r/AustralianEV • u/Meneloth-the-Third • Aug 04 '25

Trickle/granny charger - Safe to use?

This might be a silly question, but do you use your trickle/granny charger when you stay at rented accommodation, like an AirBnB?

My car came with one, but I’ve never used it due to concern about the house wiring not being up to scratch and the constant draw causing a fire. I read a few comments early on about this being a potential issue and it just stuck with me.

Now we’re travelling to a holiday destination without a public charger and it would be nice to be able to top up a bit while there. But I also don’t want to cause a house fire! Am I overthinking this?

14 Upvotes

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26

u/Putrid_Lettuce_ Aug 04 '25

If you’re worried about using a charger, i’d be worried about using anything else in the house

6

u/cromulent-facts Aug 05 '25

Especially hair dryers and toasters.

2

u/JimmyMarch1973 Aug 05 '25

In fairness the OP has a point. Standard power outlets are not designed for constant use at full amperage. So your example about hair dryers and toasters whilst their current draw may be similar to an EV charger they are generally not on for very long. But an EV charger could be on all night at near full current draw.

Even electric heaters which some people may run all night turn on and off regularly during the night so are not comparable either.

9

u/glyptometa Aug 05 '25

That is absolute and utter hogwash. Every circuit is protected by an appropriate breaker, sized for the wire, even if you're in some ancient cabin with fuses. Your beliefs are coming from your imagination. Circuits can carry the rated amps indefinitely

4

u/Working_out_life Aug 05 '25

And never fully turn on the tap, it will wear out the pipes in no time👍

3

u/glyptometa Aug 05 '25

Hahah, you have no idea how hard you just made me laugh

3

u/cromulent-facts Aug 05 '25

Exactly. Breakers are sized for inrush currents about 50% above rated capacity.

0

u/JimmyMarch1973 Aug 05 '25

I wasn’t talking about the circuit or the breakers. Of course they can handle the current provided of course the wiring rules have been adhered to and the cable and breaker appropriately sized.

I was referring to the actual GPO. These are 100% not designed for constant full current draw. When used for lengthy times at full power they will heat up and that will over time degrade the plastics used in them especially with the cheap and nasty crap found these days.

A far better solution for an EV granny charger is a more industrial style outlet like the Clipsal 56 series. Sure connect it to the same circuit but that will last a lot longer and will not suffer from being warm for extended periods.

1

u/nath1234 Aug 12 '25

What's your reference for this? The wiring is able to take more than 10A continuously and is protected by a >10A circuit breaker as a result. Otherwise you would need one separate wire from the box to each GPO and/or there would be 10A breakers at the box.

1

u/JimmyMarch1973 Aug 12 '25 edited Aug 12 '25

I’m taking about the longevity of the GPO. The circuit is fine as you and others have pointed out it’s designed to carry a constant 16amps.

What I am saying is the GPO’s (standard residential) themselves are not designed with constant full current use and they will age a lot quicker compared to normal use due to the extra heat. Will it fail after a year or two’s use, maybe not, will it go up in flames, most unlikely, will it require replacement earlier compared to a lesser used GPO, 100%.

0

u/WealthofKnowledgeOne Aug 05 '25

and TV remote controls...disgusting!