Question 1
If I want to do Level 1 charging at home,

is a 13A socket with 4mm wire and a separate circuit sufficient?

I will be charging using a mobile charger with a 10A–13A configuration.


Question 2
Recommendation for a good Level 1 EV charger?

Not recommended for daily long term charging. Fire hazard.

Better get proper EV charger box installed.

yes enough... dun need separate circuit...

but inconvenient

If you drive < 100km a day, 2kW charging is more than enough.

10 hours when you sleep gives you 20kW which covers at least 100km for almost all EVs.

No extension. Make sure it is plugged in fully making full contact. Use approved chargers, can get the ones from PHEV or other EV brands. Fully uncoil the leads don’t coil it up (Google yourself why). Those China lazada ones… I won’t trust them cause it is a very big constant load.

The only challenge is where you need to do outstation trips then just plan your journey to hit DC chargers <20% SOC to juice up.

Ensure that 13a socket is direct not looping
Some 13a socket is looping to save cost

1. yes you can.
2. make sure its direct from mcb (think of it as water heater turned on for 10 hours)
3. make sure its not cap ayam socket, not s-brand
4. make sure the MCB is 20A and not more, type b RCD 30mA
5. make sure the cable is really 4mm2, not cap ayam, not aluminium, not copper tinted
6. make sure you use original plug. not modified. ori plug got temperature sensor inside
7. set to 10A maximum
8. this will test your house earthing. no earth = cannot charge

9 . if possible, change the 3pin socket to industrial cee
10. budget for real wall charger

Not just turned on. In constant use, max heat for 10 hours. Even normal use of water heater we don't turn on max heat usually.

But yeah if you don't go more than 100km daily, no need for a dedicated wall box lah. if you have 2 EVs then you will need.

jgn main2 , cannot tahan the heat

Just get a CEE socket at home
Then get a portable charger

CEE socket wiring cheaper than installing a wallbox? Same wires kan for 1 phase. Then just get a wallbox installed.
Not like CEE sockets available all over, you got the portable charger also can't use everywhere.

With normal 3 pin charger, can use anywhere just lower the draw down to 7A to be safe.

Do a 3pin to CEE socket then. Just remember to set the ampere low

I drive < 100km per week, then I think should be ok, as long as I use higher capacity socket and wire, also use separate circuit for it, worst come to worst the circuit will jump fuse ? usually last time when have socket faulty is like this

can monitor it first at the beginning if no overheat issue only charge overnight

1) 4-6mm wire
2) 13A socket
3) Circuit this one I don't understand which one you guys discuss above, but I will ask the installer to give a safer one

Thanks all

Since you use less than 100km per week

Just limit charging draw to 7A & you’ll be fine lah, and charge everyday.

Basically the socket must not be looped, must be installed properly, and uses properly sized SIRIM cables. Your house developer is proper one and everything ikut spec it is fine to just plug and play. Problem only arises if corners were cut.

I did the same to a 1980s house, just plug in existing socket and draw 10A overnight no issues. Did it for 2 years. Of course back then no such bullshit as copper clad aluminum cables or shit China quality sockets.

Likewise I did to a 8 year old house developed by a top public listed developer, no issues with the original socket and 10A draw.

I just use a normal 13A socket with 2.5mm wires to charge my car. Bought a CCP granny charger from Shopee (Feyree brand) and it works very well. So far I am only using this charger for my car. Will be installing a 7kw EVSE in a few months, but there is no rush as the granny charger works fine for me right now. My usage is only about 500km a week so charging overnight twice a week is good enough to replenish the battery.

The granny charger usually defaults to 12A but the current will fluctuate between 10A and 12A. I changed the plug head to an MK bakelite one as the one that came with the charger was not a high quality plug. The Feyree charger uses good quality 4mm copper cables.

If you want to setup a separate circuit and pull 4mm wires, then why limit yourself with 13A? You can use CEE plug or at least get a 15A socket installed. Take note that the standard 3 pin sockets in a home only uses 2.5mm wires not 4mm.

From what I understand, most houses have looped 13A SSOs with one 36A MCB per circuit using 2.5mm² conductors, presumably to cut cost and it's legal iinm. Aircon points have dedicated individual circuit with 20A MCB.

I think the risk is when the EV is charging using one SSO, and another user plugs in a 2000W hair dryer, etc into another SSO from the same circuit.

You sure it is not copper clad aluminum cables? Cause China factories love to pull that kinda wool. I ain't risking burning my house down.

Good quality copper cables bro, soft and pliable can twist with pliers also not aluminium, 4mm cables some more. The cables are not even warm pulling 12A, but the plug head is slightly warm behind the live terminal.

well... from experience.
was charging my hybrid via level 1- using 3pin socket at car porch

After a few months.... the internal of the socket melted, and the plastic deform slighly. I was using Simone which is a reputatable brand ( still make it China probably)

Eventually change to a wall box. Get a Ori BMW from Carousell for 2.2k, and installation 2.5k.

so instead of 14 hrs charging- i could get done in 4 hrs or so.
this help when i do a few trip in the morning- come home rest, and go out in evening.

Previously- there is no point to plug in for just 2-3 hrs as you may get like 7km of range per hr.

Fancy sockets and switches from simon, schneider, etc. are for looking nice, they are not high quality sockets. You want high quality sockets, buy the MK or UMS ones with a single face plate (not the thin clip on face plate to cover the screws). They don't look fancy but they are made out of good quality fire retardant material, look for bakelite if possible and don't cheap out and buy the cheapest socket that MK and UMS makes, you want the most expensive one which is still a lot cheaper than a simon socket.