New MG4 owner... any tips?!

[NewbieDoo]

Hi all!

Just about to take delivery of my MG4 Trophy LR (73 plate). I'm new to MG's AND new to EV's... so please be gentle with me.

I dont have a home charger installed so will be granny charging and using public chargers for the most part.

I've downloaded Electroverse (Im an Octopus energy customer) and I've also downloaded ZapMap.

Any tips, tricks, hints or info would be greatly accepted ?

 

[Jomarkh]

Welcome to the forum.

You seem to have the best app but make sure you get the RFID card from Electroverse.

If you are going to Granny charge then make sure you use a new quality external socket and check regularly for heat from the plug top. If the socket is just for EV use then it should have extra protection on it.

 

[CharlesCarmichael]

Welcome to the forum, and your new EV.

I'm new to this as well but there's lots of info and helpful folk on this forum.

Live free or die hard!

 

[NewbieDoo]

Welcome to the forum.

You seem to have the best app but make sure you get the RFID card from Electroverse.

If you are going to Granny charge then make sure you use a new quality external socket and check regularly for heat from the plug top. If the socket is just for EV use then it should have extra protection on it.

Thanks for the advice.

I had planned to use the socket in the garage (right by the driveway) for charging and use a surge protector of some description, although not sure that would do much is the plug/socket overheat. It's not a new socket by any stretch if the imagination, though.

I have ordered my RFID card, so should be good to go when it arrives!

Welcome to the forum, and your new EV.

I'm new to this as well but there's lots of info and helpful folk on this forum.

Live free or die hard!

Many thanks, and welcome to you too!

Live free and die hard, indeed! ?

 

[N80SSM]

Welcome, out of interest if you have a garage why don't you get a home charger, a granny charger would be intolerable and using rapid charges extremely costly.

 

[dsimpkins]

Welcome. If using a socket in the garage and charging on the driveway, then I assume you'd need an extension lead for the granny charger. If so, make sure you have one rated for granny charging. Normal extension leads will heat up and melt under the constant 10amp load. Cable needs to have wires with 1.5 sq.mm inner diameter minimum. There's a post on here if you use the search function about suitable extension leads. They aren't particulary expensive. I have one myself.

If using rapid chargers, then check if there are any "open to all EVs" Tesla superchargers nearby. They are by far the cheapest way to rapid charge I have found.

 

[NewbieDoo]

Welcome, out of interest if you have a garage why don't you get a home charger, a granny charger would be intolerable and using rapid charges extremely costly.

Thanks!

I will get one eventually, however from what I've seen so far, they're between £800 - £1000 to have installed. I just can't warrant shelling out that sort of cash right now! (Its a busy time of year for our family with birthdays etc & Christmas round the corner)

 

[salty]

Got my MG4 on Saturday, and my first EV.
I'm granny charging it tonight for the first time. Loving it so far. Congrats on getting yours. ?

 

[NewbieDoo]

Welcome. If using a socket in the garage and charging on the driveway, then I assume you'd need an extension lead for the granny charger. If so, make sure you have one rated for granny charging. Normal extension leads will heat up and melt under the constant 10amp load. Cable needs to have wires with 1.5sq.mm inner diameter minimum. There's apost on here if you use the search function about suitable extension leads. They aren't particulary expensive. I have one myself.

If using rapid chargers, then check if there are any "open to all EVs" Tesla superchargers nearby. They are by far the cheapest way to rapid charge I have found.

That's great advice, thanks. I'll have a search and get one!

Much obliged.

 

[N80SSM]

Thanks!

I will get one eventually, however from what I've seen so far, they're between £800 - £1000 to have installed. I just can't warrant shelling out that sort of cash right now! (Its a busy time of year for our family with birthdays etc & Christmas round the corner)

Yeah it's a bit of an outlay but the sooner you get one the sooner you start saving. They're much cheaper now and plenty of used ones available now or new ones on 0% ?

 

[NewbieDoo]

View attachment 30395
Got my MG4 on Saturday, and my first EV.
I'm granny charging it tonight for the first time. Loving it so far. Congrats on getting yours. ?

Thanks! And congrats to you too! ? Keep me posted with how you get on!

Out of interest, are you plugging straight into the wall or using an extension?

