Granny charger with more go

[cliffords]

Can anyone recommend a slightly more powerful granny charger than the one that comes with a Nissan Leaf. We are a few weeks into Leaf ownership and I do not think our usage will make it viable to spend near £1000 on a dedicated seven kilowatt charger. However the Nissan charger defaults to 10 amps and therefore delivers about 2.3 kilowatt I am using a dedicated socket in my workshop that I have pulled 6 kilowatts off before with heaters when painting cars etc. Can anyone recommend something with a bit more go and maybe some timers etc. Thanks.

[kambites]

You can get these sorts of things, which plug into a higher-powered "commando socket":

https://voldt.co.uk/products/type-2-32a-blue-comma...

(no idea about that one in particular). Pulling 6kW from a standard 3-pin socket would be... dubious, to say the least. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be legal to sell such a device in the UK because it would have to be 13-amp fused.

Edited by kambites on Monday 5th October 17:47

[cliffords]

kambites said:

You can get these sorts of things, which plug into a higher-powered "commando socket":

https://voldt.co.uk/products/type-2-32a-blue-comma...

(no idea about that one in particular). Pulling 6kW from a standard 3-pin socket would be... dubious, to say the least. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be legal to sell such a device in the UK because it would have to be 13-amp fused.

Edited by kambites on Monday 5th October 17:47

Thanks that's interesting. Yes I pulled 6kw . More probably accross four separate sockets in my workshop. Not one 13 amp plug but 4.
I may put my own commando socket in that looks like a good option.

Thanks.

[normalbloke]

The 2020/2021 ish brick chargers from BMW, could be fitted with optional input leads, ranging from US weak and feeble voltage , right up to 3 phase input. I’m running ours on a 240/16A commando or CE connector. These chargers can be had for about £100 on the bay of fleas, and the input connectors from BMW are about the same price.

[ashenfie]

cliffords said:

kambites said:

You can get these sorts of things, which plug into a higher-powered "commando socket":

https://voldt.co.uk/products/type-2-32a-blue-comma...

(no idea about that one in particular). Pulling 6kW from a standard 3-pin socket would be... dubious, to say the least. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be legal to sell such a device in the UK because it would have to be 13-amp fused.

Edited by kambites on Monday 5th October 17:47

Thanks that's interesting. Yes I pulled 6kw . More probably accross four separate sockets in my workshop. Not one 13 amp plug but 4.
I may put my own commando socket in that looks like a good option.

Thanks.

Might as well do it properly and get an EV charger. One off cost.

[sixor8]

10A is the safe limit. My Honda eNy1 came with its own 3 pin charger, which is set at 10A max.

[normalbloke]

ashenfie said:

cliffords said:

kambites said:

You can get these sorts of things, which plug into a higher-powered "commando socket":

https://voldt.co.uk/products/type-2-32a-blue-comma...

(no idea about that one in particular). Pulling 6kW from a standard 3-pin socket would be... dubious, to say the least. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be legal to sell such a device in the UK because it would have to be 13-amp fused.

Edited by kambites on Monday 5th October 17:47

Thanks that's interesting. Yes I pulled 6kw . More probably accross four separate sockets in my workshop. Not one 13 amp plug but 4.
I may put my own commando socket in that looks like a good option.

Thanks.

Might as well do it properly and get an EV charger. One off cost.

I can’t run my welder from that though..

[edc]

Isn't the definition of a granny charger one that is maxed at 13amps on a 3 pin plug?

[cliffords]

edc said:

Isn't the definition of a granny charger one that is maxed at 13amps on a 3 pin plug?

I think the definition is it's a portable charger. In many countries it would not use a three pin plug but two for example in some European countries.

The nickname Granny was derived from being able to carry it with you and charge your car whilst visiting friends or family. Such as your Granny.

[Buzz84]

edc said:

Isn't the definition of a granny charger one that is maxed at 13amps on a 3 pin plug?

Pretty much, granny charger is a slow charger,

International standards mandates that granny chargers be limited to 10a

IEC said:

Under IEC 62752, the standard governing Mode 2 portable EV charging cables (commonly known as "granny chargers"), the output current is strictly limited to a maximum of 10A (approximately 2.3kW) when fitted with a standard UK domestic 3-pin plug (BS 1363).

Anything bigger and better then is a fixed or fast charger.

If there is a 16a or 32a socket put in for a faster charger then that plug needs to be installed with the same protections and rules as a EV charger supply. So on most cases it's not much cheaper or easier to skip the wall mount charger

[butchstewie]

Buzz84 said:

Anything bigger and better then is a fixed or fast charger.

If there is a 16a or 32a socket put in for a faster charger then that plug needs to be installed with the same protections and rules as a EV charger supply. So on most cases it's not much cheaper or easier to skip the wall mount charger

This is the problem.

Most people don't do it by the book they just get a mate to fit it or DIY.

Ask an electrician to fit one and to do it by the book to regs and you're not far off the cost of a properly installed 7kw charger.

[_Rodders_]

I've got one that you can set at various levels between 8 and 16amps. Works well. Will see if I can dig out the brand.

[fooman]

I bought the EzGoGo 6A-13A mains charger from Amazon, better quality than Master plug / Renault ones I tried, will do 3KW no problem but I'd make sure your socket is quality.

[kambites]

butchstewie said:

Ask an electrician to fit one and to do it by the book to regs and you're not far off the cost of a properly installed 7kw charger.

There's nothing wrong with DIY installing a commando socket; you just need to get an electrician to sign it off, which is a pretty quick job - probably about £100 including the call-out. So maybe £400 all in, including buying the cable, RCBO, socket and charger.

For some people a commando socket and plug-in 7kW charger is more useful than a fixed EV charger because you can use the socket to run other high-current devices (high powered compressors, welders, vehicle lifts, etc.).

Edited by kambites on Monday 5th October 20:43

[SWoll]

The majority of Amazon granny chargers will allow you to run at up to 13 amps/3.1kW , but I wouldn't recommend it as the heat generated is substantial for a 3 pin plug.

If you need more than 10 amps/2.4kW then a different solution is required.

[cliffords]

SWoll said:

The majority of Amazon granny chargers will allow you to run at up to 13 amps/3.1kW , but I wouldn't recommend it as the heat generated is substantial for a 3 pin plug.

If you need more than 10 amps/2.4kW then a different solution is required.

Yes I have an EV rated and marked external plug . It is rated 13amp continual use and waterproof.

[GT6k]

There's no good alternative other than a commando socketed charger and even that is distinctly second best to a proper wall charger.

[ashenfie]

GT6k said:

There's no good alternative other than a commando socketed charger and even that is distinctly second best to a proper wall charger.

Indeed you will also need the correct gauge cable and ROBCO/RCD and with an EV charger you should get a clamp too.

[butchstewie]

I've literally got a guy outside fitting a charger as I type.

Hadn't quite appreciated how heavy duty the EV rated cable is (with integrated cable for a CT clamp).

Certainly makes me think I did the right thing getting a dedicated charger v some of the more DIY options.

[SWoll]

cliffords said:

SWoll said:

The majority of Amazon granny chargers will allow you to run at up to 13 amps/3.1kW , but I wouldn't recommend it as the heat generated is substantial for a 3 pin plug.

If you need more than 10 amps/2.4kW then a different solution is required.

Yes I have an EV rated and marked external plug . It is rated 13amp continual use and waterproof.

If it's a 1363-2 EV socket they are rated for a 10amp continuous load?

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