GTE off peak granny charger

[minimonte03]

Just got my first hybrid (mk7.5 Golf GTE Advance)
No wall box at home yet, so using 3-pin granny charger. Anybody used a timer switch able to cope with high current of charger, so I can use cheaper off-peak rate? Tips etc welcomed 🙏

[blank]

Can you not set a timer on the car? My Leon has this feature and I thought the Golf did too?

It's never advisable switching a circuit off when it's under a high load, although depending on how long your off peak window is, you could switch it on at the start (which will be fine as the car will then take a few seconds to start charging). Then if you have a 7 hour window, you could switch it off again at the end as it will be fully charged by then anyway, so not switching off under load.

It's not the best strategy but would work with a long enough window and small enough battery

[clockworks]

As above, a smart switch or timer will be fine for disabling the charger out of the off-peak period, but set a schedule on the car to time the charge.

I've had my granny charger connected via a Tapo P110 smart plug for 15 months. I've set a schedule using the car app, starts at 00:35, finishes at 04:30, which used to be the Octopus Go cheap period. Plenty long enough to fully charge the 10kWH battery in my PHEV.

The Tapo is timed to come on at 00:30, and go off at 04:35. No load when it switches, which is what can kill smart plugs.
The Tapo P110 does energy monitoring via the app, so I can see how many kWH it uses each time.

[Mouse Rat]

I had a GTE years ago and used granny charger. You can set the charging time within the car. I would also set the max charging current at 10A to be on the safe side.

[minimonte03]

Thanks guys. From what I can see it seems I can set a scheduled departure time so the car will be charged and pre-warmed at a set time (say 8am). However I can’t see any way in the car’s menu to delay the start of charging. It seems VW had an app to do this but when I downloaded a message popped up saying the service was being discontinued in December 2024. Perfect! 🙃

[georgeyboy12345]

minimonte03 said:

Thanks guys. From what I can see it seems I can set a scheduled departure time so the car will be charged and pre-warmed at a set time (say 8am). However I can’t see any way in the car’s menu to delay the start of charging. It seems VW had an app to do this but when I downloaded a message popped up saying the service was being discontinued in December 2024. Perfect! ??

You are overthinking this.

My off peak tariff runs from midnight until 5 am, so I set the departure time to 5 am. I don’t actually leave for work until 9 am.

[Cristio Nasser]

The car has its own built in departure timer and off peak charge time window settings. Those parameters are in the charge locations you can set. Job done.

Edited by Cristio Nasser on Saturday 14th December 20:18

[samoht]

I charge my EV (Citroen e-C4) on a three-pin charger plugged in to a Tapo P105 smart plug. Since the car won't fully recharge in a single 5-hour overnight cheap rate, it does cut while actively charging (ie under load). It's been fine for 13 months and 8,000 miles like this. (The P105 is advertised as supporting 'high load').

So you can use a P105 plug on a schedule, and it should just work.

[ashenfie]

As others have said you’re much safer using the car timer. Most normal timers are not designed for cars and could cause a fire. It recommended to use the car charger cable direct to a wall socket. It theory you should have a EV socket fitted and definitely no extension cables.

[clockworks]

ashenfie said:

As others have said you’re much safer using the car timer. Most normal timers are not designed for cars and could cause a fire. It recommended to use the car charger cable direct to a wall socket. It theory you should have a EV socket fitted and definitely no extension cables.

If you have a decent 13A socket (no loose wires, on a proper ring or spur circuit), and use a good quality waterproof extension lead, a granny charger is perfectly fine for a plug-in hybrid. Just keep an eye on everything to make sure it's not overheating.

A granny charger, set to 10A, is well within the limits of domestic wiring - as long as it's in good condition.
The problem with extension leads is if they are used still coiled up, or the socket is exposed to water.

A proper outside socket, or a wall charger, is obviously preferable, but not essential.

I've been using my granny charger for 15 months, no problems.
I'm getting a full BEV in a few weeks, so I've had a Zappi charger installed - faster charging, can sign up to a better tariff, but still not essential.

[minimonte03]

Thanks everyone. Found the solution with the tips on here. Off-peak timer buried in charging locations. VW Manual about as much use as a chocolate teapot 🙄