New owner. Charging at home

Tazzie · 06-11-2019, 07:09 AM

Hi have only recently picked up 15 plate i8. Absolutely love it. Just wanted to know can I just plug the 3 pin plug in a extension lead and charge it? And how long? What is a good basic home charger to get? I'm in the uk. Thank you

chris_1M · 06-11-2019, 09:30 AM

Just use the emergency charger (110/220V) that comes with the car, as the battery pack is really small and fast charging it will never be (regardless of the charger).
Ideally have a dedicated circuit (fuse) created for it ...

Maxxsirrah · 06-11-2019, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tazzie

Hi have only recently picked up 15 plate i8. Absolutely love it. Just wanted to know can I just plug the 3 pin plug in a extension lead and charge it? And how long? What is a good basic home charger to get? I'm in the uk. Thank you

yeah just use the 3 pin with an extension lead if necessary. Takes about 3 hours to fully charge from flat, thats all.

Tazzie · 06-11-2019, 12:26 PM

Thanks for all the help. Yes will just charge it from the normal socket.

JasH · 06-11-2019, 05:05 PM

Not a good idea to use an extension lead on the 220V charger. If you must, get one that is designed for very high currents. Definitely not to be used outdoors.

The original 220V charger (that comes with the car) itself is capable of outdoor use (except the plug).

jojo · 06-11-2019, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxxsirrah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tazzie

Hi have only recently picked up 15 plate i8. Absolutely love it. Just wanted to know can I just plug the 3 pin plug in a extension lead and charge it? And how long? What is a good basic home charger to get? I'm in the uk. Thank you

yeah just use the 3 pin with an extension lead if necessary. Takes about 3 hours to fully charge from flat, thats all.

Mine takes approximately 5 1/2 Hrs.

rastaman777 · 06-11-2019, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojo

Mine takes approximately 5 1/2 Hrs.

Wow! 3 hours?
My car also takes about 5 - 6 hours to charge.

Maxxsirrah · 06-12-2019, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojo

Mine takes approximately 5 1/2 Hrs.

Thats because you are in the US i'm afraid, the power grid in the UK runs at 240v.

evanevery · 06-12-2019, 08:35 AM

Level 1 (120V) vs Level 2 (220-240V) charging difference is not as big as you might think. The very small battery in the i8 is artificially limited (onboard) to a max charge rate of only 3.7KW!

While Level 1 (120v) chargers generally charge at only about 1.4 KW, you will never get the full charging potential out of a Level 2 (220-240V) charger which can deliver between 7.7 KW (32A) and 9.6 KW (40A).

Even best case, you'll never even hit 50% of the possible charging rate from even the smallest (32A) level 2 (220-240V) charger...

IMHO: Use the onboard cable and just plug her in overnight...

JasH · 06-12-2019, 03:57 PM

Still only takes about 3 hours to fully charge i8 in UK.

Maxxsirrah · 06-14-2019, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasH

Still only takes about 3 hours to fully charge i8 in UK.

must be the magic air here....

JasH · 06-14-2019, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxxsirrah

must be the magic air here....

...more electrons in our elecktrickery

chris_1M · 06-14-2019, 03:10 PM

My 2015 i8's battery pack comfortably charges from 0 to 100% within 2h. Usable capacity of this 7.1 kWh is just 5.2 kWh and the BMW Wallbox Pro has been set to a max of 3.7kW.

pjs · 06-15-2019, 07:53 AM

I've had a pod point installed recently , takes 2 hours for full charge from zero. Been using the supplied domestic plug in one for almost a year before that

Tazzie · 06-19-2019, 07:46 AM

Thanks for all the replies. Want to get a charging cable to use at work. What one do I need and what do you recommend? Many thanks.

2sak2furious · 06-19-2019, 10:25 AM

Pjs, how do u get into your car?

fbuzila · 06-19-2019, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2sak2furious

Pjs, how do u get into your car?

It's UK...look where the steering wheel is

2sak2furious · 06-19-2019, 02:18 PM

Lol, my bad. Totally forgot about the other side thing!

fishpond · 06-25-2019, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjs

I've had a pod point installed recently , takes 2 hours for full charge from zero. Been using the supplied domestic plug in one for almost a year before that

Yes - just 2 hours when using a home charging point

billy.gif · 05-02-2023, 02:52 AM

Any ideas why my i8 is only charging with rate of 2,8kwh? From electric cars fast charging / "Type 2 - Type 2" -connection? At iDrive menu there is no similar AC fast charging cable -setting than there's at i3? The car is 2014 model with the smaller 7,1kwh capacity battery.

