Got an X last October. Mods to date. Inverter from dc to ac so I can plug my camper pod in. Also, it was quite useful for the PG&E power outages in the past couple months. Inverter is only 1500 W since the Tesla DC DC is said to be rated at 2500 W. Took the bucket out connected to the lead acid 12 V battery terminals. Large fuse placed. Stuck a couple heater vent filters in the large empty space. So far this has worked quite well. The inverter does shut off if I pull more than about 12 … Continue reading Tesla X mods

I love to fix things. Get a thrill out of making something broken work again. Today 12/3/19 I’m working on fixing a Tesla mobile charger (actually an EVSE – electric vehicle supply equipment- or switches w safeties), gen 1, from Tesla S bought sept 2014. Problem is getting a red light about 1/2 the time. Sometimes unplugging and whacking help. My theory is the relay may be bad. Used dremel tool, then rotozip when dremel died. Dremel repair is next project. Cut off the rubber cover, burred open sealed EVSE plastic case. Well made and nothing burned or loose. Replacement … Continue reading Chewy’s fix its

The following pix are of SC’s we visited. Only Cheyenne was 1/2 off line on our arrival. Fixed by tesla the next day. Silverthorne was down due to local power issues but working a day later when we arrived.   Truckee, behind grocery store   Lovelock, NV Winnemucca, NV   Elko, NV     West Wendover, NV – casinos on the Nevada-Utah border    Salt Lake City – friendly service center w coffee    Elko, NV    Green river, CO – very dark at night, in the Museum parking lot.  Glenwood springs, CO    Silverthorne CO outlet stores I      Lusk, WY … Continue reading Superchargers visited 

Yesterday’s drive from Boulder CO to Silverthorne was a bit anxiety provoking.  Distance was 80.1 miles Starting charge was 64% – from Chademo at Boulder Nissan. (Only 15 kW rate).   Temp below 40F on the pass. Raining and snowing.  I was worried when initial usage was over 900 Wh/m going up the steep grade. I dropped to 43 mph cruise control. Car said “charging needed, projected -10%. My calcs at 500 Wh/m said I should have made it, so I kept my fingers crossed, glided in neutral downhill when safe, and arrived in Silverthorne with 11% left, or 475Wh/mile … Continue reading Tesla trailer tales

today we drive to Boulder via lusk WY and Cheyenne. No significant winds, thankfully.  In lusk I was able to pull perpendicular to the parking slots and charge with the trailer attached. The people at the covered wagon motel let me hot tub while charging – in their oasis in lusk.             Continue reading Day 7 Returning home 

Today we visited Crazy Horse memorial and Mount Rushmore. What amazing sculptures! To think of the dynamiting and chiseling those granite mountains – truly incredible. And crazy horse’s sculpture will be humongous – his face alone is more than twice the size of Rushmore! We will start back to California tomorrow via Boulder where my cousin Pat lives. The pace will be slower until we figure out how much extra energy the trailer is requiring. I’m hoping that the increase will be offset by my slower speed. At least I know how much energy it takes between superchargers on our … Continue reading Day 6 of our Custer trip

today our adventure was driving from Custer to Gillette. About 120 miles. Half battery to get there, charged at a J1772 for an hour, but we barely made it back.  My wiring was the wrong gender, so it took trips to autozone and walmart to get things wired. I did bring tools and electrical stuff.  Seems like the trailer is costing me 10% more energy, but calcs are hard since it was a bit uphill on the return.  You should have seen the look on the trailer delivery guy’s face when I raised the tesla suspension to fit the ball … Continue reading Trailer’s here

We made it to Custer SD this afternoon. What a trip!  Charging was mostly painless, only at Cheyenne WY were 2 chargers offline.  We’ve met lots of nice people and eaten way too much greasy food 😁 Pix below are of the Colorado national monument, silverthorne CO – near Vale ski area – dinner at Penny’s diner in Cheyenne WY          Charging at the flintstones campground tonight. Yabba dabba doooo!  Custer set up over 40 charging sites for us.  What a welcoming place!  Only downside is the downpour. I’m just happy it’s not snowing. I didn’t bring chains 😳And tomorrow is … Continue reading Days 3-4 tesla rally

nice drive from wendover NV to Salt Lake City and now in grand jxn Colorado.  Very windy but scattered clouds and scattered sun beams. I am so glad it’s not hot. We have been passing through salt flats and deserts. I would likely drive nights if it were full summer sun.  Car has been great! No problems with getting from charger to charger.  Dad even drove some today 😳 2 more days to Custer, then Saturday I pick up my trailer😄 Some pix              Continue reading Day 2 tesla trip to Custer SD