V2L function to power the house?

[Everest]

Nice; 2kW of heating for 7p/hour

 

[Rolfe]

Not an unqualified success. After a couple of hours I realised the plug on the secondary extension lead I was using to get the power all the way into the living room was overheating and the fuse would probably have blown if I'd left it any longer. The basic concept is sound, but that extra extension lead is not good. The actual VtL adaptor and the heater plug into the other end of the problem adaptor were both fine though. Some warming on the latter but nothing to get alarmed about.

I'll remove the problem plug and fit a new, heavier-duty one and give it a shot while monitoring the situation more closely.

 

[Rolfe]

Hmmm. The hot live pin of the plug has caused a bit of damage to the plastic plate of the extension lead socket where it was plugged in. It seems to be superficial and just cosmetic, but I think I should have it checked by an electrician and probably get that plate replaced before I try anything heavy-duty again.

I can see where I made a mistake that may have caused this. The socket has a cover, a lid, designed to keep everything dry if it's used outside. I flipped it shut without really thinking about it. This has obviously prevented the heat from dissipating though, and caused the plug to go into meltdown. Only the plug suffered real damage though.

 

[Bam Bam]

Not an unqualified success. After a couple of hours I realised the plug on the secondary extension lead I was using to get the power all the way into the living room was overheating and the fuse would probably have blown if I'd left it any longer. The basic concept is sound, but that extra extension lead is not good. The actual VtL adaptor and the heater plug into the other end of the problem adaptor were both fine though. Some warming on the latter but nothing to get alarmed about.

I'll remove the problem plug and fit a new, heavier-duty one and give it a shot while monitoring the situation more closely.

The socket for our washing machine and dishwasher stopped working a few weeks ago.

Had an electrician around yesterday who traced it back and found that a connector for the wires on the circuit had melted/burned. Left black marks on the wall above and below.

Now fixed and working. Waiting in trepidation for the invoice from the electrician, though. He was here for several hours so it will be over £100.

Serious stuff, electricity.

 

[wattmatters]

This sounds a lot like the early days of EV adoption, did they have fuel stations before they built ICE powered cars? No, the adoption of a car that could travel further than a weekend hobby toy for the rich and started to replace the horse, the town store and town stables became fuel suppliers and mechanical workshops.

Fuel stations in the early days were not govt subsidised though.

This is a different transition and without massive govt policy support and $$$, it will take far too long.

A truck vs horse and cart transition was a completely different paradigm, the massive increase in transport effectiveness and efficiency is obvious and clearly a lot of money was to be made by having a fossil fuel distribution system.

An electric truck is not improving transport effectiveness all that much, so the $ imperative is far less obvious. At least while fuel is available.

Anyhoo, apologies for the diversion as this is about V2L.

Hmmm. The hot live pin of the plug has caused a bit of damage to the plastic plate of the extension lead socket where it was plugged in. It seems to be superficial and just cosmetic, but I think I should have it checked by an electrician and probably get that plate replaced before I try anything heavy-duty again.

Likely quite a high resistance connection resulting in heat build up, which in turn increases resistance. It does not take much, a slightly loose or partly worn socket or pin, dirt, corrosion.

MG's V2L needs to be used carefully and once you start introducing more connections (plugs/sockets) and long leads, it's just adding more voltage drop to a supply with an already lower than normal voltage.

When I used it with a long lead (2.5 mm wire) and for long periods, I was confining power draw to under 1.2 kW to trickle charge the home battery. I would not be pulling 2+ kW for long periods, it's just asking for trouble.

Same applies to using extension leads/plugs when charging. To be avoided where possible.

 

[Rolfe]

The socket for our washing machine and dishwasher stopped working a few weeks ago.

Had an electrician around yesterday who traced it back and found that a connector for the wires on the circuit had melted/burned. Left black marks on the wall above and below.

Now fixed and working. Waiting in trepidation for the invoice from the electrician, though. He was here for several hours so it will be over £100.

Serious stuff, electricity.

I'm fairly convinced the main reason for my problem was closing that lid, rather than leaving it open so any heat generated could dissipate in the cool hall. There was very little heat around the plug of the heater itself, which was open to the air in the warmer environment of the living-room. The damage to the socket plate does look merely cosmetic.

 

[T1 Terry]

Not an unqualified success. After a couple of hours I realised the plug on the secondary extension lead I was using to get the power all the way into the living room was overheating and the fuse would probably have blown if I'd left it any longer. The basic concept is sound, but that extra extension lead is not good. The actual VtL adaptor and the heater plug into the other end of the problem adaptor were both fine though. Some warming on the latter but nothing to get alarmed about.

I'll remove the problem plug and fit a new, heavier-duty one and give it a shot while monitoring the situation more closely.

Here is a You Tube video on just this type of problem .
The one advertised is the same when acting as a heavy duty extension cord from a V2L as well as for a charger

T1 Terry

 

[Rolfe]

Yes. The cable from the car to the house is what he is showing as a heavy-duty cable. The problem came at the plug that was plugged into its socket. I genuinely think it might have been OK if I hadn't stupidly closed that lid.

 

[T1 Terry]

Yes. The cable from the car to the house is what he is showing as a heavy-duty cable. The problem came at the plug that was plugged into its socket. I genuinely think it might have been OK if I hadn't stupidly closed that lid.

Fair enough, was that the plug on the appliance itself?

T1 Terry

 

[wattmatters]

I genuinely think it might have been OK if I hadn't stupidly closed that lid.

Lid or no lid, if it's generating that much heat at a plug/socket interface then it's not safe to use.

 

[Rolfe]

Lid or no lid, if it's generating that much heat at a plug/socket interface then it's not safe to use.

It was the plug of a second extension lead, not the appliance itself. And I take your point. If I try that again with a new plug I'll stand over it with my hand on the thing.

 

[T1 Terry]

It was the plug of a second extension lead, not the appliance itself. And I take your point. If I try that again with a new plug I'll stand over it with my hand on the thing.

Was the second cord another 2.5mmsq marked cable and the bigger 13 amp plug? If not, you run a real risk of the insulation melting on the cables just after the plug a presenting a serious hazard regarding fire and getting a nasty shock ....
Not a pleasant experience for most people, and I doubt the GOD/King in the US will get to experience that while seated in one of those special chairs ..... where they strap to person that is about to have their special crown fitted ...... so they don't run away I guess .....

T1 Terry