Tesla issued a warning against using the wet towel charging “hack” that’s been circulating among some owners online.
The method entails wrapping a damp towel around the Supercharger cable on a hot day. It’s believed to trick the charger’s temperature sensors so that the vehicle charges faster. While the cables themselves have temperature protection, the handles can become extremely hot in direct sunlight.
It’s been around for years but interest tends to pick up during the summer.
But it’s not a good idea, according to Tesla.
Tesla replied to an article posted on X on Thursday from InsideEVs about the method and asked owners to “please refrain” so its systems can run properly “and true charging issues can be detected.”
“Placing a wet cloth on Supercharger cable handles does not increase charging rates and interferes with temperature monitors creating risk of overheating or damage,” Tesla said in the post.
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It’s not a surprise that Tesla owners are looking for hacks to charge their vehicles faster. Superchargers can add between 160 and 200 miles in 15 minutes, depending on which model. But other chargers move much slower. Destination chargers can add 44 miles for every hour of charging and at-home chargers require between eight to 10 hours to fully charge.
The damp towel trick is just one example of the many experiments Tesla owners have tried out. Tesla’s unique software-driven platform, paired with an engaged owner community, has created ripe ground for experimentation.
There’s a long list of Tesla owners trying to trick the system. One owner said he knows people who tie weights to the steering wheel to trick the system into thinking they are actively driving. Other YouTubers have made videos using oranges or water bottles to cheat the sensors in the steering wheel. (Elon Musk has said the company is removing the steering wheel nag in upcoming software).
Hackers have even put tape on speed signs to trick Teslas into going past the speed limit — and it worked.
But Tesla wants to make one thing clear: If you’re going to have a wet towel nearby, maybe just use it on yourself to cool off — leave the charger alone.