Charging Extension Cable not working with HS PHEV

[PapaPete]

Is anyone out there successfully charging with an EVPEIWE 5 Meter Type 2 Extension Cable? I cannot get mine to work, at least not without issues. Mostly, the car never even starts to charge and just continues to make the odd grinding noise as it tries to lock the charging cable in place.

I am using a Wallbox charger, tethered, Type 2, 32A, 7kW, single phase with the above mentioned extension to charge my 2021 HS PHEV. You'll see from the link above that the EVPEIWE extension cable is good quality (4.4 rating on Amazon) but it won't work for me. Public charging with the extension cable does not work either.

I have no issues charging the car with the tethered cable alone.

Any ideas as to why the introduction of the extension cable is not working? Thanks in advance.

 

[mystreet]

You should not be using a type 2 extension cable, full stop.

Main issue is that the signal wire is not connecting.

Others will be along with the correct answer.

Post number 169

Post in thread 'V2L - vehicle to load adapter / cable'

Aug 13, 2022

No, you can't really extend a type2, you are better off getting a good quality 13A extension lead.

• Jomarkh

 

[PapaPete]

Hi,

Does this mean that a "Granny Charger" is the only option? I got one with the MG but have never used it as I have a tethered 32A charger at home - it's just that the cable is a bit short for comfortably parking the car in the drive.

PS. If Type 2 extension is not workable, why are there so many such cables for sale all of which some with positive reviews on the seller sites? Thanks.

 

[Speakasyoufind]

Hi. May I ask, are you holding the cable in situ as you lock the car? Not wishing to do you a disservice but not sure how long you've had the car in question, but more often than not you need to hold/support the charging lead in the socket whilst locking the car.
Just pushing it in and letting go and then locking the car may not be enough for some/most leads, I have had this on numerous occasions where I now do it, hold the plug in the car charging socket as a matter of course as I lock the car. You'll hear the lock work on the car, but if not held it seems to unlock itself and therefore breaking the connection.
If you already do that, my apologies and it points to an incompatible lead with the HS (but I haven't encountered that and I have used all sorts on mine and they have worked, provided I hold them in place as I lock the car....)

 

[Coulomb]

Type 2 cables are designed so that they can't be used as extension cords. The pins simply won't reach far enough to make contact. Ig it was possible, there wouldn't be a lock for the middle connection, which would not be safe. It also would circumvent the cable current capability check, meaning that plugging a heavy cable to the end of a light cable could allow the light cable to be overloaded.

It's possible to butcher one of the connectors to make connection, but it still won't lock and therefore won't be safe.

My guess is that clueless or unscrupulous vendors are marketing cables designed for untethered EVSEs ("chargers") as extension cords. Or it's poor translation/wording.

Ratings on vendor sites usually have several fake ones added to improve sales, making them almost useless. Sometimes you can spot and ignore the fake ones, and get a feel for the product quality from the real-sounding ones.

You need to get your wall mounted EVSE's cable changed for a longer one, unfortunately, unless you can change your parking arrangement.

Edit: It seems that some vendors are supplying cables that do in fact extend, contrary to at least my understanding of the original intention.

 

[EvTek23]

I hope I'm not sating the obvious, but have you looked into getting the tethered cable of your Wallbox charger replaced for a longer one. If you're still within the return date of your type 2 extension cable then this could be returned as not compatible.

 

[PapaPete]

Thanks to all for your very useful and insightful comments, but especially to Speakasyoufind for his/her novel approach which I have just tried. And it works! The car is now charging via the extension cable for the first time. Can't believe it. Frankly, it doesn't make much sense that you have to hold the cable at lock-up time but who cares, it works so I am good with that.

Thanks also to others for the alternative suggestions - if the above solution fails, I can look at getting the original tethered cable replaced or maybe exploring some electrical DIY in due course. But, for now, I'm sorted. Thanks.