Charging with the three pin plug - why only occasional?
Discussion
We’ve just bought a Volvo V60 T6 recharge and I’m pleased as punch with it.
We don’t have off street parking and likely wont use public chargers often either, so was planning to run the 3 pin charger from an standard outdoor socket that we will have installed and charge it every two/three days or so on the street, so that the majority of our mileage will be on electric.
I’ve noticed that despite supplying a 3 pin charger lead Volvo only recommend this for “occasional” use. Any idea why this might be? What would define occasional in this case?
We don’t have off street parking and likely wont use public chargers often either, so was planning to run the 3 pin charger from an standard outdoor socket that we will have installed and charge it every two/three days or so on the street, so that the majority of our mileage will be on electric.
I’ve noticed that despite supplying a 3 pin charger lead Volvo only recommend this for “occasional” use. Any idea why this might be? What would define occasional in this case?
So long as your outdoor socket is properly installed I wouldn't worry about the 'occasional' stipulation. I've been charging my EV via a 13A outdoor socket for two years with no issues. I set the current to 10A because running a socket at 13A for 12 hours is likely to get warm. But if you're running a cable from your house to the street you do need to consider any possible trip hazard etc.
Edited by wink on Saturday 18th July 21:46
V8 Stang said:
Personally I would get a 32A commando installed instead, and get a 7kw portable charger.
Less time with cable on street, and not going to overload a 13A socket.
I did it on my last house with a naughty commando off the back of my oven, and a 20M 4mm h07 extension lead.
By the time you've done that you might as well fit a proper EVSE, especially when paying a sparks to do it.Less time with cable on street, and not going to overload a 13A socket.
I did it on my last house with a naughty commando off the back of my oven, and a 20M 4mm h07 extension lead.
wink said:
So long as your outdoor socket is properly installed I wouldn't worry about the 'occasional' stipulation. I've been charging my EV via a 13A outdoor socket for two years with no issues. I set the current to 10A because running a socket at 13A for 12 hours is likely to get warm. But if you're running a cable from your house to the street you do need to consider any possible trip hazard etc.
Thanks all!Edited by wink on Saturday 18th July 21:46
We live on a pretty quiet cul de sac, you d be able to count the people walking past the house of an evening on one hand. That being said, I planned to get one of those plastic ramp/cable cover things!
I will look into the ev rated sockets, that sounds sensible!
why does a naughty commando unit off the back of the oven) actually sound like more of a risk! When setting the current… is that done in the car/app?
Googling the standard brings up a Halfords socket for £50 with a built in RDDC which seems sensible.
But it also shows 7kwh EV chargers for £100 to £250… this seems very cheap to me, will these be any good or too good to be true? I’m assuming the installation would be more expensive too
But it also shows 7kwh EV chargers for £100 to £250… this seems very cheap to me, will these be any good or too good to be true? I’m assuming the installation would be more expensive too
jimmy156 said:
Googling the standard brings up a Halfords socket for £50 with a built in RDDC which seems sensible.
But it also shows 7kwh EV chargers for £100 to £250 this seems very cheap to me, will these be any good or too good to be true? I m assuming the installation would be more expensive too
By the time you do it properly you might find it's not far off the cost of having something like a Sync Energy charger professionally installed.But it also shows 7kwh EV chargers for £100 to £250 this seems very cheap to me, will these be any good or too good to be true? I m assuming the installation would be more expensive too
I'm not an electrician but there are quite a few rules and regs about getting sockets - especially commando ones - installed for EV charging if you're going to do it safely and properly v "mate of a mate" or "hanging off the back of the oven" type stuff.
The other reason for limiting the use of 3 pin plug chargers is that they do not provide protection against PEN faults (Google it) which can lead to the vehicle body being at mains voltage. Dedicated EV chargers are required to include protection against this type of fault. Obviously the risk is low, and I expect we would have heard if there had been any fatalities.
We have an outside 3 pin socket (I installed it, straight through the wall from a double socket on ring main)
Used it to charge wife’s phev for a couple of years, all good.
Set her cars timer to start charging at 2330, easily fills it up in the 6 hour 7pKwh window.
We do have an Ohme charger, use that for my Bev.
Used it to charge wife’s phev for a couple of years, all good.
Set her cars timer to start charging at 2330, easily fills it up in the 6 hour 7pKwh window.
We do have an Ohme charger, use that for my Bev.
isleofthorns said:
you can buy ev-rated sockets to help minimise risk if you're using regularly - google BS 1363-2 EV
We had one of those installed in the garage and a 15M masterplug. This is to charge our Merc GLC 300e. We don't do loads of miles so the cost of a 7Kw charger didn't make sense to us. Obvs not a full EV, but still has a 31Kw battery so pretty big for a PHEVBecause we don’t have off street parking it looks like we’ll be Eligible for a £500 grant off a charger and installation, need to look at the costs of doing that vs have an electrician put the three pin plug in.
What would be the recommendation for a no thrills but reliable EV charger.
What would be the recommendation for a no thrills but reliable EV charger.
Using a granny charger is like boiling water in a pan rather than having a kettle. It works and it's cheap but it's not particularly safe or efficient. The commando plug route is useful if you want the plug for other things such as a welder but the cost of compliance to UK regulations reduces it's benefit.
jimmy156 said:
Because we don t have off street parking it looks like we ll be Eligible for a £500 grant off a charger and installation, need to look at the costs of doing that vs have an electrician put the three pin plug in.
What would be the recommendation for a no thrills but reliable EV charger.
Look at these IMO.What would be the recommendation for a no thrills but reliable EV charger.
https://sync.energy/range/1409126
Seen them as cheap as £325.
jimmy156 said:
We ve just bought a Volvo V60 T6 recharge and I m pleased as punch with it.
We don t have off street parking and likely wont use public chargers often either, so was planning to run the 3 pin charger from an standard outdoor socket that we will have installed and charge it every two/three days or so on the street, so that the majority of our mileage will be on electric.
I ve noticed that despite supplying a 3 pin charger lead Volvo only recommend this for occasional use. Any idea why this might be? What would define occasional in this case?
Have you tried asking VOLVO ?We don t have off street parking and likely wont use public chargers often either, so was planning to run the 3 pin charger from an standard outdoor socket that we will have installed and charge it every two/three days or so on the street, so that the majority of our mileage will be on electric.
I ve noticed that despite supplying a 3 pin charger lead Volvo only recommend this for occasional use. Any idea why this might be? What would define occasional in this case?
It may be as simple as it being just a cheap quality charger, like the cheap quality wheel brace & jack you get with most cars (if they have a spare wheel even)
These sort of "tools" you get with a car are fine for occasional use , but you wouldn't want to use them daily .
A bit like Bosch & Makita make some tools for occasional DIY use, and have a professional range for daily use
SWoll said:
7 years, 100k+ miles and 5+ EV's with 99% of the charging done with a 3-pin at 8-10 amps here.
Zero issues, 250+ miles a week added with 7 hours a night charging.
You do of course need a usage cycle that fits
I can beat you at 11 years plugging my granny every night but I don’t think we’ve covered 100k via EV in that time.Zero issues, 250+ miles a week added with 7 hours a night charging.
You do of course need a usage cycle that fits
I have a Metalclad MK socket in the garage plus a Screwfix charger that’s now at least 6 years old and has even been on holiday with us together with a European socket adapter… no problems at all.
The 13A plug gets warm, and I’ve read grannies are not as efficient as 7kw chargers, other than that it’s been a cheap solution which is kind of the whole point of EVs.
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