MG4 EV Charging - Part 1 - the Granny Lead / EVSE / Charging Brick / Slow Charger
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- This video looks at charging with the most basic equipment, a lead that connects your domestic supply to the car's on board AC charger with an ordinary domestic plug.
This unit is affectionately known as the "granny lead" due to the slow rate of charge, and possibly also because your granny wouldn't have a wall box, you'd have to use this if you wanted to charge at her place! It is also sometimes known as the "charging brick"
The correct terminology for this unit is EVSE which stands for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. In the early days of Electric Vehicles, many homes didn't have a wall box, and this would be the only way of charging your car, from your outdoor domestic plug socket at 2KW. With a tiny 20KWh battery, the car could be fully charged at 2KW in 10 or so hours. As a result, pretty much every EV came with one of these, but it is now becoming less common due to larger battery sizes and cost cutting by manufacturers.
As batteries have got bigger, the need to charge using a 2KW supply has decreased, and most EV owners have a dedicated 7KW wall box fitted. However, there are 3 common scenarios where a granny lead can be handy:
1) Overnight charging at friends / family / holiday cottages etc. - make sure you have permission to plug in at any destination you are visiting, because legally, if you don't, it is theft! It is also good manners to offer a contribution towards the electricity bill. If they say no, it means NO, and you'll have to find somewhere else to charge.
2) Using your low (sub 4KW) output solar to charge the car for free - basically using a 2KW EVSE allows you to put excess solar energy off your domestic solar panels in to the car without also drawing lots of power from the grid, as a 7KW wall box would do. Many modern wall boxes like the Zappi can do this for you automatically.
3) Desperation - you've run out and need some power form anywehere you can get it - knocking on doors might get you an hour or 2 of top up if you can find a friendly home owner to agree to helping you out, at least 2 hours on the granny lead will give you 10-12 miles to find a faster charger!
Granny leads also often come with quite short cables. There are 2 reasons for this:
1) Voltage drop - the longer the cable, the less power reaches the car due to internal resistance.
2) The manufacturers are cutting costs everywhere they can.
Always make sure the plug socket and domestic wiring are up to supplying 2KW CONTINUOUSLY. If in doubt get an electrician to check the socket for you.
Most important rules if using an extension cable:
1) Make sure it has high quality plugs and sockets
2) Make sure the cable conductors are at least 2.5mm to not get hot
3) Always fully uncoil your lead, no matter what
4) Use a DriBox or similar in wet conditions for the plug/socket - Авто та транспорт
found this video the only one so far which talks about basic charging and all the gear needed. Many thanks
Loving these videos Burl! Waiting for my MG4 Trophy, its my first EV and haven't a clue about how a lot of these things work. Thanks for the information and keep making them! 👍
Glad you like them!
It is worth a note that you can now actually get variable powered granny leads, that can go down as low as 6amp. I doubt a normal plug socket would have any problems at all running 6amp. These newer granny leads can do 6amp or 8amp as well as 10 or 13. From my basic research, household outlets in the UK pass a regulation that involves an 8amp continuous heat test. So I would say running one at 8amp should be safe, but 6 amp would of course be even safer. At 6amp this would give the EV upto 1.4kw input, which if the car spends 12 hours on the drive could input almost 17kw a night. That is not bad at all really, especially as a lot of us have batteries that prefer to be around 80% and not 100% and at 4 miles per kw, could easily equate to 67 miles charge per night. And if you didn't need 17kw, and just 7kw you could easily set the charge time in your vehicle to force it to charge during a cheaper tariff for 5 hours. Mmmmm. I think I have found my solution.
Hi there, can I just say I find these some of the most useful videos on the MG4. I’m enjoying watching these as I wait for mine to be delivered in early March. Also I can commend your choice of colour and spec of MG4 as this is exactly what I’ve ordered.🙂🤣😂
Totally agree with you. Not even ordered mine yet as waiting for some funds to arrive but these videos are superb, thanks Burl
Hope it lives up to your expectations!
Thanks for the support, it encourages me to continue delving into the car's features.
I also agree with Ian, I have also been watching all the videos and re-watching. Very useful info, so thank for making them. I pickup my red Trophy on Saturday.
