Would installing a commando socket eliminate all safety concerns? I guess on top of that I’d also need a commando charger?
Newbie who needs setup advice
Hi all.
Got a Outlander PHEV yesterday. Need some advice on granny charging setup.
I plan to run the cable from the garage. Please see items below. It’s an outside power cord and plug. Fitted from the power source will be an RCD.
Is this ample or not? I’m a newbie so I’m not entirely sure and you seasoned EV/PHEVs will know more so I’m looking for your advice.
If okay, I plan to make the outside cord a permanent solution so will be using wire clips to neatly run it the side of the house.
Thanks in advance!
www.screwfix.com
www.screwfix.com
Got a Outlander PHEV yesterday. Need some advice on granny charging setup.
I plan to run the cable from the garage. Please see items below. It’s an outside power cord and plug. Fitted from the power source will be an RCD.
Is this ample or not? I’m a newbie so I’m not entirely sure and you seasoned EV/PHEVs will know more so I’m looking for your advice.
If okay, I plan to make the outside cord a permanent solution so will be using wire clips to neatly run it the side of the house.
Thanks in advance!
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Masterplug 13A Fused Plug-Through Active RCD Adaptor - Screwfix
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21 - 40 of 44 Posts
Just knock your kitchen sockets off the see if the garage is fed from them.
Is that bad shadowing or are your cables scorched?
Is that bad shadowing or are your cables scorched?
Depends on how smart you want it to be, and how "standard" the install is (I.e. is it a short external run from the consumer unit). A podpoint on a standard install is sub 500 pounds. A good smart unit like an Ohme is around 600.Yeah I agree. Although, we wouldn’t do that short term as we plan to do some structural work on the garage.
How much are dedicated charging points (incl installation)?
Sounds like your garage has been tagged onto your kitchen ring, I wouldn’t charge a car off that if I were you!Yeah I agree. Although, we wouldn’t do that short term as we plan to do some structural work on the garage.
How much are dedicated charging points (incl installation)?
Your best bet I would say is to get your security system disconnected from its own trip and put onto a fused spur fed of one of the ring mains and get a new trip fitted in there in the space it frees up to get a commando socket or a proper charging point fitted.
I would not plug into the garage!
No is the short answer mate, earthing matt-e /garo mini cu, earth rods..... Has your granny cable got a commando male end? Or is this further cost?Would installing a commando socket eliminate all safety concerns? I guess on top of that I’d also need a commando charger?
It gets complicated.
Who is your electricity supplier? Ohme cables are discounted via Octopus.Would installing a commando socket eliminate all safety concerns? I guess on top of that I’d also need a commando charger?
No is the short answer mate, earthing matt-e /garo mini cu, earth rods..... Has your granny cable got a commando male end? Or is this further cost?
It gets complicated.
It does but if you are looking for a temporary charging solution that isn’t going to burn your house down then a commando fitted on some 10mm and a portable charger is a dramatic improvement on where he is now.
Well yeah but I'm not going to lie to him.It does but if you are looking for a temporary charging solution that isn’t going to burn your house down then a commando fitted on some 10mm and a portable charger is a dramatic improvement on where he is now.
Running 10mm to a commando socket then making sure he's got a commando lead, he won't be far off the cost of a fitted charger.
This is true, you need a charge point.Well yeah but I'm not going to lie to him.
Running 10mm to a commando socket then making sure he's got a commando lead, he won't be far off the cost of a fitted charger.
Please don’t charge your EV from an extension plugged into that garage, the wiring is definitely not up to the job!
it would be better to plug the granny directly into one of your house ring main sockets during the evening when your not asleep and keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn’t get hot.
Please don’t charge it while your asleep.
Thanks everyone. Yeah I think I’ll plug into the house as soon as I’m home from work for 4 hours then unplug.
I appreciate everyone’s input massively. How much is a charge point? Is it overkill for a PHEV?
Also, no. The granny charger does not have a commando end
I appreciate everyone’s input massively. How much is a charge point? Is it overkill for a PHEV?
Also, no. The granny charger does not have a commando end
A lot of granny chargers have a temp sensor moulded into the plug because theycan overheat.Thanks everyone. Yeah I think I’ll plug into the house as soon as I’m home from work for 4 hours then unplug.
