EV charger and caravan electric connectors, what's the difference? 👩🏼‍🔧🔦🔌⚡💡

[Skippi]

Hello 👋🏼 I hope someone with a better understanding of EV and caravan electrics can help me solve a question I am having.

I'm living in a caravan on a friend's driveway (I know, the British housing crisis) and there's an EV charging socket available but I don't know if it's okay to plug in the standard caravan connector. They look exactly the same to us but we need to check first.

Definitely don't want to cause any electrical issue for my lovely friends who are letting me stay with them while I try to find a permanent place to live.

Any help Very much appreciated.💡⚡🔌🔦👩🏼‍🔧

 

[Tobes]

Hi Skippi, an EV charger socket and a caravan IEC309 16A single phase socket look similar, but are completely different. The one with the blue cover is the IEC309 socket (as you would find on a camp site hookup) the second is the EV charger socket.

It is possible your friend has one of the former installed to support an IEC309 16A charger plug, in which case this would be completely suitable to use.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Basically the EV charge socket is not compatible with caravan electrics, as often there has to be a data link which allows the charger digitally talk and listen to vehicle to up up the charge rates and times.

 

[Dustydog]

Apologies if I’ve missed something. OP in a caravan on mates drive and wants to plug in mains electric. What’s wrong using his 25m orange cable and a 3 pin mains adaptor?