Outdoor charging piles can charge in the rain. This is because each charging slot on the charging pile has a charging connection confirmation hole (charging monitoring hole), and current will only flow after this hole is successfully connected with the charging gun. In most cases, rainfall cannot submerge the monitoring hole and cause a short circuit. Even in the event of heavy rain that submerges the charging hole below the slot, as long as the charging gun is not inserted, no current will be formed. Additionally, the holes on the charging gun head are insulated from each other, ensuring that short circuits due to water immersion are unlikely. Furthermore, during the construction of charging facilities, the ground at the bottom is hardened and protected, making the area 20-30 cm below the charging pile itself resistant to water accumulation. At the same time, national safety requirements for charging piles are very strict. Before charging begins, both the vehicle and the charging pile undergo insulation tests. If the insulation test fails (due to severe water immersion or conductive objects), charging cannot start. The minimum waterproof rating for charging piles is IP56, meaning they can withstand water spray from any angle without issues after connection. Finally, charging piles are also equipped with functions such as short-circuit protection, lightning protection, overload protection, and leakage protection. If a short circuit occurs during charging, the device will immediately cut off the charging current. Fast charging piles go a step further by adding input overvoltage/undervoltage protection, output overvoltage/undervoltage protection, overtemperature protection, overcurrent protection, and reverse current protection for enhanced safety. However, during thunderstorms, it is best to avoid outdoor charging. This is because both the charging pile and the electric vehicle are made of metal, and the charging cable is a live conductor. If struck by lightning, high voltage can instantly penetrate the battery, causing the cells to catch fire.
