Waterproof charging cables?

[Takemeaway]

I have an untethered charge point but am sick of plugging in and unplugging and storing my cable in the boot.

So, rather than rip it out and buy a new charger, i was thinking of just buying a cable and leaving it tethered to the charger.

Obviously it would be out in all weathers, would this end up destroying the charger or cable? Most of them come with a cap of sorts so that would always be left on when not in use.

[ol]

I've had ours just plugged in for the last 3 years and has been fine. I just put the little cap over the car end and leave the charger end permanently plugged into the charger.

[LimaDelta]

Ours (stock BMW cable) was permanently outside for about 3 1/2 years with no issues.

[Takemeaway]

Perfect, thanks for the replies

[Frimley111R]

You can do this, but a word of warning. A customer of ours did this, water got into the connector and it overheated and damaged the socket, writing off the charger. This is not covered under a warranty because your charger is not designed to have a cable permanently plugged in. You may be fine but...

[Road2Ruin]

Frimley111R said:

You can do this, but a word of warning. A customer of ours did this, water got into the connector and it overheated and damaged the socket, writing off the charger. This is not covered under a warranty because your charger is not designed to have a cable permanently plugged in. You may be fine but...

Seems odd. What is stopping water getting in when it is being used? How did they know it didn't happen then. I suspect it's one of these excuses that companies use when they don't want to pay out.

[lizardbrain]

I leave my lead hanging over the fence when not in use, naked without a cap on the connector. Most of the time it’s in the car in the drive.

Been about 4 years now. If it’s been raining I’ll look inside to check it’s not wet inside but it never seems to be.

I accept this is terrible risky behaviour but it’s also a data point

[georgeyboy12345]

I’d be more worried about someone pinching it out of the wallbox

[Takemeaway]

I went for it, the one i ordered came with what appears to be a really secure rubber cap which i'll leave on when not in use

My charger needs an rfid card to activate the charge which also means that it's locked in to the wall box so hopefully can't be nicked!

[SpeckledJim]

I think it'll be fine. I leave mine with the cap off, but with the end of the lead hanging downwards, so rain can't get upwards into the important bits.

It's also under the eaves a fair way, so it's rare that rain hits it directly.

[Grebby]

Takemeaway said:

I went for it, the one i ordered came with what appears to be a really secure rubber cap which i'll leave on when not in use

My charger needs an rfid card to activate the charge which also means that it's locked in to the wall box so hopefully can't be nicked!

If you leave the rubber cap on when not in use make sure that the plug is facing up so that any water will drain out of the rubber cap. If the plug hangs down the cap can fill with water and then keep it in causing the pins to corrode.

My cable is permenantly plugged into the charger and locked to the house wall with a padlock. Its under the eaves of the house and the plug hangs down without the rubber cap on under the charger.

[gmaz]

Would it not be possible to get something like this and connect it internally, exiting the charge body via a rubber grommet



https://www.evconnectors.com/product/standard-type...

[somouk]

gmaz said:

Would it not be possible to get something like this and connect it internally, exiting the charge body via a rubber grommet



https://www.evconnectors.com/product/standard-type...

While a good idea to get a free upgrade to a tethered charger it would no doubt invalidate the warranty and any claim you may have in case of a faulty appliance electrocuting someone/thing.

[Knock_knock]

I was advised to remove and reinsert the cable from the charger once every couple of weeks or so, to prevent any gradual movement of the cable in the socket over time causing problems.

Being doing this since 2016 without any issues.

[Takemeaway]

Grebby said:

If you leave the rubber cap on when not in use make sure that the plug is facing up so that any water will drain out of the rubber cap. If the plug hangs down the cap can fill with water and then keep it in causing the pins to corrode.

My cable is permenantly plugged into the charger and locked to the house wall with a padlock. Its under the eaves of the house and the plug hangs down without the rubber cap on under the charger.

Thanks, the cap does feel watertight so just letting it hang loose

[Grebby]

Takemeaway said:

Thanks, the cap does feel watertight so just letting it hang loose

The cap on mine looked watertight too. It still got in. Once the water is in the cap keeps it there. Just something to keep an eye out for. If you do find water has got in then either leave the cable/plug hanging down but leave the cap off or store the plug facing up but with the cap on.

[5s Alive]

Grebby said:

Takemeaway said:

Thanks, the cap does feel watertight so just letting it hang loose

The cap on mine looked watertight too. It still got in. Once the water is in the cap keeps it there. Just something to keep an eye out for. If you do find water has got in then either leave the cable/plug hanging down but leave the cap off or store the plug facing up but with the cap on.

Found this charge point left hanging down with the rubber cap on at our holiday destination in Cornwall and it had a fair bit of pin corrosion. I think a wall mounted dock angled downwards would be the best solution because the cap just seems to trap moisture or small amounts of condensation from cold/heat cycles.

Click twice to rotate first image.

[LivLL]

Can you build a little wooden porch / box over the charger to keep most of the weather of it?

[5s Alive]

Could be boxed in entirely or simply have a sloped canopy above it. In some locations it's probably a good idea to keep direct sunlight off it as well.