Charging E bikes in Europe

[Dupont]

Hi everyone, I am heading to France or Holland hopefully next year and wondered how we will get in charging our ebikes up using our conventional three pin plugs on the continent?

Can anyone recommend a good adapter and say if they have tried it and how it worked? Thanks.

[Jdsk]

Does the charger have a detachable mains lead?

Jonathan

[Dupont]

Yes it does. Both bikes use Bosch chargers.

[Jdsk]

How about an additional lead with the appropriate plug rather than an adapter?

Jonathan

[Dupont]

That would be the easiest way I guess. I wasn't sure if the adapter did anything though?

Do the Netherlands, France and Belgium all use the same type of power socket?

[Jdsk]

...
Do the Netherlands, France and Belgium all use the same type of power socket?

What's the nominal current?

Jonathan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_ ... nd_sockets
https://www.worldstandards.eu/electrici ... y-country/

[Dupont]

I just read that Bosch now have ebike charging stations across Europe and that this is the adapter I need for The Netherlands.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/Njkkcla_zVQ?feature=shared[/youtube]

[Galactic]

Another good reason to take an extra lead with two pins rather than use your current one with an adapter is that the adapters rarely provide a snug fit. That's fine for a hotel room or the washroom on a campsite, but may be a bit fiddly when using an outside socket with nowhere suitable to place the charger.

But if you do end up taking an adapter, take one that does provide a tight fit with your UK plug.

[plancashire]

That would be the easiest way I guess. I wasn't sure if the adapter did anything though?

Do the Netherlands, France and Belgium all use the same type of power socket?

Not exactly. The map here shows the European standards. The French design has an earth pin sticking out in the upper middle. The German design has two earth contacts in the sides of the socket at top and bottom. Your adapter should expose the UK earth pin at the top to touch the German-style contact, and it should have a hole to receive the French earth pin.

If your charger requires no earth a separate two-pin flat plug lead has the advantage that it fits either socket with no problems. A lead with earth would have a round end with the earth contacts at the sides and a hole for the French, plus the two pins of course.

[Dupont]

That would be the easiest way I guess. I wasn't sure if the adapter did anything though?

Do the Netherlands, France and Belgium all use the same type of power socket?

Not exactly. The map here shows the European standards. The French design has an earth pin sticking out in the upper middle. The German design has two earth contacts in the sides of the socket at top and bottom. Your adapter should expose the UK earth pin at the top to touch the German-style contact, and it should have a hole to receive the French earth pin.

If your charger requires no earth a separate two-pin flat plug lead has the advantage that it fits either socket with no problems. A lead with earth would have a round end with the earth contacts at the sides and a hole for the French, plus the two pins of course.

Thanks, very informative.

I have sourced a high quality adapter that will work adapting my UK 3 pin plug for use in France, Belgium and Netherlands.

[Jdsk]

...
Do the Netherlands, France and Belgium all use the same type of power socket?

What's the nominal current?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_ ... nd_sockets
https://www.worldstandards.eu/electrici ... y-country/

Because above 2.5 A they don't all use the same socket, but there is a plug type that is compatible with the two different sockets. It's referred to as hybrid E/F or CEE7/7.

(This is the same issue as described by plancashire upthread.)

Jonathan

[rjb]

and don't cut the plug off, bare the cables and use a pair of matchsticks to hold it in the socket.

[Audax67]

Looking at Bosch chargers on Amazon.fr they all seem to have a flat 2-pin plug at the wall end and a standard 2-hole plug that goes into the charger, i.e. the kind of lead you get with umpteen kinds of charger for umpteen kinds of device. My non-Bosch kit uses one too, as do my Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic and Sony chargers. This sort of thing

You can get them in most supermarkets of any size.

[Jdsk]

Looking at Bosch chargers on Amazon.fr they all seem to have a flat 2-pin plug at the wall end and a standard 2-hole plug that goes into the charger, i.e. the kind of lead you get with umpteen kinds of charger for umpteen kinds of device. My non-Bosch kit uses one too, as do my Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic and Sony chargers. This sort of thing

You can get them in most supermarkets of any size.

That's Type C. And its suitability depends on what current you want.

Jonathan

[anniesboy]

Just take a suitable adaptor as I guess you will be wanting to charge other things

Dont forget some hotels etc will not let you charge bike batteries in your room, which might mean an extension lead will be needed