My previous 2017 7-series did charge with full speed, around 3.6-3.7kwh.

Just wondering if there's some issue at the battery pack as I just got her.

06-11-2019, 07:09 AM	#1
Tazzie Private 12 Rep 51 Posts Drives: BMW i8 Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: London iTrader: (0)	New owner. Charging at home Hi have only recently picked up 15 plate i8. Absolutely love it. Just wanted to know can I just plug the 3 pin plug in a extension lead and charge it? And how long? What is a good basic home charger to get? I'm in the uk. Thank you
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06-11-2019, 09:30 AM	#2
chris_1M Private First Class 58 Rep 124 Posts Drives: BMW i8 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Just use the emergency charger (110/220V) that comes with the car, as the battery pack is really small and fast charging it will never be (regardless of the charger). Ideally have a dedicated circuit (fuse) created for it ...
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06-11-2019, 12:26 PM	#4
Tazzie Private 12 Rep 51 Posts Drives: BMW i8 Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the help. Yes will just charge it from the normal socket.
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06-11-2019, 05:05 PM	#5
JasH Lieutenant Colonel 621 Rep 1,646 Posts Drives: McLaren & Ferrari & i8 & i3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Kent, UK iTrader: (0)	Not a good idea to use an extension lead on the 220V charger. If you must, get one that is designed for very high currents. Definitely not to be used outdoors. The original 220V charger (that comes with the car) itself is capable of outdoor use (except the plug).
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06-12-2019, 08:35 AM	#9
evanevery Lieutenant Colonel 1111 Rep 1,904 Posts Drives: iXM60, i8 Rdstr, M4, i7 M70 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Level 1 (120V) vs Level 2 (220-240V) charging difference is not as big as you might think. The very small battery in the i8 is artificially limited (onboard) to a max charge rate of only 3.7KW! While Level 1 (120v) chargers generally charge at only about 1.4 KW, you will never get the full charging potential out of a Level 2 (220-240V) charger which can deliver between 7.7 KW (32A) and 9.6 KW (40A). Even best case, you'll never even hit 50% of the possible charging rate from even the smallest (32A) level 2 (220-240V) charger... IMHO: Use the onboard cable and just plug her in overnight... __________________ The Jiggery-Pokery is Strong with this One https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1645366 https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1197553 https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4&postcount=35
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06-12-2019, 03:57 PM	#10
JasH Lieutenant Colonel 621 Rep 1,646 Posts Drives: McLaren & Ferrari & i8 & i3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Kent, UK iTrader: (0)	Still only takes about 3 hours to fully charge i8 in UK.
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06-14-2019, 03:10 PM	#13
chris_1M Private First Class 58 Rep 124 Posts Drives: BMW i8 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	My 2015 i8's battery pack comfortably charges from 0 to 100% within 2h. Usable capacity of this 7.1 kWh is just 5.2 kWh and the BMW Wallbox Pro has been set to a max of 3.7kW.
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06-15-2019, 07:53 AM	#14
pjs Colonel 274 Rep 2,774 Posts Drives: i8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NORTH iTrader: (1)	I've had a pod point installed recently , takes 2 hours for full charge from zero. Been using the supplied domestic plug in one for almost a year before that Attached Images
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06-19-2019, 07:46 AM	#15
Tazzie Private 12 Rep 51 Posts Drives: BMW i8 Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the replies. Want to get a charging cable to use at work. What one do I need and what do you recommend? Many thanks.
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06-19-2019, 10:25 AM	#16
2sak2furious Private 7 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 2019 i8 coupe Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Southern Cal iTrader: (0)	Pjs, how do u get into your car?
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06-19-2019, 02:18 PM	#18
2sak2furious Private 7 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 2019 i8 coupe Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Southern Cal iTrader: (0)	Lol, my bad. Totally forgot about the other side thing!
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05-02-2023, 02:52 AM	#20
billy.gif Private 19 Rep 51 Posts Drives: BMW i8 Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Espoo iTrader: (0)	Any ideas why my i8 is only charging with rate of 2,8kwh? From electric cars fast charging / "Type 2 - Type 2" -connection? At iDrive menu there is no similar AC fast charging cable -setting than there's at i3? The car is 2014 model with the smaller 7,1kwh capacity battery. My previous 2017 7-series did charge with full speed, around 3.6-3.7kwh. Just wondering if there's some issue at the battery pack as I just got her. Last edited by billy.gif; 05-02-2023 at 03:15 AM..
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