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.

 

[T1 Terry]

If you decide to replace that fuse holder and fuse, coat the fuse and holder with Alminox or another highly conductive yet anti corrosive grease, then a coat sealant over that to ensure the housing is water tight.

I'm surprised they put the fuse in a position like that, but I guess that plug was designed for inside use, not out in the weather.
Over here, we don't use fuses in plugs that was, we have a circuit breaker type safety switch as part of the lead and that is in a weather proof enclosure ...... but we still have problems with power points in caravan parks etc, where someone seriously overloaded the contacts yet the circuit breaker failed to trip. The next sucker that tries to plug in, ends up with their plug welded into the power point because the connections inside are burnt and pitted .... I always add a coating of Alminox onto the plug pins before plugging in ..... if it does get hot, the powered what ever it is in the compound, melt into the surfaces, improving and contact and adding a soft metal surface for the pins to slide back out.
The biggest problems we have over here with caravan power points, is reverse polarity and faulty earth return circuits, so most well educated travellers carry a plug wired to light up led bulbs inside to show each fault has been tested and either clear or in a fault condition ..... heaps cheaper than replacing the RCDs and electronic equipment that do not appreciate a reverse polarity connection

T1 Terry

T1 Terry

 

[Everest]

It was an industrial extension cable approx. 25m long to a weather proof socket.

well, buy yourself some lottery tickets then - you were lucky it wasn't more serious.

You should never use regular BS1363 plugs/sockets for EV charging - they are not rated for continuous usage, even despite any claim of it being 'industrial'. And extension leads should be avoided at all costs.

That's the reason IET Wiring Regulations specify that 13A UK sockets which are installed to charge an EV must comply with BS 1363-2 (these are marked 'EV' on the back of the plate).

Maybe I should just replace it with one of these purpose built cables instead.

yes and put the TAPO in the bin - it will have been damaged by the heat on its contacts.

Also note that the TAPO is not BS1363-2 compliant and the manufacturers website specifically states that EV charging is not supported on that device.

 

[securespark]

Over the decades, I've attended loads of higher current plug/ socket burn-outs due to loose connections in either the socket, the plug or the fuse holder in the plug or socket.

You can't beat good quality components and nice tight connections.

 

[chowbenter]

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

LOL For a Lancashire lad, 27C is unbearable, it's like being on the surface of the sun how are you supposed to sleep in this heat when UK is in the dark ages concerning A/C. I sent this YT video link to my mate in SE Australia, which explains why it feels hotter in the UK in Summer.

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

I'm surprised they put the fuse in a position like that, but I guess that plug was designed for inside use, not out in the weather.

It was being used inside. Inside the garage It's a concrete walled and wooden door'ed outbuilding.

put the TAPO in the bin - it will have been damaged by the heat on its contacts.

Defo, it's got a flippin hole in it.

Also note that the TAPO is not BS1363-2 compliant and the manufacturers website specifically states that EV charging is not supported on that device.

Yeah, but it probably saved my socket's life and prevented a fire too, so every cloud and all

So a BS1363-2 socket and a new Tough Leads cable then, check

 

[EvTek23]

This is also available from Toughleads.co.uk.
With manual or wifi switch so that you have the functionality of the Tapo but all rated to BS1363-2. Available with or without RCD and in various lengths to order. Pricey but worth it in the long run.