[ronfromdon]

I'm probably going to try an Ioniq via ONTO for a couple of months before getting a longer and cheaper lease if it works out. Problem is I've just realised the charging point grant is only available if you own an EV or have a long lease.

I reckon I will need to charge twice a week and have an outdoor socket on my drive like this one. Waiting a long time to charge shouldn't be a problem.

I have heard this is a bad idea but am not really sure why. Also is the 3 pin plug normal size so I could shut the lid on the socket and make it weather proof?

 

[80698]

Charging at a slow rate on a granny cable is less convenient, less efficient, and doesn't have the various safety measures that you get with a home charge point. Unless the socket is new and also has new wiring, and ideally on its own fused circuit its not really advisable to use it. You're going to be pulling 10 Amps or so continuously for hours. If the wiring or connections aren't up to the job they can heat up, melt and even start a fire. Not a good thing especially when people tend to charge overnight.

While it's not especially common that this happens it remains a real risk. If you have new wiring then I'd say it's probably safe enough for the short term, as long as you check that nothing is heating up too much the first few times.

You're going with ONTO. Why not just use public chargers while you have the car from them? They pay for your charging expenses at a rather long list of networks. Check it out on Zap Map to see what charging options are nearby. Here is the list of networks you can charge at for free with the two included cards:

CYC (Charge Your Car)
BP Pulse
Shell Recharge
New Motion
Alfa Power
Chargepoint
Char.gy
E-Flux
ESB
EV Box
EVDriver
Fastned
Franklin LiFE
Grønn Kontakt
Has To Be
Ionity
LastMileSolutions
Osprey
Vattenfall
Virta

(PS. If you do go with ONTO, use code CADA7 and we both get £50 off!)

 

[AndrewC]

I have used an outdoor socket a few times like that one and it shut fine. But it was in good condition. 80698's post does raise some valid concerns. I use my granny cable only occasionally.

 

[farmergiles]

I used my Leaf's granny charger for about 3weeks pending the 7kw charger arriving. I kept checking the socket every couple of hours to see if it was heating up. It didn't so I was happy to leave it on overnight. The Leaf's charger plug is not too big to be used with the usual outdoor 13a sockets.

 

[cah197]

If you can’t get away from using a granny charger, I'd recommend the following:

• Install a good quality socket and ensure the cabling up to the consumer unit is the correct size.
• Have an electrician check the RCB/RCBOs are up to spec for this type of load and use.
• Install a smoke alarm next or very near the consumer unit.
• Check it regularly (every couple of hours) for the first few uses. Then after that do a weekly check of the socket to ensure it's not getting too hot.
• If you can get a granny charger that you can dial down the amps to 6 or 8 amps, that helps enormously.

All the above actions should keep you safe and stop your house burning down. But will probably cost you somewhere near what a properly installed charger would cost you.

 

[EnricoSalad]

Using a granny charger will not affect the wiring at the consumer unit (socket circuits specc’d for 32A), it’s more the connections in the outside plug and (fairly common) where it spurs into the socket ring that it’s on.

That being said, a smoke alarm in the room with the consumer unit is a good idea.

 

[cah197]

Using a granny charger will not affect the wiring at the consumer unit (socket circuits specc’d for 32A), it’s more the connections in the outside plug and (fairly common) where it spurs into the socket ring that it’s on.

How do you know if you don't check?

 

[farmergiles]

Using a granny charger will not affect the wiring at the consumer unit (socket circuits specc’d for 32A), it’s more the connections in the outside plug and (fairly common) where it spurs into the socket ring that it’s on.

That being said, a smoke alarm in the room with the consumer unit is a good idea.

I fitted smoke alarm above the socket in my porch used for charging. The socket is on the usual ring main and normally used for the washer and drier so 10amps for several hours hasn't proved an issue.

 

[ronfromdon]

Thanks for the advice. The wiring is new compared to the age of the house. Was redone about 10 years ago but not sure if that qualifies as new in its own right.

Socket is a short cable run from the consumer unit. Consumer unit is in my bedroom and socket is a cavity wall’s width from my pillow. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing in this case!

Whatever I do with the EV I will be getting a smoke alarm to go near the consumer unit now.

 

[HandyAndy]

Washer & Dryer running at 10A aren't anything like as bad as an EV at 10A. Domestic devices cycle on & off, maybe run for 5-10 mins heating water, then on/off maintaining temp. An EV continuously draws high power, so this tends to heat up the enclosure, plugs etc a lot more. Heat generation from resistance goes up with the square of the Amps taken, so 10A will generate 100 units of heat, 8A will generate 64, and 6A will generate 36.

