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Fuses don't help with overheating cables/sockets that run well within the specs. Schuko is rated for 16A peak, still most chargers only run it with 10A or 13A.
by andix 3y ago
Fuses don't help with overheating cables/sockets that run well within the specs. Schuko is rated for 16A peak, still most chargers only run it with 10A or 13A. I had a nearly melting socket already with 10A.
Most electric car charges nowadays can sense overheating by a decrease in voltage (i've seen a voltage drop from 225V to 205V within a few minutes, and the charger immediately limited the current to 6A). And a lot of them also monitor the temperature of the cables and the plugs.
Now the real issues enters the game: extension cords. If the temperature issues happens on the other side of the extension cord, maybe 20-50m away the charger still measures perfectly fine temperatures on the plug. But the socket the extension cord is plugged in may be already burning.
That's why you should never ever (!) charge an electric car on a Schuko extension cord. Even if everything is in perfectly working condition and rated for 16A.
- extraduder_ire 3y agoWhy would the cable/socket overheat if it's within spec? I thought that was the whole point of using fuses in the first place. Roll-out extension leads are extra dangerous though, even if fused. I have a relative that had to jump out of a second floor window on a construction site when someone set all of their batteries charging on a wrapped up extension lead, which rapidly started a fire. I assume it happened faster than the thermal cutoff could trigger.
- andix 3y agoWhy would a car crash if the speed limit is obeyed? There are many factors that can lead to overheating. Like damaged sockets, Plugs not plugged in fully, dirty plugs/sockets, cheap/old sockets that don't fulfil the specs, wear in sockets that leads to not enough pressure on the pins and smaller contact surface, ...