The trite answer is that the standards do not allow any extension cables. The more helpful answer is that the cable is not designed to be buried and has no mechanical protection so so really shouldn't be buried. The realistic answer is that it'll probably be OK but if someone sticks a spade into it then they are likely to die.

Edit to add - I saw someone stick an iron bar into a buried 11kV cable once and get away with it as they hit the Neutral first - only new underwear was required. But you may not be so lucky.

 

Thanks for the reply. If the standards do not allow extension cables, how are they allowed the sell them? Would putting the cable in galv conduit be good enough? Failing that, I'll just run the cable down the driveway when it needs charging. Would be a pain though.

 

Would it not be simpler to just switch which car parks where, according to charging needs?

 

Unfortunately due to the layout of our house and driveway, we can't get the etron parked near the garage

 

Armour plated cable

450mm in pavements etc to the top of the cable so 500mm is minimum really.

600mm in road crossings

900mm in Farmland

About 4 years ago we brought a new bungalow and required power to the garage and used our own electrician, as recommended by our electrician we buried the cable 900mm, apparently only 450mm below paving, we stuck with the 900mm to play safe.

However several other used the site electrical contractor who just laid the cable underneath the slabs and just below the soil, which I personally thought was dangerous, but again I am not an electrician.

My advice if you cannot do it safely find some one who can.

 

Armour plated cable

450mm in pavements etc to the top of the cable so 500mm is minimum really.

600mm in road crossings

900mm in Farmland

About 4 years ago we brought a new bungalow and required power to the garage and used our own electrician, as recommended by our electrician we buried the cable 900mm, apparently only 450mm below paving, we stuck with the 900mm to play safe.

However several other used the site electrical contractor who just laid the cable underneath the slabs and just below the soil, which I personally thought was dangerous, but again I am not an electrician.

My advice if you cannot do it safely find some one who can.

Are we referring to Steel Wired Armoured cable?

It's not exactly armour plated!

 

Ideally I'd like to buy a 15m type-2 extension cable and run it through my garden (under the borders) to where the new car will be parked.

Would it be easier to run the cable above ground? I don’t think it needs to be armoured that way.

 

Hi Everyone,

We currently have an EV parked in front of our house right next to our charger which is great. Due to a slight change in circumstances, we have just ordered a second EV which we want to park next to the garage. This is right at the end of our driveway, a good 10m away from the charger.

Ideally I'd like to buy a 15m type-2 extension cable and run it through my garden (under the borders) to where the new car will be parked. Then when I want to charge up, I'll just connect my tethered charger to the extension.

Something like this - Gen3.2 Type 2 Extension / Type 2 charging cable

Hi Glen, you have had some good replies. My main addition to the debate would be to add

1/ Yes you can do it if you want, it will work
2/ You might want to spend the money on something more permanent and safer
3/ Dont buy the cable or run it in conduit, the cable is not designed or rated for that
4/ It might be better to lay the cable on some chippings in the boarder to allow for drainage (so it dosn't sit submerged
6/ At the car end, you might want to think about fastening to a post or similar so the the socket is facing downwards and dosn't collect water
7/ Understand the safety limitations of what you are doing - and ensure other members of your household do as well.
8/ Be absolutely vigilant about checking the RCD protection and setup (separate to the house, 6mA DC etc)
best of luck
any ideas?

Thanks

 

Hi Glen, you have had some good replies. My main addition to the debate would be to add

1/ Yes you can do it if you want, it will work
2/ You might want to spend the money on something more permanent and safer
3/ Dont buy the cable or run it in conduit, the cable is not designed or rated for that
4/ It might be better to lay the cable on some chippings in the boarder to allow for drainage (so it dosn't sit submerged
6/ At the car end, you might want to think about fastening to a post or similar so the the socket is facing downwards and dosn't collect water
7/ Understand the safety limitations of what you are doing - and ensure other members of your household do as well.
8/ Be absolutely vigilant about checking the RCD protection and setup (separate to the house, 6mA DC etc)
best of luck
any ideas?

Thanks

 

Don't BURY the cable, it is most definitely NOT designed for that.

 

we have just ordered a second EV which we want to park next to the garage.

Having re read this after reading the whole thread.
1) if there is no power in the garage, maybe that should be the first thing to look at.
2) I would use said garage to house new consumer unit for another EVSE on the garage.
3) use armoured cable to supply garage. 10mm2 with future proof you for high loads.
4) make sure its buried deep enough 0.5 metres seems reasonable.
maybe a photo or plan drawing would give better insight for others to provide advice.

 

Having re read this after reading the whole thread.
1) if there is no power in the garage, maybe that should be the first thing to look at.
2) I would use said garage to house new consumer unit for another EVSE on the garage.
3) use armoured cable to supply garage. 10mm2 with future proof you for high loads.
4) make sure its buried deep enough 0.5 metres seems reasonable.
maybe a photo or plan drawing would give better insight for others to provide advice.

As above, I would take the opportunity to put power/light in the garage and install a SAFE charging solution. It won't be cheap, but will add value to house - especially as EVs get more popular.

 

Hi,
Just to echo what has already been said.
The option of charging two high current vehicles from one domestic electrical supply may be limited. Therefore, the safest way I see it is, to have the second car hard wired with its own charge point and some kind of controller/auto switching to let whatever car is charging to have it's demand from your supply, or alternatively, do what you suggested and extend the original tethered cable but bear in mind you may be altering that circuits safety margins. Charging cable isn't mechanically/electrically protected as much as steel wired armoured cable and every joint/connector is a potential weak point.
A quick visit from a qualified electrician/ charging installer would be advised. Cheers

 

I've asked an electrician

 

What about running an armoured cable to a commando socket from the consumer unit and using a separate Ohme charger? If total power is a problem Ohme will rate the charger at 3.6Kw. It will just take a bit longer to charge?

 

straight line over the front of your garden digging a trench to the garage?

 

I think that's the only way, but means another cable running along the front of my house. It's going to look a right mess.

 

These guys have a variety of cables that look useful. You can get CAT5 support at same time as the power, probably a wise future-proofing thing to do.
Doncaster Cables EV Ultra Cable (Per Metre)

 

Probably, 10mm^2 is around 20mm diameter whereas 6mm^2 is around 15mm.
Similar information, so duplicate!