They are usually weatherproof, at least the two I've had (one Toyota one, and one BMW one) have been. If plugged in to a weatherproof outdoor outlet (like this: MK 13A 1 Gang Unswitched Socket Weatherproof IP66 Grey(K56480GRY) | CEF) that's been properly installed then it should be fine outside.

 

I have a 10 m extension lead and that has a weatherproof enclosure for the plug/socket and weatherproof in-line RCD (supplied by Industrial Extension Leads). I am sure that the granny lead transformer and 13amp plug are weatherproof anyway and if you are connecting to an outdoor socket this will be weatherproof.

 

The granny cable is weatherproof and is meant for all weather's I have bought one of these
Masterplug Pro-XT Weatherproof Trailing Socket High Visibility Cable - 10m 13A

I then sit the plug connector and granny box on top of a wheel under arch so keeping it away from worst of weather.

 

I’ve used an upturned plastic laundry basket to shield from heavy rain.

I have a totally weatherproof DIY EVSE enclosure so it was only when an extension lead was involved for the socket reel when on holiday.

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Has anyone come up with a cheap DIY method of housing a granny charger transformer and extension plug to keep it safe from rain? I was thinking a plastic tub with some closed cell foam holes. Just wondered if anyone had come up with something simpler. Something like a Dri Box. (My granny won’t fit in one!).


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If your considering replacing the 13A plug with a commando plug be aware that some 13A plugs have an addition wire in them connected to a thermistor

 

Hi folks. It’s really just the connection between the end of my extension cable and granny charger I’m concerned about. The wheel arch idea is great though. Hadn’t thought of that! I looked at extension cables with waterproof housings over the female plug but the bit that clamped the incoming cable from the charger seemed too small to accommodate the chunky charger wire.


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For your Granny charger, aka portable EVSE, note no transformer, remove the BS1363 plug, hack the temperature sensor if its fitted and add a CEE Commando plug. The Commando plug is rated IP44 splashproof so straightaway a big improvement.

Make up an appropriate lead for your anticipated use.

Good idea to park the portable EVSE and its connection under the car when in use during bad weather.

Note there are better waterproofed plug/socket types such as this rated IP67 if that's what you need. Lewden 16A 2P+E 230V Plug IP67(710126) | CEF

 

That sounds like the perfect solution but I don’t feel confident enough to hack a temperature sensor! I was thinking more some kind of waterproof enclosure to cover the plug/extension in.


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Your granny charger may not have a temperature sensor on the plug. My Japanese Yazaki charger did not have one.

Post a photos of your granny and its data label and someone will advise if it does or doesn't.

 

I’ll grab a pic of the granny charger in the morning. Just wondering if this thing might allow for the thick cable on my granny charger. masterplug IPS Rewirable Weatherpr...ocket https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006X09WDW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4aX3CbJ2CPQ7C


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The moulded plug on my BMW i3 granny lead is quite chunky. When I bought the extension lead from Industrial Extension Leads they went to some trouble to find a large enough weatherproof enclosure. In fact, the proprietor went down to the BMW dealers with a bunch of enclosures to try them all out. He fitted a Crabtree IP56 enclosure and it’s great, in fact I used it last weekend (parked my car below the window of my hotel room and dangled the lead outside!). Sorry, there is no part number on it.

 

Ah. That sounds good. I’ll check out the Crabtree enclosure!


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Looks like my granny has a commando plug on it. Maybe I could just wire up a male commando on the end of an extension reel?

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Hi again, your granny charger is labelled IP55 so the charger itself is waterproof, just need to sort the plug connection as previously discussed.

Can you describe where you acquired the charger?. Did it come with a new UK supplied car? The input lead looks awfully long for a fully compliant granny.

 

your granny charger is labelled IP55 so the charger itself is waterproof,

Strictly speaking it's "Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction." If you let it lie in a few inches of water, like a puddle, it might not survive.

 

That looks like the type sold by Evconnectors. It's fitted with a 13amp UK plug from the photo. If this is the one then it has a thermistor in the plug to detect overheating.
Use a heavy duty extension with a waterproof socket and do not let the EVSE sit in a puddle.

