Rain and weather

[benkor]

I do not have a garage in which to park at i3. Can I put the plug in to charge the car in the rain? If it is raining when I want to use the car is there any danger in unpluging the car?

 

[Blue20]

BMW's official photo shows outdoor charging station

http://www.bmw.com/_common/shared/newvehicles/i/i3/2013/showroom/charging/home-charging-01.jpg

I guess you just have to make sure the one that you use is designed for indoor AND outdoor.

 

[agj]

The car charging bay is perfectly safe under heavy rain.

The weak point could be your domestic wall plug; just be sure that it is designed for outside use. If your are charging from a charger, it should have been installed by a professional electrician so you should not worry.

 

[canuckjc]

The i Charging Station manual says it is designed for charging an electric vehicle indoors or outdoors with a shelter. The picture linked in a previous post shows an overhang shelter.
There is no mention of a NEMA rating in the manual.

 

[jadnashuanh]

The EVSE units have built-in ground fault, and if you're using the one that comes with the car, it would likely also have a GFCI supplying the plug in the wall...the electronics box is waterproof, but I wouldn't let it sit in a deep puddle. IOW, the power would shut off before you got hurt. If you have an external 120vac receptacle, if you do not have a wet, in-use cover, swap it for one.

Also, when you press the release button, the EVSE disconnects the high voltage, and there's only a low-voltage signaling still connected.

 

[canuckjc]

Had the i Charging station apart today for final inspection. Snapped a pic of the label confirming it is designed as a type 3 enclosure. Per NEMA:
Types 3, 3S, 3X :
Weather-resistant. Protects against weather hazards such as rain and sleet; used outdoors on ship docks, in construction work, and in tunnels and subways. 3X includes corrosions.

BMW suggests a shelter for outdoor use. Maybe a bit over-cautious. If it had the full NEMA 4 rating (watertight), it would be fine out in direct rain.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8XoNzUZsGfINVJlSFVWcWI2Zms/edit?usp=sharing

 

[mindmachine]

Had the i Charging station apart today for final inspection. Snapped a pic of the label confirming it is designed as a type 3 enclosure. Per NEMA:
Types 3, 3S, 3X :
Weather-resistant. Protects against weather hazards such as rain and sleet; used outdoors on ship docks, in construction work, and in tunnels and subways. 3X includes corrosions.

BMW suggests a shelter for outdoor use. Maybe a bit over-cautious. If it had the full NEMA 4 rating (watertight), it would be fine out in direct rain.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8XoNzUZsGfINVJlSFVWcWI2Zms/edit?usp=sharing

Cripple creek has EVSE's that are NEMA 4 and for about 1/2 the price for 32 amp 240 volt units compared to the BMW unit.

 

[canuckjc]

Sounds like a great deal

 

[MarkN]

Cripple creek has EVSE's that are NEMA 4 and for about 1/2 the price for 32 amp 240 volt units compared to the BMW unit.

Glad to see you referencing an historic Colorado mining town but I think you mean Clipper Creek

 

[DerfSdrawd]

I have the BMW charging unit installed on an outside wall (albeit under a large eaves overhang) and it has worked fine in mega-rain or boiling sun (well relatively boiling obviously as this is the UK). I've even had a gutter overflowing directly onto the car connection while it's charging, with no problems. That last thing wasn't deliberate by the way :lol: