Charging cables - all the same?

Charging cables - all the same?

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number2

Original Poster:

4,324 posts

188 months

Wednesday 27th March
quotequote all
Hi all

Car arrives at the end of April. I had an untethered (single phase) Zappi installed a couple of months ago, so now just need a cable.

Looking at 8 or 9 meters in length, hence going untethered.

Apart from being type 2, is there anything I need to look out for, or is it just length and a price I'm happy with?!

For example: https://amzn.eu/d/7SKtsdO

blank

3,464 posts

189 months

Wednesday 27th March
quotequote all
Number of phases and current.

If you're only using it at home on a single phase 32A (7kW) EVSE then as long as you have a 32A single phase cable it will be fine.
32A 3 phase will work but be heavier and more expensive
16A 3 phase will limit you to 3.6kW at home.


If you're going to use public chargers that are 11kW/22kW then the cable you linked will limit you to 3.6kW/7.2kW respectively, although your car may be limited anyway.

number2

Original Poster:

4,324 posts

188 months

Wednesday 27th March
quotequote all
Thanks!

Single phase 7.2 Kw.

Sounds like they're all essentially the same then for our Zappi, within the basic electrical capacity and type 2 spec.

Do you use your own cable for public charging? I thought public chargers were tethered.

Silly question perhaps, but I've not paid any attention to public chargers!

blank

3,464 posts

189 months

Wednesday 27th March
quotequote all
Public DC chargers are always tethered.

Public AC chargers are nearly always untethered so you'd use your own cable.

number2

Original Poster:

4,324 posts

188 months

Wednesday 27th March
quotequote all
Brill, thanks beer.

pills

1,726 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th March
quotequote all
Sorry if dumb comment but does the car come a cable, my came with both a granny charger and cable which will go up to 22kw.

number2

Original Poster:

4,324 posts

188 months

Thursday 28th March
quotequote all
pills said:
Sorry if dumb comment but does the car come a cable, my came with both a granny charger and cable which will go up to 22kw.
Not dumb. Q8 etron. I *believe* it does come with a cable - 3 pin and a type 2. The latter would be too short for our home charge point I imagine although I will check...

number2

Original Poster:

4,324 posts

188 months

Thursday 28th March
quotequote all
Yup, it comes with a 4.5m type 2 cable.

If my partner always reversed onto the drive, I could have got a tethered Zappi! biggrin.

Dunclane

1,227 posts

170 months

Thursday 28th March
quotequote all
Depends on manufacturer both my BMW 330e and iX came with a Type 2 and granny charger however a colleagues Ford Kuga only came with a granny and wanted £215 for a type 2.

Actual

763 posts

107 months

Thursday 28th March
quotequote all
My 2021 Kuga PHEV came with both 3 pin granny charger cable and a Type 2 cable.

2021 Mini Countryman PHEV was the same.

I would not be surprised if manufactures were looking at cost reduction and not supplying charging cables.

Westlondondriver

328 posts

73 months

Thursday 28th March
quotequote all
number2 said:
Not dumb. Q8 etron. I *believe* it does come with a cable - 3 pin and a type 2. The latter would be too short for our home charge point I imagine although I will check...
Our Q8 came with granny charger with both 3 pin and commando plugs and a type 2 cable. We bought a longer type 2 which we leave locked into our Easee charger at home and use the Audi supplied one if we AC charge away from home eg two nights ago in a hotel car park.