OK to leave UMC in the rain?

[Slackjaw]

Looking at the forecast, it appears we may be charging in heavy rain tonight at an RV park.

I'm soliciting any data/opinions on whether it is OK to charge in the rain and to leave the UMC out in the rain all night. I know rain water isn't highly conductive, not like sea water, but I'm more wondering if exposure to rain water might result in corrosion of the 14-50 adapter or mess up our expensive UMC. I'm hoping the plug end of the UMC will be covered by the charge point cover, and the Roadster end looks pretty water tight once attached.

I have a feeling this might be filed along with the time I asked MPT if the magnetic field from the motor would wipe my laptop hard drive. But thanks in advance for any advice.

[W.Petefish]

Maybe bring a plastic bag and tape to cover the UMC. An umbrella will suffice for the end near the outlet. Also, masking tape and another plastic bag or two for the charge port. (just my 2 cents)

[Doug_G]

I wouldn't worry about it, personally, and I wouldn't be wrapping the electronics in plastic. Just try to keep it a little sheltered and make sure it doesn't sit in a puddle.

[Kevin Sharpe]

I'm soliciting any data/opinions on whether it is OK to charge in the rain and to leave the UMC out in the rain all night.

I was told by Tesla that the UMC was not waterproof... however, upon inspection I think that it's just the connectors used to swap between adaptors. I took the precaution of sealing these connectors using giant heat shrink tubing because I only ever use the 32A 60309 connector with the UMC. I've used the UMC overnight in heavy rain and snow and never had a problem.

[doug]

I wouldn't worry about it, personally, and I wouldn't be wrapping the electronics in plastic. Just try to keep it a little sheltered and make sure it doesn't sit in a puddle.

This is an important warning. Sometimes when you wrap stuff in plastic, all you do is create a nice little vessel that holds in water instead of letting it run off. Thus having the opposite of the desired effect.

[Slackjaw]

This is an important warning. Sometimes when you wrap stuff in plastic, all you do is create a nice little vessel that holds in water instead of letting it run off. Thus having the opposite of the desired effect.

Good point. What I actually did was made little "rain ponchos" for the different parts of the cable, i.e. closed at the top but open at the bottom. That was sort of blind luck. The charging port was sealed with tape at the top but partially open underneath. I posted some pictures over here.

Hopefully water was not the cause of my "line voltage sync" errors. Thanks for the feedback.

P.S. (Edit) The car is charging in the garage now using the same UMC + adapter, which I did not try to dry out. I haven't had any errors yet but will keep an eye on it. I'll also check the connectors for moisture later.

[cinergi]

A bit late for the situation but thought I'd share ...

I had my Roadster without a garage from October 2010 through June 2011. During that time, I charged virtually exclusively with the UMC. I left it plugged in (every day) through rain and snow without issue. It was never subject to sitting in a puddle (which I would definitely recommend avoiding). I only unplugged it when I knew I was going to get so much snow that I might not find the cord and/or run over it with the snow blower.
I'd often brush snow out of the receptacle area in the car, and it was often somewhat wet; as long as it wasn't grossly wet in key areas (e.g the actual electrical connections -- which, BTW, I never saw happen), I felt fine plugging it in.

The only times I've run into Line Voltage Sync errors and the like would be problems with the power source (tripped breaker, bad breaker / connection in the panel, voltage drop from insufficient wiring, etc).

[W.Petefish]

I didn't say completely wrap it in plastic. I was meaning make a little bit of a shelter.

[doug]

I didn't say completely wrap it in plastic. I was meaning make a little bit of a shelter.

Wasn't implying that you did. Just pointing out something that people often miss.
I had a friend with a broken leg who wrapped her cast in a trash bag so she could take a shower. She ended up with a bag full of water.

[W.Petefish]

Wasn't implying that you did. Just pointing out something that people often miss.
I had a friend with a broken leg who wrapped her cast in a trash bag so she could take a shower. She ended up with a bag full of water.

Big boo-boo with that one.