32A garage socket suitable for EV cable?

[saaby93]

Can you connect an EV to one of these in the garage?

https://www.toolstation.com/industrial-socket-ip67...

[blank]

Not without an "EVSE" in between to do the communication and allow the charging to start.

[saaby93]

blank said:

Not without an "EVSE" in between to do the communication and allow the charging to start.

Is that what you get with a 13A cable? Can you get one for 32A?

[blank]

Yeah something like this:

https://thirdrockenergy.co.uk/products/type-2-to-c...

(No idea if that's any good, just came up on Google)

[TheDeuce]

Also get the socket inspected and tested.. you're gonna be pulling close to max design current through it for hours at a time. Very different to how sockets get casually used 99.9% of the time.

[saaby93]

J1772 looks as if it might work with just L N and E connected through
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

[Tye Green]

saaby93 said:

J1772 looks as if it might work with just L N and E connected through
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

it won't cos its just a plug. you need a controller which communicates with the car and advises the car how much current the car is allowed and then operates a contactor.

https://ecoharmony.co.uk/collections/evse-protocol...

[chrisch77]

We have a similar arrangement with a 32a commando socket installed on the garage wall, then an Ohme smart charging lead plugged into it. Beware that the socket still should be installed in accordance with best practice for electric vehicle use rather than relying on an existing industrial outlet (things like earth connections etc).

[Frimley111R]

saaby93 said:

Can you connect an EV to one of these in the garage?

https://www.toolstation.com/industrial-socket-ip67...

Your main issue is having enough power in the garage to begin with. 99.9% of garages were only wired for a few sockets and lights, not to run run a third of the total power to your home through there, for long periods.

[NDA]

saaby93 said:

Can you connect an EV to one of these in the garage?

https://www.toolstation.com/industrial-socket-ip67...

Sort of.

I have a 32amp commando socket charging my EV. The socket goes the Tesla connector which then goes to the car... The Tesla connector has interchangeable 'tails' - 13amp, 16amp and 32amp.

However.... my socket required dedicated 40amp cabling from my fusebox to the socket along with proper earthing and RCD/RCB things. It was done by an electrician, not me. The commando socket I have is a fairly substantial looking thing with a couple of it's own RCD/RCB things on it.

So yes, you can power an EV from a commando socket quite easily - but there's some work to do to ensure it's done properly.

[somouk]

As mentioned, if it's intended to charge a car then it has to meet all the installation requirements to do so by the letter of the law.

You'll also need a cable suitable, Ohme sell them with their smart bit built in or you can look at evextras who also do them.

[carl0]

By the time you buy a cable and meet regs you're going to be close to the cost of a proper ev charger.

Unless you want it for charging a caravan or motorhome you could look at a dumb charger if you don't want the cost or complexity of a smart charger ?

[saaby93]

NDA said:

saaby93 said:

Can you connect an EV to one of these in the garage?

https://www.toolstation.com/industrial-socket-ip67...

Sort of.

I have a 32amp commando socket charging my EV. The socket goes the Tesla connector which then goes to the car... The Tesla connector has interchangeable 'tails' - 13amp, 16amp and 32amp.

However.... my socket required dedicated 40amp cabling from my fusebox to the socket along with proper earthing and RCD/RCB things. It was done by an electrician, not me. The commando socket I have is a fairly substantial looking thing with a couple of it's own RCD/RCB things on it.

So yes, you can power an EV from a commando socket quite easily - but there's some work to do to ensure it's done properly.

It has 40A cable and RCD at the fuse box.
Checking another forum the EV regs apply to new wiring so anything existing can stay as is

[georgeyboy12345]

Which car are you thinking of buying Saaby?

[TimmyMallett]

Frimley111R said:

Your main issue is having enough power in the garage to begin with. 99.9% of garages were only wired for a few sockets and lights, not to run run a third of the total power to your home through there, for long periods.

Is there anyway of the aversge person calculating what sort of current a garage CU might be able to supply? Is it dependent on supply cable diameter/distance? Assuming the house CU rating for that circuit can be increased?

[saaby93]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Which car are you thinking of buying Saaby?

The idea was to see what visitors could use

[NDA]

saaby93 said:

NDA said:

saaby93 said:

Can you connect an EV to one of these in the garage?

https://www.toolstation.com/industrial-socket-ip67...

Sort of.

I have a 32amp commando socket charging my EV. The socket goes the Tesla connector which then goes to the car... The Tesla connector has interchangeable 'tails' - 13amp, 16amp and 32amp.

However.... my socket required dedicated 40amp cabling from my fusebox to the socket along with proper earthing and RCD/RCB things. It was done by an electrician, not me. The commando socket I have is a fairly substantial looking thing with a couple of it's own RCD/RCB things on it.

So yes, you can power an EV from a commando socket quite easily - but there's some work to do to ensure it's done properly.

It has 40A cable and RCD at the fuse box.
Checking another forum the EV regs apply to new wiring so anything existing can stay as is

It's probably worth getting a qualified electrician to have a look. I don't know much about the subject as I left it to the experts.

My commando socket has a dedicated and substantial 40amp armoured cable running to it. It has a 40amp fuse on the fuse box and the socket has a 32amp RCD as well as a separate one that detects earth leaks I think. It also has its own earth spike.

As someone commented above, by the time you've done it correctly, it costs the same as a 'smart' charger. However I did not want such a thing, I deliberately went for one that cannot be controlled remotely. The car does all that.

[TheDeuce]

TimmyMallett said:

Frimley111R said:

Your main issue is having enough power in the garage to begin with. 99.9% of garages were only wired for a few sockets and lights, not to run run a third of the total power to your home through there, for long periods.

Is there anyway of the aversge person calculating what sort of current a garage CU might be able to supply? Is it dependent on supply cable diameter/distance? Assuming the house CU rating for that circuit can be increased?

Most will have a supply rated to 32a to the local unit in the garage. So using that supply to charge at a rate close to 32a along with whatever else you plug in plus lighting.. It's worth checking the supply cable from the house CU to the garage and the circuit protection in the house CU.

And most crucially, as I and other have said, you need to be really confident the socket is up to scratch ahead of drawing close to max current for extended periods. A typical issue would be a socket that would pass routine safety checks, but once opened and visually inspected you realise a termination is not 100% of the cross sectional area of the core or needs re-tightening, or to check for cycles of condensation corroding terminals etc.

Tbh, fitting a dedicated charger is preferable as they demand a suitable circuit and have several safety measures built in to ensure they fail safely if there is an issue. Also whatever the cost, it'll add the same value to the next buyer of your home in terms of peace of mind that they can move in tomorrow and charge their own car.

[TimmyMallett]

Doe the average person have to worry about all this? I'm not an ev owner, I have been consider it this year but this all seems unnecessarily complicated?

[TheDeuce]

TimmyMallett said:

Doe the average person have to worry about all this? I'm not an ev owner, I have been consider it this year but this all seems unnecessarily complicated?

Well... no. The average person gets a proper charger installed and never thinks about it again.

Like most things in life, you can save a few quid and go a semi/full DIY route which is also fine imo, so long as you understand what you're doing and are confident and competent.

If you buy an EV and get a pro to fit a charger it's as easy as it can be - literally plug and play. Easier than going out of your way to fill up an ICE for sure. What can be easier than waking up with a full tank each morning?