Granny Charging

coil1985 · 06-07-2023 8:50pm #1

Might be picking up a PHEV shortly with no fast charging. Will be using the granny charging. I have external sockets at the back of the house so that's one option with an extension cable. Another option is the socket behind the front door but I might need to use the house window for that so that won't be happening at night.

What solutions are other people using for the granny charging?

Redfox25 · 06-07-2023 8:53pm

Get an external socket at the front of the house, or on the side if your house layout allows.

Ideally no extension lead between the granny charger and plug and your sorted.

coil1985 · 06-07-2023 8:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120815654#Comment_120815654

Have side of the house. Could maybe put it in front of the side gate.

Redfox25 · 06-07-2023 9:01pm

So long as you can reach the car with the granny charger from the plug. If your going to get a new plug fitted, you can ask the spark to add a switch inside the house for it too.

Some folks getca 16amp blue plug fitted if their granny charger can use it. Something else to consider.

coil1985 · 06-07-2023 9:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120815695#Comment_120815695

Ye have a switch for the sockets at the back of the house. Don't think 16amp blue plug is a go-er

Berty · 07-07-2023 7:26am

I have been granny charging since mid March and had the electrician put an external socket outside. Just inside the parking location is a dual socket so he went out from there. Paid €100 for the part and labour to install it. Much handier than having the cable in/out the window.

My granny charger has a little notch in the back like the back of a hanging frame so I also put a screw just underneath the socket so I can essentially hang the granny charger on it to keep it off the potentially, and often, wet ground.

coil1985 · 07-07-2023 7:50am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120816557#Comment_120816557

Nice, sounds like a good idea with the hook.

Del2005 · 07-07-2023 8:01am

Why go to the hassle of fitting a plug to side of the house instead of getting a proper charger fitted?

If you are going the trouble of getting a sparks out to fit a socket at least make sure it's configured so you can install a charger later.

coil1985 · 07-07-2023 8:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120816680#Comment_120816680

Is it worth getting a proper charger installed if the car doesn't have fast charging? What would I have to ask for to ensure its configured for a potential charger in the future?

...Ghost... · 08-07-2023 12:06am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120816743#Comment_120816743

Ideally, 6^2mm armoured cable run from the consumer unit on its own fuse to where the charge point would be installed. You can connect the business end to an external socket and use a granny charger until you decide to get a real charger installed. To be honest, I would get pretty tired using the granny charger to charge a PHEV. But if you don't mind that, go ahead. You'll eventually get a BEV, so the proper charger won't be wasted.

MojoMaker · 08-07-2023 10:12am

Surely be to God the car will draw 7.4kw which is all a home charger will give anyway.

Deffo get one, 550 vs 100 basically.

josip · 10-07-2023 10:05pm

I followed this guy's vid to put an outdoor socket in the yard directly outside from an indoor socket at granny's house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fojd6bmNYEo

It took me around 2 hours (I'm not fast) and the socket was a single from Screwfix costing around €15 I think.

It's right beside where I park the car in the yard and if I'm tight on range, I'll plug in as soon as I park up. The extra 20-30km I get while I'm there is usually enough to take any uncertainty out of the return journey.

Risteard81 · 10-07-2023 10:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120832827#Comment_120832827

Most socket-outlets aren't rated for granny leads. It should be marked as being suitable on the socket-outlet if it is suitable for EV charging. You'll also need appropriate protective devices (e.g. no Type AC RCDs).

joe1303l · 11-07-2023 7:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120832827#Comment_120832827

Will you not feel guilty stealing your Granny’s electricity while you visit ?

josip · 11-07-2023 7:50am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833464#Comment_120833464

Only got 1 granny so if we don't use the lead there it's wasted.

zg3409 · 11-07-2023 6:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120832852#Comment_120832852

Ordinary household outlets are what granny chargers are designed to use. Most houses have rcds and granny chargers draw 10amps max (except dodgy ones) while sockets are rated 13 amps. Avoid old household wall sockets and check the plug does not get warm and if possible use car branded granny leads as these typically have temperature sensors in the plug to detect overheating.

Buffman · 12-07-2023 11:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058304003/granny-charging

Ideally if possible place an outdoor socket out of public access but close enough for the charge cable to reach the car. Keeping the socket/charger out of easy access lessons theft risk. Ideally mount or support the charger to the wall if possible, do not hang it from the socket with the plug cable only, this will damage it over time. Try to avoid just leaving it on the ground also, as it then becomes a trip hazard.

I lived on just granny charging for years with a PHEV with no issues, more than capable of a full charge overnight and top up during the day as necessary. Luckily that house had a side gate with a socket just behind it so I could mount the charger there and just run the cable out to the car.

coil1985 · 23-07-2023 5:09pm

I currently have a smart meter with Electric Ireland. So I'm assuming that if I get the PHEV its better to switch to a smart meter and set the car to charge at night? Does anybody have knowledge of what that switching meter process involves?

zg3409 · 23-07-2023 6:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887497#Comment_120887497

It's not so simple. It depends on day night and peak usage including car usage. Typically phev have a tiny battery and many can't heat the cabin in winter without starting the engine so even on short trips engine runs anyway.

Once you switch from a 24 hour rate plan to Amy time based smart plan you can never switch back to a 24 hour rate plan. There are no great deals out there at the moment, do check carefully before committing to a contract and you can only really know your usage after say a year of actual plan usage. Many suppliers use different times for peak and off peak to further confuse direct comparison.

Once you have a smart meter at the house switch over involves nothing more than switching plan but it can be months before they share usage data. Shop around between providers for best deals. Check your existing rates to see if you may be better than staying where you are. In terms to PHEV usage you may need an extra 10kWh at night to go 50KM in your PHEV so you can factor that into estimates. That's about 5 hours on granny cable but lowest rates are typically only 2 hours in the middle of the night.

Granny Charging

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