RAV4 PHEV GR - 2 questions / wireless charger and EV Cable

[Paul1905]

Hi, has anyone managed to get the wireless charger working with a particular iPhone case that they could recommend. I can only get it work without a case!

I need a shorter EV charging cable and just a bit confused about the spec I need on the cable outside of it being a type 2. Do I need a 16A, 32A, single phase, triple phase?

I’ve got a home EV charger, want to get a 3m cable for ease and would like it to be compatible with public chargers too for convenience 

 

thank you

[Nick72]

I've got one of these.

EV Extras Type 2 3 metres EV Charging Cable 32 amp (7.4KW) Green https://amzn.eu/d/a1z2szY

 

The car is limited to 6.6kW but the system on the car works out what it needs to draw. Should take about 2.5hrs from empty to full Battery.

Can't help on iPhones as I have Android. But, are you aware of the 3 press trick? Press the charging plate 3 times in quick succession. Light should alternate orange and green I think. I think this boosts the charging plate power. So that's worth a try.

[Paul1905]

5 hours ago, Nick72 said:

I've got one of these.

EV Extras Type 2 3 metres EV Charging Cable 32 amp (7.4KW) Green https://amzn.eu/d/a1z2szY

 

The car is limited to 6.6kW but the system on the car works out what it needs to draw. Should take about 2.5hrs from empty to full battery.

Can't help on iPhones as I have Android. But, are you aware of the 3 press trick? Press the charging plate 3 times in quick succession. Light should alternate orange and green I think. I think this boosts the charging plate power. So that's worth a try.

Thank you

 

does the EV cable work with public chargers?

[philip42h]

8 hours ago, Paul1905 said:

does the EV cable work with public chargers?

Yes, and no ... it's a Type 2 cable that is usable with single phase AC chargers up to 7.4 kW (32A).

Publicly available chargers include:

• Single phase Type 2 AC fast chargers up to 7.4 kW - that cable will work with these
• Three phase Type 2 AC fast chargers up to and beyond 22 kW - I believe that the cable should work with these (as a single phase device) but someone else may know better.
• DC rapid chargers - neither the cable nor the PHEV is compatible with these.

[Nick72]

9 hours ago, Paul1905 said:

Thank you

 

does the EV cable work with public chargers?

As Philip says, it depends on the charger. However, most car parks I park on are 7.4kW single phase and occasionally 3 phase. I just plug it in. If the cable fits it will work, has been my approach. Since it takes 2.5hrs to get to a full charge the only sensible time to charge the car has been on public car parks when I'm shopping in town, at the hospital, at the supermarket. And only if it is free! Most chargers around however will charge an arm and a leg to a point where cost per mile is now as expensive or more expensive than petrol noting the RAV can do upwards of 50mpg. 

If you are planning to charge when you are out and about I'd recommend a cable longer than 3m because of the usual parking shannigans.

[Torrox]

This case wos for my iPhone

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B096HKQK9W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Nick72]

2 hours ago, Torrox said:

This case wos for my iPhone

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B096HKQK9W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Yeh that should make no difference.

But... I'd try the 3 button press thing.

And, I saw I US video which said, make sure you press start on the car then switch on the pad then put your phone on the pad otherwise the motorised unit under the pad which moves around to find your phone induction coil won't do it's job.

[Paul1905]

The phone gets found. The whirring starts but it then won’t charge. 
 

it’s a combo of the case probably being too thick and/or the camera lenses not allowing a flush connection but I’m going to try this case!!!

[Nick72]

40 minutes ago, Paul1905 said:

The phone gets found. The whirring starts but it then won’t charge. 
 

it’s a combo of the case probably being too thick and/or the camera lenses not allowing a flush connection but I’m going to try this case!!!

Could be Apple. They like you to buy only their stuff 😂.

I have had all kinds of thick non metal cases on 3 different Samsung android phones over the years and not had any issues of any kind with wireless charging pads including the one in the car, although I've rarely ever used it as I just plug the phone into the USB.

Did you try the 3 quick presses in succession option?

[Torrox]

I have had no problem with wireless charging with my phone case.

[Nick72]

1 hour ago, Torrox said:

I have had no problem with wireless charging with my phone case.

Apologies Torox. Sorry, was meant for the OP. My finger trouble.

@Paul1905

[Paul1905]

3 hours ago, Nick72 said:

Could be Apple. They like you to buy only their stuff 😂.

I have had all kinds of thick non metal cases on 3 different Samsung android phones over the years and not had any issues of any kind with wireless charging pads including the one in the car, although I've rarely ever used it as I just plug the phone into the USB.

Did you try the 3 quick presses in succession option?

Thanks - I have the case noted below and will report back. The three buttons didn’t do anything different…..

 

can I just ask when you charge via the USB above the wireless charger does this then override wireless car play options for you?

[Paul1905]

On 10/12/2024 at 7:03 AM, philip42h said:

Yes, and no ... it's a Type 2 cable that is usable with single phase AC chargers up to 7.4 kW (32A).

Publicly available chargers include:

• Single phase Type 2 AC fast chargers up to 7.4 kW - that cable will work with these
• Three phase Type 2 AC fast chargers up to and beyond 22 kW - I believe that the cable should work with these (as a single phase device) but someone else may know better.
• DC rapid chargers - neither the cable nor the PHEV is compatible with these.

Thanks for this - really helpful.

if I got the 3 phase version of this cable can I then use the faster chargers do you think or is that a limitation of the PHEV?

I’m very much out of my knowledge and Google zone!

 

 

[philip42h]

22 minutes ago, Paul1905 said:

Thanks for this - really helpful.

if I got the 3 phase version of this cable can I then use the faster chargers do you think or is that a limitation of the PHEV?

I’m very much out of my knowledge and Google zone!

