Don't charge from a 3 pin plug when it's 27 degrees outside kids

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

Good job tapo KP115s havs thermal protection, lucky escape there. We set to 8 amps too. Never had a problem for 2 years even at max speed during the winter.

 

[siteguru]

That looks like a bad connection at the fuse terminals within the plug to be honest (or a wiring/connection issue within the socket) - not really a specific ambient temperature issue.

 

[Archev]

That looks like a bad connection at the fuse terminals within the plug to be honest (or a wiring/connection issue within the socket) - not really a specific ambient temperature issue.

Oof yeah I think there’s something loose,undersized, dirty and / or just no playin’ the game there.

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

That looks like a bad connection at the fuse terminals within the plug to be honest (or a wiring/connection issue within the socket) - not really a specific ambient temperature issue.

The imprint's from the fuse of the plug that was plugged into the tapo not the fuse that's inside the tapo itself. It had melted straight out of the plug and straight through the front of the tapo.

 

[James83]

Could high ambient temp cause plug housing to expand slightly, changing tolerances/tension on the fuse holder?

 

[Jomarkh]

Good job tapo KP115s havs thermal protection, lucky escape there. We set to 8 amps too. Never had a problem for 2 years even at max speed during the winter.
View attachment 37537

Have you got a picture of the 'granny's' plug?

 

[decrep]

We charge up in the mid 30s here without a problem. That was a fault in the plug or socket.

 

[Jamesrr]

We charge up in the mid 30s here without a problem. That was a fault in the plug or socket.

Yeah, initially I read that post and assumed it was warning against plugging in at 27 Fahrenheit... i.e. When it was frozen...

Then I realised it was summer in the UK and our Hillbilly must be talking Celsius...

To think, stewing in that awful heat

Ho, ho, ho... 27 is nothing.

A hot day at the beach house is 40. Have plugged in at that temp more than once

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

Have you got a picture of the 'granny's' plug?

It wasn't granny's plug thank god. It was an industrial extension cable approx. 25m long to a weather proof socket.

 

[T1 Terry]

We have charged at better than 43°C a few times, until the plug and the socket melted .... under size wire was the cause. Since upgrading to 2.5mm² and 5mm² for the extension cables, no sign of a problem ..... so definitely high rate charging with cable or connections not up to the task ....

T1 Terry

 

[T1 Terry]

It wasn't granny's plug thank god. It was an industrial extension cable approx 25m long to an weather proof socket.

View attachment 37542

The rusted connection at the fuse is definitely the cause, if you open the image in a new window and enlarge it, you can see where the plug itself was melting from the heat generated in that localised area

T1 Terry

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

Maybe I should just replace it with one of these purpose built cables instead. I've got the money and you can't exactly put a price on safety.

The mains end socket (no charging, still pristine white) is in a garage with it's own consumer unit so I doubt it'd burn the house down if I just re-plugged the old cable but, all the stuffs in the garage might go up in flames.

 

[decrep]

Is that fuse always visible like that.
Seems an invitation to let moisture in.
A bit of corrosion on that fuse holder is going to get very hot at 8A

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

Is that fuse always visible like that.
Seems an invitation to let moisture in.
A bit of corrosion on that fuse holder is going to get very hot at 8A

No, the plastic cover had been pushed off by the expansion of the fuse.