[yuppie scum]

Hey all, I'm leasing a 2017, it's supposed to arrive today or tomorrow. This is my first electric. How much do you guys worry about securing your charging cable? I am lucky enough to live in a statistically low crime zip code, but I do not have a garage and i do live in a densely populated neighborhood. Ideally I would probably just leave the cable dangling from my porch where the socket is located unless I am going somewhere I'll want to take it. But I was unsure if this might invite a crime of opportunity, since the cable costs so much. Has this been much of a concern for people with outdoor parking?

 

[maczr1]

I believe this will dramatically reduce the life of the cord but the easiest thing is to park with the left front tire on the cord.
Tom

 

[Joe67]

search the forum for terms like evse cable lock locking

A few detailed threads with good pictures.
I do not recommend keeping the cord under the tire due to potential damage.

 

[RFE]

It is in all in what you are comfortable with.

I charge out doors all year round, every day, with no issue. I do unplug my charger every day and take it with me and then plug it back in at night.
The down side to this is that I burnt up a extension cord plug. I expect to go thru a plug a year. If you leave it plugged in all the time you should not have this issue. If you remove it constantly then I would make sure you have a high quality outlet to plug into. You could use a short, heavy gauge, extension cord to get the charger out view.

 

[Steverino]

My favorite is padlocking the cord to the front wheel http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?7958-Portable-110V-cord-anti-theft-device

 

[Joe67]

It is in all in what you are comfortable with.

I charge out doors all year round, every day, with no issue. I do unplug my charger every day and take it with me and then plug it back in at night.
The down side to this is that I burnt up a extension cord plug. I expect to go thru a plug a year. If you leave it plugged in all the time you should not have this issue. If you remove it constantly then I would make sure you have a high quality outlet to plug into. You could use a short, heavy gauge, extension cord to get the charger out view.

Why would plugging it in and out frequently shorten the cord life that significantly?

 

[RFE]

The cord life of the extension cord plug is shorten. It weaken the plug tension. Not of the charger cord itself.

 

[Steverino]

The cord life of the extension cord plug is shorten. It weaken the plug tension. Not of the charger cord itself.

IOW, wear and tear can cause a loosening of contact with the prongs which in turn will result in arcing, pitting and can even melt the brass blades like an arc welder if it gets bad enough.

 

[bjrosen]

Install a Level 2 EVSE, it's bolted to the building.

 

[yuppie scum]

Install a Level 2 EVSE, it's bolted to the building.

You're buying? Then sure.

I should have been more specific. I was thinking about when I am taking the car out but don't feel like unplugging and winding up the cable. Based on where my plug is in relation to my parking space, it's a step I'd love to save.

 

[GeV]

While it may not be the last word in security, I've been using a weatherproof cover over my electrical outlet at my parking spot. I can't find my exact unit right now, which i bought at Home Depot… but it looks just like this:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hubbell-Ta...ic-Weatherproof-Electrical-Box-Cover/50372928

It protects the plug/receptacle from the elements, but also has a small tab at the bottom of the hinged door cover through which a small padlock can be attached, which I've done. This prevents the cover from being opened, and the plug from being disconnected. (I use a combination lock, so if there's ever an emergency where someone else needs to disconnect it they can do so by calling me and I can provide the code to them.)

Strictly speaking it wouldn't stop anyone from cutting the power cable, smashing the plastic cover, or physically pulling the entire outlet assembly from it's connection. But it does deter and/or prevent someone from just unplugging it and walking away with your EVSE, and they'd have to make some noise to do so - which is probably enough of a deterrent for relatively safe neighbourhoods.

The only real downside I see, is that it's a bit more of a hassle to unplug the EVSE if I want to bring it with me somewhere. But I still find it's worth it for my peace of mind.

 

[hellsop]

NB: the trick of locking to the wheel works with any other immobile thing that you can get a loop of cord around as well: chainlink fence, porch column, outside electrical drop pole, etc. Just need a padlock with a shackle big enough for two diameters of cable.

 

[16513]

If it's in plain sight when you're gone, take it with you.

 

[Paulacton84]

Hey all, I'm leasing a 2017, it's supposed to arrive today or tomorrow. This is my first electric. How much do you guys worry about securing your charging cable? I am lucky enough to live in a statistically low crime zip code, but I do not have a garage and i do live in a densely populated neighborhood. Ideally I would probably just leave the cable dangling from my porch where the socket is located unless I am going somewhere I'll want to take it. But I was unsure if this might invite a crime of opportunity, since the cable costs so much. Has this been much of a concern for people with outdoor parking?

I t hasn't been a problem, But I live in leafy suburbs and work in Waltham, but that said, if you are in an area with any overnight "opportunity car contents theft" at all then it might be a concern. one thing that you can do is get an evse that has a padlock ring on the J1772 latch trigger, another idea is to close the EVSE body in the hatch and feed the power extension cord into the hatch area and the car feed cord from the hatch area to the charge port. Driving on the cord is a bad idea, it has a thin PVC jacket which does not protect the 4 thin sense wires inside very well at all.

 

[Fred_B]

What I did when I was living in a hotel for 4 months and charging in the parking garage:

Plugged my 50 foot 12 gauge extension cord into the wall outlet (I had permission). Route the extension cord to the back of the car and place the rest of the cord inside the open hatch. Put the EVSE in the hatch as well and plug it into the extension cord. Route the J1772 cord out of the back of the hatch to the charge port on the car. Gently close the hatch until it clicks one time (but not two), making sure the cables going into and out of the hatch area are clear of the latch and protected by the rubber weatherstripping. I also stretched the cargo cover over the EVSE so it wasn't visible looking in the rear window.

The EVSE is locked in the car, the worst that can happen is someone cuts off the cord with the J1772 and/or cuts off one end of the extension cord. Neither of these things are worth stealing since they would be in damaged condition. I suppose someone really deperate might not care and just take them for the few dollars the scrap value would bring. But I never had a problem.

I used one of those orange plastic reels to reel up the extension cord in the morning and stowed the EVSE in its normal place under the cargo mat. It was a bit of work but the free electricity was worth it. Later when I got home and installed the L2 EVSE in the garage I really appreciated how easy it made things.

 

[Mcgsp]

Like you I live in a densely urban area where there are no curb cuts or driveways. I charge on the street and have been doing so for over 4 years using a heavy 12 gauge extension cord. I place the EVSE unit in the hatch of the car, and use a foam piece to protect the extension cord and EVSE wire when I close the hatch and of course lock the doors. knock on wood I have not had any issues thus far.

 

[yuppie scum]

NB: the trick of locking to the wheel works with any other immobile thing that you can get a loop of cord around as well: chainlink fence, porch column, outside electrical drop pole, etc. Just need a padlock with a shackle big enough for two diameters of cable.

I like this one!

 

[Patrick Randall]

Lock the charger and ext cord in trunk

Get a 10ga HD extension cord (mine is 50ft) - plug the charger into the cord and put it and the end of the cord in the trunk. Plug the Charger cord into the Volt and tidy the spare under the car. Shut the trunk lid on both wires (there is plenty of clearance). Plug in and charge (up to 50ft away in my case). Lock Volt.

I've used this in hotels that don't have an actual charging station to get a nice overnight charge. Charger stays out of the weather too.