Charging cables
Discussion
I'm looking at buying a PHEV, and I plan to talk to the dealer in more detail about this kind of thing but knowing the right questions to ask in advance would be good.
Using the UK Lexus online configuration tool, the spec sheet it generates says it comes with a "Household charging cable (7,5 m, BF socket)" and a "6.6kW AC charger with Type 2/Mennekes inlet"
I assume this is saying there's 6.6kW charger built in to the car with a Type 2 connector under the charging flap.
The household charging cable one confuses me a bit though, what's a BF socket? Is this a UK 3 pin plug to a Type 2?
Ideally I want to be able to use Type 2 chargers and UK 3 pin and EU 3 pin, Does that mean 3 complete cables or can you get adaptor cables to go from a UK or EU 3 pin to a Type 2 cable?
Using the UK Lexus online configuration tool, the spec sheet it generates says it comes with a "Household charging cable (7,5 m, BF socket)" and a "6.6kW AC charger with Type 2/Mennekes inlet"
I assume this is saying there's 6.6kW charger built in to the car with a Type 2 connector under the charging flap.
The household charging cable one confuses me a bit though, what's a BF socket? Is this a UK 3 pin plug to a Type 2?
Ideally I want to be able to use Type 2 chargers and UK 3 pin and EU 3 pin, Does that mean 3 complete cables or can you get adaptor cables to go from a UK or EU 3 pin to a Type 2 cable?
RizzoTheRat said:
I'm looking at buying a PHEV, and I plan to talk to the dealer in more detail about this kind of thing but knowing the right questions to ask in advance would be good.
Using the UK Lexus online configuration tool, the spec sheet it generates says it comes with a "Household charging cable (7,5 m, BF socket)" and a "6.6kW AC charger with Type 2/Mennekes inlet"
I assume this is saying there's 6.6kW charger built in to the car with a Type 2 connector under the charging flap.
The household charging cable one confuses me a bit though, what's a BF socket? Is this a UK 3 pin plug to a Type 2?
Ideally I want to be able to use Type 2 chargers and UK 3 pin and EU 3 pin, Does that mean 3 complete cables or can you get adaptor cables to go from a UK or EU 3 pin to a Type 2 cable?
Not sure about Lexus, but most manufacturers provide a type 2 to type 2 cable now, for home chargers.Using the UK Lexus online configuration tool, the spec sheet it generates says it comes with a "Household charging cable (7,5 m, BF socket)" and a "6.6kW AC charger with Type 2/Mennekes inlet"
I assume this is saying there's 6.6kW charger built in to the car with a Type 2 connector under the charging flap.
The household charging cable one confuses me a bit though, what's a BF socket? Is this a UK 3 pin plug to a Type 2?
Ideally I want to be able to use Type 2 chargers and UK 3 pin and EU 3 pin, Does that mean 3 complete cables or can you get adaptor cables to go from a UK or EU 3 pin to a Type 2 cable?
I bought a type 2 to 3 pin "granny charger" for home as I normally charge at work and don't need a proper home charger. The Masterplug cables get good reviews and are on offer at Amazon at the moment.
Not sure about EU converter plugs, sounds like something that could get a bit melty...
Yeah I wasn't meaning just an EU to UK adaptor plug, I wouldn't fancy putting 13A through one of those.
I was wondering if an 3 pin plug to Type 2 socket was a thing, that you could then connect to the normal Type2-Type2 cable.
Or, using this Masterplug cable as an example
I assume the boxy bit below the plug is a smart controller, do any have interchangeable leads in to that, in the same way a laptop charger generally uses an IEC connector so you can swap the cable?
I was wondering if an 3 pin plug to Type 2 socket was a thing, that you could then connect to the normal Type2-Type2 cable.
Or, using this Masterplug cable as an example
I assume the boxy bit below the plug is a smart controller, do any have interchangeable leads in to that, in the same way a laptop charger generally uses an IEC connector so you can swap the cable?
I suspect the "household charging cable" will just be a normal "granny charger", most cars come with them. One end is a standard three-pin plug, the other is a type-2 plug which plugs straight into the car.
For your use-case, you'd probably want a "UK granny charger" and "EU granny charger" and a simple dumb type-2 to type-2 cable. There's no fundamental reason you shouldn't use a UK granny charger through a UK to EU plug converter thing, but you'd want to make sure it's designed to take the load. I suspect most are not!
For your use-case, you'd probably want a "UK granny charger" and "EU granny charger" and a simple dumb type-2 to type-2 cable. There's no fundamental reason you shouldn't use a UK granny charger through a UK to EU plug converter thing, but you'd want to make sure it's designed to take the load. I suspect most are not!
Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th May 08:48
Road2Ruin said:
I have a horrible suspicious, that BF refers to a Euro plug style. However, I am pretty sure they either don't mean it and will provide a 3-pin plug type.
I found a few references online to "BF converters", mainly describing adaptors for Japanese/Asian plugs to UK or European. But I know the UK plug as a Type G and the EU as Type E, or F (Shuko), never heard of BF before but agree it might just be an incorrect term that's not been changed on the PDF when it was translatedETA: That matches Kambites suggestion above too.
Other car brands seem to offer other cable types as options on thier build configurator but annoyingly no Lexus, as that would be far to easy a way to see what's included and what the other options are
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 15th May 09:04
BF I think is the Japanese ref for UK Plug:
https://images.app.goo.gl/SqTTn18wbGMq3QpU8
That wasn't the only one.
https://images.app.goo.gl/SqTTn18wbGMq3QpU8
That wasn't the only one.
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