Charging Cable for MG4 LR

[mymg4]

Hi Folks
I am currently just using the home charge cable(3 pin plug) so for trips I need to get a suitable cable, there are a lot on the market.
Any advice on what to buy or avoid?.Any advice most appreciated.

Best Wishes Dan Gardner

 

[Muffler]

Type 2 cable (type 2 male plug for charger end and type 2 female plug for car end) is the norm in the UK. I have a single phase 32A x 7.5m that is long enough for most eventualities without being too cumbersome...
[Was a type 2 to type 1 from when I had a Mitusubishi Outlander PHEV, but i changed the car end to a type 2 plug, to save buyng the complete lead again.]
Worth noting that a 3-phase cable can be used with single phase charger, so if you want to future proof for 22kW AC supply, thats the way to go - although is a far heavier cable!

 

[Ian Key]

Hi Folks
I am currently just using the home charge cable(3 pin plug) so for trips I need to get a suitable cable, there are a lot on the market.
Any advice on what to buy or avoid?.Any advice most appreciated.

Best Wishes Dan Gardner

Hi Dan and welcome to the group.

Perhaps one of the Australian members can answer your question as they will know what's available where you are.

 

[mymg4]

Type 2 cable (type 2 male plug for charger end and type 2 female plug for car end) is the norm in the UK. I have a single phase 32A x 7.5m that is long enough for most eventualities without being too cumbersome...
[Was a type 2 to type 1 from when I had a Mitusubishi Outlander PHEV, but i changed the car end to a type 2 plug, to save buyng the complete lead again.]
Worth noting that a 3-phase cable can be used with single phase charger, so if you want to future proof for 22kW AC supply, thats the way to go - although is a far heavier cable!

Thanks for the info,I will check out the three phase cables.

Hi Dan and welcome to the group.

Perhaps one of the Australian members can answer your question as they will know what's available where you are.

Thanks Ian

 

[DixieTGS]

AC charging is a bit of a mine field because of all the combinations of the car, cable and charger types. If you are going for a 3 phase cable then you probably want to make sure it is 32A and not 16A otherwise you could end up with little more than granny charger speeds when plugged in to a single phase supply.

The LR in the UK are all single phase for newer cars so only need a 32A single phase cable, but some older ones were 3 phase. I expect you will get a definitive answer from a local shortly.

There are many threads on this subject such as this one which could be worth browsing in the meantime:

Charger Rip Off

Can you use any Tesla charger or only the open ones? I'm pretty lucky I have an open one, 350KWH, near me (Mour Hotel, Annesley), cheap as chips compared to other super chargers. You can use anywhere shown in the app. ?

www.mgevs.com

 

[haloweenhamster]

AC charging is a bit of a mine field because of all the combinations of the car, cable and charger types. If you are going for a 3 phase cable then you probably want to make sure it is 32A and not 16A otherwise you could end up with little more than granny charger speeds when plugged in to a single phase supply.

The LR in the UK are all single phase for newer cars so only need a 32A single phase cable, but some older ones were 3 phase. I expect you will get a definitive answer from a local shortly.

There are many threads on this subject such as this one which could be worth browsing in the meantime:

Charger Rip Off

Can you use any Tesla charger or only the open ones? I'm pretty lucky I have an open one, 350KWH, near me (Mour Hotel, Annesley), cheap as chips compared to other super chargers. You can use anywhere shown in the app. ?

www.mgevs.com

Depends on if the car supports 3 phase, 3 phase 16A is 11kW, single phase 32A is 7.3kW

 

[DixieTGS]

The non obvious bit to me was that an 3 phase 11kW cable on a single phase 7kW car or charger limits you to just over 3kW.

When it's pointed out that an 11kW cable is only 16A (3.5 kW) per phase, it all makes sense.

 

[haloweenhamster]

The non obvious bit to me was that an 3 phase 11kW cable on a single phase 7kW car or charger limits you to just over 3kW.

When it's pointed out that an 11kW cable is only 16A (3.5 kW) per phase, it all makes sense.

Not all MG4's are single phase, UK 23> are but 22 aren't, could say what international variants are

What could confuse people even more is 3 phase 16A is normally referred to as 6.4kW 400v 16A

 

[Coulomb]

What could confuse people even more is 3 phase 16A is normally referred to as 6.4kW 400v 16A

I'll agree that usually 3-phase voltage is given as the phase to phase voltage, in this case 400 V. But the formula for 3-phase power is sqrt(3) x V x I (where V is the phase to phase voltage and I is the line current), which comes to 11 kW as expected.

 

[stevegus]

Check what charger your car has internally. If it's the 7kW version there is no point getting the heavier 3 phase cable as the car wont support it.

 

[mymg4]

Thanks for all your advice, I will have do do some research on what the vehicle can take, luckily talking to the forum saved me from buying the wrong cable. Many Thanks Dan

 

[Tight Git]

Thanks for all your advice, I will have do do some research on what the vehicle can take, luckily talking to the forum saved me from buying the wrong cable. Many Thanks Dan

Quick way is to look in the socket in the car - 7kW ones are missing pins in 2 of the holes (not sure of this top of my head which ones but the info is here on a thread somewhere!).

Don't rely on handbook or sales literature - the only definite way is checking the pins.

 

[siteguru]

All cars will have a pin in the L1 slot. Cars which (should) support 3-phase charging will also have pins in the L2 and L3 slots.

 

[Ian C]

I acquired a 32 amp 10 metre single phase Type 2 cable in excellent condition on ebay for £55.00.
Very happy with it

 

[Mchooligan]

Hi Folks
I am currently just using the home charge cable(3 pin plug) so for trips I need to get a suitable cable, there are a lot on the market.
Any advice on what to buy or avoid?.Any advice most appreciated.

Best Wishes Dan Gardner

 

[Mchooligan]

Can recommend these guys - they know their stuff.

 

[decrep]

Hi Dan, we're just South of you in Mandurah. I bought a cable online, it's a de. Looked something like this.

https://www.amazon.com.au/d%C3%A9-Charging-3-Phase-Portable-Charger/dp/B0D924Z44K?th=1

But I've only used it once at the free charger in Mandurah forum.
When traveling it's more convenient to use the fast DC chargers.
We are getting more of them all the time, Ampol and BP are both getting into the act, there's also the RAC and Tesla. (I haven't tried the Teslas)

Having the Chargefox, BP, Ampol and plug share apps on your phone is very handy.