Home Charging Explained | Is A 3-Pin Plug Enough For You?

Are you considering switching to an electric vehicle (EV) and wondering if a standard 3-pin plug is enough for home charging? In this video, we'll explore the world of home charging for electric vehicles (EVS) and help you decide if a 3-pin plug is sufficient for your needs. We'll discuss the benefits of using a dedicated home charger, such as a Type 2 charger, and explain the difference between AC and DC charging. We'll also cover the importance of using a 13A socket and a high-quality charging cable to ensure safe and efficient charging. By the end of this video, you'll have a clear understanding of your home charging options and be able to make an informed decision about the best charging solution for your electric vehicle.

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[cbromley]

Excellent, and spot on. In our 4 yrs driving EV, we’ve charged at 2.1kWh (10 amps), via the granny charger. Plug in at around 6.30pm, and unplug around 7/7.30am…giving 95/100 miles in the depths of winter, and 130/140 odd miles in the warmer months (Tesla Model 3 SR+).

[maxflight]

4:41 Brilliant advice !!
Agreed 13A charging is sufficient for 85% of EV owners!

[garyhill]

Had my MG4 for 3 weeks now, I’ve done 1000 miles in it, but my annual mileage is around 6-7k. I use the 3pin plug for most of my charging, making use of my solar panels during the day. The adapter draws around 2kw, that gives around 8 miles per hour. I did a 10 hour test which gave 30% and 83 miles but importantly there was no discernible heat in the plug, wall socket or cable. Really enjoying the down to earth format of your videos.

[iantaylor]

Ive used 3 pin socket since i bought my used ioniq last oct. Do 28 miles a day . Only charge up on a friday night /sat night. Fiited a quality mk 2 pole socket in the garage. Checked for temp rise of socket and plug after varying times plugged in and cool as a cucumber at all times. No resistance/ high temps.

[norfolkhusse]

Let me add one important peice of advice. If you are satisfied using a standard socket; PLEASE make sure it is safe for long time charging currents. Many house fires have started due to overload in the wiring.

[bshah]

Wall chargers make more sense if you can arrange an off peak EV tariff. We calculated that the saving from the off peak EV tariff would pay for the wall charger in 6 months based on our mileage.

[mistymu]

I am currently using a 13 amp socket. There are two reasons why I am getting a home charge point. First, is safety, as others have pointed out, it can cause a 13 amp socket to overheat, I haven't had issues but I feel I am taking a risk. Second, if you do go on a longer journey, it is nice to be able to arrive home with a low state of charge and be able to top it back up again off-peak. At the moment I will often make sure I arrive home after a long trip with around 50% because of how long it takes to top up on the granny charger, plus it may have to do some charging on peak. If you are renting then you can still get the £350 grant. The £1000 7kW charge point soon pays itself back on a cheap overnight tariff.

[rhiantaylor]

Dave - you imply we can either use a 13a socket to feed a granny cable or spend ~£1k for a dedicated EV charging point. A third option is to have an electrician fit a dedicated 6mm power feed to a Commando (blue) switched socket and then use a 32a version of the granny lead that uses the plug version of the same Commando connector to charge at up to 7kw. (The latest regs may require an earth rod to supplement your existing earthing provision, connected to the 32a socket). This 32a granny lead can then be taken to multiple locations provided they each have the associated 32a socket available. You could also obtain a short adapter cable from a commando socket to a Schuko plug for use at up to 16a in many European countries.

[RuislipResident-vp]

For the price of a few nights out I'd rather the convenience of a 7kw charge point. I want to plug in for a few hours each Saturday morning and thats it. Thats a worthwhile convenience to me. I like the flashing colours on it also for Christmas, Halloween etc.

[zoesmith]

This has taken the worry out of buying an electric car, thanks Dave. Practical advice without bias, breath of fresh air.

[stevegeek]

I bought my first EV last week (Honda eNy1) and having a Cord One EV wall charger (7kW) installed at the end of this week. Meanwhile I’ve been charging overnight using the 3 pin socket in the garage and keeping a close eye on the plug to make sure it’s not getting hot. I know it’s winter and it’s cold at night, but there’s no heat at all on the 3 pin plug after 10 hours charging. From what I understand about batteries, the slower charging you get with a 3 pin (~2kW) socket is kinder on the battery too. The main advantages I see from having the dedicated wall charger installed are: 1. Less hassle than running cables from the garage, 2. Faster charging if I need to drive longer distances on successive days, 3. Ability to control start / stop charging times from the app, but I could survive on the 3 pin socket only.

[tonyc]

Best video I've watched about granny charging, wish I watched this one first haha. I do 20 miles a day so an outdoor socket will do me fine.

[MarkHewitt]

I have a PHEV, which I originally looked at getting a proper charger for - I even bought an Eero one then changed my mind and sent it back after being messed around by the installer. I eventually got a EV specific outdoor socket from Screwfix which comes with a safety cutoff and got it installed by an electrician. Total was around 50 quid for the socket and 150 for the electrician. However I do only run it at 6A which takes 7 hours to charge the 9kWh battery, and that is good enough for me. An additonal expense was a Type2 to 3pin charger from Argos and that sits outside all the time (under a plastic box with a plant on top) with the plug being in a holder on the fence.

[maxflight]

I live in the Algarve, here we are lucky that our “three pin plugs” deliver 16A
So an overnight charge can easily deliver 45KWh, that’s over half a tank on a MYLR

(on a separate issue) …I’m not sure why, but it’s common for homes here to have a three phase supply !

[limitedmark]

The most honest and informative advice this channel has ever given .

[LeeP]

This helps massively, thank you Dave.

[leesmart]

Thanks for posting this video. Full of excellent advice and guidance. Just one correction I would offer is that not all EVs have the ability to monitor SoC and/or charge speeds remotely. I drive a 2019 Kona and there was no app for this year model so no remote telemetry/control. My wife's 2021 Zoe does have an app so your comments are spot on for her vehicle. We have a Wallbox 'charger' which is set to scheduled charging overnight for 4 hours which is the only "smart feature" we use. Allows me to override the schedule without having to go out to my Kona to press buttons....

[jonathanwebb]

I work from home so an ordinary 13 amp plug socket is all I need. Same for anyone who is retired or doesnt drive a huge distance. Just make sure your plug socket is up to scratch and nothing gets hot

[stephenuk]

Thank you Dave. I´ve just ordered an electic car and you have really helped me to know what to do about charging it at home.

[kehindehassan]

Very practical and good advice ...the video relieves one of the anxiety of owning an EV. Thanks