Type 2 to Type 2 Charging Cable, 5m to 20m
| Fits | Every UK electric and plug in hybrid with a Type 2 inlet |
|---|---|
| Lengths | 5m, 10m, 15m and 20m |
| Rated power | 16A at 3.7 kW, 32A at 7.4 kW, or 32A three phase at 22 kW |
| On a UK home supply | 7.4 kW, whatever the car is rated for |
| Also works at | Any untethered public Type 2 AC post |
| Weather rating | IP55, rated -30C to +50C |
The default cable, and the two decisions to make
Since 2014 the UK has settled on Type 2 at both ends for AC charging, so this is the cable the great majority of drivers need. What is left to decide is current and length, and only the first one changes how fast the car charges.
On current: a 7 kW home wall box is a 32A single phase unit, so the 32A cable takes your house to its ceiling and still works on a 16A charger if you move. On length: measure where the inlet sits when the car is parked as it normally is, then add slack.
What it does at your house
A single phase British supply tops out around 7.4 kW. A car quoted at 11 kW or 22 kW is quoting a three phase figure, and a single phase British house will give it 7.4 kW. That is not the cable giving up, it is the electricity board.
| Cable | Power drawn at home | Empty to full, 40 kWh battery | Empty to full, 60 kWh battery | Empty to full, 80 kWh battery | Range added per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32A single phase | 7.4 kW | 6 hours | 9 hours 15 mins | 12 hours 15 mins | about 26 miles |
| 16A single phase | 3.7 kW | 12 hours 15 mins | 18 hours 15 mins | 24 hours 30 mins | about 13 miles |
| 32A three phase, car limited to 11 kW | 11.0 kW | 4 hours | 6 hours 15 mins | 8 hours 15 mins | about 38 miles |
Those times come from dividing the pack by the delivered power and adding 13 per cent for losses, then rounding to the quarter hour. The last row only applies where three phases actually reach the socket.
Picking a length
Five metres suits a car reversed onto a drive with the charge point on the inlet side. Ten metres is the safe general choice and covers nose in parking and kerbside charging. Fifteen and twenty are for detached garages, shared bays and chargers fitted a long way from the parking space. Longer costs a little more and weighs more; falling short costs you the charge.
How it is built
Built to IEC 62196-2 and CE marked, with an IP55 rating that covers rain and dust on an exposed driveway, and a working range of -30C to +50C. The moulded heads are rated for thousands of connection cycles, which is what a daily driver asks of them. Two year manufacturer's warranty. Delivery is free and next working day, and returns are open for 30 days. Free next working day UK delivery, price matched against any UK retailer, and 30 days to change your mind.
Type 2 to Type 2 cable questions
What is a Type 2 to Type 2 cable used for?
Charging an electric or plug in hybrid car from a home wall box or a public AC post that has a socket rather than an attached lead. Both ends are the seven pin Type 2 connector, which has been the UK and European standard since around 2014.
Do I need 16A or 32A?
Match the charge point. Nearly every UK home charger fitted recently is a 7 kW, 32A unit, and the 32A cable carries all of it while still working on 16A supplies. The 16A cable is for older 3.6 kW installations or a smaller budget.
Will a 22kW three phase cable charge my car faster?
Only where the socket has three phases behind it. On a single phase home supply the three phase cable delivers the same 7.4 kW as the single phase one. At a three phase workplace post a car rated for 11 kW will use the extra, which is where that version pays.
Can I use this cable at public chargers?
Yes, at any untethered Type 2 AC post, which covers most on street and destination charging in the UK and Europe. Rapid DC units have their own lead attached and need nothing from you.
Is it safe to leave outside in the rain?
Yes. The cable and connectors are IP55 rated and specified from -30C to +50C, so a wet British winter on an exposed driveway is within what it is designed for.