They really shouldn’t be charging beyond 90% regularly.
Helping my parents get a Tesla
- Thread starter y_p_w
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If it's a RWD Tesla says do it once a week.
True. Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember reading which variant was purchased.
I didn't see it confirmed yet either, hence saying if.
Definitely different if it's not the LFP and I'd go with your recommendation then.
I really don't understand why anyone should have to think about charging regimens. It should just require you to plug it in and forget it. Different systems and batteries, but I have used solar panels and controllers on big boat battery banks for thirty years and they just charge the batteries with no nonsense handholding by me. Same with phones, laptops, regular car batteries, etc. When was the last time you monitored your ICE battery state of charge?
I don't understand why you wouldn't think they wouldn't be different? Sure you can treat them the same and they'd be fine, but you'd have a better chance of having a longer life out of them by treating them differently. You're just trying to extend the useable life on the battery to not have to pay for that battery replacement sooner. LFPs only prompt you to fully charge more often because they have a smaller swing in voltage from low to high state of charge, so fully charging keeps the battery meter calibrated and also means it's actually less wear and tear on the battery. Knowing the best way to care for them is no different than any other vehicle. You wouldn't cold start a car, slam it in gear and proceed full throttle immediately if you cared for the longevity of that engine either. Sure a modern engine probably can take that kind of abuse, but it also might shorten its useable lifespan.
I've rarely had an electronic go bad on me over their rechargeable battery in 10 years, even really old iPads, but it's not often that I fully charge my electronics. It's possible that may be why.
I missed this point. You don't monitor the ICE vehicle battery's state of charge. The vehicle does and it's caused me a number of problems over the years with aftermarket accessories. You'll get less output from an aftermarket stereo amplifier, because the vehicle regulates the alternator aggressively to lower output to avoid overcharging the battery. It used to be a running vehicle would see somewhere between 13.8V-14.4V, but many cars now will drop it to 12.5V which is the nominal voltage of a healthy battery without the engine running. It's much less stress on the battery. That's why modern batteries tend to last so long with the crazy amount of electronics in modern cars. Battery makeup is changing for starting batteries too. AGMs and lithium batteries are becoming more commonplace.
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Because these cars have vast computing power compared to my puny battery charge controllers that have been around and working perfectly for decades. Sure, there are optimum regimens, but the computers should take care of figuring them out.
Yes, but wouldn't it drive you nuts if you wanted to fully charge and it said no? You have to tell it what you want to charge it to. The screen will tell you what it recommends. What you do with that information is your decision, but it will be right on the screen what it recommends.
I just want to plug it in and forget it until I need to go somewhere, like filling a gas tank with gas. That's how 99% of drivers want it to work.
You can do that.
With OP’s parents living on a big hill, they really should figure out how much charge they pick up going downhil, so they don’t waste money on home power & brake pads. Then set the charge to stop at that percentake, plug it in, & forget it!
I did a test, although it’s not exactly perfect. We decided that we probably needed to charge at a Supercharger near their home to get just a little bit more (about 15%) and cut off charg8ng at 90%. It also took a little bit of trial and error to figure it took a quick tap of the Tesla connector button to release, and not holding it down.
But at the base of the hill it took about 3% to get to the top (further up than where they live) and going downhill it seemed to recoup about 1-1.5%. So it’s probably not going to be more than 1% recouped from going downhill
So it's been quite a learning experience on the first day, especially without any way of charging it at my parents' home. I did hook it up to their home Wi-Fi, which I understand is generally more reliable and uses less power than cellular data. I think it also provides internet access through the browser without premium connectivity.
I'm still wondering about the Supercharging. I was watching it while charging at a Supercharger and on the interior screen it was displaying that it got about maybe 12 kWh and cost a little less than $6? But then I have access to the charging stats and it's saying the cost of Supercharger charging is $0. I'm wondering if maybe the 3 months free charging has already kicked in. And total it's saying that it's received 20 kWh from Superchargers, but I'm thinking some of it was at the dealer when we asked if they could top off the charge before we left.
It's already really weird without a real key. I think when I left it in their garage (and went home) I forgot to turn off the A/C and it must have run for about an hour where it maybe lost 1-2% of the charge level. But I could turn it off remotely. I do worry that my parents might forget to turn off the A/C at some point.
