Help as a new MGZSEV owner Im experimenting with home charging yet currently failing.

[Richie]

Hello, I have tried using the home charger supplied as standard with the MG ZS, but as no home socket is in reach of the chargers cable I hvae been using an extension lead. The 13 amp fuse on the lead has blown on two different charging days so making overnight charging no longer a reliable option.
I am exploring having a wall mounted charging point fitted but for now have two questions :
What is occuring regarding the lead ?
and
Which, from an owners point of view, is the best home charge to buy.
Thanks.

Hi Tom
I will not mention extension leads as there has been enough suggestions for you on this thread. But regarding the which charger, again lots of users with their own ideas but for me after looking around/reviews etc I went for the EO Mini Pro 2. Nice and small very discreet, choice of colours, Tethered or untethered (I went for the former as looks much neater), works very well and timed charging is no problem from the mobile app.
I did have a problem at first as where it is fitted the wifi was a bit too weak for the App to keep connected, but a TP-Link wifi extender/amplifier (bought used off eBay £7.50) soon fixed it. Thomas in EO customer support was also excellent. I got the EO from JBS Electrics at a good price and fitted by Billy within a week. Not sure but JBS maybe a bit far away for you use but a brilliant service. www.jbselectrics.co.uk

 

[Tom Hartley]

Thank you all for your contributions regarding the blown fuse issue, I will upgrade the extension lead until I get a deicated home charger and thank you Richie regarding the charger.

 

[Lovemyev]

This is the one I use. Waterproof and unwound is easily able to handle the current put through it from the granny charger.

Just had a quick look for the spec’s for this reel extension, can’t see any mention of the cross section of the wire used on this product.
Only this brief description :-

Eveready Outdoor Extension Lead.
“Ideal for use with DIY tools or garden equipment, this Outdoor Extension Lead from Eveready can be used in damp or wet conditions”.

Probably not really intended for pulling the constant load over a long time period that a “Granny” can be requested for.

Please don’t think I am not criticising your choice, truly I am not.
But a lot of these “Drum” extensions leads are not designed for heavy load consumption.
Just compare the dia of the cable coming from the three pin plug on your “Granny” to the wire on this reel.
Be safe !.

 

[Chrispydoc]

Extension leads are fine, as long as they are up to job and not some cheap old thing you have laying about in your garage.

I too favour a waterproof one. The granny chargers are certainly ok to use outside....even in the rain, as long as the socket /plug is waterproof.

 

[Kithmo]

This is the one I got, rated at 13A and IP54 (splash proof).
13A extension

 

[SCB86]

Just had a quick look for the spec’s for this reel extension, can’t see any mention of the cross section of the wire used on this product.
Only this brief description :-

Eveready Outdoor Extension Lead.
“Ideal for use with DIY tools or garden equipment, this Outdoor Extension Lead from Eveready can be used in damp or wet conditions”.

Probably not really intended for pulling the constant load over a long time period that a “Granny” can be requested for.

Please don’t think I am not criticising your choice, truly I am not.
But a lot of these “Drum” extensions leads are not designed for heavy load consumption.
Just compare the dia of the cable coming from the three pin plug on your “Granny” to the wire on this reel.
Be safe !.

The granny only puts 2.3KW through the cable which means any extension should be fine as long as it's wound out.

 

[Chrispydoc]

Here is an interesting film I remember from my PHEV days.....

 

[Lovemyev]

The granny only puts 2.3KW through the cable which means any extension should be fine as long as it's wound out.

