Does your Tesla charger lock? If you’re using a Tesla Supercharger, the answer is yes. It locks when you walk away with your key (smartphone). Although, this doesn’t apply to most third-party chargers that require the J1772 adapter.
At these charging stations, anyone can unplug your Tesla while charging. However, there’s good news. You can prevent this with a charger lock. It’s a small ring-like device that prevents people from unplugging it. Let’s look at how this works and then some of the top reviewed locks.
Also, do you know these 28 Tesla Easter Eggs and Hidden Features? Some of these tricks are fun to use, while others can save you time.
How Does Tesla Charger Lock Work?
To use a Tesla charger lock, first connect the J1772 adapter (this should come with your Tesla). Then before plugging into the charging station, put on the locking ring. Then plug it into your Tesla charging port. It’s as simple as that.
Most Tesla charger locks are plastic. And this makes sense when working around electricity. But even though they’re plastic, the locking mechanism does the job. Here’s how it works…
- Insertion: Put in the J1772 adapter (with the locking ring around it) in the Tesla’s charging port.
- Rotation Lock: The lock ring turns clockwise when the car locks. This causes the latch to engage.
- Locking: The latch secures the adapter to the vehicle’s charging port, preventing people from removing it.
- Unlocking: When unlocking your Tesla, the lock ring turns counterclockwise. This allows you to remove it from the charging port.
If a bad actor had the right tools, they could still stop the charging. However, that’s a lot more work. A simple Tesla charger lock will stop most people. With that in mind, let’s look at the top ones…
Best Tesla Charger Locks on Amazon
Here’s one of the top-rated locks on Amazon (affiliate link). Compared to others, it has the most reviews and a solid average review. This is something I tend to look for when buying products. The more reviews, the harder it is for companies to game it.
It’s also a two pack and comes in close to $12. That’s not bad for a little peace of mind when charging. Also, if you want to save a few dollars, here are more of the top locks on Amazon (affiliate link). Many of these Tesla charger locks have high ratings, but not as many reviews overall.
When buying any products, please leave a review. That helps us all out in the Tesla community 🙂
Do You Need an EV Charging Lock?
You can easily get by without a Tesla charger lock. However, if you travel a lot and use a wide range of stations, it might come in handy. What if you’re slow charging at a hotel overnight and find out in the morning it was unplugged? That could lead to unplanned charging time.
Many times while charging, you’re fine without a charger lock. Although, there’s a large audience of EV haters. I’ve seen trucks blocking charging stations. Luckily though, I haven’t had any directed damage to my Model Y. And no one has unplugged my Tesla.
Tesla J1772 Adapter Lock
If anyone can pull out your Tesla charger, that means they can also disconnect the J1772 adapter. They can steal it! And with costs to buy a Tesla dropping and a growing base of Tesla owners, there’s more opportunity to resell Tesla accessories.
A Tesla charger lock is a low-cost precaution to take. It might stop kids playing pranks or other bad actors. Have you been coal rolled while driving around in your Tesla? This behavior should fade in the years ahead…
I hope this review of Tesla charger locks helps. If you have any questions, feel free to comment on any of my videos. Also, did you know there’s lots of free Tesla charging stations around the world? With that article, you’ll find one of the best ways to find free charging.