I've burnt out a couple of 13A sockets running a granny at 10A continuously, and they were newish items fitted recently with good wiring. The bit that failed for me was the U-shaped clip inside the socket, clamping onto the N terminal of the plug. So now I try to do all my granny charging at 6A only, and I avoid 10A.

and the clips from the inside came out like this:

 

[farmergiles]

Washer & Dryer running at 10A aren't anything like as bad as an EV at 10A. Domestic devices cycle on & off, maybe run for 5-10 mins heating water, then on/off maintaining temp. An EV continuously draws high power, so this tends to heat up the enclosure, plugs etc a lot more. Heat generation from resistance goes up with the square of the Amps taken, so 10A will generate 100 units of heat, 8A will generate 64, and 6A will generate 36.

I've burnt out a couple of 13A sockets running a granny at 10A continuously, and they were newish items fitted recently with good wiring. The bit that failed for me was the U-shaped clip inside the socket, clamping onto the N terminal of the plug. So now I try to do all my granny charging at 6A only, and I avoid 10A.
View attachment 141980

and the clips from the inside came out like this:
View attachment 141982

Yes, of course, that's why I said I checked the socket every couple of hours over an eight hour period for any signs of heating. The socket showed no signs of discolouration nor heating. If it had, it would have been replaced. The granny charger is no longer in use since my 7kw Lefanev charger was installed a few weeks ago.
Granny chargers get a bad press when it's the socket that may need replacing. In fact I would suggest doing this anyway, with a reputable brand such as MK or Crabtree and definitely not an unbranded one from Amazon. It's also worth checking the terminal screws for tightness.

 

[Johnny Read]

I've looked at several outdoor sockets for plugging in a granny cable. The lids on some will not fully close when the plug is inserted. I've found the granny cable that came with the ioniq does fit inside the Wessex socket sold by Toolstation (code 74162).

 

[ronfromdon]

I've burnt out a couple of 13A sockets running a granny at 10A continuously, and they were newish items fitted recently with good wiring. The bit that failed for me was the U-shaped clip inside the socket, clamping onto the N terminal of the plug. So now I try to do all my granny charging at 6A only, and I avoid 10A.

Thanks for this info. Doesn't really feel like it's worth risking using a normal plug at 10A for anything other than emergencies. How do you change it to 6A - is it an option in the car or charger?

As electric cars take off I expect we'll start seeing lots of burnt out sockets like this in holiday cottages or clear notices banning electric car charging using them.

 

[ohit1]

I'm probably going to try an Ioniq via ONTO for a couple of months before getting a longer and cheaper lease if it works out. Problem is I've just realised the charging point grant is only available if you own an EV or have a long lease.

I reckon I will need to charge twice a week and have an outdoor socket on my drive like this one. Waiting a long time to charge shouldn't be a problem.

I have heard this is a bad idea but am not really sure why. Also is the 3 pin plug normal size so I could shut the lid on the socket and make it weather proof?
View attachment 141971

We charged from a 3pin socket for about 2+ years - it's fine if you do it right.

Would you be getting one wired in or there is alredy something out front?

 

[ronfromdon]

How do they check eligibility for the charger grant? My mother has an electric car but didn't get a home charger because it would have been a very complex install so she just uses public charging at the supermarket. Could I borrow her car and V5 to get a charger installed at my house or can it only be at the registered keeper's address?

 

[ronfromdon]

We charged from a 3pin socket for about 2+ years - it's fine if you do it right.

Would you be getting one wired in or there is alredy something out front?

There's already one there. I use it for the lawnmower and occasionally the pressure washer.

 

[ohit1]

How do they check eligibility for the charger grant? My mother has an electric car but didn't get a home charger because it would have been a very complex install so she just uses public charging at the supermarket. Could I borrow her car and V5 to get a charger installed at my house or can it only be at the registered keeper's address?

You could: do a change of address or change of owner on her V5, to your address and then claim the grant - yes.

 

[ohit1]

There's already one there. I use it for the lawnmower and occasionally the pressure washer.

I have found a metal clad socket of good brand to be hard wearing. We run a spur using 4mm cable (i.e. over specified) and it has been fine/solid. In terms of water proof, you could mount a plastic cover over the top so rain goes around the socket

Example:

 

[ronfromdon]

You could: do a change of address or change of owner on her V5, to your address and then claim the grant - yes.

That sounds a bit too much to ask and possibly risky with her insurance for the sake of £350. I was thinking just have the car and V5 here on installation day.

 

[Leafocaster]

I have no home charging and over the 4 years owning my Leaf I’ve only needed to use the granny charger out the window four or five times. Unless you cover high mileage you may get by using public chargers as I do, mostly destination 7kw ones with the occasional rapid on a longer trips.