The remote controls seem a bit weird though including the live cameras. I totally get being able to remote honk just in case someone is messing with a car, but what's with the fart option?
I'm still wondering about the Supercharging. I was watching it while charging at a Supercharger and on the interior screen it was displaying that it got about maybe 12 kWh and cost a little less than $6? But then I have access to the charging stats and it's saying the cost of Supercharger charging is $0. I'm wondering if maybe the 3 months free charging has already kicked in. And total it's saying that it's received 20 kWh from Superchargers, but I'm thinking some of it was at the dealer when we asked if they could top off the charge before we left.
It's already really weird without a real key. I think when I left it in their garage (and went home) I forgot to turn off the A/C and it must have run for about an hour where it maybe lost 1-2% of the charge level. But I could turn it off remotely. I do worry that my parents might forget to turn off the A/C at some point.
The remote controls seem a bit weird though including the live cameras. I totally get being able to remote honk just in case someone is messing with a car, but what's with the fart option?
I thought I mentioned it before. I think I at least hinted about it when discussing the recommended charging regimen by Tesla. But yeah - Model 3 RWD.
I have full access to it, so I can check the status to make sure that the battery is charged. I doesn't look like the battery max charge level can be changed remotely. I'm still wondering why the charge level has dropped overnight from 83% to 80%, although it could be that the battery hasn't been charged to 100% in a while and needs that for recalibration. There were some weird things going on, such as when I switched to estimated mile left and it was stuck on "203 miles" for what seemed to be at least 6 miles of actual freeway driving. I was thinking maybe it could have been because we were going slightly downhill for much of that period, but it shouldn't result in that.
I'm definitely going to need to tell my parents to shut of the A/C when they leave the car. I made that mistake last night.
I'm still trying to figure out what's the deal with the app indicating the Supercharging session didn't result in any costs, although I suspect the free charging period has started. I guess the charging status costs on the center screen probably refers to what would normally be charged. I saw the "cost" creeping up.
The car should just lock and shut off when walking away with the phone if you’re using that as the key.
I wasn't sure what was going on since we had the card keys with us along with multiple devices that were enabled for virtual keys. And their garage is below a room where they have their devices. So it might not lock unless it's done manually.
The Mobile Connector order has apparently shipped and UPS says it will arrive by tomorrow.
So I’m not sure exactly how to go about charging. I’m thinking that if it’s plugged into a home power source, it will provide power for current needs (all the electronics that are always on or powered while sitting in the car) while reducing charge level drop.
That being said, Supercharging has been odd. We tried to charge up to 100% to see if it helps with battery calibration. At a certain point the rate dropped and then after it said it was about to finish in a minute, it said it was calibrating for at least 5 minutes. At that point my dad was frustrated and asked to disconnect. It then showed a cost of under $8 for about 17 kWh. But I figured out how to check the account and it’s showing both times it was charged as $0 and then something like a listed charge miles credit.
So I’m not sure exactly how to go about charging. I’m thinking that if it’s plugged into a home power source, it will provide power for current needs (all the electronics that are always on or powered while sitting in the car) while reducing charge level drop.
That being said, Supercharging has been odd. We tried to charge up to 100% to see if it helps with battery calibration. At a certain point the rate dropped and then after it said it was about to finish in a minute, it said it was calibrating for at least 5 minutes. At that point my dad was frustrated and asked to disconnect. It then showed a cost of under $8 for about 17 kWh. But I figured out how to check the account and it’s showing both times it was charged as $0 and then something like a listed charge miles credit.
Superchargers don't want you to full charge on them and power delivery greatly reduces when you get close to full. It will go down to a trickle if you get close. It's much easier to plug in and forget it at home to do this. I wouldn't bother trying to get much beyond 80% on a public charger. It's a waste of time when you have to wait on it.
That was really just our limitations at the time without home charging until it arrives. Plus maximizing the free charging, although it sounds like waiting there for it to “calibrate’ might be a waste of time.
Even to get it to 85%-90% until they have home charging will be fine. I wouldn't worry too much about calibrating the battery. I think all Tesla means by that is that it would get less accurate on charge level over time if you never did charge it to full. I really wouldn't bother about getting it to full charge until it can be done at home. I doubt it would be a big issue, but I'd soak up that free charging while available. As fast as supercharging is 10-15 minutes at a time when it's at lower charge levels goes a long way.