ONLY - 2.3KW.
That is like constantly powering two bars of an "Old School" electric fire, running through a 13 Amp three pin plug ( which will get hot ) on a wall socket supplied with a 2.5mm T&E cable (s).
The "Granny" will be a constant drain to achieve about 8 - 10 miles of added range per hour, this IS going to produce heat on a lengthy charge cycle.
The cross section of some of these cable reels are only 0.75mm.
Even uncoiled, that is WAY to small for this purpose.
Please check what size is printed along the external wall of the flex, on your reel @SCB86 .
If it's 1.5mm that is okay (ish) - Any less and I would NOT use it for this purpose.
2.5mm cable would be great, but I doubt it will be that somehow.
The cable can not be too big in cross section, only too small !.
This is why I decided to produce my own extension cable for emergency use only.
I purchased a length of good quality round 2.5mm three core cable, a weather proof IP65 rated single socket outlet, a cable gland and the best quality three pin plug I could lay my hands on at the time.
I think the bits cost me about £25 and about 30 mins of my time to assemble.
Last summer on a trip to Harlech in Wales ( nice place, poor charging facilities ) I got the chance to try it out, when we paid a visit to friends staying there.
The car was on charge for just over 1 hour and when I unplugged it from the wall outlet, the three pin plug was WARM to the touch on the live ( fuse side ) of the plug.
No heat at the cable entry point our any where else on the extension cable etc.
The plug fitted to the "Granny" unit, that was plugged into the weather proof box, was completely cold to the touch.
Terminating a round 2.5mm cable into a 13 Amp three pin plug can be a bit of a struggle, but is just about achievable.
This may feel like a sledge hammer to crack a nut, but better safe than sorry.
I waited almost seven months for my car, I would like to hang onto it for a little while !.

 

[Lambo51]

My extension is a cross Section of 1.25mm . I installed my own socket on its own circuit not far from Rcd consumer unit so I’m confident it will be ok but a constant 10A is definitely not to be trifled with. Keep inspecting plug/socket and if you find burn marks on socket then go for a more heavy duty 2.5mm type

 

[SCB86]

ONLY - 2.3KW.
That is like constantly powering two bars of an "Old School" electric fire, running through a 13 Amp three pin plug ( which will get hot ) on a wall socket supplied with a 2.5mm T&E cable (s).
The "Granny" will be a constant drain to achieve about 8 - 10 miles of added range per hour, this IS going to produce heat on a lengthy charge cycle.
The cross section of some of these cable reels are only 0.75mm.
Even uncoiled, that is WAY to small for this purpose.
Please check what size is printed along the external wall of the flex, on your reel @SCB86 .
If it's 1.5mm that is okay (ish) - Any less and I would NOT use it for this purpose.
2.5mm cable would be great, but I doubt it will be that somehow.
The cable can not be too big in cross section, only too small !.
This is why I decided to produce my own extension cable for emergency use only.
I purchased a length of good quality round 2.5mm three core cable, a weather proof IP65 rated single socket outlet, a cable gland and the best quality three pin plug I could lay my hands on at the time.
I think the bits cost me about £25 and about 30 mins of my time to assemble.
Last summer on a trip to Harlech in Wales ( nice place, poor charging facilities ) I got the chance to try it out, when we paid a visit to friends staying there.
The car was on charge for just over 1 hour and when I unplugged it from the wall outlet, the three pin plug was WARM to the touch on the live ( fuse side ) of the plug.
No heat at the cable entry point our any where else on the extension cable etc.
The plug fitted to the "Granny" unit, that was plugged into the weather proof box, was completely cold to the touch.
Terminating a round 2.5mm cable into a 13 Amp three pin plug can be a bit of a struggle, but is just about achievable.
This may feel like a sledge hammer to crack a nut, but better safe than sorry.
I waited almost seven months for my car, I would like to hang onto it for a little while !.

I am well aware of what my cable is capable of. Irrespective of whether you think 2.3KW is high or not, the cable is rated for higher and therefore perfectly safe to run 2.3KW indefinitely.

 

[Lovemyev]

My extension is a cross Section of 1.25mm . I installed my own socket on its own circuit not far from Rcd consumer unit so I’m confident it will be ok but a constant 10A is definitely not to be trifled with. Keep inspecting plug/socket and if you find burn marks on socket then go for a more heavy duty 2.5mm type

Hi @Alambros .
You may find this interesting piece written by the "Tough Lead's" team who specialise in producing leads for electric car use.
Taken from their Q&A page :-

Can I use an extension lead with my 13A 'Granny' charger?

Electric vehicles are supplied with a charger fitted with a standard 13A plug, often known as a 'Granny' charger. They are designed to charge the vehicle when access to a charging point is not possible.

