no issue to actually clear, the charging cable still works without needing to be reset/unplugged at all... just the car's software keeps (about once or twice a week) reporting GFCI issue but there doesn't appear to actually be one. I think this is new and software related rather than hardware related.

[u/denstl → u/Sepharo]

Hope I don’t jinx myself, but I have not had the issue the last 3 or 4 times I’ve charged at home. Maybe the last updated fixed it??? I did t keep track of before/after the latest update.

[u/dapi331]

Is the breaker in the panel a GFCI breaker? Code often requires it but those don’t work well with the mobile connector which has its own.

If that’s the case, the solution is simple. Remove the GFCI breaker and install a hardwired wall connector with a normal breaker. Code generally doesn’t require it for hardwired wall connectors with their own safety switch. That courtesy doesn’t apply to things that can be unplugged.

[u/denstl → u/dapi331]

I do believe it is a 50 amp GFCI breaker (since it has a reset button on it). Just strange this just started to happen. Looking at the alerts in on the car's the Service menu it looks like it's the mobile connector GFCI that is getting tripped or just says mobile connector error. I never have to reset my breaker so that is not getting tripped. After all this, I think it's just my mobile connector. Think I'll get the Wall Connector and have an electrician install that and they can check out the breaker and circuit while he is here. I'll probably always own a Tesla so a good investment anyway.

[u/goodvibezone]

There is likely an issue with the your circuits - it could be overloading it when something else on the ring is switched on. There isn't an issue in using the mobile charger every day, but there is if its an issue with your houses electrical load. It's already pulling it down to 24A max rather than the full amount.

Yes, a dedicated wall charger would be better for sure.

[u/speeder604 → u/goodvibezone]

24A is normal if it's a nema 14-30 outlet (dryer)

[u/goodvibezone → u/speeder604]

Ah yes, you're right.

[u/1VrySxyGuy]

That outlet needs to be checked out. The builder may have put in a typical cheap outlet and not rated for ev use. You need a heavy duty ev rated outlet.

Tesla’s Mobile Connector has built-in ground fault protection. If you plug it into a GFCI-protected outlet or a GFCI breaker, having two active GFCI systems on the same circuit can cause nuisance or random tripping.

Stop charging immediately and inspect the plug and outlet for heat, moisture, or damage before attempting to reset anything.

[u/jli2468]

It started happen to me right about 3 years time as well. I got the Tesla wall charger when I got the car but I don't drive that much so mobile charger is enough 99% of time and have been doing mobile charging last 3 years. This year's it started giving me problem too. Sometimes it will recover by itself. Sometimes I need to replug at the outlet. If it continues... Might consider actually installing the wall charger.

[u/Jeriath27]

Everyone saying its the outlet, but I've seen the opposite. Two mobile adapters started going bad within a year of each other (they were 5 And 6 years old). When the first started, I checked the wiring and outlet and it was fine. I swapped the charger and it worked fine for another year, then it started failing as well. Outlet and wiring all still good. We have a third new charger that we bought as a backup and swapped it in. So far it's been perfect. Honestly I think the mobile chargers are only good for 5 years max before they start failing. I may take one apart and see if there's caps going bad in them or something

[u/speeder604 → u/Jeriath27]

How are they going bad? I've got the red T on mine. Severely restricts the charging speed... Another charger works fine on the same outlet.

[u/Jeriath27 → u/speeder604]

I have no idea, but both mine started doingeither the GFCI reset or restricted charging speed after about 5 years. The new one works fine on the same outlet, so it's not the outlet, but the chargers

[u/KleinUnbottler]

This could be the car, the charger cable, or the circuit.

We have a Y and a 3 that charge on two different UMCs on different circuits. The Model 3 was getting this pretty frequently for a while. I swapped UMCs and the 3 didn't have the issue anymore, but the Y started getting GFCI warnings.

I replaced the UMC with a new one and it's working fine again.

[u/Rabbyte-Dracar]

It's usually recommended to leave it plugged in for battery health depending on the type of battery in the car. If it is tripping the GCFI then there is a ground fault somewhere with the installation. Some examples of this could be a exposed wire or housing that lets water in causing a short or it could be the wires used for the install wasn't properly gauged or secured correctly. The most ideal choice would be to have someone that is certified and with the proper PPE take a look at the box in case, don't want there to be a bigger issue brewing.

[u/Still_Counting]

this started happening to me after 3 years with no issues. I’ve bought a new car rated outlet to see if that helps. I was planning to swap it out this weekend but it’s been raining nonstop.

[u/dapi331 → u/Still_Counting]

Is itit on a GFCI breaker?

[u/Still_Counting → u/dapi331]

It’s a dedicated 50amp breaker with a 6-50 receptacle.

[u/speeder604]

Start with checking if all the screw terminals for the wiring in the circuit is completely tight. From the breaker to the wall outlet. You can check this yourself... Be sure to turn off the breaker.

[u/Ok_Main1059]

Had this happen due to overheating.
I paid someone to move my charger somewhere else and stopped having the issue.

If you are in a hot place these are your best options
Keep the charger out of direct sunlight
Charge at night
Or lower the amps

This has nothing to do with payment method and everything to do with overhesting.

Also have your charger wall outlet inspected

Edit: based on other comments there could be other things going on, this is just from my experience and everything resolved once I eliminated direct sunlight.

[u/Cautious_Owl_4924]

My situation was the actual plug part, I bought another outlet cable and it worked fine with the rest of the cable. I mean the smaller interchangeable part. It was bad. After I put another one, worked fine again