UK domestic socket charging

[LukeTim]

I got my first EV (MG4 SE LR) a couple of weeks ago and I've used the granny charger a couple of times from a socket in the porch which we also use to run the lawn mower for the front lawn. Never seen it get more than 1.9kW which seems okay. About the same as running my electric oven for a few hours.

I was unsure about it until I asked around and somebody told me they had owned an EV for 2 years and never charged with anything but the granny charger. That and my wiring is fairly recent and well done as the previous owner had a flood which necessitated a complete rewiring of the house.

 

[Rolfe]

1.9 kW is what you'll get unless you deliberately reduce the charging power. That might be something to do if you're worried about a plug getting warm, but it will extend the charging time even further.

 

[gdog]

I tried granny charger for a few months but it was a bit of a pain. Fitting a 7kW wall charger just makes it so much more convenient, with the benefit of a little extra safety. Couldn't justify it financially. Each to their own I guess.

 

[Exdro]

I tried granny charger for a few months but it was a bit of a pain. Fitting a7kwh wall charger just makes it so much more convenient, with the benefit of a little extra safety. Couldn't justify it financially. Each to their own I guess

I have had to use the granny charger since February when my EO charger failed. Granny takes a long time 18-36 hours depending on starting and finishing charge. PLEASE if anyone has a failed EO charger let me know as I feel that if we raise a class action against them that they might actually respond to the myriad one star reviews they have on Trust Pilot.?

 

[Kithmo]

£49.95 at Halfords for a granny charger sounds cheap, I wouldn't trust that one, most of them are over £100 and some going over £300.

 

[GaryMG4]

£49.95 at Halfords for a granny charger sounds cheap, I wouldn't trust that one, most of them are over £100 and some going over £300.

I think that's the EV exterior socket, not an EVSE

 

[mikgle]

£49.95 at Halfords for a granny charger sounds cheap, I wouldn't trust that one, most of them are over £100 and some going over £300.

That's £49.95 for the socket, not the mode 2 charger..

I have had to use the granny charger since February when my EO charger failed. Granny takes a long time 18-36 hours depending on starting and finishing charge. PLEASE if anyone has a failed EO charger let me know as I feel that if we raise a class action against them that they might actually respond to the myriad one star reviews they have on Trust Pilot.?

Have you tried the small claims court?

 

[Exdro]

Have you tried the small claims court?

Just about to go down that route, but wondered if anyone else was in the same position. Would have a stronger case if several people had the same problem.

 

[salty]

Had, my X Power, 3 weeks today. I'm just using the Granny charger, so far no problems whatsoever. I thought getting a wall charger was a no brainer, but going off what I've read on here and other sources, now I'm not so sure. I'll see how it goes. Then decide. ??

 

[Rolfe]

I was in the same position. I thought it was a no-brainer but then decided to wait and see how it went. 13 months later I got a Zappi, but I could have carried on without one OK.

 

[decrep]

Coming into summer here, and our solar is now producing enough power to charge at 2.4kW instead of the current 1.4kW.

The vertical line is where the kettle went on, car was charging from 1115 to 1645. Green is solar export, yellow is solar use, brown is grid use

From dawn to 1100 is HWS being heated. and again from1330 to 1645


So if I had a wall box with adjustable charge rate, I could charge faster, between about 1000 to 1530.
This system was put in to control the hot water system, that only feeds power to the HWS when there is available solar. Can a wall box do the same? And will it conflict with the HWS? how do you assign priority

 

[mikgle]

Had, my X Power, 3 weeks today. I'm just using the Granny charger, so far no problems whatsoever. I thought getting a wall charger was a no brainer, but going off what I've read on hear and other sources, now I'm not so sure. I'll see how it goes. Then decide. ??

Would the Octopus intelligent Go 7p night rate not tempt you? It covers whole house use.. and often is extended on windy days, sometimes you can get 12 hours ?

 

[Rolfe]

That's part of what tempted me.

 

[salty]

Would the Octopus intelligent Go 7p night rate not tempt you? It covers whole house use.. and often is extended on windy days, sometimes you can get 12 hours ?