In NL you get the type 2 charging cable as standard. After watching your video have asked my dealer on a granny lead. Your videos are very extremely helpful. Awaiting my Electric blue trophy version in two months
Glad to be of help
Great advise but I charge my car every day with a granny lead
But I do have a outside dedicated socket with a 16 amp type 1 breaker
In my board it works great
And as you say in your video I have a proper extension cable when I visit friend
Thanks for doing these video’s, very easy to watch and learn which is what they are supposed to do
Have been watching your MG4 videos, mine come next month😀. My home charge point has been fitted this morning so hoping Part 2 is about home charge points. Keep ‘em coming 👋
It is about AC fast charging which includes home wallboxes and slower public car park chargers.
Good advice for new owners thanks 🙏
Been watching your videos which I find so helpful as my MG 4 is on order so thank you can't wait till I get my red MG 4
Glad to help
Thank you for your whole video series, it's a great introduction for someone awaiting an MG4 delivery! It really feels like I'm now fully informed on how to use my new car :)
Thanks, I'm getting so many positive responses, I'll keep going.
@@BurlSolomons do you have a Patreon or PayPal way of saying thanks?
Great advice. Most new cars now don’t come with the granny cable. My new Kia EV6 didn’t so I purchased one as I have used the cable with my previous car when on holiday. As for the extension cable I use a 16 amp cable which came with my caravan
Appreciate that you highlight the socket should be suitable for 2kw continuous load. Worth watching Efixx channel video “can you charge an EV from a 13a socket” in summary a standard socket could overheat from a continuous load of 2kw also a dedicated charge point typically has a RCD/RCBO which can sense DC (ie not a type AC RCD/RCBO) plus “PEN” fault detection where needed. (Most houses built since the 1970’s).
A 13A socket should be rated for 3kw mimimum
@@M_a_r_ke you are right but not for a continuous load - hence the point that 3 pin sockets approved for continuous use are available to avoid overheating 👍🏻
Thanks for the video, we are intending to get a MG4 Trophy later this year, but as planning to move house ( and consumer unit is opposite side of house to driveway, quoted over £1k to install it!) we're just planning to use the granny lead plugged in the garage. Car will only be used a few times a week so don't envisage a problem!
Hello, I'm just about to collect an MG4 trophy. Can I ask how you are getting on with trickle charging please? How many hours does it take? Have you read anything that suggests trickle charging is not as good for the battery as rapid charging? Thanks!
I’m kind of hoping that this is all I need.
We do low mileage most weeks.
I’ve fast chargers fairly close by, so if I need a quick boost after a long journey, I can use those, but for the majority of the time, I’m hoping this suffices.
We will see.
Thanks again.
If you only need 80 miles overnight, it may add enough. However the contactors on the granny lead are not really designed for daily use, so it might let you down sooner rather than later... Hope it works out OK...
Very very helpful waiting for the trophy long range
Thanks, Burl, keep them coming :) Love these videos (don't even have the car yet 😄)
Loads more in the pipeline!
Love to see the second part of this charging test 😇
Thanks again for really useful videos. They prepare me as we wait for our Trophy.
Having read various comments on forum and Facebook I hope you are still planning a Part 2 for using a home charger. I'd be partiucularly interested in how you schedule using the app, car screen or the charger.
There also seems to be question raised about can you be sitting in and if the doors need to be locked. Probably the being in the car is when you're on a public charger (watching 2001🤔)
It's coming, but it's complicated...
@@BurlSolomons Surely not😉
Charging efficiency is also an issue. Your car is likely drawing 10 amps and 2300 watts but, as the car showed, the battery is only getting 1700 watts because of the overhead required by the car. At 7260 watts (32a) the charging efficiency would be much better. This issue increases the cost when using a granny charger - in the case you show by 2300/1700 so if your overnight electricity is charged at 7.5p/kwh you are actually paying over 10p/kwh.
That loss is massive and it should raise an eyebrow or two. Usually the loss seen in an EV is between 12% and 8%. For instance on a BYO Alto charger you see a 12% loss at 10A, and a 9% loss at 30A.
Am getting 10 miles per hour, absolutely fine with that.
Great videos. Keep ‘em coming 😊
Thank you! Will do!
Very informative thanks
The IET regulations state that a 13amp socket must be eV rated, (standard sockets are not rated for 13amp continuous) marked on the socket. Also the regulations do not allow the use of extension cables.
