New EV - advice please

[stevedee]

So, even on an "EV only" tariff, you can still charge the car, then discharge it during the day to run your appliances?

Yes in principle.

I'm no expert, but you could probably draw a Max of 3.3kW from an S5.

You cannot 'back-feed' the power into the house unless you get a "sparks" to wire in the necessary interface. But you could use extension leads to power a few selected devices; fridge, TV, computer... up to (say) 2kW load.

I guess you need to factor in losses to see if you can stay ahead of the game; 10%?

 

[TimothyN]

I power "big ticket" items. Mostly the 3kW oil radiator I use to heat the conservatory I use as an office, which has no CH radiator, but also the oven, the washing machine, tumble drier and dishwasher (if I am going to use them by day, I mostly time them to run at night.) Obviously, I only use one at a time, so the load never exceeds 3kWh.

If the losses are 10% (I have no idea) that means I am paying 7.4p per kWh, as opposed to 26p, so I can live with that!!

 

[TimothyN]

Rather than a fixed 7kW wallbox I bought a "portable" 7kW with 32a Commando plug (round industrial standard), then paid £250 for an electrician to install the corresponding socket in the front part of my garage to a spare consumer unit RCB.

It easily reaches under the locked garage door to my ZS LR, saved £500 over the fixed option and allows me to carry the charger to a second home in France.

Oooh....splendid idea, I had no inkling that such a thing is possible. I'll look right into it...

It also has the benefit of being removable and takeable to the next place...

 

[Everest]

Oooh....splendid idea, I had no inkling that such a thing is possible. I'll look right into it...

It also has the benefit of being removable and takeable to the next place...

. A few of us have gone down that route...
e.g. here

R

Post in thread 'Porsche mobile charger with MG4'

Nov 1, 2025

Yes it will charge at 10A, (UK plug adaptor) or 32A (CEE adaptor), but is otherwise very basic without delay Timer or display, but as @Tig170 points out it will be difficult to access cheap overnight rates to really make a difference to your motoring costs

I am on Solar, I usually charge in the day so that isn't really a problem and the one I am after getting is this.

From my understanding it's basically the same as the LED one but has screen controls/app controls.
My only worry really is it being compatible with my car.

• redwood98

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and

Post in thread 'UK domestic socket charging'

Oct 29, 2025

You can get them cheaper than the one shown. I use a 16A one regularly for our 2nd ev, from 3rd Rock Energy. They have variable power input options from 6A to the maximum and also a delay start option.

Another vote here for Third Rock Energy products with an interlocked commando socket - ours is the 32A one. Far better than using a BS1363-2 EV rated 13A socket and cheaper than full EVSE. But you will need a sparky to assist with the installation.

Yes an interlocked isolator switch a good idea, unless its easy to switch the circuit off at the fusebox.

I'd go one...

• Everest

 

[Wilse]

Hi all, appreciate your messages. I've just done some basic calculations regarding costs etc and they show that by switching to an EV tariff with the higher peak unit costs would only save me around £8-10 per month compared to my existing tariff, whilst charging 50% once a week. If that's true that would equate to an electricity saving of just £120 per year. Obviously I'm going to save around £400/y on petrol but the initial £1000+ charger outlay would take 10+ years to recoup. My sparky mate is very much against me using a charger that simple plugs into a 13amp socket as he's personally responding to and fixed numerous sockets/plugs that have melted/burnt due to the constant 13amps going through it. Food for thought?

 

[salty]

My sparky mate is very much against me using a charger that simple plugs into a 13amp socket as he's personally responding to and fixed numerous sockets/plugs that have melted/burnt due to the constant 13amps going through it. Food for thought?

All caused by EVs? or other stuff?
Almost certainly didn't do there homework and didn't have the correct socket, etc.

 

[Everest]

Obviously I'm going to save around £400/y on petrol but the initial £1000+ charger outlay would take 10+ years to recoup.

Agree.

My sparky mate is very much against me using a charger that simple plugs into a 13amp socket as he's personally responding to and fixed numerous sockets/plugs that have melted/burnt due to the constant 13amps going through it. Food for thought?

For continual use, you should have a BS1363-2 type EV socket installed off a dedicated radial final and then running a maximum of 10A for charging. Even then, there have been issues, especially with poorly connected 13A fuses in the granny chargers plug... e.g. like in this thread below... Hence the commando socket being a good half-way house for low-usage such as yours. Even better if you have a sparky mate who can install a 32A commando socket on an external wall for you

U

Thread 'Home charging cable plug melt down'

Nov 27, 2025

I have a nearly 3 year old MG4 bought from new. I do very low mileage and have only charged the car from home with the cable lead that came with the car. Yesterday when I noticed my car stopped charging at 94%, we could smell smoke in our living room. I then noticed the 3 pin plug that goes into the socket had melted down. This is only the 3rd time in the 3 years that I tried to charge my car 100% as I was going on a 300 mile return journey trip. I normally charge my car 20/80. Like I said I do low mileage and charge my car roughly every 6 weeks, on average. I'm...

• uncleman
• 3 pin plug battery charging charging cable charging safety home charging mg4 plug overheating
• Replies: 10
• Forum: MG4 EV Forum

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