Charging Electric Car On Site ?? (1 Viewer)

Kingham

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I was asked a theoretical question earlier, which I didn't know the answer to.

My youngest son has an electric car and at home has a dedicated charging station.

When he visits me at my home, if he has a lot more running around to do, he sometimes tops up, by plugging in to my domestic supply, via a domestic 3 pin plug adaptor.

If on the rare occasion, he visited me while I had my van hooked up on site, would topping up his charge by plugging in to a 3 pin socket on my van, be too much output for my van electrics and could it cause damage, or just trip the RCD ?

Would it be a simple matter of checking what his car takes, compared to what the EHU delivers, or do the maths change by putting my van in between the two.
 
Jan 17, 2014
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I was asked a theoretical question earlier, which I didn't know the answer to.

Would it be a simple matter of checking what his car takes, compared to what the EHU delivers, or do the maths change by putting my van in between the two.

Yes and No (unless the van has a lower current trip than the site EHU)
Obviously total the current taken by the car charger and anything you may be using in the van against the site hook-up limit.

Rod
 
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If he plugs into your one of your 3 pin plugs in your van then you must take into account the amount of amps you van will be pulling from the bollard. As an approx guess your charger maybe pulling a couple of amps plus what your fridge will be pulling (140w element = approx 0.7amps) so normal UK site 16 amp bollard then there will be 13 amp surplus so should be fine. To make sure he does not blow the fuse he should be able to change the max charging current either on the charger or via the cars onboard display to say 8 or 10 amps. One other thing to bear in mind is your vans own internal fuse board and what fuse is in place for your sockets.

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R

Robert Clark

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Maybe better to use a dedicated charge point nearby or en route to you
 

stewartwebr

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Or perhaps a splitter from the EHU like a lot of the French use so long as the amperage is not exceded.
:party2::party2::party2::party2::party2::party2::party2:
Had a "conversation" with a Caravan and Motorhome Club Warden a few months ago about using splitters. A couple across from us had a splitter connected so they could have power in their awning and power to the van. I observed the Warden pull the splitter out and plug the van back in. The people had gone out for the day. My initial concern was he did not know what was connected to the supply he had removed, may have been a chiller box, slow cooker etc. I felt he should not just remove the splitter without talking to the members. I tried to reason and could not grasp why he had an issue. He kept saying the members had only paid for one supply. I tried as hard as I could to reason explaining that the use of the splitter did not mean they would be able to get any more power than the 16amp breaker would provide. He was having non of it. When members returned I tried to explain that I had intervened but they were less than friendly. Other half said that's what I get for getting involved...sorry for going off topic

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scotjimland

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Lengthy discussion on the C&MC site.. https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-...sel-petrol-alternatives-your-thoughts-please/

My view..
It is inevitable that as hybrids become more popular the club (and other sites) will have to look at cost of providing fuel for these types of cars..
price rises are inevitable .. most site have a 'fair usage ' policy .. ie you don't run a 3kw fan heater in an awning all day .. so long term the only fair way will be to have metered electric.. which has become more popular of late, a move I would fully support, we who need little, solar covers all our needs.. are paying for those who use a lot.
 
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The plug socket granny charger (as it's known) will pull Max 10amp. The vehicle will probably also have a configurable setting for a lower charge rate.

For my electric vehicles:
Leaf 10 amp
Ampera 6 or 10 amp
Prius 8 or 10 amp

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Geo

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Just fire up your generator and charge it up with that...

Indeed, if he kept a genny in his boot he could charge it up anywhere. (y)


JJ :cool:
How much petrol would an electric car use JJ?:rofl::rofl:
 
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Mr Chrysalis

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Had a "conversation" with a Caravan and Motorhome Club Warden a few months ago about using splitters. A couple across from us had a splitter connected so they could have power in their awning and power to the van. I observed the Warden pull the splitter out and plug the van back in. The people had gone out for the day. My initial concern was he did not know what was connected to the supply he had removed, may have been a chiller box, slow cooker etc. I felt he should not just remove the splitter without talking to the members. I tried to reason and could not grasp why he had an issue. He kept saying the members had only paid for one supply. I tried as hard as I could to reason explaining that the use of the splitter did not mean they would be able to get any more power than the 16amp breaker would provide. He was having non of it. When members returned I tried to explain that I had intervened but they were less than friendly. Other half said that's what I get for getting involved...sorry for going off topic
I’ve iccasionally plugged an extension lead into the socket in my MoHo garage to provide power in my gazebo on a site. I cannot remember what I had plugged in, might have been a mosquito zapper. That of course is no different interns of power usage than using a splitter. Do you think the warden would have pulled my plug out?
 

stewartwebr

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I’ve iccasionally plugged an extension lead into the socket in my MoHo garage to provide power in my gazebo on a site. I cannot remember what I had plugged in, might have been a mosquito zapper. That of course is no different interns of power usage than using a splitter. Do you think the warden would have pulled my plug out?
I think he was concerned that the splitter was plugged directly into the hook up bollard. I think if the owner had split the supply nearer to his van the Warden would not have noticed. Cannot see anything wrong with either personally as you cannot pull more than the 16 amps

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maxi77

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I think he was concerned that the splitter was plugged directly into the hook up bollard. I think if the owner had split the supply nearer to his van the Warden would not have noticed. Cannot see anything wrong with either personally as you cannot pull more than the 16 amps


I however is amazing just how much some people understand about leccy. Clearly to this one 2 X 16 amp plugs means 32 amps. Now you and I know it really is still 16 amps because there is only one socket. I get round this using a continental inlet socket on the van end which allows me to plug in an extension lead there and that is hidden in my garage
 

eddie

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This is of course why so many site are switching over to metered supply

We just use side cutters and lobb the plugs over the hedge and deny it ;)
 

RogerThat

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Would it be a simple matter of checking what his car takes, compared to what the EHU delivers, or do the maths change by putting my van in between the two

I watched a young caravanner (is that the right term?) try to charge his super duper electric mountain bike on the last CC site I stayed at. The bike looked like it cost more than my van! Anyway, this young lad was getting seriously pissed off as every time he tried to charge his bike from the bollard (directly, no splitters!) it kept tripping. I can't imagine how much current it was trying to draw!

A couple across from us had a splitter connected so they could have power in their awning and power to the van. I observed the Warden pull the splitter out and plug the van back in

I have a splitter plugged in to my van (at the van-end, not the bollard-end) to charge my wife's mobility scooter via a purpose made vans-length cable, as the scooter 'parks' on a platform attached to the rear of the van. The charger draws 1.9A and as per above posts, the bollard would simply trip if we tried to draw more than our fair share of 16A.

Like you say, I'd probably be a bit miffed if a warden came tinkering with my gear without even asking what it was powering. What if it were medical equipment or something?! :eek:

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