-
That may reflect the reality of installations found by sparks, but the BS 1363 standard* specifies 1 test of at least 4 hours at 14 amps
In theory it's OK, but in practise it isn't.
I'm definitely erring on the side of "no amount of being right according to paperwork and standards will prevent my house burning down". I'll be right, and also standing next to a pile of ash - being right isn't worth as much then.
Everything I had was good enough according to spec: the Volvo supplied Mennekes charging cable, the EV rated weatherproof extension lead, the RCD protected circuit and modern fuse box. But still a melted plug and socket.
I'll go for safe over right.
If I had off-street parking I'd have installed a wall charger. I do not so I'm having to use public charging. Works for me (though is annoying).
You are reading a single comment by @Velocio and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
Velocio
That may reflect the reality of installations found by sparks, but the BS 1363 standard* specifies 1 test of at least 4 hours at 14 amps. It also has shorter tests at 1.6 and 1.9 times the rated current, presumably because fuses aren't guaranteed to blow until well above 13 amps (IIRC 20A).
So yeah, plugs melting at 13A is because they're crap, not because you're using them in a non-compliant way.
If you're concerned about burning your house down, most of the third party granny EVSEs allow you set a slightly lower charging current, and some of them have temperature sensors in the plug, although the latter doesn't help with extension leads.
(* this is the 1995 version. Seeing the current one costs £300)