Charging at RV sites?

[Blu2Grn]

Not much of an expert on electrical issues but wonder if anyone has experience charging their R1 at an RV site with 30amp power. If so, what adapter did you use? I thought this might be a solution when up in the Old Station / Hat Creek / Lassen area last weekend but the RV socket was different than the plug on my Rivian supplied portable charger. (Co-pilot responded to my query that The standard RV 30-amp outlet is a TT-30 plug, which provides 120V rather than the 240V that most Level 2 chargers use. To make it work, you’ll need an adapter that converts the TT-30 plug to a NEMA 14-50 or J1772 connection, ensuring it’s wired correctly for EV charging).

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[cbrcanuck]

Yup, you need a TT adapter. If you search that on the forum, there are a bunch of threads about them. I bought one based on a recommendation on here a couple of years ago as a backup option in case I ever got stuck, but have never actually used it. But has been living in my frunk for a long time And yup, I know it's pretty silly to not even test it once. I keep meaning to. Maybe this summer?

 

[captainjp]

To make it work, you’ll need an adapter that converts the TT-30 plug to a NEMA 14-50 or J1772 connection, ensuring it’s wired correctly for EV charging).

I would not do this. Instead use this adapter with the standard plug included with your mobile charger.
https://a.co/d/ez9rcpb

 

[VSG]

To make it work, you’ll need an adapter that converts the TT-30 plug to a NEMA 14-50 ... connection, ensuring it’s wired correctly for EV charging

Yes, this is correct, especially the part about the adapter needing to be for EV charging, because there are other adapters made for powering RVs that won't work.

This one works - this is what I have and I have used it many times to charge from a TT-30 outlet at campgrounds:
https://www.amazon.com/Parkworld-885378-Adapter-TT-30P-14-50R/dp/B07G2MT4T6/

I use this along with the Rivian portable charger.

One very important thing - when using this adapter, you have to manually set the charging current inside your Rivian to be 24 amps. It will default to 32 amps, which is too much for the TT-30 outlet to handle.

I would not do this. Instead use this adapter with the standard plug included with your mobile charger.
https://a.co/d/ez9rcpb

Using that adapter will allow you to avoid manually setting the charging current, but it will only give you half the current (12 amps), which will only charge your vehicle at just about 2 miles of range per hour. This is technically more fool-proof, because your Rivian will self-limit the current to 12 amps so you don't have to take any manual steps, but it's painfully slow.

 

[JM.]

RV parks have either or both 14-50 for large RVs, and TT-30 for smaller ones. I carry these things and have used them for both Tesla and Rivian in RV parks:

14-50 male to dual 14-50 female; connect my RV and car at the same time.

Special TT-30 male to 14-50 female (EV ONLY, this is a special plug!) to charge the EV at 120v 24a.

The TT-30 can also be used with a ground-neutral bonding plug to charge from a generator.

 

[Cycliste]

Too little charging at Lassen. The Level 2 chargers were encased in ice and snow at the visitor center when I went snow camping there in February. I could not use my avalanche shovel to reach them. I had charged to 90% at Red Bluff and had plenty of range to get there and back.

 

[hammick]

Set your charging amps downs and then increase while taking temps from the adapter. I smoked a 50 amp pedastal at a campground in Illinois. Upon inspection the 50a circuit was being shared with the adjacent spot with no OCP upstream. We both had a 50a breaker. So between the AC use of the camper in the adjacent slip and my 40a EVSE the wiring smoked. I caught it and killed the breaker before it started on fire.

So I recommend being very careful. Even if the circuit is wired improperly they have your credit card info and might try to hold you responsible for the damage.

 

[FooF]

I would not do this. Instead use this adapter with the standard plug included with your mobile charger.
https://a.co/d/ez9rcpb

I have used the adapter above and it works but this one provides 120v 30amp instead of the 20amp above.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XNSXWM4?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

 

[FooF]

I have used the adapter above and it works but this one provides 120v 30amp instead of the 20amp above.
The mobile charger comes with:
NEMA 5-15, NEMA 14-50 so the adapter above will only provide 13amps or so. The 14-50 with adapter provide 30 amps but I would charge at 24amps to not trip the breaker.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XNSXWM4?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Set your charging amps downs and then increase while taking temps from the adapter. I smoked a 50 amp pedastal at a campground in Illinois. Upon inspection the 50a circuit was being shared with the adjacent spot with no OCP upstream. We both had a 50a breaker. So between the AC use of the camper in the adjacent slip and my 40a EVSE the wiring smoked. I caught it and killed the breaker before it started on fire.

So I recommend being very careful. Even if the circuit is wired improperly they have your credit card info and might try to hold you responsible for the damage.

Excellent point. Infrastructure at most campgrounds were put in before EVs existed. Even if they have the right outlets, doesn't mean what is unseen is up to snuff.

 

[RedCanyon]

I have used the adapter above and it works but this one provides 120v 30amp instead of the 20amp above.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XNSXWM4?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

I use this one as well. Works like a champ!

 

[JM.]

and might try to hold you responsible for the damage.

Yeah no, that's when the local fire marshal would be putting their asses in court.

 

[emoore]

I would not do this. Instead use this adapter with the standard plug included with your mobile charger.
https://a.co/d/ez9rcpb

Why? That's probably the most common way to adapt to other plugs.

 

[moosetags]

We have charged our R1T at RV campgrounds a number of times. Many campgrounds have both a 30amp and a 50 amp outlet on the post.

Our Aistream operated on a 30 amp plug. We have been able to plug in the Airstream and the Rivian at the same time. The charging on the Rivian has run at between 13 and 18 mph.

Brian

 

[VandalSibs]

If you have the cash, this is my camping charging setup:

Tesla Mobile Charger - can find these pretty well priced second hand if you don't want to directly give money to Tesla...

Tesla to J1772 adapter - you may have one already but it not grab one!

This adapter for the mobile charger. It tells the whole setup what voltage and amperage is coming in, so no need to adjust anything in your vehicle.

Let me know if you have any questions...

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