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Gravity CCS1-to-NACS Adapter Failure to Connect for Charging

PyynkBOB

PyynkBOB

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Air GT, Zenith Red, 19"
My partner has a Gravity that he can successfully and consistently charge at compatible Tesla superchargers. However, each attempt he's made at a Circle K or EvGo, using a Lucid CCS1-to-NACS adapter, gives him a failure to connect message, even after successfully negotiating payment. We're not sure if there's perhaps an issue with the adapter itself, or if it's a user education challenge. Thoughts?
 
I've used EvGo successfully several times on multiple versions of the Gravity software. I'm using the CCS1 to NACS adapter which came with the gravity. I have had some problems with someone nudging the charging cable as they walk by and the charge session stopping (this hasn't happened at a supercharger). So the CCS1 to NACS adapter can be a bit finicky. If I had to bet it would be a ba CCS1 to NACS adapter. See what happens if you use the CCS1 to NACS adapter at a different charging network (say Electrify America) and see what happens. If this fails then it is probably an adapter problem.
 
With the CCS, I’ve found you need to connect the adapter to the cable first. Make sure it clicks. Then plug it into the car.

The AC adapter seems to be fine regardless of which side I plug in first. I think the CCS snapping into place is just harder with that plug.

Glad it’s working for you now.
 
joec said:
With the CCS, I’ve found you need to connect the adapter to the cable first. Make sure it clicks. Then plug it into the car.

The AC adapter seems to be fine regardless of which side I plug in first. I think the CCS snapping into place is just harder with that plug.

Glad it’s working for you now.
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Yes, never an issue with the AC adapter, but a lot of trial and error with the CCS one, probably because of its bulky nature. It kinda bothers me so much that I mostly seek Super Chargers just to avoid dealing with that (I know... first world problems 🙂)
 
After 5 years of only using CCS ports which connect firmly and tightly to the car's port, it's a bit unnerving to use NACS which feels loose and shallow. Always feels like it's just gonna slip out, especially with the bulky adapter and heavy CCS cable hanging off it. I know it probably won't, but it just feels wrong to physically leverage so much bulk and weight on such a small peg. Especially when using a cord that wants to twist rather than hang loosely.

Fortunately it all works, even though it still causes me to cringe a little from the physical mismatch.

On a separate note, I do miss the noticible "click" sound my Mach-E made when engaging and disengaging the handle lock. It proved to be quite helpful. With the Gravity there's no indication of any kind when the lock is engaged. Just have to keep trying until it releases and pulls out. Not a biggie but the click sound was just one of those little helpful things. Kinda wish there was a little LED light or something showing when the lock is engaged.
 
dbsb3233 said:
After 5 years of only using CCS ports which connect firmly and tightly to the car's port, it's a bit unnerving to use NACS which feels loose and shallow. Always feels like it's just gonna slip out, especially with the bulky adapter and heavy CCS cable hanging off it. I know it probably won't, but it just feels wrong to physically leverage so much bulk and weight on such a small peg. Especially when using a cord that wants to twist rather than hang loosely.

Fortunately it all works, even though it still causes me to cringe a little from the physical mismatch.

On a separate note, I do miss the noticible "click" sound my Mach-E made when engaging and disengaging the handle lock. It proved to be quite helpful. With the Gravity there's no indication of any kind when the lock is engaged. Just have to keep trying until it releases and pulls out. Not a biggie but the click sound was just one of those little helpful things. Kinda wish there was a little LED light or something showing when the lock is engaged.
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Do the charging lights change when you’re done charging?
 
dbsb3233 said:
They stop blinking when charging stops, but there's typically a little time after that before the latch unlocks.
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So both the gravity and the air have that in common. My guess is the nac’s, for some reason are a bit sloppy in the connector fit. My nac’s adapter fits similar
 
We ended up getting it to work several times over the weekend, at several different chargers, using the correct order of operations. There was one Circle K fast charger that we tried twice, on different days, and never could get to work, but everything else worked fine with the right order of things.
 
PyynkBOB said:
We ended up getting it to work several times over the weekend, at several different chargers, using the correct order of operations. There was one Circle K fast charger that we tried twice, on different days, and never could get to work, but everything else worked fine with the right order of things.
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Yep, that's the trick... Adapter to cable and then both to vehicle
 
Just curious…I have a BMW iX for a few months and am looking very seriously at the Gravity. I have a home charger with a CCS port. Should I get a new charger (or cable) or is the adapter good enough for regular use?
 
sgrenald said:
Just curious…I have a BMW iX for a few months and am looking very seriously at the Gravity. I have a home charger with a CCS port. Should I get a new charger (or cable) or is the adapter good enough for regular use?
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Yes, you just need to use the AC adapter that comes with the car. It's actually J1772 (CCS is for high voltage DC charging)
 
prgarg said:
Yes, you just need to use the AC adapter that comes with the car. It's actually J1772 (CCS is for high voltage DC charging)
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Well let’s not be hasty, there might be a dc fast charger in his garage. I mean he could be Jay Leno for all we know 8-)
 
sgrenald said:
Just curious…I have a BMW iX for a few months and am looking very seriously at the Gravity. I have a home charger with a CCS port. Should I get a new charger (or cable) or is the adapter good enough for regular use?
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I wanted to leave an adapter on my CCS EVSE in my garage but not risk forgetting to grab it on road trips, so I just ended up buying an additional one. They're only $40.

 
AC charging? J1772

CCS Is high voltage DC

I think you are allowed two chargers.
 
Aka-none said:
Well let’s not be hasty, there might be a dc fast charger in his garage. I mean he could be Jay Leno for all we know 8-)
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Well...my middle initial is "J" and I've been to a few tapings of the Tonight Show back in the 90s... :p

When I had it installed, I asked them to use heavier gauge wiring so that I could upgrade the charger to 100W if I wanted to. In hindsight that was kind of silly. The reality of charging is that, unless you spend BIG BUCKS to do some major upgrades to your home electrical system, you just plug the thing in overnight. So even if it doesn't fully charge overnight, unless you're escaping a natural disaster or zombie apocalypse, you'll still be OK.

Fun fact, my home charger puts about 10%/hour into my BMW and I have it set to go from 12am-7am (when I'm paying about 6.5 cents). On two or three occasions, the battery was so discharged, it didn't fill up overnight.
 
dbsb3233 said:
Just realized I said CCS. That should have read J-1772.
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Aww and here I thought we could come over and admire your garage. I guess we’ll settle for what we got.
 
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