[dkelly84]

Hi All,

My tethered cable has become damaged, and I'm looking at options for replacement. So far my brainstorming has come up with the following options:

- Just replace the cable with a like for like replacement

- Get a wall mounted Type 2 socket wired in, effectively converting it to an untethered charger (then get an Ohme cable or regular T2-T1 cable)

- I've asked Ohme if they'll do a bare end cable for replacing a tethered. Failing that, could I just remove the Type 2 plug? I can't see why not

- Replace the whole PodPoint unit with a 32A Commando and get the Commando Ohme cable? Seems like a waste of a perfectly good PodPoint unit, and does tie me into Ohme somewhat

Any thoughts and opinions? Any glaring problems with any of those?

 

[dkelly84]

Rather than buying a Type 2 one buy a Commando one and sell your current EVSE for spares.
If you are buying an Ohme then get a move on as the Octopus offer ends tomorrow.

I think this is leaning towards the preferred solution. I need to move fast if I'm going to catch that deal, and wiring in a bare Type 2 socket looks much harder, simply because a commando socket is a much more regular occurrence and the parts are cheaper.

Ohme got back to me on the bare ended cable - they're not prepared to do it and removing an existing plug would invalidate the warranty.

 

[dkelly84]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all the replies. I've decided not to rush ahead with the Ohme cable just because it's on offer. Octopus have pushed back my smart meter install again, so I'm not going to be on Agile anywhen soon anyway.

I knew that one day I'd have to replace the tethered cable, but I was hoping it would be a Type 1 -> Type 2 conversion rather than from damage.

The initial damage was from something (Rat / Mouse / Hedgehog etc), chewing the cable right through to exposing one of the copper cores. I initially covered it in duct tape just to make it a bit safer even though I wasn't planning on using it.... and it has now been chewed again. Twice.

So I need to solve the chewing issue before I do anything else. Luckily these days, and especially now I'm in Tier 4, I'm rarely using the car more than once every 2-3 days and even then the trips are usually no more than 10-15 miles for shopping etc. Until I can solve the chewing issue, I'm just going to use the granny charger during daylight hours to keep it topped up. I don't actually need too long a lead, so I might investigate cutting the lead shorted and re-attaching the plug.... but again, until I can find a way to either get some poison down or keep the lead off the floor, it's not worth putting the effort in going any further, just to end up back at square one.

 

[dkelly84]

OK, after naively overlooking the fact I need a hydraulic crimping tool to attach a plug, I've abandoned the current cable in it's entirety

The good news is that I managed to get a 5m, Type1 tethered cable second hand for £35 from ebay.

You are probably a good case for a non tethered charger, keeping your lead in the garage.

Unfortunately due to the odd shape of my house and placement of the garage door, there's no room on the outside for the EVSE. The PodPoint unit is inside the garage, so I went with tethered, and tucked the cable into a notch in the garage door frame (see pictured). If I had an untethered unit, I would still have to have it go under the garage door, and still probably be chewed. (see pic)

I think what I'm going to do, is drill a hole in the garage door frame much higher, poke the new cable through there, and have it hang a bit like a petrol hose (if that makes sense)

 

[dkelly84]

Or cure your rodent infestation😁

I've put some poison down just in case, but I'll still keep it all off the floor just in case.

2 doors down are having an extension built, I'd guess a nest has been disturbed over there.

 

[dkelly84]

Another option would be to mount a type 2 socket by the garage door (remote from the EVSE) and wire back through the door jam. EVBitz sell sockets Type 2 Female Plug (evbitz.uk)

I did consider that, but you'd need a hydraulic crimper for that too.

 

[dkelly84]

Just a thought, while the end that goes in the box is still not connected you could drill a hole just under the holder and pass the cable through it.

Aye, that's the plan, but probably a foot or two even higher than that, so it hangs down from a height like a petrol hose.

 

[dkelly84]

You can buy one from EVBITZ with integral tails, no crimper required.

Ah yes so you can.

Have just measured the width of the wooden frame though, and it's not quite big enough, it would just clip the garage door.

Still, I'm fairly happy with my £35 option. I'll revisit the type 2 socket if I swap to a Type 2 car and need to replace it again.

 

[dkelly84]

Well, sadly, the eBay charging lead was useless. Time for an argument over a refund on that one. The plug had been disassembled and re-assembled upside down, which was the first warning sign. I put it all back the right way, but no dice. I'd guess a problem with the microswitch or something.

Time to re-investigate options again, I'll look into the Type 2 socket to start.

This is what I was aiming for (see attached)

 

[dkelly84]

The one I linked to is still there.

Thanks, but it's a 32A charger.