 

[salty]

Thanks! And congrats to you too! ? Keep me posted with how you get on!

Out of interest, are you plugging straight into the wall or using an extension?

Straight in. I tried with a extension first, as the granny charger wouldn't reach the socket which is in the hall and it wouldn't charge. So I had to back the car right up to the front door and it reached, it's charging nicely now.
It was on 19% and 35 miles when I started charging it. It will be charging for about 9 hours, interested to see what it puts in. ? ?

 

[NewbieDoo]

Straight in. I tried with a extension first, as the granny charger wouldn't reach the socket which is in the hall and it wouldn't charge. So I had to back the car right up to the front door and it reached, it's charging nicely now.
It was on 19% and 35 miles when I started charging it. It will be charging for about 9 hours, interested to see what it puts in. ? ?

Ah, awesome! Well, good luck. I'll touch back tomorrow to see how you got on!! ?

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Welcome to the club! No doubt you are going to enjoy your new purchase, and are going to have many questions to its design quirks and operations. Cast your eyes to the top right corner and try the search box, no matter what your query you will most likely find the answer lurking in here. We hope you don't have one but new problems and brainteasers are always welcome and will be thoroughly dissected whereas MG might say " they are all like that ,sir " again welcome to the borg!

 

[salty]

Welcome to the club! No doubt you are going to enjoy your new purchase, and are going to have many questions to its design quirks and operations. Cast your eyes to the top right corner and try the search box, no matter what your query you will most likely find the answer lurking in here. We hope you don't have one but new problems and brainteasers are always welcome and will be thoroughly dissected whereas MG might say " they are all like that ,sir " again welcome to the borg!

Yep, resistance is futile! ??

 

[DixieTGS]

I had planned to use the socket in the garage (right by the driveway) for charging and use a surge protector of some description

The unwanted heat is mostly around the contacts, so every extra bit you plug in will generate some extra heat (and lose a little bit of charging speed). It may be worth finding out a if surge protector is a useful addition or not.

I will get one eventually, however from what I've seen so far, they're between £800 - £1000 to have installed.

They are definitely useful if you come in from long journey in the evening and leave on a long journey the next morning as it should totally fill the battery overnight. Also if you regularly do larger fills and have a cheap overnight tariff you can get bigger savings.

If the above doesn't apply, then a granny is a perfectly reasonable choice for many of us.

I tried with a extension first, as the granny charger wouldn't reach the socket which is in the hall and it wouldn't charge.

The extension lead probably can't be detected by the charger in the car or granny charger so shouldn't not be a problem. I would try a different 13A extension and maybe a different socket.

Also with any extension, always make sure it is fully uncoiled before use.

It was on 19% and 35 miles when I started charging it. It will be charging for about 9 hours, interested to see what it puts in.

As a very rough rule of thumb on the LR I use 3% an hour to estimate how much charge I can get in in a given time.

 

[siteguru]

Yeah it's a bit of an outlay but the sooner you get one the sooner you start saving. They're much cheaper now and plenty of used ones available now or new ones on 0% ?

This only applies if you are willing to time-shift other heavy electricity usage (washing machine, dishwasher etc.) and go onto a day/night tariff (e.g. Octopus Go) ... if you're not willing to do so then you can simply charge your car as an when you like. (A 7kW wall box is relevant to make best use of the cheap rate time slots of such tariffs).

 

[Bigmac2020]

Thanks!

I will get one eventually, however from what I've seen so far, they're between £800 - £1000 to have installed. I just can't warrant shelling out that sort of cash right now! (Its a busy time of year for our family with birthdays etc & Christmas round the corner)

I have just had a cord one home charger fitted yesterday. It has a 7m tethered cable and cost £929, but with £25 quidco cashback it will be £904. Some ev installers are charging £999 for the same thing. Appreciate it’s a lot to outlay but as others have said it’s worthwhile in the long run.

Sadly I have to wait until 27th September to pick up my Trophy LR.

 

[Grriff]

You may find my guide useful MG4 Trophy - a Guide

 

[Buster72]

The only tip I can offer is to get onto an EV tariff with your energy supplier. I have only ever charged at home and pay about 7p per kWh from 12 to 5am.