Thanks for this Burl. The information on the charging lights is useful and seeing the displays in the car is very useful. It is very different to my Mk1 ZS. Although I rarely use the granny charger I now know what to look out for when using my fast charger. To unplug the charger do you need to unlock the car as I do on my ZS?
Yes, the car end is locked in when the car is locked.
Thank you so much for putting all these tips together; so helpful if you’ve no experience of EVs let alone the MG4. Will you be putting together a video to describe the differences between the P lever button, P in the main gear circle, and P you can activate using the authored feature? Can’t really work out when you’d want to use or need to use the lever?….
Super helpful thanks! I’m about to get my first EV and it’s the MG4. Can you maybe post a link to the heavy duty extension lead you bought? Thank so much!
Is the cable and extension lead waterproof?
Also that charging lead from Screwfix is really expensive at £200! In fact ALL the charging leads are stupid prices, its a typical supply and demand trap..sigh!
If it's wet I use a Dribox
@@BurlSolomons An extension cable is not recommended. If you although need it, You need a cable which supports a high continous power, most do not.
1.7kW seems rather low, the granny charger supplied with my Nissan Leaf delivers at least 2.2-2.3kW if my smart energy display is to be believed and that gives me around 9 miles range per hour.
1.7 in the car, at least 10% losses through the car's charger, 2.3 draw at the plug.
Thanks for that, can I just ask, I picked up my mg4 today and when I got out of the car I was expecting it to automatically shut down and the doors lock but I had to use the fob, I don’t mind doing it but is there not an option for the car to lock itself when you walk away
Really annoying that MG don’t supply you with the 32A cable as standard. It’s nice to have the granny charger but we will never use it.
The problem with 32A cables is that they don't know what you want. Do you need a 3, 5, 7.5 or a 10M one? Coiled or straight? Colour preference? Do you need a 3 phase cable (more cores, more pins, more expensive), because if you have a Trophy or SE LR, you can benefit from 11KW 16A 3 phase charging. Many manufacturers, Tesla included, are no longer supplying any cables or granny lead....
@@BurlSolomons hardly any homes in the UK are 3 phase. so makes sense that they would just provide you with a standard type 2 cable like most other manufacturers do. "many manufacturers are no longer supplying any cables" seems to be only the expensive brands that have no cables. Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, Nissan all provide a type 2.
In some ways they do you a favour. A granny lead cost about £200 whilst a type 2 to type 2 is around £100.
@@Dreadpirateflappy My Tesla came with both granny and Type 2 cable in three phase.
It was nice coming at three phase,v that's the one I leave in the car, because as you rightly say, I don't have it at home but *might* at a public charger.
I then bought a single phase to leave at home.
@Burl Solomons I collected my MG4 SE long range today, and it came with both cables. I have ordered a longer type 2, 3 phase to provide more flexibility
Hi, superb video with sound explanation.
I too want this type option and have looked at the website you mentioned - there is a 1.5mm 16amp or the 2.5mm 24amp - which one did you go for?
Since the granny lead is only 2kw, (10A) there is little point in a 2.5mm conductor, unless you are going over 10M in length, which may result in some voltage drop
Hi there,
I was just wondering what cable actually came with the car? Do you only get the 3 pin granny cable? Or do you get a fully type 2 cable or some sort of adaptor for using untethered public chargers? My mg4 is on order for delivery in May. Many thanks 😊
All MG4s now supplied only with Granny lead as standard.
Hi , very useful information. I have my trophy coming at the end of this month. My first ev vehicle, I was expecting a type 2 cable to come with the car ? Do you know what the latest models are coming with.
All cars are now supplied with just the granny lead as far as I am aware.
@@BurlSolomons
Yes, I have since realised, thanks 👍
Thank you for the video. Does the granny charger come with the car? If not what does the car come with. I’m expecting mine in mid May. 🎉
All cars should be supplied with the granny lead from now on
I'm surprised it only pulls ten amps and not the full thirteen amps (or sixteen amps if using a European socket.)
My friend doesn’t have wall socket outside his house, so was wondering if I can use 1 gang extension cable which would fit thru his letter box, I think 1 meter long would do the job, on cable description states: 13AMP fuse, high conductivity copper cable, max rated power 3250w.
Also on another cable founded it’s says: 3*1.00mm2 copper line max load 3250w so these extension cables should be capable to handle power?
