Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) issued a cautionary statement regarding a trending practice of placing wet towels around Supercharger connectors to accelerate the charging process.
The technique, which has been circulating among Tesla owners and enthusiasts, involves wrapping a wet cloth around the Supercharger handle while charging, with claims that it can significantly boost the charge rate.
Placing a wet cloth on Supercharger cable handles does not increase charging rates and interferes with temperature monitors creating risk of overheating or damage. Please refrain from doing this so our systems can run correctly, and true charging issues can be detected by our...
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) July 25, 2024
Several users have reported noticeable improvements. For instance, Electrek shared a post from Out of Spec that tested the method and observed an increase in charge rate from 58 kW to 119 kW.
Tesla addressed the trend directly with a warning: "Placing a wet cloth on Supercharger cable handles does not increase charging rates and interferes with temperature monitors creating risk of overheating or damage. Please refrain from doing this so our systems can run correctly, and true charging issues can be detected by our systems."
Thermal management is a crucial aspect of fast charging, as high-voltage currents generate substantial heat in small cables. While it might seem helpful to assist with cooling using a wet towel, this method can interfere with the Supercharger's heat sensors, causing the system to misjudge the temperature and potentially send more current than is safe.
This mismanagement can lead to overheating or damage the vehicle, the charger, or both.
Photo: Courtesy of Tesla