Hello folks - help! We bought a Japanese import BMW 225XE last month. It’s a PHEV with a battery that gives approx 20 miles which for our local use is ideal. However, I’d assumed the charger (as it had a 3 pin plug and had been used in the UK before), rated at 200V would be OK. It’s been fine for weeks, but today the plug melted inside and there is also some damage to the socket (in a dry carport). Is there something I should be doing? An adaptor of sorts or a UK 240V charger? Thanks in advance for any help. BJB
Using dedicated charging point. The 3 pin charger is designed for occasional use only. I only use my 3 pin charger in an emergency or when away from home E.g. on holiday. You are not alone. https://motorhomer.com/threads/ev-charging-point-for-my-car-melting-the-3-pin-plugs.45269/
Thanks Chris. It’s a type 1 charger port - would/could you recommend a home charging point? I’ve just looked in town and the cable ports are very different from what I’ve got (including a couple of adaptor cables)…..?
Has someone chopped off the Japanese plug and fitted a UK one? What amps does the charger specify on it? I know the 200V Nissan Leaf chargers can draw a lot of amps, 15A if I remember correctly. The sale/resale of the 200V Japanese chargers has been banned in NZ as regular sockets are only rated for 10A here, people were finding the same with cooked outlets.
Japan runs on a 2 phase 200v domestic supply which is split into respective 100v phases at the mains outlets, similar to how it’s done here in North America but at a slightly lower voltage, while The UK delivers a single phase ~220v to the home. In order to provide enough power to things like EVs without insane amperage, the US and Japan have to keep the 2 phases together to double the voltage. The charger is expecting a 2 phase 200v supply, and may not be designed to accept a single phase at 220v. If it’s drawing 15a that is more than the G type UK plug is rated for - a 13a fuse will allow a lot more current than 13a for various reasons - they don’t blow until they reach around 20a - but running for long periods at that amperage will see components melting eventually. (more accurately it’s a not “2 phase” but “split phase”, but easier to get your head around it if you think of two seperate phases. There’s 4 wires, 2 lives at 100v each, one neutral a ground. For 100v they use one live wire and a neutral. For 200v they use both lives and no neutral. The charger is wired to receive 2 seperate 100v but in the UK it can’t get see that, just 1 live and 1 neutral)
Japan uses the J1772 plug for AC EV charging, same as North America. In Europe it’s the Mennekes type as standard. You might have to look for a J1772 adaptor or home charger for EU use if such a thing exists
If the charger is rated at 200V 15A it shouldn't be connected to a UK outlet that is 230V 13A. Yes, the power consumption is either combination is about equal, but the UK outlet is over voltage and under spec for current. I'd say you need to find a UK/EU charger.
