Granny Charger Issue?

[Popsie5859]

To be honest with you, if you really do have an incredibly old consumer unit with no RCD, I do not think it is safe for you to use anything mains powered outside ie the granny charger.

I have spoken with my electrician just now it is the RCD that is tripping out he said either the extension lead is faulty or possibly the charger. I told him I had tried two different extension leads with the same result so he is leaning towards the charger being faulty. He thinks it is very unlikely that anything is wrong with the car especially as I have used chargers at my local Tesco with no problems. He also suggested trying the extension and charger at another house to see if the same thing happens.

 

[Popsie5859]

Great shout !.
Do you have a three pin plug socket, on the same face plate as your electric cooker by any chance.
If so, try plugging the extension into that socket outlet, then into the "Granny" and try charging the car.
The cooker outlet is very likely to be on it's own dedicated circuit in the consumer unit ( fuse box ).
If this does NOT trip, then you have narrowed it down a little to a possible fault with the ring main circuits or the breaker.
If it still trips on the dedicated cooker circuit, it could be a earth fault that affects the whole house.
If your C.U. offers no protection, you will need to consider installing a new dedicated & protected circuit.
With a external IP65 rated wall socket outlet at the very least.

Thanks for your suggestion but no socket on the cooker switch unfortunately I had had the same thought, i think the test in another house us the next best test cheers.

 

[Popsie5859]

Just a quick update with my charging issue, have just been to my daughters with the extension lead and charge and it all worked correctly. I now know it is a fault with the house wiring, I recently had an electric smart meter fitted unfortunately I had not tried charging the car before the switch. I am now wondering if the contractor has done something wrong when putting in the new meter, I will get my electrician to have a look and see what needs doing. Just want to say thank you to everyone who has been trying to help me sort this problem out it is very much appreciated once again thanks to all of you.

 

[RichardC]

Just a quick update with my charging issue, have just been to my daughters with the extension lead and charge and it all worked correctly. I now know it is a fault with the house wiring, I recently had an electric smart meter fitted unfortunately I had not tried charging the car before the switch. I am now wondering if the contractor has done something wrong when putting in the new meter, I will get my electrician to have a look and see what needs doing. Just want to say thank you to everyone who has been trying to help me sort this problem out it is very much appreciated once again thanks to all of you.

I hope that you get it sorted out soon and that it hasn’t taken the shine off your brilliant new car?

 

[Popsie5859]

I hope that you get it sorted out soon and that it hasn’t taken the shine off your brilliant new car?

I do hope so, it was a big step to swap from my Jaguar F Pace but definitely a great choice. I am so far more than pleased with my ZS ev, I would say 98% of my journeys are very local and I only do just about 1000 miles per year so it is a very sensible choice.

 

[Lovemyev]

I do hope so, it was a big step to swap from my Jaguar F Pace but definitely a great choice. I am so far more than pleased with my ZS ev, I would say 98% of my journeys are very local and I only do just about 1000 miles per year so it is a very sensible choice.

Please report back on the findings after the spark has checked your wiring.

 

[Popsie5859]

Well peeps an update on my granny charger issue. Spent the day examining my consumer unit checking every socket and switch on the downstairs ring main testing for reversed polarity either at the consumer unit or individual socket. I disconnected and trying to charge with the same result of the RCD tripping out. I even went as far as disconnecting the new ring main in my outhouse and found when it was not connected I could charge the car. I could not fir the life of me workout what was wrong, I reconnected the new ring main but disconnected every appliance working off of it and then plugged back in one at a time. First the outside security light next the freezer followed by the tumble dryer lastly the washing machine. Bingo found the culprit as soon as it was plugged in and the wall socket switched on the RCD tripped. The strange thing is the without the car charging everything stays on. About a week ago found the moulded plug on the washing machine blackened and partially melted as was the wall socket but the system did not trip out which was a worry. Changed the socket and the plug and the washing machine worked fine, it seems to me that there must be some internal fault with the washing machine. The machine is only six months old so first thing tomorrow I will be contacting Currys where it was purchased and attempt to get it replaced. Once again to everyone thank you for all your help and advice it is so very much appreciated.

 

[JodyS21]

Well peeps an update on my granny charger issue. Spent the day examining my consumer unit checking every socket and switch on the downstairs ring main testing for reversed polarity either at the consumer unit or individual socket. I disconnected and trying to charge with the same result of the RCD tripping out. I even went as far as disconnecting the new ring main in my outhouse and found when it was not connected I could charge the car. I could not fir the life of me workout what was wrong, I reconnected the new ring main but disconnected every appliance working off of it and then plugged back in one at a time. First the outside security light next the freezer followed by the tumble dryer lastly the washing machine. Bingo found the culprit as soon as it was plugged in and the wall socket switched on the RCD tripped. The strange thing is the without the car charging everything stays on. About a week ago found the moulded plug on the washing machine blackened and partially melted as was the wall socket but the system did not trip out which was a worry. Changed the socket and the plug and the washing machine worked fine, it seems to me that there must be some internal fault with the washing machine. The machine is only six months old so first thing tomorrow I will be contacting Currys where it was purchased and attempt to get it replaced. Once again to everyone thank you for all your help and advice it is so very much appreciated.

This isn't that uncommon for electrics, something has a bit of an issue, but it isn't until something else is added to the load that it causes the problems to show up.

Sounds like it's actually done you a favour this granny charger issue as it's highlighted an existing potentially dangerous problem etc!

 

[bloggsy]

This isn't that uncommon for electrics, something has a bit of an issue, but it isn't until something else is added to the load that it causes the problems to show up.

Sounds like it's actually done you a favour this granny charger issue as it's highlighted an existing potentially dangerous problem etc!

