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Author Topic: Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?  (Read 483 times)

TheRan

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Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?
« on: January 11, 2020, 06:09:57 AM »

First off apologies if this is in the wrong area, I figured the BST section wasn't appropriate as I'm not specifically looking to buy something from someone on here (although if you have what I'm looking for I'd be interested).

In particular I'm looking to buy a type 2 to IEC adapter cable (or I guess to a UK mains socket if such a thing exists) so I can charge my Zero at public charge stations and I'd also like to get one of the OEM quick chargers at some point (I'd prefer a Hollywood Electrics Elcon 2500 or a Diginow setup but those will be even harder to find). I've managed to find just one Euro site selling the type 2 cable (evchargeking.com) but it'll end up costing me £275 which seems like a lot, and I haven't been able to find a single site that sells the charger (AF1 sells them but they say it's an American version, if there's any difference, and I'd prefer to get it from Europe at least).

I find it funny that the Zero site mentions the charger but they don't actually sell it directly, and any link I follow to their parts store (such as from the Unofficial Zero Manual or the English Electric site) says it doesn't exist.

Thanks in advance
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Crissa

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Re: Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2020, 09:27:27 AM »

The quick answer is at https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Chargers under 'level 2' down the page a bit.  I bought a J-plug adapter from TusconEV and that's been great, I can plug in at various public chargers for lunch an get enough to get home.

But that doesn't really answer your question about uk-based places.

I'd expect uk-based dealers and websites or shows to have links, but I don't see any.

-Crissa
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2014 Zero S ZF8.5

TheRan

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Re: Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2020, 10:08:32 AM »

The Tuscon adaptor wouldn't work over here, at least not without an additional cable. The majority of stations have a socket and no built in cable. It would be nice if they did because then I could just carry a small adapter, as it is I'll need to carry a longer cable to reach from the station to the bike.

The Zero Manual does link to a couple Schuko adaptors which would be perfect if they had a UK socket instead, then I could just use the stock cable that I always have in my tank anyway. I guess I could just carry a Schuko to UK adapter with me too, but it's more stuff to break and added resistance.

EDIT: Turns out the site that has the Schuko adapters also has a cable that goes straight to IEC C13, and it would only be a bit over £100. Come to think of it I could also just cut the cable and wire in my own socket, don't know why I didn't think of that before.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2020, 10:18:05 AM by TheRan »
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Crissa

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Re: Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2020, 10:27:56 AM »

TucsonEV hand-makes each adapter, so they can probably just make what you want.

-Crissa
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2014 Zero S ZF8.5

TheRan

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Re: Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2020, 11:16:50 AM »

Looking closer at their site I noticed plug looked different, turns out that's not the same as the Mennekes one we use here in Europe.
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Crissa

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Re: Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2020, 01:34:13 PM »

Yes, he mostly makes J1772 plugs as that's the most common in the US.
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2014 Zero S ZF8.5

TheRan

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Re: Good UK sites for buying EV related stuff?
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2020, 04:38:40 AM »

Situation update, I've got an adaptor now. I ended up buying the type 2 Mennekes to Schuko adaptor from laadkabelfabriek.nl (site is currently down for some reason) and it ended up at £118 shipped to the UK so quite reasonable. I bought a Schuko to UK adaptor so I could test it out and make sure it works (which it does) before removing the socket and replacing it with a UK one.

Took me a while to figure out how to remove the socket so might as well give some instructions should anyone else want to do the same:
-unscrew the orange collar that grips the cable
-remove the screw on the side of the socket
-push the cable further into the socket, through the fingers that clamp the cable
-the socket internals should pop out the end, free to be unscrewed and wired up to whatever socket you desire
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