The PHEV has a 6.6kW onboard AC charger - that's the maximum it can draw so even if you connect up to a 22kW three phase charger the PHEV can only draw 6.6kW.

If you were investing for the future, you might consider the 3-phase version so that you could charge a full EV with an 11kW onboard charger more quickly but:

1. Such an EV would probably come with such a cable anyway.
2. It will be a bigger bulkier thing to lug around for no immediate benefit.

Really silly question - doesn't the PHEV come with the required cables anyway? Or are you simply looking for a spare?

[DavidinDerbyshire]

On 10/12/2024 at 8:19 AM, Nick72 said:

And only if it is free!

I said I would let you know the result of my foray on cheap or free chargers, Nick. We checked out the chargers at Saxmundham. The app shows they are free but East Suffolk council charges a very reasonable 25p per KwH. There are four of them and I am told they are rarely all occupied.   Can we keep our own list of free chargers (highlighting those where we need spend something etc)?  PS The Saxmundham chargers are difficult to find, they are in a car park marked private but it is an NHS building  and they ARE council chargers just off the main road through the town. 

[Nick72]

2 hours ago, Paul1905 said:

Thanks - I have the case noted below and will report back. The three buttons didn’t do anything different…..

 

can I just ask when you charge via the USB above the wireless charger does this then override wireless car play options for you?

I don't know because I'm on AA so either I'm just charging the phone on the pad, which is very rare, or I'm plugged in (and pad is off) which is the only way AA works as there's no wireless AA available on the car, which is annoying. I did consider a Wireless adapter but decided not to bother in the end. 

You can switch the pad on or off and also boost the wireless charging power (which I think has something to do with pressing the power button 3 times in quick succession). 

[DavidinDerbyshire]

On 10/11/2024 at 4:35 PM, Paul1905 said:

has anyone managed to get the wireless charger working with a particular iPhone case that they could recommend.

I have an iPhone 13 with an Otterbox case. And have no problems. Otterbox are available on Amazon. 

[Nick72]

5 minutes ago, DavidinDerbyshire said:

I said I would let you know the result of my foray on cheap or free chargers, Nick. We checked out the chargers at Saxmundham. The app shows they are free but East Suffolk council charges a very reasonable 25p per KwH. There are four of them and I am told they are rarely all occupied.   Can we keep our own list of free chargers (highlighting those where we need spend something etc)?  PS The Saxmundham chargers are difficult to find, they are in a car park marked private but it is an NHS building  and they ARE council chargers just off the main road through the town. 

Funnily enough the 2 spaces that are sometimes free at our local hospital when everything is rammed are free to use chargers with a maximum visit time of I think 4hrs. You still need to pay for car parking mind you and that's not cheap but if you are looking for a parking space in an otherwise totally rammed set of car parks and you're visiting someone or have an appointment yourself it's a good option.

25p is not bad.

[Paul1905]

23 hours ago, Nick72 said:

I don't know because I'm on AA so either I'm just charging the phone on the pad, which is very rare, or I'm plugged in (and pad is off) which is the only way AA works as there's no wireless AA available on the car, which is annoying. I did consider a Wireless adapter but decided not to bother in the end. 

You can switch the pad on or off and also boost the wireless charging power (which I think has something to do with pressing the power button 3 times in quick succession). 

Thanks again - I’ve tried the new case and it works a treat. 

unfortunately the MagSafe connection does not work through the case so my everyday use of the phone outside of the car is no the best…..

can’t have everything!

whats AA?

 

 

[Paul1905]

23 hours ago, DavidinDerbyshire said:

I have an IPhone 13 with an Otterbox case. And have no problems. Otterbox are available on Amazon. 

Thank you, do they come with the MagSafe magnet? As I’ve found I need this on my case for it to be an all round usable case!!!

 

I wonder if the MagSafe surround is causing the issue!

[Paul1905]

On 10/13/2024 at 3:29 PM, philip42h said:

The PHEV has a 6.6kW onboard AC charger - that's the maximum it can draw so even if you connect up to a 22kW three phase charger the PHEV can only draw 6.6kW.

If you were investing for the future, you might consider the 3-phase version so that you could charge a full EV with an 11kW onboard charger more quickly but:

1. Such an EV would probably come with such a cable anyway.
2. It will be a bigger bulkier thing to lug around for no immediate benefit.

Really silly question - doesn't the PHEV come with the required cables anyway? Or are you simply looking for a spare?

As ever, really helpful, thank you.

Car comes with an unwieldy 7.5m cable (maybe longer not measured) but it’s too long for home use!

 

 

[Nick72]

2 hours ago, Paul1905 said:

Thanks again - I’ve tried the new case and it works a treat. 

unfortunately the MagSafe connection does not work through the case so my everyday use of the phone outside of the car is no the best…..

can’t have everything!

whats AA?

 

 

Android Auto 

[Nick72]

2 hours ago, Paul1905 said:

Thank you, do they come with the MagSafe magnet? As I’ve found I need this on my case for it to be an all round usable case!!!

 

I wonder if the MagSafe surround is causing the issue!

100 percent wil be. The charging plate is an induction device. Any kind of magnetic device or coil not intended for the normal wireless charger plates will screw it up.

[DavidinDerbyshire]

On 10/14/2024 at 4:42 PM, Paul1905 said:

Thank you, do they come with the MagSafe magnet? As I’ve found I need this on my case for it to be an all round usable case!!!

 

I wonder if the MagSafe surround is causing the issue!

I find the Otterbox connects without any problems. The iPhone 13 built in magnet isn't affected by it. The only problem I have encountered is that if I don't place the phone squarely on the charger it sits a low two tone beep and shows a green light. When placed properly it shows an amber light. All of this can be controlled by the on/off button just forward of the "gear lever".