I have looking into buying a Zoe and as I will need to be charging using the granny charger for a period (whilst we are in the rental and before we buy our next home) I have come across a few people commenting on problems charging using this method due to the earth loop impedance and the ohms is too high. Is this a common issue and how can I make sure this will be ok before buying the car. Ideally I do not want to spend money on the electrics on this home as it is just rented.
Thank you
I think it is the Zoe that is sensitive to earth impedance not the granny lead. I also believe that current charge infrastructure guidance/requirements in the UK actually requires a separate earth spike for all EV chargers these days to avoid risk from supply-side earth faults - unless your charge point or consumer unit feed has PEN protection fitted, which is not yet universal by any means.
As most of my journeys are short I charge overnight, luckily I'm still on a cheap rate fixed deal, for this reason I decided not to install a home charger and only use a "granny lead".
I have never experienced any problems charging at home and recently I moved into a property that needs some modernising with less than perfect wiring my Zoe has always charged up without any complications, although I do use an extension lead which has an ' RCD' just in case.
Earth Loop Impedance is indeed a problem with the Zoe, it likes a good, solid Earth connection. Our home charger refused to work so the supplier came back and installed an earth spike adjacent tot the charger. It still did not work. It was suggested we look at the electricity supply arrangements. The electicity supply people came almost immediately and quickly found that an EV charger installer had removed the main supply earth strap in the sealed fuse/cut out unit! There was therefore no separate earth connection to the domestic supply. This despite bold type instructions in the IET guidance documents "replace the earth connection".. Thankfully we are still alive.
The charger still does not work properly, but that appears to be a communications problem.
Yes, I had this problem too. You need to get your home electrical system checked to make sure the plug socket you will be using is compatible. The granny chargers are very sensitive.