Water and electricity do not mix well. What happens if you want to charge your Tesla but it's pouring rain outside? It could be that you charge your Tesla in the driveway while it rains, or at a Supercharger on the road. Can you charge your Tesla safely if it rains outside?
Can you charge your Tesla in the rain? You can charge your Tesla in the rain. However, there are some steps that you need to take to avoid any water-related charging issues.
The answer is yes, because all Teslas are equipped with safeguards to ensure proper use and safety while charging in the rain. There are a few things that you need to know about charging in the rain. Learn more about charging your vehicle in the rain and some tips for ensuring its safety.
Charging a Tesla during Rain
You should be aware of a few important things if you find yourself in a situation that requires you to charge your Tesla while it rains. This applies to home charging as well as destination charging and supercharging.
Here are some quick basics to ensure that we all understand the situation.
- Teslas can be driven in all weather conditions, including rain and snow.
- Teslas can be charged in any weather condition, including rain and snow. However, the charger cord is the main cause of problems.
When charging your Tesla in the rain, there are a few things you should know. What you should know is:
1. The Extension Cord Water Issue
You are likely to be using an extension cable if you're charging your Tesla outside in the rain.
Water getting into the connector between the Tesla charger itself and the extension cable is the most common problem you will encounter when using an extension. This can be avoided by purchasing a waterproof box. (This is my personal suggestion because you can place the entire charger inside and keep it dry.) These waterproof boxes cost about $30 and are worth every penny.
2. Charges for Port Water
Tesla's safety feature detects if there is water in the port of the charger and compromises the connection. The vehicle will stop power flow immediately if water is detected. This prevents any damage to your car.
Even though the charging port is designed so that it keeps water out, water can still get into the port with heavy rain. Use a rain cover for the charge port to prevent this. You can buy them in our store, but they are useful if you are charging your Tesla in the rain often (for instance, if it is charged outside every night).
If you don't have a cover for the charge port and only charge in the rain occasionally, a quick tip would be to hang the cable downwards. If you hang the cable downwards, any water that is near the port will fall away by gravity and not into the port.
Can you supercharge in the rain?
You can use a supercharger even in the rain. You can supercharge your Tesla safely in the rain because Teslas do not start the flow until the connection is secure.
The vehicle will stop the electricity flow immediately if water gets into the port while supercharging. It will also prompt you to inspect the port. To restore a secure connection, you simply need to remove the supercharger from your vehicle and plug it back in.
While it may be difficult to exit your Tesla while it is raining at a supercharger, the vehicle will still charge.
Can you charge a Tesla while it's snowing?
You may wonder if your Tesla can be charged in the snow if you live in an area that is cold and gets snow.
You can charge your Tesla in snow, but you must take the same precautions you would when charging it in rain. You will need a waterproof connector box for the cable and a cover for the charging port.
The waterproof charger port cover and waterproof connection box keep ice off the charger port and handle.
My Tesla doesn't charge properly anymore. Does it Rain?
You may wonder if charging your Tesla in the rain has damaged it. Your battery life will not be affected by charging your Tesla in rain.
Battery degradation is the phenomenon that causes the shorter battery life. It is most noticeable after about 1-2 years. After 1-2 years, it is normal for all electric vehicles to lose between 5%-10% in total range. The degradation process will be accelerated by frequent supercharging, and charging at 100% every day, instead of the recommended 80%-90% charge limit.
If you notice that your Tesla has a lower range total than normal, it may be necessary to calibrate the battery.
How to Recalibrate A Tesla Battery
This is very easy to do and does not require much effort.
It's important to drive the Tesla until it reaches 10% or less. Do not charge your Tesla to 100%. Charge it up to 90% to 95% percent. Charge it up to 100% and it will only be able to fill what it was able to reduce itself to.
If you only charge your car to 90-95%, it will be able to see the real power of your vehicle and adjust itself accordingly. It will not care how much energy it shows on its meter.
The conclusion
It is possible to charge Teslas in the rain, but you should be aware of a few important things to prevent any water-related issues. Use a waterproof box when charging in the rain. This will keep your charger components and connections from getting wet. Consider using a waterproof cover for the charging port to keep out water. It is fine to supercharge your car in the rain. The car will not be damaged.
Teslas are equipped with a safety feature which will stop the electricity flowing to the vehicle immediately if it detects any water-related issues. This prevents damage to the car. To restore a connection, you'll need to unplug then re-plug your charger cable. This article should help you and your Tesla stay safe when charging in the rain.
