Can you charge an electric car in the rain?

Charging an electric car in the rain: why it is safe

Charging in the rain is safe when you use proper charging equipment. Mode 3 charging, from a wallbox or a public charging post, is not like plugging in any appliance: the charger and the car talk to each other before any current flows.

How the system protects you

• Degree of protection. Chargers and Type 2 connectors are IP54 or higher, designed for splashes and rain.
• Connector locking. No current flows until the cable is fully inserted and locked.
• Prior check. The charger verifies the connection before starting and cuts off if it detects a fault.
• Installation protection. A properly installed charging point has its own 30 mA RCD, with DC leak detection, and its own MCB.

What you should avoid

• Extension leads and power strips, especially outdoors.
• Household sockets with no outdoor protection to charge with the car’s emergency cable.
• Damaged connectors, with a cracked casing or blackened contacts.
• Leaving the cable lying on the ground or in a puddle: wind it onto its holder.

If the charger is outdoors

For detached houses with the charger on a porch or an outside wall, it is best to:

• Choose a unit with the right IP rating for outdoor use.
• Place it sheltered from direct sun and driving rain where possible.
• Run the supply in conduit with weatherproof boxes.
• Add a surge protector, essential in Seville, Spain because of the summer storms.

And the normal socket

The emergency cable that comes with the car (mode 2) is for occasional charging from a household socket, limited to 10 A. Outdoors and in the rain is exactly the situation to avoid: if you charge outside often, the right solution is a fixed charging point.

When to call an electrician

Call if you are installing the charger outdoors, if yours shows errors in damp weather or if the RCD trips when it rains. In Seville, Spain, we install chargers through home EV charger installation for houses and EV charger installation in communal garages.