Charging cable frezes

O

Olof

New Member
Hi!

Thanks for letting me join this forum

I have a Mini Se and whenever the temperature goes below zero the small pin on the left side of the receptacle for the charging cable freezes. This means I can't drive away.

I typically put in the cable when I come home from work in the evening. The car is parked outside. When I'm going to work in the morning the cable is stuck and I can't drive away. The only remedy I've found is to bring out an electrical heater and heat the receptacle until thawed.

Has anyone on this forum encountered the same problem and have you found a solution. My garage checked with BMW and learnt it was a known problem and nothing else.

Temperatures dropping below zero is quite common in Sweden

Thanks for your support
Olof
Lund, Sweden
 
Not here but I would take that in to have it fixed if it did. I do park inside a garage and rarely lock my door when I am charging at home.

Have you also tried using a cover over the charger in case water is coming in and freezing it?
 
Olof said:
Hi!

Thanks for letting me join this forum

I have a Mini Se and whenever the temperature goes below zero the small pin on the left side of the receptacle for the charging cable freezes. This means I can't drive away.

I typically put in the cable when I come home from work in the evening. The car is parked outside. When I'm going to work in the morning the cable is stuck and I can't drive away. The only remedy I've found is to bring out an electrical heater and heat the receptacle until thawed.

Has anyone on this forum encountered the same problem and have you found a solution. My garage checked with BMW and learnt it was a known problem and nothing else.

Temperatures dropping below zero is quite common in Sweden

Thanks for your support
Olof
Lund, Sweden
Click to expand...
I believe your MINI Electric has a different connector than the J1772 we have in the States. I've had problems with ice inside the charging lid preventing the charging lid from opening, but now I make sure to clear the ice before I close the lid.
I have one of these EcoSolaris Eco Dome covers to prevent snow from getting in when charging outside and it works well.
https://ecosolaris.com/produit/housse-port-pistolet-de-recharge-voiture-electrique-eco-dome/

upload_2021-2-10_19-17-55.webp
 
Thanks for your replies!

Insightman is correct that my car has a IEC 62196 Type 2 connector. (Is this a forum for mainly US Mini owners?)

I asked my local BMW dealer to solve the problem but they only answered it was a known problem with no known solution.
Thanks Insightman for the link to EcoSolaris; this is a good solution. You are better than BMW tech-suppot.

Best regards
Olof
 
Olof said:
Thanks for your replies!

Insightman is correct that my car has a IEC 62196 Type 2 connector. (Is this a forum for mainly US Mini owners?)

I asked my local BMW dealer to solve the problem but they only answered it was a known problem with no known solution.
Thanks Insightman for the link to EcoSolaris; this is a good solution. You are better than BMW tech-suppot.

Best regards
Olof
Click to expand...
We have more people from the US, but we are not a US group only. Or not even north America like I've seen. A bit surprising that they didn't know of covers to try though. I thought those were common for those in wintery areas. While I am garaged, I knew of them. Hope that works for you.
 
A little spritz of some fluid film or other protective water dispersant could help.
 
Toi said:
The rodentia of my area like the taste of anything even possibly edible, I don't wish to tempt them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had a friend in Wallingford have his pretty new Maxima totaled last year because rats ate through so much of the wiring.
 
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https://smile.amazon.com/3-ONE-Care...7692&sprefix=SILICONE+SPRAY+;L,aps,195&sr=8-5

61u97H2gDXL._SL1499_.jpg
 
polyphonic said:
Would preheating the cabin for 15 minutes transfer any heat to the charge port?
Click to expand...
While there will likely be some heat that permeates through to the port, I doubt enough for below-zero temps. The outside is metal and a good conductor for heat loss.
 
Good point. IIRC Teslas heat the port, or at least cabin preheating helps them. The more I looked at the MINI port, I found that it has more of a buffer from the cabin.
The box idea and lubricant sound good, but it would be nice to hear something official from MINI.
 
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