Yes, you can charge your electric car using a standard 3-pin household plug socket, but this should only be used as a temporary or emergency solution. A regular socket provides a slow charge (around 2.3kW), which can take over 24 hours to fully charge some EVs. More importantly, household sockets aren’t designed for continuous high loads, increasing the risk of overheating, fire, or electrical faults.

 

If you do use a household socket, it’s vital to ensure it’s on a dedicated circuit that’s properly protected by a double pole Type A RCD or RCBO,  as these devices are designed to handle the specific electrical characteristics of EV charging and offer essential fault protection.

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It’s also crucial to understand that many portable “granny leads” or commando fast-charging leads do not have open PEN fault protection. If there’s a fault on the incoming electricity supply — such as a broken PEN conductor — exposed metal parts on the car or charger can become dangerously live, posing a serious risk of electric shock or fire.

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To Mitigate the risk of open PEN faults  its strongly advisable to install an earth rod to the dedicated circuit converting it to a TT system. 

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For safer, faster, and smarter home charging however, it’s highly recommended to install a smart EV charger. Smart chargers provide faster charging speeds, intelligent load management, and critical built-in safety features like PEN fault detection to help protect you, your home, and your vehicle.

 

Why is PEN protection so important? Please see the section “What is an open PEN fault?” in our FAQ to learn more.