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13A EV chargers

vantech

Hi, 

I started another post regarding portable EV chargers and it raises the question of 13A portable EV chargers and earthing arrangements. 

These devices are readily available on Amazon and from EV dealerships. The user can plug-in and charge at around 2.3kW from a 13A socket. 

These do not take into account the earthing arrangements, nor do they appear to have PEN fault detection in them (unless this isn’t publicised). 

Are they exempt from the regulations because they are “temporary“ and covered by a product standard? 

Appreciate there is guidance on EV charging and outlets destine for this use, however this doesn’t take into account the vast majority of users of these plug them in anywhere they like, for instance when they go on holiday. 

Thoughts? 

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  • 0

    A friend with a plug in hybrid with  a 13A plug found his car had not charged. He explored a little further and found his plug had melted. He replaced the plug and socket and still had problems with the plug overheating and the car not charging.

    I managed to find out how he could change the charge current from a standard 10A to 6 A and it now works. 

    What is strange is that in his garage, one garage per flat with a metered supply from the flat management. In the garage he has a 15A fuse suppling a standalone 30mA RCD supplying a 13A socket to which a permanently wired  extension cable about 10ft long has been connected via a 13A plug. Even when the charger plug is getting hot this plug is still cool. 

    When he replaced the melted 13A plug the wiring colours in the charger cable were not standard, I think the CPC was white with a coloured line. 

    Other owners of the same car have reported the plug melting. My friend has taken it up with the dealer and despite promises got no feedback. He is now taking it up with the manufacturers. 

    So irrespective of all the clever protection or lack of for earthing a more fundamental problem also exists. 

    I will be visiting soon to ensure that the installation is safe. 

Reply
  • 0

    A friend with a plug in hybrid with  a 13A plug found his car had not charged. He explored a little further and found his plug had melted. He replaced the plug and socket and still had problems with the plug overheating and the car not charging.

    I managed to find out how he could change the charge current from a standard 10A to 6 A and it now works. 

    What is strange is that in his garage, one garage per flat with a metered supply from the flat management. In the garage he has a 15A fuse suppling a standalone 30mA RCD supplying a 13A socket to which a permanently wired  extension cable about 10ft long has been connected via a 13A plug. Even when the charger plug is getting hot this plug is still cool. 

    When he replaced the melted 13A plug the wiring colours in the charger cable were not standard, I think the CPC was white with a coloured line. 

    Other owners of the same car have reported the plug melting. My friend has taken it up with the dealer and despite promises got no feedback. He is now taking it up with the manufacturers. 

    So irrespective of all the clever protection or lack of for earthing a more fundamental problem also exists. 

    I will be visiting soon to ensure that the installation is safe. 

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