You need to be absolutely sure of 3 things.
1) the cable is up to it along with both plugs on each end
2) The socket you are plugging into is of good quality and properly wired in, on a ring main of adequate capacity
3) The house has wiring up to modern spec with RCBO breakers in the fuse board.
If the weather is damp, a dri-box to put the outdoor plugs in to stop water shorting the whole lot out. If in doubt try it for an hour or 2 while you are there and regularly check the temperature of the blades on the plug. If they start getting hot, abandon the idea. Warm is OK.
@@BurlSolomons thanks, appreciate.. will do a short test before leaving overnight.. house is new builds, so sockets should be wired properly.
Nice video but 10amps with cause the socket to burn out if continuously used bs7671 states extension leads should not be used however I use mine when visiting or when staying at a hotel .Also the extension lead in the video is not ip42 rated so if it rains you could get a shock
NO IT WONT!! 2kw is very commonly used continuously from wall sockets and unless the sockets are installed by a cowboy they can handle 2kw fine.
2kw is only 8.69 amps at 230v well within the 13amp rating of a three pin plug. a high quality 2.5mm extension cable will handle this draw without getting anything hot at all.
All external electrics should be protected by RCD breaker to protect against shocks due to water ingress regardless of water proof rating of the cables.
@@MrStevegibb bs7671 amendment 2
Are there any fast charging cables from the home 3 pin sockets?
No, you would cause problems with your fuse board. The most you can draw from 3 pin socket to a car charger is 10 A at 240V which in reality is around 2 KW. Plugs tend to overheat above 2KW continuously. A wallbox with a type 2 cable is usually 32A with its own breaker and circuit and can charge at over 7KW.
@BurlSolomons thank you for quick response 🙏
Hi, I don’t know if you can help? I tried my 3 pin charger in different sockets around my home and the granny charger keeps going in to over-surge(indicated by flashing lights on brick box)…the car charges fine via any of charge point…and ideas or is it a faulty box? Or should I change the maximum current level on battery setting? Thanks!
Not come across this problem - would be a good idea to take the granny lead back to the dealer and see if swapping it with another one causes the same problem.
I didn't get a granny charger with my MG4 but I did get the cable for 7 KWH home charging . Did you get both with your MG4?
No. I only got the granny lead. However, I do already have a 10M 32A 3 phase cable from my Tesla and Zoe days....
Hi, what type of extension cable is this ? Kindly share the details. Thank you
What's the name of your extension lead
I noticed the car said 1.7kW but the app says 2. Also over 4 hours it took 9kW. The Stellantis cars also report a ‘miles of charge per hour’ that seems lower than 2kW. I wonder what’s going on.
There are losses between the cahrger input and output into the battery, this is probably what you are seeing here.
@@BurlSolomons Yep I'm seeing 6kWh on 7kw chargers and 9kWh on 22 (11) kW chargers.
with this 3 pin charger how long does it take to charge the battery?
At least 32 hours for the 64KWh MG4 from empty to full.
Are MG and Tesla granny chargers interchangeable ?
They should be, but I'd be very careful. First generation Tesla UMC chargers used to cause serious problems with the Renault Zoe, due to the strange way that the Tesla UMC is wired for 32A single phase power, it can mess up a car that can charge on 3 phase.
Just curious how long the cable is end to end?
How long is the granny charger that comes with the mg4
Does the charging cable come with the car?
Does the lead come with the MG4?
Just the granny lead - you can buy a type 2 lead if you want
Just make sure that I'm able to unplug it in a hurry as I don't want to "Get Nicked" by Plod. You wiv' me ???
I've found the one with the car charges car slower then a 3rd party one anyone else find that?
My MG granny lead charges at 2.3 KW, whereas the Nissan one I have got charges at 2.0 KW
You left the cable wound up as a coil on the pavement, that's gonna get hot?!
Did you actually watch the video? I specifically mentioned uncoiling the cable completely more than once.
@@BurlSolomons A always watch your video's completely...
Look here: ua-cam.com/video/mmdikgWmXc4/v-deo.html
You left the cable wound up as a coil on the pavement (upper right corner of the screen) and plugged it in... 🤭
@@PaulvanDruten case of: Do as I say - not as I do.....
@@wino99999 LOL right!