EHU cable across street to charge motorhome
Looking for a bit of advice. My motorhome is generally parked on the street across the road from my house, configuration of the parking and drives means I cannot park it on the same side of the street as the house. It is still less than 15 metres away
I would like to occasionally charge the batteries before heading away on a trip or during the winter by conecting EHU from the house. This would mean going across my garden, the pavement and then half of the road. Obviously couldn't just drape the cable across the road but was considering buying some cable protectors like the link below. I think it would do the job but am concerned as to whether or not it is legal. If it was over my own drive/garden then no issue and I could even use them whilst away to prevent tripping hazards near the van.
Does anyone do this or know of any rules for or against it, pretty sure construction or street workers use them but may need permits. Thanks in advance
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Assuming this is a public highway, check with the local highway authority but I’m sure they will tell you "No" as you would create a hazard to pedestrians and traffic. Sorry to be blunt but, tbh, you could end up in big trouble doing what you suggest.
Get yourself a solar set up to charge the batteries or carry them to your house to charge them.
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Good luck with that…..my daughter had the same problem. She doesn’t have a drive, only residents permit street parking. She ran a cable across the pavement from her house to charge her EV. The cable ran inside thick rubber cable trunking with hazard markings and, for good measure, she placed a cone at either end of the cable run on the pavement. She contacted the local authority and her MP for a view on her arrangements given Government policy to encourage EVs. She got absolutely nowhere as local and national government bounced the issue around amongst themselves, neither being prepared to offer her any definitive advice on the legality or implications of her actions.
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A couple who have a hi brid car just down from us inquired from our LA about charging by running a cable from their terraced house across the footpath to their car, they said it would only be possible if someone was in attendance, they now bring the car on to the green ,at night ,when no one is likely.to notice ,their neigbors are so far OK with it
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Hmmmm….doesn’t sound like the most practical of solutions unless you’ve got a lot of spare time on your hands 🥴
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We keep being told by proponents of battery vehicles that charging points should be fitted to lamp-posts, so just find a post on the far side and hook up!
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Yes, very straightforward really…..all that would require is foresight, planning and investment.
I understand Government made some funds available to local authorities for the installation of street charging points, but many declined the offer as subsequent costs would fall to local authorities and no provision has been made for that. Sounds familiar. 🤔
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Even if "lamp post charging" was available, would it be suitable for leisure batteries?
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It is not as straightforward as some would think as in our area and areas with much older cables would not cope with the extra loads needed if EV charging points were installed ,
Even later housing estates with new cables at some point are normally connected to the much older infrastructure,
Engineers have already stated much of the older underground infrastructure is in need of replacement, and are spending more and more time just patching when there is a power outage from underground cables
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Why not do it safely, admittedly with a tad more hassle, and take the batteries out and charge them off the vehicle?
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Has anyone ever actually manhandled a meaty pair of leisure batteries...especially an older or slightly built person?
They are blooming heavy, some don't have decent handles, you need to be careful when disconnecting/reconnecting, especially awkward with a linked pair....and how often would this need to be done? Along with the cab battery.
if the batteries have a tendency to run down between trips (hence the requirement for charging) then the answer is 'between every trip'...that's a right pain....ok to do once when storing for the off season, but for those who wish to use their vans every few weeks, this is an issue.
apart from solar, another solution is to prevent discharge by disconnecting all batteries but the downside is the loss of electrics in the cab, re alarm and immobiliser, poss tracker.
the 'solution' isn't as easy a LFT suggested.
if it's really an issue, bite the bullet and get a 120-150w panel fitted.
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That’s obviously an option if we’re just talking leisure/starter battery charging. I think I may have steered some ‘drift’ by conflating the point with EV charging to illustrate the problem of dealing with local authorities and the lack of joined up thinking on such matters.
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Yes, I’d heard that too. Judging by the regularity Western Power dig up the road in my street I can believe it.
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Heavy batteries was the primary reason we had the solar put on our van. Although as a result we have found it very useful off grid. Years of swapping over the leisure battery in our caravan, all 26kg of it, as the tracker and alarm used to deplete it to a level where the power mover might cut out. To me the easiest answer for the OP is to get some solar panels installed. They may like us find them useful off grid as well.
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Forget talking to local authority. Running a cable across a public highway if not illegal is certainly dangerous. Daft idea. Take the motorhome for a 20 minute drive to charge the batteries.
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One thing this thread highlights is how a great many owners will not be able to charge an electric car, but then again we all knew that anyway.
Colin
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Not many people have a petrol pump at home either but they seem to manage somehow.
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All I can say is that when we come to move house, there are one or two extra “must haves…” that will go on the list. Fitting solar would be the safest option if batteries are too heavy.
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Regarding the OP. There are details published by Haringey Council on the subject. Cables are not allowed across a public highway but pavement cabling "could" be allowed if the owner of the cable is present during the process. The info is out there on various web sites.
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Putting it bluntly it would be both foolhardy and illegal to run a cable, live or otherwise, across a path or road. We have a solar panel but once a fortnight we also take the van out for a run and we go for a walk or visit somewhere interesting. Giving it a decent run has many other benefits other than conditioning the batteries.
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To charge a leisure battery in these circumstances, the only sensible way is to take the battery to the house, as Lutz posted. If you buy an EV you should ensure you have the facilities for it first. Simple as that.
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It took me about 10 seconds to get the facts.
If you visit the website there's a download available on do's & don't for charging EVs.
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….and it makes no difference whether it’s to charge an EV or a MH starter battery.
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Another quick internet search came up with this:-
"A highway is defined as any road on which the public has a right to drive a vehicle, but does not include bridleways, footpaths or cycle tracks"
It's a pity the OP cannot get the vehicle on the closest side of the road.
Colin
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