I appreciate everyone’s input massively. How much is a charge point? Is it overkill for a PHEV?
Also, no. The granny charger does not have a commando end
Never cut the 13a plug off one thinking you can fit a new one or put a commando on there it breaks them permanently unless you fit a resistor to bypass the sensor.
You an pick up a 16a commando charger for about £200, trip maybe £30 cable and socket maybe another £50 - £70 then you need someone to fit it.
Doesn’t work out any cheaper than a charge point if you pay a sparky to do it really.
I don’t know anything about charge points, how do they work? I mean that in terms of installation and etc
Normally if your within a "standard" install a national firm (bp pulse, podpoint, Andersen, zappi) will fit it, claim the olev grant for you and charge you between 400 and 1k.I don’t know anything about charge points, how do they work? I mean that in terms of installation and etc
Chargers are different, you get dumb and smart. Prices obviously vairy.
Where your CU is if you can get a charger within 10/15m to somewhere you can then charge your car I'd personally do it.
Then when you sort your garage Reno out id then pay the sparky to move the charger to come off the garage CU. That would mean you get the grant, it might go, and a safe way of charging.
If you want make a drawing of your property and I'll give you a few ideas.
The other option is to use a dedicated charging site. A lot of kw's will need to be drawn to get to the cost of a 'proper' charging socket. If you do that for a while whilst you get some cash together for the right charging socket for your needs.
A granny cable is OK but it is nothing more than the space saver of the charging world.
A granny cable is OK but it is nothing more than the space saver of the charging world.
Just throwing this out there - electrical safety is not something to be taken lightly, and despite a lot of people on this forum being very helpful and knowledgeable about such things, you should still be treating it as internet advice. If there is any doubt at all, get a local spark to inspect your wiring and check if it is suitable for running sustained current to charge your car.
The other thing to look at is if your car or granny charger has a way to reduce the maximum current drawn. This will reduce charge efficiency, increase charge time, but reduce the strain that the charger puts on your system so reduce the risk of damage. Note that I said "reduce"? It is still placing a strain on your system. If there is any doubt at all, get a local spark to inspect your wiring.
And while you're at it, get a spark to inspect your wiring.
The other thing to look at is if your car or granny charger has a way to reduce the maximum current drawn. This will reduce charge efficiency, increase charge time, but reduce the strain that the charger puts on your system so reduce the risk of damage. Note that I said "reduce"? It is still placing a strain on your system. If there is any doubt at all, get a local spark to inspect your wiring.
And while you're at it, get a spark to inspect your wiring.
I have been charging one of mine almost exclusively from a granny for 5 years probably. Obviously I would like to think I would notice any signs there was something amiss. 10 amp constant is within the design specs of a socket.I am no electrician, I just go with the general advice that it is not a great long term bet. I am sure that a proper electrician will be along soon and give you some proper advice. Going in your favour is the fact that the garage is detached from the house and that because it's a PHEV, the battery is not enormous. But the more you can lean towards a dedicated solution the better. Safety rules. Don't take short cuts.
Not for sustained loads at 10 Amps.10 amp constant is within the design specs of a socket.
The main problem is degradation of the contacts which means the socket can overheat.
It’s OK until it isn’t and tries to burn down your house/garage/car.
As to the thought that nothing else gives your domestic wiring anything like a granny lead does.
My hot tub can easily pull more current for a longer time.
I don't frequent hot tub forums (are there such things?) but cant imagine people are so paranoid about the sockets feeding them leading to your house burning to the ground.
As a side point, my garden outdoor socket has started to be destroyed by the hot tub plug.
My hot tub can easily pull more current for a longer time.
I don't frequent hot tub forums (are there such things?) but cant imagine people are so paranoid about the sockets feeding them leading to your house burning to the ground.
As a side point, my garden outdoor socket has started to be destroyed by the hot tub plug.
You run your hot-tub off a three pin socket at more than 10 Amps? For 24 hours?My hot tub can easily pull more current for a longer time.
Yep, maybe not longer than 24 hours but easily 10 hours and beyond a certain amount of time then the thermal load doesn't really increase. That's why the BS test uses a minimum of four hours under load to achieve thermal stability.You run your hot-tub off a three pin socket at more than 10 Amps? For 24 hours?
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