Charging MG5 EV with 3-pin charger only over pavement, my experienced in a terraced property in London

Andytizer

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I hope it is okay for me to post a video I made about my experiences charging using the granny-lead only on my MG5. This forum has been immensely helpful in suggesting new products to use to make charging safer for owners as well as pedestrians when running charge cables over the pavement.

 
Hi, I like this video and great to see you using an RCD block. I did notice it was a multi EU type and these do not have a fuse in the plug top. How did it cope with the heat as I find these don't have very good pin springs?
 
I did notice it was a multi EU type and these do not have a fuse in the plug top. How did it cope with the heat as I find these don't have very good pin springs?
Thanks! I'm not sure what you mean, are you saying the RCD is a multi-EU type that has no fuse? It doesn't look like it has a replaceable fuse however I assume that there is something that has a 'fuse' in the main plastic part with the buttons? Should I get one with a fuse built into the plug? I choase the 'Oaonan' one because it was easier to fit into the outdoor plug I have.

Heat seems to be fine, I'm not sure how to measure this.
 
Ideally a fuse in the plug is best. I have seen a few non UK units not having plug fuses.
The heat thing again was just to keep an eye on as multi sockets can feel a bit loose and if they don't make good contact can get too warm and scorch.
The extension lead is the same as I was looking to get?
 

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I have the same Masterplug 15m cable and it works well although granny charger plug is a bit tight. Do make sure that the cable is always completely unwound when in use for charging as it could get hot and burn out.
I think the RCD should be at the house socket end of the cable so if it is tripped the whole set up is dead otherwise you still have a live cable on the pavement.
 
I hope it is okay for me to post a video I made about my experiences charging using the granny-lead only on my MG5. This forum has been immensely helpful in suggesting new products to use to make charging safer for owners as well as pedestrians when running charge cables over the pavement.


Good video, it makes me appreciate my driveway even more. After about 2k miles and a few months ownership I think I've not used a public charger yet except the free pod point at tesco's. I will next week though with a trip to the lakes using a geniepoint :-/

Glad to see you're enjoying the car. I have a wallbox pulsar plus and had to have it replaced due to a fault, apart from that my EV experience has been positive and the car itself great.
 
The masterplug extension lead seems to be out of stock wherever I looked, although I managed to get a similar extension lead from Morrisons - 15m orange cable, rated 13 amps with an IP54 rated plug.

However this one fits nicely around the thick lead of the granny charger cable from the ZS EV without having to modify it in any way (not sure if the ZS cable is thinner than the 5's)

It's not shown on their website but it was down the electrical aisle by the light bulbs, etc. Plus it was only £15
 
The masterplug extension lead seems to be out of stock wherever I looked, although I managed to get a similar extension lead from Morrisons - 15m orange cable, rated 13 amps with an IP54 rated plug.

However this one fits nicely around the thick lead of the granny charger cable from the ZS EV without having to modify it in any way (not sure if the ZS cable is thinner than the 5's)

It's not shown on their website but it was down the electrical aisle by the light bulbs, etc. Plus it was only £15
Can you take a picture of the package etc. Thanks
 
I got rid of the packaging which was just a papery/plasticy wrap saying "Morrisons ..... blah blah blah .... extension lead", standard Morrisons own brand with black text on white/grey background.

Here are some photos of the cable itself, only main difference I could see with the Masterplug one is the colour of the plastic clip to close the cover on this one is orange as opposed to green.

This fits the ZS EV cable fine, like I said though I haven't tried it with the cable from the 5 as my collection of MG cars is currently limited to one model.
 

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The key perspective about cross-pavement charging is that, as far as I have been able to determine, there is no law against placing a cable across a pavement. The Highways Act is often cited (Roads Act in Scotland) but the legislation is cited selectively. The text does say that you cannot place a cable (or rope or similar) across a pavement. But it goes on to qualify the statement … UNLESS potential risks are assessed & mitigated, and users of the pavement are given warning.

In fact, pavements are not mentioned - the legislation refers to "a road" (but "road" can be defined as including an associated footpath).

The main argument put forward by authorities is that of trip hazard. They suggest that ANYTHING placed on a pavement is a hazard, even if a cable protector/guard/ramp is used. Yet other regulations define protective measures which must be put in place when excavations take place on a road/pavement (New Roads & Street Works Act). Think of those yellow plates which cover works in progress. If a low-profile cable protector is a trip hazard, so are excavation plates. Conversely, if excavation plates are not trip hazards, neither are low-profile cable protectors.

On the positive side, if an authority objects to an obstruction, they cannot just remove it or impose a penalty - they must give the "offender" notice to remove it, and the period of notice is not less than one month. So, unless you leave your charge cable across a pavement for an extended period, the notice is probably irrelevant.

