Granny Charger !!!!!!

[Deptford Flyer]

Granny charger

Hi do I use it or not ? Lots of posts suggest it’s dangerous plugs melting cables overheating etc…

Mine doesn’t reach the socket can I use an extension lead again lots say no and yes.

Does anyone out there use it regularly after all it comes with the car !!

I can’t see the the advantage of paying at least £600 for the 7kw socket to just charge the car a bit faster unless you tell me different I could run the car for a year using public chargers for £600

Any thoughts on the subject would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance ????

I’ve had two electric cars, a 2011 Nissan Leaf and currently an MGZS EV and I, for 99% of the time use(d) the three pin charger to top them up. Yes, it takes time but most people have enough time available to do this, it just takes a bit of planning. If in doubt, plug it in! i use an appropriate external waterproof plug box ( IP 6.4 rated I think) and, when parking on the drive gets ‘clogged’ up I use a 4m uncoiled purpose-made extension cable to reach across the drive. I also seem to remember this speed of charging can be less stressful on the battery.

 

[Gomev]

@Gomev cheers buddy ?? wont get that one reckon I will get one from

Electric vehicle leads

Tough Leads products are renowned on EV forums and Facebook groups for their high quality and reliability. Please see our article on safely charging electric vehicles for advice on extension leads. It is the responsibility of the EV user to consider the manufacturers guidance, the safety of the...

toughleads.co.uk

No worries, they are very good leads but a little pricier. My Wickes lead has been fine, used when on holiday for 'stealing electrons' from static caravans and holiday cottages.

 

[Deleted member 2439]

Screw fix actually do an EV charge with 10m of cable for a sensible price ?

 

[Dave53]

Hi, I'm currently having to use mine to charge at home. it's on a decent 10amp extension lead.
It does get just warm, as does the wall plug. Even using a wall box it's recommended to use a granny charger occasionally to balance the battery. Hopeful that helps.

Your wall box 7kW will balance the battery, when you have a wall box it makes the granny cable redundant, it is only good to keep in the boot if you have to charge at a house you are visiting and can't get to a destination charger, as for the extension lead get a good quality one, keep it straight and as short as required if you are in a reasonably new property then house wiring should be fine, if you are in an old property I would be inclined to have an electrician check out my electrics with the car plugged in, especially if you want to charge overnight for the number of hours it takes to fully charge and balance, giving you piece of mind when sleeping also they might recommend it's own socket sites to the consumer unit with protection fitted.

 

[Headgas1]

If you use an extension lead should I get an RCD plug as well????

 

[Jomarkh]

Worth getting the extra protection

 

[Lovemyev]

If you use an extension lead should I get an RCD plug as well????

Do you have RCD protection on your house wiring system ?.
If not - then yes I would certainly recommend it.
Having RCD protection on the extension lead, will also offer protection if you are charging from a supply that does NOT offer any RCD protection.

 

[Headgas1]

Yep got an RCD master plug adaptor better to be safe than sorry ??

 

[Alun26]

Has anyone used a mechanical timer to charge their car?

 

[Laurence Brown]

Granny charger

Hi do I use it or not ? Lots of posts suggest it’s dangerous plugs melting cables overheating etc…

Mine doesn’t reach the socket can I use an extension lead again lots say no and yes.

Does anyone out there use it regularly after all it comes with the car !!

I can’t see the the advantage of paying at least £600 for the 7kw socket to just charge the car a bit faster unless you tell me different I could run the car for a year using public chargers for £600

Any thoughts on the subject would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance ????

Hiya, We have happily be using the Granny charger on the socket in our garage for two weeks, since we bought the car. I too also bought an extension lead from Tough Leads It is a thicker cable and a waterproof socket, I bought the 15m one. £50. The plastic socket in the garage was getting warm, and was probably 20 years old, so I changed it for a new metal socket, from B&Q. That doesn't warm up, even if left on all night, and the charging unit does switch itself off if the system is fully charged, or at least as charged as it can be. Not unusual after an all night charge to see 165 charge in the morning. However, I did invest, in the Ohme, and that is being installed tomorrow morning. Yes, it was £575 outlay, but I see it as a long term investment. Hey.... a 7 year warranty on the ZS right?

 

[Laurence Brown]

I purchased my MG EV November 2019 and have only ever charged with the Granny Charger plugged into a good quality extension lead. The plug on the Granny Charger is crap and overheated, chopped it off and fitted a good quality MK plug, problem solved! I often leave the car charging for six hours and never a problem.

That's interesting - that doesn't happen on our Granny charger - the plug doesn't get warm overnight. Does the socket itself heat up?

 

[Laurence Brown]

I purchased my MG EV November 2019 and have only ever charged with the Granny Charger plugged into a good quality extension lead. The plug on the Granny Charger is crap and overheated, chopped it off and fitted a good quality MK plug, problem solved! I often leave the car charging for six hours and never a problem.

How are the electricity bills? We haven't had our first month one yet... and we just swapped over to Octopus Agile.

 

[Headgas1]

Just did my maiden charge with the granny & extension lead went for this one from screw fix it was on for about 7hrs including the equalisation process and there was no sign of hot plugs or sockets so I am really pleased with it ??

PRO XT 13A 1-Gang Unswitched Extension Lead 10m (4097X)​

 

[Dodger]

That's interesting - that doesn't happen on our Granny charger - the plug doesn't get warm overnight. Does the socket itself heat up?

No heat anywhere after changing plug.

 

[Dodger]

How are the electricity bills? We haven't had our first month one yet... and we just swapped over to Octopus Agile.

6 hour charge = 15kWh @ 16p per kWh, £2.40

 

[Jto]

How are the electricity bills? We haven't had our first month one yet... and we just swapped over to Octopus Agile.

That going to cost you a lot, move to the other tariff Go faster you can pick the time on low cost I think.

 

[AnonymouseDriva]

Has anyone used a mechanical timer to charge their car?

Just make sure it's 13A rated, and check it doesn't get too warm on the first go...

Personally, I use the IKEA TAADFRI switch whilst I'm still on the Granny (hypervolt installation next week) as I have their hub and smart lights. THat works a treat, is rated well above the 10A of the charger and doesn't get warm. The plug on the extension gets warmer. I would probably think twice about using that for our 3Kw immersion heater though and maybe go for the Hive plug (triple the cost but higher rated)

 

[Gomev]

How are the electricity bills? We haven't had our first month one yet... and we just swapped over to Octopus Agile.

Wow at todays prices that's going to cost a fortune. See Miles' comments in the video from about 3m30s in

 

[symcbean]

Hi I'm currently having to use mine to charge at home. Its on a descent 10amp extension lead.
It does get just warm, as does the wall plug.. Even using a wall box it's recommended to use granny charger occasionally to balance the battery. Hopeful that helps.

A 3kW charger will draw up to 13 Amps. Using a 10 Amp cable is dangerous.

 

[Jomarkh]

A granny charger pulls about 2.2kW if the extension lead is 10A then that is the fuse rating i would imagine the cable is above that. Any issues and the 10A fuse would blow