Is anyone running a cable across a pavement?

Is anyone running a cable across a pavement?

Author
Discussion

squirejo

794 posts

244 months

Tuesday 5th January 2016
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So far so good, but 2 things I am being cautious about - when I charge and for how long. 7 am on Sunday better for lower Nosey parkers and 1 hr splash and dash better than 3 hrs full charges...

dave_s13

13,814 posts

270 months

Tuesday 5th January 2016
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numtumfutunch said:
Id be just as worried about people unplugging your car and using the feed to charge up their phones TBH
You can't unplug it without the key.

chisteve

26 posts

201 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
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dave_s13 said:
numtumfutunch said:
Id be just as worried about people unplugging your car and using the feed to charge up their phones TBH
You can't unplug it without the key.
I realise that - more reason to be concerned for some drunken scrote ripping it out

dave_s13

13,814 posts

270 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
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You'd have to really give it a hefty yank and basically knock the st out of it to get it out.

And to what end?

In the context of what the OP is proposing to do this is no more to worry about than someone nicking your alloys, letting your tyres down or keying your car.

V8mate

45,899 posts

190 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
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Is a Twizy a good car to be left out on the road? My friend's Twizy doesn't even have side windows.

Gareth79

7,688 posts

247 months

Wednesday 13th January 2016
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I'd think that running cable across a private/leasehold pavement would escape problems, or even a quiet housing estate road, but a city/town street will bound to end with a legal letter from the council sooner or later .

Running a 240V cable across a public pavement is fraught with dangers, those cable covers aren't really good enough since they can easily get dislodged by accident, let alone deliberate actions.

Scenario: chavs pick up cable cover and throw it over your car. Early next morning Mr Biggins comes past in his electric scooter and a piece of plastic hanging down scoops up the cable and it gets wound in his scooter's wheels, shredding it and putting live onto the scooter's chassis, electrocuting him instantly.

Scenario 2: A fox chews through the cable's sheath through (it's not armoured of course). It rains, and a puddle of water is made live killing the next person who steps in it.

RCDs could help in some of these cases, but they are not completely reliable and aren't intended to mitigate a dangerous installation such as this.


Edited by Gareth79 on Wednesday 13th January 15:37

squirejo

794 posts

244 months

Wednesday 13th January 2016
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Yes let's close down source london too. Because all of those scenarios persist with on street public chargers.

anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 13th January 2016
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Still struggling to understand why they allow cars and trucks anywhere in London.
Straightforward wheelbarrows and bikes only legislation for anything delivered or required inside the M25 around London, If you can't manage that tough titty smile
(Hopefully the death toll won't increase exponentially in line with more lycra louts out on tour)

Gareth79

7,688 posts

247 months

Wednesday 13th January 2016
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squirejo said:
Yes let's close down source london too. Because all of those scenarios persist with on street public chargers.
The posts are at least at the roadside, so the user would have to deliberately run the cable in a dangerous way.
Regarding electrical safety, the charge posts will be specifically designed with safety in mind, eg. a decent RCD and and earth rod rather than PME.

Edited by Gareth79 on Thursday 14th January 10:35

debbiexc90

5 posts

57 months

Thursday 17th October 2019
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You could always park your car at the local charging station. There are couple of apps that allow you to quite easily locate the your nearest charging station to home or work.

red_slr

17,275 posts

190 months

Friday 18th October 2019
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Just FYI, I tripped over a cable on a public pavement a couple of years ago and fell really badly.

Smashed my knee cap and took a big lump out of the skin, smashed my watch and ripped my jacket and jeans. Took the skin off my knuckles. I looked like I had been in a car crash.

Its amazing just how bad an uncontrolled fall can be even at walking pace. What was really weird is I remember going along looking forward and then the earth seemed to come up and a floated above it for a second and then KAPOW that was it.

Dusted myself off and tried to carry on but I couldn't walk and ended up in hospital and was off work for a couple of days, couldn't get up or down stairs etc.

I could have easily sued however I was actually working for the company who had left the cable out (it was running to a van) and they are a great client and it was an honest mistake so I spoke to their MD and said they just need to replace my watch and jacket (jeans were old).

Anyway, what I am saying, long story short, is please be careful. I am fit and healthy, had it been an old person I have no doubt it could have been a lot worse.


anonymous-user

55 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
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Part of the problem is that the cable covers are often dark colour, similar to the pavement. They should be bright and reflective for night time. Maybe the cable itself should have built in LED lighting, or the cover could have solar+battery.

Instead they try to make the cover invisible so you trip over it.

dhutch

14,391 posts

198 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
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That's a fair story, but your right about uncontrolled falls. I guess it depends it's if it is infrequent and during the day, or daily at night.

Loads of the cable covers have bright yellow tops, but if it's pitch black out and your not looking for it the issue remains.

I do like the idea of a 7ft tall pole, on a drive over base, and running it into a first floor window a hook/socket outside, till the first drunk person decides it's a fun game.

Amazing how basic logistical challenges there are with changing tech. Obviously if you can charge at work and get home and back on that, you have sorted 5 of the days.

Daniel

Murph7355

37,761 posts

257 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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dhutch said:
That's a fair story, but your right about uncontrolled falls. I guess it depends it's if it is infrequent and during the day, or daily at night.

Loads of the cable covers have bright yellow tops, but if it's pitch black out and your not looking for it the issue remains.

I do like the idea of a 7ft tall pole, on a drive over base, and running it into a first floor window a hook/socket outside, till the first drunk person decides it's a fun game.

Amazing how basic logistical challenges there are with changing tech. Obviously if you can charge at work and get home and back on that, you have sorted 5 of the days.

Daniel
All of which are going to look great when every other house has one...

New council money harvesting scheme in sight on this.

mids

1,505 posts

259 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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I remember seeing this photo a while back, seem to recall it was done as part of some council scheme to aid EV charging on the street. Seems quite safe for pedestrians but how often can you park right like that on a terraced street?


jjwilde

1,904 posts

97 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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I'm thinking EVs might finally make a rule that you're allowed to park outside your own house. A bit like the disabled bays. Technically any EV could park in the space, but that seems unlikely.

Chris32345

2,086 posts

63 months

Thursday 21st May 2020
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jjwilde said:
I'm thinking EVs might finally make a rule that you're allowed to park outside your own house. A bit like the disabled bays. Technically any EV could park in the space, but that seems unlikely.
No change
Most terraces are big enough for one car outside each hose and still have enough space to pull in and out

It's more often 1.3 hours per car leaving approiate gap

kambites

67,593 posts

222 months

Friday 22nd May 2020
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I'm sure I read a news article a year or so ago about someone who successfully got their local council to paint an EV space in front of their house so they could charge it like this.

mickyh7

2,347 posts

87 months

Friday 22nd May 2020
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This Topic sums up,to me, what a daft idea these EV's really are.
We need better technology until they are rolled out.
Wires running across footpaths up and down terraced streets.
Absolute stupidity.
Deaths,injuries and claims.
Drunks and Teenagers.
And expecting to be able to park outside of your own door?
Never going to happen.

anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 22nd May 2020
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mickyh7 said:
This Topic sums up,to me, what a daft idea these EV's really are.
We need better technology until they are rolled out.
Wires running across footpaths up and down terraced streets.
Absolute stupidity.
Deaths,injuries and claims.
Drunks and Teenagers.
And expecting to be able to park outside of your own door?
Never going to happen.
About the most sensible post on EV's you'll probably read.