Supercharger - Buellton, CA (temporary closure)

[bluedog]

I stopped by the two SC's closest to me: Vandenberg Village (Lompoc) and Buellton, The VV unit has the xfrmr installed and there is a 200 yard trench covered by dirt and steel Plates that runs to Constellation Rd where i assume it ties into the grid Seems like: tie it in both ends and pave the trench.. one week?

 

[bluedog]

Okay, the Buellton CA supercharger is getting a full up rebuild. Looks like 16 V3's (4's?) .

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Okay, the Buellton CA supercharger is getting a full up rebuild. Looks like 16 V3's (4's?) .

Supercharger - Buellton, CA (temporary closure)

I wonder how long it's going to be before they get around to fixing this. With a conventional gas station it would be 24 hours max.

teslamotorsclub.com

The permit in that post said 20 stalls.

 

[ninerbynature]

Have we seen a V2 station been completely replaced with a V3+ yet? AFAIK most we have seen is V3 additions to V2 like at Madonna Inn

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Have we seen a V2 station been completely replaced with a V3+ yet? AFAIK most we have seen is V3 additions to V2 like at Madonna Inn

I'm pretty sure there's been one somewhere east....

Apparently JFK replaced 4 V2 with 12 V3.

 

[samn]

Have we seen a V2 station been completely replaced with a V3+ yet? AFAIK most we have seen is V3 additions to V2 like at Madonna Inn

Lone Pine

https://www.tesla.com/findus/location/supercharger/lonepinecasupercharger

 

[wm_mw]

It looks like Buellton station is close. The trench has been paved, lines are marked and bollards installed. There are a few pieces of equipment sitting to the side, not yet installed and still in protective covers (cabinets maybe). No charging posts on site yet. Stopped by on Sunday Mar 31.

 

[israndy]

Doesn’t sound close

 

[wm_mw]

Doesn’t sound close

Uhh… ok… thanks for being an unhelpful curmudgeon I guess? Care to offer any information or is that all you have to say?

 

[israndy]

Just that the post are not installed means Tesla is still working on it, after they finish begins the long wait for a transformer which seems to be suffering a global shortage. So it doesn’t sound like it’s close despite your describing it that way

 

[bmah]

Pictures of sites under construction are hugely helpful because they don't rely on the poster's interpretation as to what the current state actually is. Some people think "it's done" when they see posts and cabinets in place, but a lot of times that last step of getting the utility transformer can take months. Those of us who have followed this for years have seen all kinds of crazy things happen.

So I'm gonna agree with @israndy that if there are no posts installed, Tesla still has work to do, and the lack of a utility transformer means there is a highly variable delay in the process. I'm envisioning (having to use my imagination a bit because...no pictures) something that's at least weeks or months away from opening. I guess that's "close" on a geologic timescale )), but probably not what a lot of people here would think.

Let me recommend perusing the first post in the following thread, particularly the FAQs in the "C" (for "Construction") section.:

California Supercharger Locations FAQ

TMC California Supercharger Locations FAQ Maintained by @bmah Last updated: 12 November 2022 A compilation of frequently-asked questions, with answers, on the “California Supercharger Locations” sub-forum on the Tesla Motors Club (TMC) Web forums (California Supercharger locations). Much of...

teslamotorsclub.com

Bruce.

 

[zeptomoby]

I agree that many times the wait for a transformer to be delivered/installed can be excruciatingly long. However, regarding this Supercharger location, is it not the case that there is already a transformer on site? I'm wondering if that old transformer can be used to power the new cabinets and posts. If so, that could really hasten the location's opening date.

 

[israndy]

That would be crazy. The size of a transformer for a business is typically minuscule compared to the one needed for a Supercharger. Didn't stop me from thinking that was what they were gonna do at the latest Dublin Supercharger as I didn't see a poured pad anywhere. The more transformers deployed the easier it is to swap out in case of an issue. Sure, you could just have one giant unit for your entire town, but if it went out the replacement costs would be substantial and everyone would be w/o power until it happened.

 

[zeptomoby]

Sorry for not being clear. This site was already a Supercharger site, right? Previously, there were 10 V2-style posts here. All those posts/cabinets have been torn out as part of the site upgrade to V3-style equipment. But did they yank out the transformer, too? I think I can see it in a picture posted on March 19th, but I'm not totally sure. Here's hoping that the transformer is beefy enough to run the upgraded equipment, and does not need to be swapped out.

 

[1100MCM]

It will be getting a new transformer. The existing transformer won’t be enough for 16 V3 stalls.

 

[bluedog]

Buellton upgrade is moving right along. No charger posts yet but fresh paving and the lines are freshly painted, the pre-existing xfrmr is still there, the cabinets are in place but not fully incovered and bolted down. This'll be a nice stop once it's activated. I was interested in the wiring that goes out to the posts. There's two 8Ga conductors (red and white) and a bunch of 18Ga signal wires(?).

 

[bluedog]

Buellton is coming right along. I took a bunch of photos but they're saved as .HEIC files which are too large to attach here. Emailing them to myself allowed them to be reduced in size. I was surprised to see they are using Aluminum large gauge wire. All but two or three pedestals are in. Paving and white lines look great. Packing covers still on the inverter cabinets (5) but the switchgear cabinets looks pretty well bolted down and read to go.

 

[israndy]

Aluminium is cheaper, isn't it? Seems like it would be smart

 

[Doug Martoccia]

Aluminium is cheaper, isn't it? Seems like it would be smart

And less prone to theft, isn't it?

 

[bmah]

And less prone to theft, isn't it?

I was wondering that but once those cables are buried in the ground it’s not real likely anybody’s gonna dig them up and cart them off…right?

Bruce.