Is there a way to prevent CT from using grid power?

[bg002h]

I have a separately metered electricity connection in my back garage where electricity is ½ or less the cost at the house, unless I use power during peak hours (where massive penalties apply). Is there a way to plug in CT but guarantee it doesn’t use grid power outside scheduled charging sessions? Does low power mode impact this? Seems like CT always uses wall power if plugged in regardless of charging schedule.

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[Gaximus]

I have a separately metered electricity connection in my back garage where electricity is ½ or less the cost at the house, unless I use power during peak hours (where massive penalties apply). Is there a way to plug in CT but guarantee it doesn’t use grid power outside scheduled charging sessions? Does low power mode impact this? Seems like CT always uses wall power if plugged in regardless of charging schedule.

Yes you can schedule charging in the app, and menu on the screen. You can also schedule by location. I.e different schedule for work and home.

 

[JCERRN]

I have a separately metered electricity connection in my back garage where electricity is ½ or less the cost at the house, unless I use power during peak hours (where massive penalties apply). Is there a way to plug in CT but guarantee it doesn’t use grid power outside scheduled charging sessions? Does low power mode impact this? Seems like CT always uses wall power if plugged in regardless of charging schedule.

Unfortunately no- the CT automatically uses the ac charger to maintain battery temps, etc rather than the battery when plugged in. No way to turn it off.

 

[AndrewB]

In addition to scheduling, If you have powerwall you can have it only charge on excess solar power.

 

[CyberGus]

Seems like CT always uses wall power if plugged in regardless of charging schedule.

I have scheduled charging set for my defined Home location, since scheduling is location-specific. It is set to start charging in the wee hours, even though there is no price differential, as that's better for the grid.

However, there are scenarios where Scheduled Charging starts immediately:

• During a scheduled charge window.
• Up to 6 hours after the start of a scheduled charge, if there is no specified End-by time.
• When the next scheduled charge is more than 18 hours away and not the current day.
• When you haven't configured a Start-at time and there is not enough time to reach the charge limit by the End-by time.

Cybertruck Owners Manual - Scheduled Precondition and Charge

If it does start charging outside the schedule, you can always stop it on-screen or in the app.

Note that when plugged-in, it will use "shore power" for climate, even if this is outside the charge schedule (because technically, it is not charging). So if you pre-condition the cabin, it will use AC power instead of the battery. This applies to COP as well.

 

[bg002h]

Yes you can schedule charging in the app, and menu on the screen. You can also schedule by location. I.e different schedule for work and home.

Nah, that doesn’t work. Scheduled charging doesn’t prevent CT from using the wall power for overheat protection/AC…

looks like low power mode might help , but still might draw wall power for sentry and stuff

 

[bg002h]

I have scheduled charging set for my defined Home location, since scheduling is location-specific. It is set to start charging in the wee hours, even though there is no price differential, as that's better for the grid.

However, there are scenarios where Scheduled Charging starts immediately:

• During a scheduled charge window.
• Up to 6 hours after the start of a scheduled charge, if there is no specified End-by time.
• When the next scheduled charge is more than 18 hours away and not the current day.
• When you haven't configured a Start-at time and there is not enough time to reach the charge limit by the End-by time.

Cybertruck Owners Manual - Scheduled Precondition and Charge

If it does start charging outside the schedule, you can always stop it on-screen or in the app.

Note that when plugged-in, it will use "shore power" for climate, even if this is outside the charge schedule (because technically, it is not charging). So if you pre-condition the cabin, it will use AC power instead of the battery. This applies to COP as well.

Yeah, I wish there was scheduled wall power usage for sentry/climate/etc…it would be nice to run Cybertruck off battery exclusively even when wall power is available.

 

[mongo]

I have a separately metered electricity connection in my back garage where electricity is ½ or less the cost at the house, unless I use power during peak hours (where massive penalties apply). Is there a way to plug in CT but guarantee it doesn’t use grid power outside scheduled charging sessions? Does low power mode impact this? Seems like CT always uses wall power if plugged in regardless of charging schedule.

One could put a timer and relay with appropriate resistance inline with the Promity Pilot signal to make the car think the charge handle button is pressed thus preventing the vehicle from drawing power...

 

[CyberGus]

but still might draw wall power for sentry and stuff

I don't think minor stuff like Sentry will pull directly from the charge cable. It typically runs from the MV battery, which periodically gets topped-off from the HV pack. This will cause the pack to charge during the next Schedule if SoC falls below the set target.

