MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Looks like a hybrid Swedish Brick will be arriving at Flash Towers shortly. It has a three pin plug for charging at home (not full EV, so fine for the purposes), but would like to have a Type 2 in the boot to park in the Much Smugness recharging spaces when out and about.
Are they much of a muchness? Do I need one braided, directionally of course, from unicorn pubes?
Does it not come with one? I sure you’ve checked of course but most do.
As above, has a three pin plugged cable, but not a plug-into-smug recharging point cable.
(Used car, BTW.)
Ah! Most odd.
I’ve seen places recommended on here before so I’m sure someone will be along to help.
Watching with interest.
Need a cable soon to go with a charge point I'm getting installed.
For what it's worth you should look into the loads on the 3 pin cable. Not using extension leads etc. Also the load on the sockets. They might be rated for 13a but not for the length of time cars are plugged in for.
We've got a rather industrial outdoor socket that looks sturdy as anything, but that's a good point. Will check.
We’ve got a rather industrial outdoor socket that looks sturdy as anything,
If you're relying on a visual inspection to assess the safe capacity of an electrical socket, can I have dibs on your bikes?
I got a cable from a company called ecoHarmony, seems OK, I've used it a few times but not as much as I'd normally have due to Covid restrictions. You'll only need the single phase cable and depending on the car's max charge rate you might only need the 16A version.
I've had one for 5 years.
Are you getting a charge point installed or just using 3 point socket for charging? Back in the day manufacturers would not warranty the 3 pin charges as they said they were only for occasional use, maybe this has changed now?
If you are going for a charge point I would get a non tethered one so you can take your cable with you.
You need to go as long as you can ie minimum 10m. The few times I have charged my car remotely (tends to be at National Trust locations) you need a much longer cable than you would think!
Edit: Just looked at my invoice - was £169 in 5 years ago this month. Same cable from the same company is now £162. EVOnestop.co.uk
When I had to get one for a works PHEV I just went straight to Mitsubishi for the official one. That way if the battery went bang or the car went up in flames while charging (highly unlikely I imagine) they can't blame the cable. It was a lot more expensive than one I could have got off the internet but work was paying for it 🙂
If you’re relying on a visual inspection to assess the safe capacity of an electrical socket, can I have dibs on your bikes?
😁 Will have it checked properly!
Are you getting a charge point installed or just using 3 point socket for charging? Back in the day manufacturers would not warranty the 3 pin charges as they said they were only for occasional use, maybe this has changed now?
When new, the car had a 3 pin as the stock option, type 2 as an option. So, given they were supplied with 3 pin, I'd say it was approved!
Useful points here, folks. Thanks.
The things to choose from are:
- single or three phase. Most cars only take single phase AC (including the volvo hybrids) but things like Zoes can take three phase. It doesn't matter if you have a 3 phase cable, cars/chargers that are single phase just don't use the extra pins - you end up with a fatter/stiffer cable though.
- current. Most hybrids only need 16A (3.6kW) but normally 32A (7kW) cables aren't much more expensive and it's what most electric cars use/need for home wallboxes. Again, doesn't matter if you have a cable capable of more current, the combination of car, charger, cable determines maximum current.
- length. For "out and about" charging off public posts you might want to go a bit longer so if the bay is occupied but the post not being used, you can just park near and still reach it. Also if you have a driveway, a length that lets you reach the car however you usually arrange things (it's a faff moving cars about just to reach).
On length, there will be a point where it gets unweildy. I know it's not the same thing but the tethered 7.5m one on our 3 phase charge point is a bit of a python. I wish I'd gone shorter.
On an Electric car forum it seems that people in hybrids using public electric points to charge their cars are only slightly behind cyclists in the queue to be executed on sight
That's a very good point. I have not intention to plug in at a public charge point other than say a pub or staying at a hotel for example. Charging away from home to me is rocking up to a pump and filling with dino juice.