[DebF_EONNext]

@WizzyWigg it's purely just for my own interest I've already hounded @Lee_EONNext on his thoughts 😂

[WizzyWigg]

@DebF_EONNext Ah, fully understood. 😂. All my neighbours are ICE users. EVs and chargers are rarer than hens teeth in our area. 👴

[geoffers]

Originally Posted by rwh202

Anyone using a smart socket to switch the granny EVSE is braver than me and needs to be 100% sure the car isn't still charging when switched off.

Don't know why you say that 🥴 - it's just like switching the socket on/off via the switch.

I assess how many hours I need to charge for, aiming for around 80% charge (unless I'm going to use its full range the next day) and schedule it to turn on at midnight and off after the required period.

How on earth could it continue charging if the power from the socket is off? 😂

[rwh202]

Originally Posted by geoffers

Don't know why you say that 🥴 - it's just like switching the socket on/off via the switch.

I assess how many hours I need to charge for, aiming for around 80% charge (unless I'm going to use its full range the next day) and schedule it to turn on at midnight and off after the required period.

How on earth could it continue charging if the power from the socket is off? 😂

Hard killing the power (with a smart socket or just flicking the switch) is asking for trouble. Not only are you risking the switch by breaking a high current, but more importantly the onboard charger will generate huge harmonics and surges from the sudden loss of power. This will fry the onboard protection in short order, followed by the expensive car electronics.
There is a reason for the signalling protocols in place for a home EVSE that graciously signals the end of supply and allows the charger to shutdown and stop at a zero voltage crossing.

[geoffers]

Originally Posted by rwh202

Hard killing the power (with a smart socket or just flicking the switch) is asking for trouble..

I don't think you fully understand the charging setup since the car (Mercedes PHEV) is supplied with a dedicated three pin charging point rated for 8amp (2kW) charging from a home three pin socket

How you can use this without throwing a switch I fail to understand - no fry-ups yet in the past two years 😂

[rwh202]

The car needs to shutdown its onboard charger before any switches are thrown and circuits broken whilst current flowing.
Ideally the EVSE provides that signal or the user stops the charge in the vehicle (or via the vehicle app).
As a backstop, on a Type-1 vehicle (don't know what the Merc is), pressing the button to release the charging socket initiates the end of charge.
On a Type-2, the short proximity pilot pin attempts the same thing hoping that it takes longer than the 20ms needed by the OBC to shutdown before the live pins are disconnected.

Edit:
I've found an online manual for an 'aptiv' branded EVSE as supplied with some Mercedes PHEVs. It has these nuggets:

Prohibition:
Do not unplug the power plug
during the charging process


Do not use extension cords, cable
drums, multiple sockets, (travel)
adapters, timers, etc.


Operate the charging cable directly
connected to a fixed grid socket only


To interrupt the charging process,
unlock the vehicle charging inlet
and remove the vehicle connector

All sensible precautions I'd expect to see in any 'granny charger' instructions and there to prevent damage to the OBC. There will be protection for the odd unavoidable event but these (typically MOVs) have finite energy absorption and will give up the ghost and the next event will probably be IGBTs going up in expensive smoke.

[geoffers]

Originally Posted by rwh202

Do not unplug the power plug during the charging process
.

Ok - thanks for that 👍 : I'll review my charging and terminate using the end-charge button under the flap.

As someone said here recently "every day's a school day" - it's survived 2 years doing it the wrong way, so probably fortunate we had this conversation! 😀

[geoffers]

Originally Posted by DebF_EONNext

@geoffers am I right in thinking you have a charger at home? If so what was your experience of having it installed was it painless?

Interestingly, I'm in the process of planning to have my (external) garage rebuilt and will be looking to incorporate an EV charge point with this

This is a very good video which describes the 10 most important points to consider when having an EV charge-point installed : it's not as simple as some may expect 🤔

In my case it looks as though I'm going to have to get the DNO to replace my incoming supply as I'm currently on a "Looped Service" shared with my neighbour.

Then, although my household consumer unit is up to the latest spec I'll probably need a separate dedicated EV consumer unit, either incorporating or in conjunction with a Surge Protection Device(SPD)

Also there will be the trunking/cabling required to run the supply cable out the back to the garage itself. I'll probably also run an ethernet cable for the charge point, rather than relying on wifi signal (which although probably OK, it's much better to have a hard-wired connection)

[retrotecchie]

@geoffers

A bit overkill for a PHEV which doesn't need anything more pokey than a conventional 13A socket, but a wise investment in future-proofing if you decide to go all-electric in future 👍.

It's not an option for me and likely never will be as my incoming supply ain't man enough for an EV (and cannot be upgraded past 63A). Plus it requires a smart meter, and that's never going to happen round here.

[geoffers]

Originally Posted by retrotecchie

@geoffers
....but a wise investment in future-proofing if you decide to go all-electric in future 👍.
...

Agreed re PHEV, but it's all about the future proofing /resale value etc with a new build garage, plus the option to incorporate solar/battery storage into the build as well👍