Charging during thunderstrom

[KUhokie]

We had a big thunderstorm roll through last night. My MME was not being charged that time, but I was wondering if we need to worry about having the car plugged in during lightning storms? Are there surge protectors built into either the car or the charging cable?

I appologize if this has been asked before.

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[TRP]

I've had no issues doing this with the weather. I thought I was having a charging issue but it was traced to the EVSE I was using and that is being taken care of.

My first DCFC session was just as a heavy thunderstorm approached. Thunder clap as I plugged in scared the ? out of me but my underwear was the only casualty

 

[macchiaz-o]

"Thunderstorm" is probably an easy search.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/search/502488/?q=thunderstorm&o=date

 

[jaycake]

We had a big thunderstorm roll through last night. My MME was not being charged that time, but I was wondering if we need to worry about having the car plugged in during lightning storms? Are there surge protectors built into either the car or the charging cable?

I appologize if this has been asked before.

If you are charging at your home you could install or have installed a panel mounted surge protector. That should give you some piece of mind.

 

[JohnnyForensic]

If you are charging at your home you could install or have installed a panel mounted surge protector. That should give you some piece of mind.

Yeah, but lightning arrestors are much higher level of thing, so I'd definitely consider the above. I think I'm just going to unplug the EVSE when storms are brewing, but I think everyone's mileage varies on this.

 

[Mach-Lee]

No, there are no built-in surge protectors. If you are worried you can install a whole-house surge protector in your main panel. The charger is fairly robust against normal voltage fluctuations and spikes.

This has been covered before, but the likelihood of your house being struck by lightning and damaging your car is extremely rare. Probably not enough to worry about. That's why you have insurance?

 

[KUhokie]

No, there are no built-in surge protectors. If you are worried you can install a whole-house surge protector in your main panel. The charger is fairly robust against normal voltage fluctuations and spikes.

This has been covered before, but the likelihood of your house being struck by lightning and damaging your car is extremely rare. Probably not enough to worry about. That's why you have insurance?

Guess I could just charge via lightning rod. Might get sent through time though.

 

[RedStallion]

We had a big thunderstorm roll through last night. My MME was not being charged that time, but I was wondering if we need to worry about having the car plugged in during lightning storms? Are there surge protectors built into either the car or the charging cable?

I appologize if this has been asked before.

A direct lightning strike is not a likely event. But the reliability of the local grid infrastructure is unknown. A few years ago our local operator screwed something while doing repairs and lots of houses had their electronic devices fried.

 

[MachEnation]

I researched this years ago with my Volt and decided I would just sleep better with it unplugged during lightning storms. While a VERY low risk event, it's highly catastrophic if it occurs.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Peruse the thread that @macchiaz-o linked above if you haven't done so yet. There was a lot of discussion about this topic and it might help you come to a conclusion as to whether you want to go surge protection, lightning arrestor or get the aftermarket flux capacitor.

 

[stephywephy88]

We had hurricane rain remnants Saturday night and my MME was plugged in and scheduled for a 1am charge when loads are low. Our main circuit breaker tripped twice overnight (not the MME circuit on the garage subpanel). At 3am my more awake half unplugged my MME and I called the electrician today. Turns out the basement panel had been collecting water over the years and main breaker is corroded and overheating. I’m getting the entire service replaced and upgraded to 200amps on Wednesday. If the MME hadn’t put out load-heck if I hadn’t bought an MME last month!-we may not have noticed this problem until it was a flaming disaster. Okay, being *somewhat* facetious, but relevant to this thread: I have a whole house surge, motion detection camera, and security-linked smoke alarm so we have charged our MME and Kona during some storms. But we also have a craptastic panel or service cable, so no charging in any weather until Thursday ?

 

[KUhokie]

We had hurricane rain remnants Saturday night and my MME was plugged in and scheduled for a 1am charge when loads are low. Our main circuit breaker tripped twice overnight (not the MME circuit on the garage subpanel). At 3am my more awake half unplugged my MME and I called the electrician today. Turns out the basement panel had been collecting water over the years and main breaker is corroded and overheating. I’m getting the entire service replaced and upgraded to 200amps on Wednesday. If the MME hadn’t put out load-heck if I hadn’t bought an MME last month!-we may not have noticed this problem until it was a flaming disaster. Okay, being *somewhat* facetious, but relevant to this thread: I have a whole house surge, motion detection camera, and security-linked smoke alarm so we have charged our MME and Kona during some storms. But we also have a craptastic panel or service cable, so no charging in any weather until Thursday ?

Yikes. Not fun.

 

[Scooby24]

We had a big thunderstorm roll through last night. My MME was not being charged that time, but I was wondering if we need to worry about having the car plugged in during lightning storms? Are there surge protectors built into either the car or the charging cable?

I appologize if this has been asked before.

Funny, I just found your post as I was about to post the same topic, caused from the same storm.

I'm debating Type 1 or Type 2, but as mentioned the chances of direct lightning strikes for me are low as I'm near a set of the big power lines that have their own lightning rods.

If sticking with Type 2, what does anyone think would be a good one? I was considering the Siemens FS140. Good one?

 

[Mach-Lee]

If sticking with Type 2, what does anyone think would be a good one? I was considering the Siemens FS140. Good one?

I've installed a few SquareD HEDP80 devices and haven't had any issues with them going on 5+ years.

 

[Scooby24]

I've installed a few SquareD HEDP80 devices and haven't had any issues with them going on 5+ years.

Any options you're aware of as far as type 2 that does NOT require adding breakers? My panel only has one open slot left.

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