[saltsman]

Late to the party as usual but...
Using this post and others linked to, we're planning on getting one of these: http://www.autoanything.com/truck-tents/77A2945A3066850.aspx as referenced earlier and doing what will likely last two months of travel next year. We will also have the Volt prepared for sleeping in bad weather as well. (I've had many a thunderstorm mess up a nice trip in the Adirondacks.) I'm sure if we plan properly we can hit many points of interest from select campgrounds doing daily out and back trips. I'd like to be able to bring my L2 charger with me and "fill up" quicker in order to get in a sight seeing day, clean up while charging up, and perhaps get something better to eat than a can of beans on a Bunsen burner! (My wife enjoys Blazing Saddles but not so much in the confines of the car) What I'm looking to learn now is what is the "normal" or most widely seen plug/receptacle I'd need to be geared up for? I know I saw a post referencing a kit or something with adapters but I can't seem to find it. I installed my LCS-25 hardwired but have a nice disconnect as well as breaker and I could be ready to go in less than ten minutes safely. Of course it may be moot if we're not able to park with the big boys to use that level of charge and are relegated to a tent site with 110v.

Thanks in advance for any help on the receptacle thing.

Most camp sites have a breaker box per camper space. Inside you will likely find some combination of the following:
Example 1: Standard 120V 5-15 plug (the plug type your OEM EVSE uses)
Example 2: RV 120V 30 Amp - You can buy an adapter at Walmart for $2.50.
Example 3: NEMA 14-50 240V 50 Amp.

I made an NEMA 14-50 to NEMA 6-20 adapter I use with my Turbo Cord. There are plenty for sale as well.

When camping without 240V, I use the 30 Amp adapter (when available) for the EVSE and then use the regular plugs for other stuff. Not sure if it makes a difference, but I feel better using the 30 amp plug on a dedicated circuit. Just remember to reset the car to charge at the higher rate since you can do so without worry.

Occasionally, you might camp at a "tent" space that may have shared 120V between several sites. In that case, consider charging at the lower rate unless you are sure nobody else is using the circuit.

 

[IERP]

Great camping info, thanks Saltsman!

 

[Roostre]

What I'm looking to learn now is what is the "normal" or most widely seen plug/receptacle I'd need to be geared up for?

OOPs! Didn't see the post above or we posted simultaneously.

 

[FranandPat]

Now we're getting there guys! Now I can decide what to bring with us for optimal charging. Thanks all.

 

[Fulgerite]

The there is this...

http://adventure-journal.com/2015/12/vw-to-introduce-all-electric-long-range-camper-van/

 

[saltsman]

The there is this...

http://adventure-journal.com/2015/12/vw-to-introduce-all-electric-long-range-camper-van/

A Voltec version of this would be so boss!

 

[Roostre]

A Voltec version of this would be so boss!

Yep. If it's going to be a real "camper" it must have an on board charging system. An EREV like this would be irresistible to many.

 

[Dr. Volt]

Probably a good idea to have a carbon monoxide warning detector as a general practice as you sleep in the car or tent right where there could be exhaust if the engine started while you are asleep. Someone set it wrong, power to the circuit fails and car no longer "Plugged in" so ICE starts, etc.. No one would think that could happen but I would be more secure I knew I had the detector there just in case.

 

[saltsman]

Probably a good idea to have a carbon monoxide warning detector as a general practice as you sleep in the car or tent right where there could be exhaust if the engine started while you are asleep. Someone set it wrong, power to the circuit fails and car no longer "Plugged in" so ICE starts, etc.. No one would think that could happen but I would be more secure I knew I had the detector there just in case.

Great point. Especially with a tent. $20 well spent.

 

[hellsop]

Probably a good idea to have a carbon monoxide warning detector as a general practice as you sleep in the car or tent right where there could be exhaust if the engine started while you are asleep. Someone set it wrong, power to the circuit fails and car no longer "Plugged in" so ICE starts, etc.. No one would think that could happen but I would be more secure I knew I had the detector there just in case.

I'm confused. If the ICE comes on, don't the air circulation systems come on too? If that's not enough, why do we not need CO monitoring systems while we're driving? I mean "camping" and "tents" kind of implies that the car is not in an enclosed space like an insulated garage....

 

[FranandPat]

If you follow the linked tent you'll see it encloses the rear of the car. This way you can leave the hatch open yet enclosed in the tent and use the air conditioning.

 

[begreen]

Great thread, I'm really enjoying it. In one's toolkit I recommend that you bring along a polarity checker for RV camp site power. Sooner or later you will come across a mis-wired outlet. A badly wired outlet might have the potential to do damage to your Voltec charger.

Question - I see the Volt-T mentioned a while back, what is this? Does it go in place of the rear seat center console?

 

[Roostre]

Great thread, I'm really enjoying it. In one's toolkit I recommend that you bring along a polarity checker for RV camp site power. Sooner or later you will come across a mis-wired outlet. A badly wired outlet might have the potential to do damage to your Voltec charger.

Isn't the factory EVSE a stand-alone polarity checker? Wouldn't it fault if it sees an issue?

 

[begreen]

Isn't the factory EVSE a stand-alone polarity checker? Wouldn't it fault if it sees an issue?

You know, I haven't used it for a couple years since we put in the 220v charger. You are probably right. Does it show you what is wrong or just that there is a problem?

 

[FranandPat]

The Volt T can be found somewhere on here: http://voltshelf.weebly.com/ or just send Scarlett a note.

 

[begreen]

The Volt T can be found somewhere on here: http://voltshelf.weebly.com/ or just send Scarlett a note.

That's where I first went when I read about it, but did not find it mentioned on the voltshelf site.

 

[Scarlett]

The Volt T can be found somewhere on here: http://voltshelf.weebly.com/ or just send Scarlett a note.

I actually never got around to putting the VoltT or VoltBone up on the website. Every time I think of it, I get busy and forget to do so. Both are covers for the rear console. When you put the rear seats down flat, the console is exposed. These cover the console and give you a flat floor over the console. The VoltT can be made to cover the large rectangular cubbie in the console or the large and small. The VoltBone covers the cup holders on the forward end as well.

For more information or pics, shoot me an email at [email protected]

 

[Raymondjram]

I did lie down in the Volt during one of my two test drives.

Salesman said he'd never see anyone do that with any car, which I found odd

My brother-in-law and I lied inside the back of my 1975 Chevy Vega Kammback Wagon when we were waiting at a hospital for our mother-in-law who was in the Emergency Room. We are both six feet tall, and we were quite comfortable.

 

[FranandPat]

Since it is finally getting to camping season where I live I thought I best read up and refresh so I get this camping thing right.

For those on the fence about the Napier tent it is on sale (with a promo code) at http://www.autoanything.com/truck-tents/77A2945A3066850.aspx but it expires today. I ordered mine today. We won't get to do as much camping this year as hoped. (Why do people always have to get married during my time off?) But we're hoping to do some shorter trips through New England and the Adirondacks this year preparing for a more ambitious trip next year.

If any of you have updated info on any of this please post.

 

[hoppy1966]

This is really kinda cool. Love the tent. I had never thought of it but an electric vehicle does work like an electrified RV. Have you thought of using Clarkson's connection's kit which would give you 120v so you could run a few small appliances?

What exactly is Clarkson's connectin kit?