Totally agree with Jody's comments. You hear / read about electrical appliances catching fire so look on the bright side and how your new car's possibly adverted a disaster!

Hope Curry's sort you out a replacement quickly.

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[Coulomb]

It sounds to me like the washing machine has extra leakage to earth, possibly following whatever incident caused the plug to blacken. But it wasn't enough to trip the Residual Current Device (RCD) on its own. Perhaps 28mA leakage when the RCD would trip at 30mA.

Now with your granny charger plugged in, the extra leakage current to earth is enough to trip the RCD. All high frequency chargers, including the On Board Charger in the car, have small capacitors connected to earth, to prevent problems from Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). These capacitors cause a small leakage to earth, it can't be avoided.

If the replacement washing machine doesn't fix the problem, you might need a separate RCD for your out house (that has a rather different meaning in Australia ??) as for the rest of the house, including the outlet that you plug the granny "charger" into.

 

[Popsie5859]

A quick update on my granny charger issue, the washing machine was very faulty to the point that it has been replaced. With the old machine plugged in switched on but not running the RCD would trip if the granny charger was plugged in and switched on on even before connecting it to the car. With the new machine plugged in switched on and the granny charger plugged in no problems, plugged into car charge commenced charging no problem. Put a wash load on and the RCD tripped out, following further checks and discussions with my electrician it appears that when either the washing machine or tumble dryer are in operation and I try to charge the car the circuit is overloaded and the RCD trips. So going forward will only charge the car when neither the washing machine or tumble dryer are being used then I will install a dedicated 32amp feed just for charging the car hopefully that will cure all the problems.

 

[Lovemyev]

I will install a dedicated 32amp feed just for charging the car hopefully that will cure all the problems.

That is the best option all round, have the socket outlet you intend to charge from, on it's own dedicated circuit.
Long term, I would strongly advise installing a wall box if you can.

 

[JodyS21]

A quick update on my granny charger issue, the washing machine was very faulty to the point that it has been replaced. With the old machine plugged in switched on but not running the RCD would trip if the granny charger was plugged in and switched on on even before connecting it to the car. With the new machine plugged in switched on and the granny charger plugged in no problems, plugged into car charge commenced charging no problem. Put a wash load on and the RCD tripped out, following further checks and discussions with my electrician it appears that when either the washing machine or tumble dryer are in operation and I try to charge the car the circuit is overloaded and the RCD trips. So going forward will only charge the car when neither the washing machine or tumble dryer are being used then I will install a dedicated 32amp feed just for charging the car hopefully that will cure all the problems.

I'm replying to you on 2 seperate posts now lol!

That's a bit strange that the RCD trips out still.
RCDs trip for earth leakage and not circuit overload.
The MCBs handle the tripping for overloaded circuits.

The granny charger runs at 10amps (I think/am pretty sure), a washing machine or tumble drier plugged into a standard 13amp socket will not be higher than 13amps, so that shouldn't be enough to trip your fuse still I'd have thought.
I'd try a kettle plugged in instead of the granny charger, that'd pull about the same amount of power, see if it still trips then.

You have a smart meter, so could use that to look at what power is actually being pulled by the circuit - before granny charger switched on see if it's near the MCB rating.

Are you sure it's the RCD and not the MCB that is tripping? maybe it's a faulty RCD.
Maybe post a photo of your consumer unit.

 

[Popsie5859]

I'm replying to you on 2 seperate posts now lol!

That's a bit strange that the RCD trips out still.
RCDs trip for earth leakage and not circuit overload.
The MCBs handle the tripping for overloaded circuits.

The granny charger runs at 10amps (I think/am pretty sure), a washing machine or tumble drier plugged into a standard 13amp socket will not be higher than 13amps, so that shouldn't be enough to trip your fuse still I'd have thought.
I'd try a kettle plugged in instead of the granny charger, that'd pull about the same amount of power, see if it still trips then.

You have a smart meter, so could use that to look at what power is actually being pulled by the circuit - before granny charger switched on see if it's near the MCB rating.

Are you sure it's the RCD and not the MCB that is tripping? maybe it's a faulty RCD.
Maybe post a photo of your consumer unit.

I have done some research and an RCD will also trip if I circuit is overloaded not just fir earth leakage.

 

[Coulomb]

A strict RCD will not trip on overload, but most RCDs these days are probably actually RCBOs (residual current breakers with overload), which combine the functions of an RCD and an ordinary overload breaker. While a little pricey, these save space in the switchboard/fuse box, and these days a switchboard is often pressed for space.

 

[JodyS21]

I have done some research and an RCD will also trip if I circuit is overloaded not just fir earth leakage.

I don’t believe you are correct, as @Coulomb has said, as RCBO will trip on overload as well as earth leak, but not an RCD.
An RCD has a max current rating (eg 63/80/100amps) that it will work correctly up to, if this was/has been exceeded then it may be damaged and not work properly.

It does worry me that something else is wrong with your house wiring, wouldn’t want anything bad to happen. Your choice obviously, but I think I’d be tempted to replace the RCD to be on the safe side incase it is damaged - quick/cheap/easy to do.

 

[Popsie5859]

I don’t believe you are correct, as @Coulomb has said, as RCBO will trip on overload as well as earth leak, but not an RCD.
An RCD has a max current rating (eg 63/80/100amps) that it will work correctly up to, if this was/has been exceeded then it may be damaged and not work properly.

It does worry me that something else is wrong with your house wiring, wouldn’t want anything bad to happen. Your choice obviously, but I think I’d be tempted to replace the RCD to be on the safe side incase it is damaged - quick/cheap/easy to do.

Thanks for your advice I will get everything checked throughly.