Charging while raining

It's been pouring cats and dogs for several days here. Charges with Toyota EVSE with no problems.

 

It's no problem, as long as you're using a properly-grounded electrical outlet. You should also inspect the EVSE connectors and make sure they are clean and that the rubber gasket is in place.

When you plug the EVSE into the car, the EVSE and car communicate for a few seconds before the high voltage is energized. So a best practice is to let go of the charger after attaching it to the car.

When you unplug the EVSE, pressing the "trigger" button immediately de-energizes the high voltage, if the car is still charging. So press the trigger, wait a moment, and detach.

 

I assume you meant charging at a station that is not under cover. Even though it should be safe but do you really want to take that risk to gain 40 cents?

 

Outside in the rain? Not a problem as everything is well grounded and fault protected (especially if you have followed directions for your outside outlet). I charge in the rain at times.

Now during an electrical storm... Different matter. If a thunderstorm pops up and I am charging I will always go out and unplug the ESEV and store it if I can even though my solar panels and the whole house is surge protected! If I know an electrical storm is coming, I delay the charging until all is safe.

 

This is a good point I never thought of..............

 

yup. i charge in the rain no problem. plug in to an outlet, then plug into the car. the evse has gfci.

 

During rain/snow....
I usually plug into the car- then into the wall outlet for a recharge.
Once complete- I unplug from the wall outlet- wait a few seconds- then unplug from car.

Might as well be ultra cautious- it only takes a few extra seconds....

 

I'm not certain about this, but I believe pressing the trigger will stop the car from drawing power but will leave the power pins on the plug "hot". Stopping the car from drawing power prevents arcing when you unplug from the car.

When you actually unplug, that is when the power pins on the J1772 plug are de-energized (you may hear a mechanical thunk from a relay/contactor on some EVSE units).

In any case, the EVSE itself has a builtin "GFCI" (like those required in bathroom power outlets) that should be capable of shutting off the power flow before any serious injury can occur if it detects current leakage.

 

correct, pulling down on the trigger stops the power to the car.

 

It's not a risk. That's how welders work, on the bottom of the ocean ... and salt water is a lot more conductive than regular water. I've plugged and unplugged in the rain, barefoot, untold times.

If you look hard enough, there's STILL a video on the web of the original paddle charger set up in a fish aquarium ... being hooked up to charge an EV1. So don't worry about it. Jeez ... if you want to worry ... consider the liquid explosive fuel, prone to blow up at the introduction of the smallest static spark off the nozzle or a cel phone.
.

.

 

Agree - I take sensible care to keep the connectors dry but other than that I just get on with it whatever the weather.

 

best practice would be to plug it in! ;-)

 

I've read, not to charge outdoors when it's raining. My electrical connector at work is outdoors and is GFI protected. I wouldn't connect when it's raining, but I've disconnected many times. I normally turn the circuit breaker to "off" just to be safe. Something about 240V standing in water...

 

There is NO RISK. Rebound is correct above.
Plug into the power outlet, then connect the PIP OR disconnect the PIP, then disconnect the power outlet.

 

This procedure sounds like it's for a home charger. What about the public charging station where you can't disconnect the power outlet?

 

Then don't worry at all. The charge cable handle disconnects the voltage.

 

I charge in the rain. I've found that there's a clever spot above the exhaust where the block fits perfectly, protected from the rain. Just ensure that the muffler is not hot.