What are peoples experiences when using a granny charger?

[Gstathers]

Using mine to charge the zs whilst waiting on home charger install. It is really temperamental, sometimes works first time. Sometimes I get the whizz whizz and "connected but not charging"
What are everyone's thoughts?

 

[Gadget Geek]

I would suggest getting an electrician to check your wiring.

 

[Jomarkh]

No issues with the granny EVSE when used before my Ohme was installed.
Are you using it on a good quality 13A extension cable or a newly installed outside socket?

 

[Gstathers]

Socket tested OK, using tough leads 5m extension with in line RCD

 

[Jomarkh]

Have you tried it in a different socket and do you fully unwind the extension cable?

 

[rpannell]

Any chance you have data over the mains in your house, or a neighbouring house. The data can affect the EVSE.

 

[Thebiglad]

I've been charging my Gen 1 ZSEV for about 18 months pretty much 100% on the Granny charger with no issues.

 

[Tiny Tim]

I'm currently charging just with a granny cable with no issues. It's 16A - so I'm getting around 3Kw and I watched it carefully to start with. We have powerline extenders and they cause no issues. Maybe when we get a smart charger that might change.
The socket is a within a few feet of the distribution board and there are only a few sockets in each run - so though it's not brand new it had the best chance - so far so good.

 

[chowbenter]

I got my ZS EV in 2020 & have had no problems charging with the granny charger, I have an adjustable Fenkee 7kw charger that can charge at 10,16,20,24,32 Amps but only use the 10A setting for the majority of the time as we don't use the car every day.

 

[Gstathers]

Have you tried it in a different socket and do you fully unwind the extension cable?

Yes used all available sockets and proved with other devices

 

[Gstathers]

Any chance you have data over the mains in your house, or a neighbouring house. The data can affect the EVSE.

No nothing like that, no powerlone adapters etc...

 

[ShirLow]

Have had no issues with our granny charger and we use about 70% of the time. Gen2 ZS LR

 

[Tiny Tim]

The other tests are:

1. Someone else's granny charger at your house
2. Your granny charger at someone else's house
3. Your granny charger on someone else's car

Once you've tried that you should be able to identify where the problem sits. However.... as it's intermittent.... ..... .... have fun!!

 

[Matt M]

It will be because you are using an extension lead (from my experience) mine charges fine charger plugged in to the socket in the garage. The rare times I’ve tried to use an extension to save swapping cars on drive it cuts out after varying short time periods.

I’m 99% sure our user manual states not to use an extension. Hope this helps

 

[1MGEVUSER]

Any chance you have data over the mains in your house, or a neighbouring house. The data can affect the EVSE.

Do you mean like the use of WiFi extenders through the mains?
If yes, would this effect the home fast charger too?
I do use network extender for my CCTV but I don't yet have the car to test it... Not until sometime in July... hopefully.

 

[BryG]

Do you mean like the use of WiFi extenders through the mains?
If yes, would this effect the home fast charger too?
I do use network extender for my CCTV but I don't yet have the car to test it... Not until sometime in July... hopefully.

I use power line extenders for WiFi. (Devolo brand) and they cause no problems with my Hypervolt 7kW charger or granny charger. I agree with others that folk should get an electrician to check their mains circuit and ask them to recommend the best way to get a supply close enough to the car as some so-called 13A extensions are not good enough. It depends on the thickness (or more correctly the cross sectional area) of the conductors.

 

[1MGEVUSER]

Best buying mains extension cables from a reputable brand.

 

[WhoIsDave]

Using mine to charge the zs whilst waiting on home charger install. It is really temperamental, sometimes works first time. Sometimes I get the whizz whizz and "connected but not charging"
What are everyone's thoughts?

I get this regularly, whether charging at home or work with the granny charger. If you get the wiz wiz sound it hasn’t locked in. Unlock and locking car again, usually does the trick. I always pull the charge lead at the grill just to make sure it’s locked before leaving, the one time I didn’t check I had just enough charge left to get me home as it didn’t charge. No extension involved.

 

[Terry2]

I use a 13A plug in my garage. The plug is on a separate supply to the mains. The cable is long enough to reach the car and charges at the rate of about 2kw, or roughly 8 miles per hour. I have used it on Gen1 (Exclusive) and Gen 2 |(SR) and has always worked fine. If you have a connector cable that doesn’t reach then I’d go out and buy one that’s long enough (though they aren’t cheap). Everything I have read about using extension cables pointed to the danger of over heating

 

[chowbenter]

I had a 15 metre thick 16a caravan extension lead left over from our last caravan & our daughter uses that on an outside 13a socket to charge overnight on the driveway when she uses the car with no problems at all.