However, I'm not 100% sure because I don't run Sentry Mode at home

 

[Gaximus]

Nah, that doesn’t work. Scheduled charging doesn’t prevent CT from using the wall power for overheat protection/AC…

looks like low power mode might help , but still might draw wall power for sentry and stuff

Ah. It shouldn’t charge but will loose very little power. You can also schedule the charger itself if it a Tesla wall charger. Or almost any third party charger.

 

[bg002h]

Ah. It shouldn’t charge but will loose very little power. You can also schedule the charger itself if it a Tesla wall charger. Or almost any third party charger.

AC uses 1.5 kW. Billing plan for back garage adds a $7 per kW charge based off of max kW usage during peak time of day used each month. Scheduled charging works fine for avoiding an extra ~$50 monthly charge for accidental battery charging, but it’s not enough to avoid AC charge…It’s not a lot of money per year to waste, roughly $100, but it’s literally just lighting money on fire due to poorly thought out car software. I just leave it disconnected most nights to avoid the issue…maybe when they finally install my PowerShare box I’ll have more control b

 

[Gaximus]

AC uses 1.5 kW. Billing plan for back garage adds a $7 per kW charge based off of max kW usage during peak time of day used each month. Scheduled charging works fine for avoiding an extra ~$50 monthly charge for accidental battery charging, but it’s not enough to avoid AC charge…It’s not a lot of money per year to waste, roughly $100, but it’s literally just lighting money on fire due to poorly thought out car software. I just leave it disconnected most nights to avoid the issue…maybe when they finally install my PowerShare box I’ll have more control b

What are you using for a charger? I have a Tesla Universal wall charger and a Gen 3 wall charger. Both allow scheduling of charging, and available in the Tesla app. Our neighbor has Emporia charger and it has an app to allow scheduling as well. I haven’t tested it but in off scheduled more it should prevent any power from coming through.

 

[bg002h]

What are you using for a charger? I have a Tesla Universal wall charger and a Gen 3 wall charger. Both allow scheduling of charging, and available in the Tesla app. Our neighbor has Emporia charger and it has an app to allow scheduling as well. I haven’t tested it but in off scheduled more it should prevent any power from coming through.

Right now I’m using the mobile charger.

again, charging isn’t the issue. It’s about not paying the penalty rate for wall power during the two hours of the day my CT is at home and under penalty power rate. And CT uses wall power for a lot of stuff other than charging the battery.

 

[Crissa]

I have scheduled charging set for my defined Home location, since scheduling is location-specific. It is set to start charging in the wee hours, even though there is no price differential, as that's better for the grid.

However, there are scenarios where Scheduled Charging starts immediately:

• During a scheduled charge window.
• Up to 6 hours after the start of a scheduled charge, if there is no specified End-by time.
• When the next scheduled charge is more than 18 hours away and not the current day.
• When you haven't configured a Start-at time and there is not enough time to reach the charge limit by the End-by time.

Cybertruck Owners Manual - Scheduled Precondition and Charge

If it does start charging outside the schedule, you can always stop it on-screen or in the app.

Note that when plugged-in, it will use "shore power" for climate, even if this is outside the charge schedule (because technically, it is not charging). So if you pre-condition the cabin, it will use AC power instead of the battery. This applies to COP as well.

It'll also charge when it's too low. I think the default was below 50%? There has historically be a number that it'll charge to before it waits for the schedule.

Could you check this?

Right now I’m using the mobile charger.

again, charging isn’t the issue. It’s about not paying the penalty rate for wall power during the two hours of the day my CT is at home and under penalty power rate. And CT uses wall power for a lot of stuff other than charging the battery.

I have a timer attached to a relay to cut off power to my bike during peak.

You can buy EVSEs that have time controls in them, too. But a dumb timer and the right sized relay will work, too. Amazon sells them of various sizes, just put it in a new work box or surface mount box and you're golden.

-Crissa

 

[Gaximus]

Right now I’m using the mobile charger.

again, charging isn’t the issue. It’s about not paying the penalty rate for wall power during the two hours of the day my CT is at home and under penalty power rate. And CT uses wall power for a lot of stuff other than charging the battery.

That’s the problem. Get an actual charger. Almost any 220 EV charger will allow you to set a time to charge. It won’t allow power to transfer to the truck during times that aren’t scheduled. Your truck schedule won’t charge during that time but will use power to keep systems running.

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