 

It was supplied with my used E-Up. No idea if it was the original or not.


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I’ve just ordered a Crabtree enclosure to try. Probably the simplest fix if the thick cable fits! Thanks for your help so far folks!


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To avoid anyone having issues - having tried a wide range of 13A weatherproof sockets to check if they were compatible with the BMW, Nissan and Jaguar granny lead plugs - the Crabtree socket mentioned was the only one that worked at the time. However, even that had one limitation- to accommodate the BMW plug for instance, the hole for the cable to exit had to be enlarged on the inside plastic (there are 2 parts to it) of both the lid and housing, otherwise the lid wouldn't close. Since then, another socket has become available which has a particularly large cable outlet and when used with a certain socket, provides just enough space to accommodate the larger style 13A plugs increasingly used. Further information can be found here if it's of use

 

Care to name the new socket and provide a link to the supoplier?

 

The link on the word “here” is to Toughleads, who researched on the forum a little while back to solve this problem. I’ve just bought an extension lead from them that does the job - large moulded plug and lead on the Nissan granny charger is gripped firmly but not too tightly by the very flexible rubber in the entry housing, cover closes and clicks shut. Only charged for a couple of hours - extension plug got slightly warm but that’s all. It was drizzling on and off, but absolutely dry inside the waterproof box when I opened it.

Only drawbacks are that the waterproof box really is a big chunky thing and looks as if it is designed to be fixed to a wall. I may be wrong, but I think it might be vulnerable to cracking if you just put it in the boot and throw things on top of it - I’m going to keep the cable in the box it came in for protection.

 

I don't think Toughleads are the manufacturer, so are they just being coy as to what brand of IP66 trailing socket works.?

 

The socket is from Hamilton. Sorry didn't intend to be coy - the brand is written on the socket itself in the pictures in the link. You have to replace the socket with an un-switched one through, as the one that comes fitted is switched and the socket is offset, which prevents the lid closing with larger plugs. In response to customer enquiries, I now supply the socket on it's own with the correct single socket fitted and a cable gland if required. As we buy in bulk, the price of both is the same as the cost of just the socket housing everywhere else.

Completely agree with Astolat - it is a chunky unit!! But having tested virtually every socket I could find, due to the physical size of some of the plugs on certain chargers now, it is the only one that works. That said, many weatherproof sockets are rather flimsy, whereas this one is more robust than most.

 

As I posted in the other thread on granny chargers, the BG IP66 outlet seems to have plenty of room inside, at least there is no problem at all with my BMW i3 granny charger plug:

 

Great set up! I'm not sure if all BMW chargers now have the much chunkier 13A plug with 2.5mm flex, but the ones at the dealerships I tried all seemed to be. Yours looks like it has a far more conveniently sized plug than the ridiculously large one now supplied.

 

The overall length of that fatter plug looks as if it's about the same as the one on my BMW granny lead (which is really a badged Delphi unit, it seems). The only question would be over the height available. The BG outlet has about 30mm of height available over the plug top area, dropping down to about 20mm at the point where the cable seal is. The distance from the bottom edge of the L and N pins to the cable seal is about 55mm, so there's a fair bit of room available.

 

At 55mm, I reckon it probably would. Out of interest (sorry I could talk for hours about sockets ), does the BG unit lid lock shut with 2.5mmsq flex?

 

Yes it does, although you need to push down on the lid in order to get the latch to close.

 

I have just ordered one of these;

16A 230v Caravan hook up in-line T adaptor

The special connector which is a combined 16A CEE IEC60309 plug and socket simply plugs in between a standard hook up lead, and a caravan/motor home/camper van 16A inlet. Unlike other types or T connectors, its compact size means that it does not result in the hook up connector protruding out...

www.toughleads.co.uk

This will allow me to use my hook up for the caravan, and using the double socket, connect my granny charger into the enclosure. The enclosures used are deep enough to take the slightly portly 3 pin plug, and rated to IP66.

With the VW app, I can set the charge rate (in amps) to as low as 3 A for my GTE. So I don't need to worry about anything blowing the RCD.
Top service from these guys.Had a good chat with them, very helpful.