The issue often encountered is that the lead is not long enough to reach the nearest socket, leading to owners using an extension lead. The question of whether an extension lead should be used, and if so which type is best, is probably one of the most hotly debated issues on on-line forums! In addition, some manufacturers recommend that extension leads are not used to charge electric vehicles. This is likely to be because most extension leads available online and in DIY stores are:

• Manufactured from cable which is not sufficiently large in diameter (normally 1mm2 or 1.25mm2) to handle the relatively high sustained 10-13A current required.
• Most are rather long. Think of a cable like a water pipe. If you want high pressure at the end of your 10m garden, you’re not going to achieve it if you use a hosepipe the size of a drinking straw! The longer the distance, the larger diameter you need to sustain the same flow.
• Almost always made from PVC or blue ‘arctic’ flex. Despite frequent claims that artic cable is ‘heavy duty’, it is far from it. It is prone to mechanical and UV damage and is not recommended for use outdoors or below 5°C.
• Why are Tough Leads different to DIY store extension leads?
  
  All of our extension leads are carefully constructed in our workshop from the highest quality and most robust cable and plug/sockets available. The H07RN-F rubber cable is specifically manufactured for harsh environments and its safety and performance under extreme conditions simply cannot be beaten. When combined with heavy duty plugs and sockets, our leads will withstand tough daily use for considerably longer than any other type. H07RN-F rubber cable is perfect for EV charging applications:
  
  • We only use 1.5mmsq cable, which is suitable for sustained high current applications. As the cable itself is rated at 15 amps, it can easily handle a full 13 amp load, even over longer lengths.

 

[Gomev]

Note also that if you have active powerline plugs on the circuit this causes problems.

 

[Kithmo]

Hi @Alambros .
You may find this interesting piece written by the "Tough Lead's" team who specialise in producing leads for electric car use.
Taken from their Q&A page :-

Can I use an extension lead with my 13A 'Granny' charger?

Electric vehicles are supplied with a charger fitted with a standard 13A plug, often known as a 'Granny' charger. They are designed to charge the vehicle when access to a charging point is not possible.

The issue often encountered is that the lead is not long enough to reach the nearest socket, leading to owners using an extension lead. The question of whether an extension lead should be used, and if so which type is best, is probably one of the most hotly debated issues on on-line forums! In addition, some manufacturers recommend that extension leads are not used to charge electric vehicles. This is likely to be because most extension leads available online and in DIY stores are:

• Manufactured from cable which is not sufficiently large in diameter (normally 1mm2 or 1.25mm2) to handle the relatively high sustained 10-13A current required.
• Most are rather long. Think of a cable like a water pipe. If you want high pressure at the end of your 10m garden, you’re not going to achieve it if you use a hosepipe the size of a drinking straw! The longer the distance, the larger diameter you need to sustain the same flow.
• Almost always made from PVC or blue ‘arctic’ flex. Despite frequent claims that artic cable is ‘heavy duty’, it is far from it. It is prone to mechanical and UV damage and is not recommended for use outdoors or below 5°C.
• Why are Tough Leads different to DIY store extension leads?
  
  All of our extension leads are carefully constructed in our workshop from the highest quality and most robust cable and plug/sockets available. The H07RN-F rubber cable is specifically manufactured for harsh environments and its safety and performance under extreme conditions simply cannot be beaten. When combined with heavy duty plugs and sockets, our leads will withstand tough daily use for considerably longer than any other type. H07RN-F rubber cable is perfect for EV charging applications:
  • We only use 1.5mmsq cable, which is suitable for sustained high current applications. As the cable itself is rated at 15 amps, it can easily handle a full 13 amp load, even over longer lengths.

A good sales pitch, but they're obviously not going to say their leads are rubbish are they ?

 

[Lovemyev]

A good sales pitch, but they're obviously not going to say their leads are rubbish are they ?

This is very true of course !.
But it does highlight the fact that a cable with a cross section dia of less than 1.5mm is clearly not advisable.
They do "Boo Hoo" the idea of having to use a 2.5mm cable given the load requirements.
The heavier 2.5mm cable is a lot more expensive ( which increases the costs ) and they argue is hard to terminate on a standard three pin plug.
All good points, but I am sticking with my own 2.5mm cable thank you very much !.