IMHO, if you charge across a pavement overnight (when, in general, reduced rate EV tariffs apply), putting out a cable after most people are home and bringing it in before they venture out in the morning, it's hard to imagine a local authority officer coming along and taking action.

The key is not to just drape a cable over the pavement. Be responsible. Spend a few pounds on a proper cable protector and make sure any passing pedestrians can see it (including during the hours of darkness).
 
The key perspective about cross-pavement charging is that, as far as I have been able to determine, there is no law against placing a cable across a pavement. The Highways Act is often cited (Roads Act in Scotland) but the legislation is cited selectively. The text does say that you cannot place a cable (or rope or similar) across a pavement. But it goes on to qualify the statement … UNLESS potential risks are assessed & mitigated, and users of the pavement are given warning.

In fact, pavements are not mentioned - the legislation refers to "a road" (but "road" can be defined as including an associated footpath).

The main argument put forward by authorities is that of trip hazard. They suggest that ANYTHING placed on a pavement is a hazard, even if a cable protector/guard/ramp is used. Yet other regulations define protective measures which must be put in place when excavations take place on a road/pavement (New Roads & Street Works Act). Think of those yellow plates which cover works in progress. If a low-profile cable protector is a trip hazard, so are excavation plates. Conversely, if excavation plates are not trip hazards, neither are low-profile cable protectors.

On the positive side, if an authority objects to an obstruction, they cannot just remove it or impose a penalty - they must give the "offender" notice to remove it, and the period of notice is not less than one month. So, unless you leave your charge cable across a pavement for an extended period, the notice is probably irrelevant.

IMHO, if you charge across a pavement overnight (when, in general, reduced rate EV tariffs apply), putting out a cable after most people are home and bringing it in before they venture out in the morning, it's hard to imagine a local authority officer coming along and taking action.

The key is not to just drape a cable over the pavement. Be responsible. Spend a few pounds on a proper cable protector and make sure any passing pedestrians can see it (including during the hours of darkness).


HOLY THREAD RESURRECTION BATMAN!
 
What about these Kerbo/Gul-e things?
They're a great idea - but almost all local authorities continue to be obstructive, with many saying they still present a trip hazard. I think that part of the problem is that, while some authorities say it's illegal (black & white), others say it can be done if, as the legislation says, it's done safely.

With this disparity, it needs someone - ideally central government - to say definitively whether it is, or is not, illegal. And it has to be done in a way that compels authorities to toe the line.

Clearly, if we are to achieve EV usage as the norm, we have to allow people without off-road parking ways to charge. I simply cannot understand why authorities are, at best, ignoring the challenge and, more generally, won't engage with it. Some say the root of the problem is that authorities worry that , by allowing cross-pavement charging, they would be liable for any incidents. Under the legislation, that seems to be nonsense; it's the user of the cable who is liable. Whatever the underlying logic, it seems to be easiest to just have a blanket policy of 'you can't do that'.
 
Recently joined the forum and the post popped up in my feed. Yes, 2021 is a while ago but it’s a topic about which I'm quite passionate & frustrated.

Hey! Welcome!

I wasn't having a go, in fact I was delighted that you had bothered to do a search before posting.

I see that's not what happened but I digress....

I used to park my 330e at work and run a cable out of the foyer to my car outside.

There was a perfect gap in the pavement that the cable would drop down into causing zero hazard to anyone walking by.

I only did this on a Sunday as no one else was at work, and got away with it for quite a while!

In your situation I would definitely go ahead and do it anyway, using the lowest profile cable protector I could buy.
 
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A neighbour has a Transit van EV. She also has a 7kW EVSE but their car is usually on the drive so the van is at the bottom (on the road/pavement). When she's charging the (non-tethered) lead is plugged in at either end and the cable is run through one of those hi-vis cable protectors. I don't think anyone has complained about it.
 
Hey

Hey! Welcome!

I wasn't having a go, in fact I was delighted that you had bothered to do a search before posting.

I see that's not what happened but I digress....

I used to park my 330e at work and run a cable out of the foyer to my car outside.

There was a perfect gap in the pavement that the cable would drop down into causing zero hazard to anyone walking by.

I only did this on a Sunday as no one else was at work, and got away with it for quite a while!

In your situation I would definitely go ahead and do it anyway, using the lowest profile cable protector I could buy.
No offence taken - I smiled at your comment!

A natural channel sounds ideal.

I got my MG5 Facelift about six weeks ago, having bought a cheap Leaf last July to dip my toe in the water & see if EV life matched my needs over the winter. Everything went fine, so goodbye petrol car, hello "proper" EV. I only charge overnight and I'm pretty sure none of my neighbours will be aware of it.
 
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