Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and thunderstorms - Is it safe/recommended?

So sorry about your incident, It is an expensive lesson learnt. I write this message with unprecedented lightening, thunderstorm and rain outside today. It seems the last discussion didn’t reach a conclusion. 

As mentioned above, my V2G install took over the lightening rod installed previously by the Rolec engineer. I do not remember being advised not to use the charger in certain weather, unless there is a fine print I have missed to read.

The installation did add an internal earth stake specifically for the charger.

The power is all supplied underground.

The surge completely fried the charging unit and the charging interface of the car.

This made the car undriveable as needed to undo the handshake removal of the cable,  so thought it was still plugged in! There was no visible damage.

My biggest issue here is that users cannot be expected to know about all the surge protection needed and regardless should be expected to leave any EV plugged in overnight…

Thanks @PeterR1947 

To help others understand what we’re discussing, here’s the diagram which I pictured in my head when I suggested above that an EV charger could have two separate earths.

So I’ve conjectured that the case/electronics has an earth stake, and that there are internal lightning/surge suppressors to quench whatever nasties arrive via the live & neutral. These too need a path to earth.

I’m not saying this is how it should be. I’m merely putting the hypothesis forward for discussion.

Just checked and confirmed that the charger uses the Earth stake connection exclusively; use of a PME earth alone for an EV charger isn’t allowed under the regs.

You are quite correct @Mateus77 

Ofgem has identified the lack of knowledge amongst us consumers as a serious issue holding back the advance of low-energy and renewable-energy devices. It is the responsibility of all of us to do something about this… a good role for an open Forum! … and also a great pub-discussion

Please tell any local friends & neighbours that we’re discussing your lightning-induced surges here - especially if they also have an EV.

Likewise if you know of any local electricians. They will have an understanding of the ground/earthing characteristics in your area which will be better than that from national/regional charger installers. I’d like local electricians to become aware of the sort of anti-surge devices I use and where to install them to be most effective.

We don’t yet know if @Mateus77 has a PME feed to the house @PeterR1947 … but you’re quite right of course. I’m heading in that direction in this discussion!

And Mateus - Peter is a qualified electrician, OK?

Although long retired :)

@sylm_2000wrote:

It seems the last discussion didn’t reach a conclusion. 

True. But I’ve continued to research this topic over the past 9 months leading up to the purchase of own EV.

• I’m pretty confident that I now understand the electrical safety regulations…
• and I’m pretty confident that I know how to fit the correct lightning/surge suppressors to quench their impact on houses with an EV charger.

The task now is to combine those two sets of knowledge into one diagram!

I’d like to wait a few hours and hear more of @Mateus77 ‘s situation to check that my solution could be applied there.

Then I’ll post the diagram and ask the Forum Members to see if they can spot any flaws. In particular my solution may not suit all possible ways in which our houses can be supplied from the Distribution Grid or all possible chargers.

HI again, 

How do I confirm if I have a PME feed?

Also no issues at all with Pete being an electrician - Hi Pete! 

Cheers

There should be more than one indicator if you’re on a PME feed to the house.

A: At your local substation there will be a notice/label which says “PME” in letters about 75mm high.

B: Your house will probably not have its own earth stake.

C: The earth connection to your Consumer Unit (box of trips/fuses) will emerge from the Service Fuse which belongs to the regional Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Ie They have provided the earth for you.

If still in doubt, check with a neighbour.

Either all houses fed from that substation will be PME or they will not. There can’t be a mix of different feeds.

Looks like a PME setup then...!