Basic physics taught us that water and electricity never mix. As the world ushers in a new era of revolutionary electric cars (and trucks), who would’ve thought that tiny drops of rain would have the potential to change your car-buying decision? If you’re wondering whether you can charge a Tesla in the rain, here’s some good news for you.
You can charge a Tesla in the rain without shorting out your expensive battery or risking potentially lethal electrical shocks. Tesla cars and chargers can communicate well during the rain. Besides, the whole charging process should run smoothly if you follow the manufacturer’s safety measures.
In this article, I’ll answer all the questions you may have about charging your Tesla in the rain and what to avoid while at it.
We’ve seen Tesla dish out different types of chargers with each purchase. Some chargers won’t come with your purchase, so you’ll just have to buy them from a vendor. Despite their varying power-carrying capacities, Tesla chargers are generally considered safe for normal applications. But can you really use them safely in the rain?
Tesla chargers are safe to use in the rain. You can plug yours in the charging port while it rains. However, don’t jam the connector into the port when wet. If the charging system detects a slight power leakage, no current flows through the cable, and your batteries won’t charge.
Water is a good conductor of electricity. While charging, EVs accept high voltages (up to 240V) from the connector. If live connectors were to come into contact with rainwater, there’s no telling how much damage it could do. However, I’ve never heard of people getting electrocuted by Tesla chargers while charging in the rain. That’s how safe Tesla chargers are.
Here are other guidelines to keep yourself out of harm’s way when using Tesla chargers in the rain:
As you can see, Tesla warns strongly against exposing your chargers to water in liquid, ice, or snow form. Doing so presents the risk of an electrical shock, fire, or serious injury.
For more information about the use of Tesla chargers, check out these manuals:
Tesla and other EV manufacturers have taken a step further in developing chargers capable of withstanding all weather conditions. So far, the results have been nothing short of impressive as some high-end chargers don’t require a roof over their heads.
Some Tesla chargers, such as Tesla Wall Connectors, are waterproof and can be installed without housing. They can also withstand dust and other extreme weather conditions. On the other hand, Tesla chargers like Tesla Gen 2 Mobile Connector and the Tesla Corded Mobile Connector aren’t waterproof.
Tesla’s 240 volt NEMA 14-50 outlets used for home charging are also not waterproof. They need some extra protection against the elements. For outdoor use, you’d need to install your outlets along with the NEMA 3R rainproof enclosure (which also happens to be useful against snow and ice).
| Capacity | Charge Rate | Rainproof? | |
| Supercharger | 480V | 200 miles (321.86 km) in 15 minutes | Yes |
| Tesla Wall Connector | 240V | 44 miles (70.81 km) per hour | Yes |
| Corded mobile connector | 120V | 10 km (6 miles) per hour of charge | No |
| Home charger (14-50 outlets) | 240V | 30 miles (48.28 km) per hour | No |
As mentioned before, high voltage can be potentially lethal if it comes into contact with rainwater. Although this is unlikely to happen with your Tesla connector, there’s still a chance it could.
Well, Tesla has a backup plan to ensure that people don’t get electrocuted even when they go against the manual’s instructions.
Tesla charger connectors grip firmly onto the vehicle’s charging port, creating a tight seal where water can’t seep in. The chargers also have a relay, which communicates with the onboard computer and only turns on when the computer tells it that the vehicle is ready to charge.
But that’s not all.
The manufacturer alone isn’t responsible for your safety. Owners, too, have a role to play in ensuring personal safety when charging in the rain.
For instance, you could cover the connector as you walk it over to the car when it’s raining. You could also install your charger’s outlets at a minimum height of 18″ (45 cm) to protect them from splashing rainwater or getting submerged by a flood. Don’t forget to cover them from water and dust.
If ice and snow fill in the charging port, you’re not supposed to forcibly scrape them off when your EV is charging. Instead, let the ice melt off naturally and wipe away the water.
You can also preheat the car for about half an hour. Check out the video below for how to safely defrost your car in case you have freezing rainfall:
You’re also not supposed to hang the connector in a downward-facing position. Rainwater may run down the length of the cable and reach the male pins on the connector.
We wrote a Troubleshooting Guide about Tesla Wall-Chargers. Check it out! Very helpful!
Modern-day EV chargers are weather-resistant. Tesla chargers are no different. They’re made to withstand a variety of weather conditions, including inclement weather.
You can technically charge a Tesla in a thunderstorm. However, it’s not safe. Tesla warns owners against charging in the middle of severe weather. Instead, you want to wait until the end of the storm to resume charging.
When charging in the middle of a thunderstorm, you risk a massive power surge, should lightning strike your home and somehow end up on your circuitry. Lightning strikes travel across your home’s wiring and can take out any device connected to the grid — including your car, connected to the outlet.
Now, don’t get me wrong here. Charging on a stormy day isn’t impossible. People do charge their cars during storms and we never hear catastrophic electrocution stories in the end. But there’s still a significant risk of a massive power surge from a lightning strike, which isn’t a cause for panic.
Improve your home’s safety by installing lightning protection. Also, don’t forget to unplug your home gadgets from the wall socket.