But I've heard, don't know if it's true. That if you go on EV overnight tariff for say 7p.
Your daytime Tarrif goes up? Is that correct? For example I'm paying 24p at the moment, so if I went to 7p overnight, would the daytime Tarrif go to 30p or more. So would that not cancel it's self out. Like I say it's only what I've heard, could be totally cobblers. Plus obviously the price of the wallbox, initially about a grand. ?

 

[CharlesCarmichael]

Trouble is you pay different prices in different parts of the country even with the same supplier. I was paying 23p per kWh in the day and 7p/kWh between 23:30 and 05:30. They have just put my normal tariff up to 25p because of the price cap increase but it's still bellow that.

Taking the car into account though which will probably be your biggest electrical drain and scheduled charging it will save you money, well it did me. A scheduled charge you never pay more than 7p per kWh even if the charging is outside of the cheap hours. We also have 2 EVs so granny charging them both would be difficult.

We also offset our dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer to the cheap times, all have delay functions so that also saves a large amount.

As to how long it will take you to get your outlay back you'll have to work that out based on your usage, if you offset, your mileage requirements etc. As I've said before I got VW to throw in a OHME charger so my outlay was minimal, I did have to get my electrician mate in to run some cables because it was outside the standard installation but that was about £300 initially total for cable and equipment.

 

[Rolfe]

My daytime tariff was also 23p and has recently gone up to 25.25p. That's with 7p off-peak.

However, I don't care what the daytime tariff is because barring accidents I'm not going to be using any peak price electricity. The trick is to get a home battery along with the charger. An extra investment, but well worth it. You charge the battery during the off-peak period then run the house from the battery during the day.

 

[mikgle]

But I've heard, don't know if it's true. That if you go on EV overnight tariff for say 7p.
Your daytime Tarrif goes up? Is that correct? For example I'm paying 24p at the moment, so if I went to 7p overnight, would the daytime Tarrif go to 30p or more. So would that not cancel it's self out. Like I say it's only what I've heard, could be totally cobblers. Plus obviously the price of the wallbox, initially about a grand. ?

Similar to Rolfe my daytime tariff just increased to 25.6p with a daily standing charge of 66p.
Everybody's situation is different but like Rolfe I hardly use any peak time power because I have a battery. In fact two. May be worth you getting a quote for a battery, not necessary solar too but that's the ultimate.

 

[HazardLights]

I am currently running on a granny charger until my Ohme gets installed. The Ohme will be in a more convenient location and not force me to either (1) have the garage door open OR (2) use an extension OR (3) relocate the socket outside the garage. If I was granny charging long term I would do 3 but I am just doing 1 at the moment. My experience is that for a pattern of mainly local use with a long trip once or twice a week then granny charging is okay but the faster wallbox will be more relaxing and won't require me to close my garage door when it is finished. Due to lack of meter signal I cannot get an overnight tariff so I pay 22.29p for my electricity. Ultimately we will probably move to being a two EV household in which case the wallbox will be much more convenient. In conclusion, if your wiring is okay the granny charger works but the wallbox gives more peace of mind and convenience. I am looking forward to the improved experience of the Ohme charger.

 

[salty]

I am currently running on a granny charger until my Ohme gets installed. The Ohme will be in a more convenient location and not force me to either (1) have the garage door open OR (2) use an extension OR (3) relocate the socket outside the garage. If I was granny charging long term I would do 3 but I am just doing 1 at the moment. My experience is that for a pattern of mainly local use with a long trip once or twice a week then granny charging is okay but the faster wallbox will be more relaxing and won't require me to close my garage door when it is finished. Due to lack of meter signal I cannot get an overnight tariff so I pay 22.29p for my electricity. Ultimately we will probably move to being a two EV household in which case the wallbox will be much more convenient. In conclusion, if your wiring is okay the granny charger works but the wallbox gives more peace of mind and convenience. I am looking forward to the improved experience of the Ohme charger.

What do you mean lack of a meter signal.
So are you just paying 22.29p anytime of the day?

 

[HazardLights]

Yes. My smart meter cannot connect to the Communication Service Provider North (Arqiva) network. So it cannot send usage data so I get no smart tariffs and have a single rate. I am currently fixed at 22.29p. So I charge when convenient which is usually overnight or in the morning after dropping my boys off. It's still cheaper than petrol but I would love to get access to cheap overnight electricity and I'd also consider replacing my oil boiler with a heat pump in that situation.