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[DonTom]

Today, at first,  I had a real hassle trying to charge up here using my Tesla-Tap on my Zero SR. Yet the same place worked fine on my Experia several days ago. But I am using a different Tesla-Tap on my Zero, a Lectron. This one. I was about ready to call a tow truck, but with playing around, I discovered something interesting and useful.


What would happen at all three of their Tesla destination stations (TDS) in order:


1. I connect the Lectron to the TDS. No problem, all is fine at this point.


Regardless of how long I wait as above:


2. As soon as I connect my J-1772 adapter (for my Zero SR), the TDS goes into alarm, red light. Red TDS light every time connected, instantly, regardless of if I wait for ten seconds or ten minutes with only the Lectron. The J-1772 adapter causes the TDS to go red every time the J-1772 adapter is connected to the Lectron. This is with NO load. Bike and my external chargers not connected to the Lectron. Nothing is connected to the J-1772 adapter output.


3. I then do some fooling around and got it all to work in a very unlikely way with a BIG advantage.


Any Tesla-Tap user knows they say to wait 30 seconds with only the Tesla Tap connected to the TDS before use. But I know from experience that 30 seconds RARELY works. Not enough time. Best to wait at least two or three full minutes before connection up to the J-adapter (with or without a load as this is what turns on the TDS to start charging). They say it takes 30 seconds for the TDS to switch to a J-1772 mode, but I find it to be more often 120 seconds. I don't think I ever got one to work in 30 seconds--has anybody here?


Anyway, what I found to get it to work has a big advantage, even works on my Tesla Wall Connector here at home.  Do this, and NO wait at all!!!!


1. Put the TDS in alarm so it has a red light (there are several ways to do this, but step two above was all I needed, so I only did that) Connect up everything! J-1772 adapter and all. IOW, do exactly what they tell you NOT to do, but while the TDS is in alarm with a red light.


2. Press the reset button on the TDS. It will boot up instantly and start charging with NO wait at all.


Much faster way to start a charge than that two-minute wait!


Other users of a Tesla-Tap may want to try this to avoid the wait time.


-Don-  Reno, NV

[DonTom]

I just did some experimenting in my Garage with my Tesla Wall Connector. This time, I used a true Tesla Tap, the small one that is often used with motorcycles, this one.   This is the one I keep with my Experia that I used the other day at the same charge station. Notice my Experia check-ins as well as my Zero SR check-ins there.


Here is what I just now did:


1. Connect the J-1772 adapter to the Tesla Tap. There should be a green light on the TDS (AKA, Tesla Wall Connector) that is not connected to anything yet.


2. Connect the pair above to the TDS. Red light should come on instantly. TDS now in fail mode, doing nothing. This is needed.


3. With the red light on the TDS, connect up everything. Bike fully connected to all of above as if you now want to charge with the failed (red light) TDS.


4. Hold in the reset button on the TDS for about five seconds. It will reboot to green and start charging the bike. Now a ten second wait instead of the normal two minutes. And now no guesswork on how long to wait.


This is all done on my 2017 Zero SR. I assume the same can be done on the more modern bikes such as the Zero SR/F and SR/S  if connecting up right away (no wait at all!) will give a red light on the TDS. Somebody will have to try it and report back here.


It's nice to not have to wait the two minutes or so for the TDS to switch modes!  I will always do it this way from now on, with both TDSs on the road as well as with my Tesla Wall Connector at my two houses.


-Don-  Reno, NV