Is the Grounding Adapter Safe?
3 Answers
Grounding adapters are unsafe because when using them, some residual current from the charging facility can flow to the vehicle, electrifying it and failing to prevent electric shock accidents in advance. Below is relevant information about EV grounding adapters: Definition: A grounding module/adapter is primarily a grounding body made of non-metallic materials, composed of non-metallic minerals with good conductivity and stability along with metal electrodes. Principle: The working mechanism involves disconnecting the actual ground wire and connecting a 16.42kΩ resistor to the neutral wire to deceive portable chargers (or charging piles) and vehicles, bypassing ground detection. If the neutral and live wires are reversed, the ground wire will be directly connected to the live wire through the 16.42kΩ resistor.
The grounding adapter is something that depends on the specific situation. Essentially, it simulates grounding on an outlet without a ground wire, tricking the electric vehicle into thinking the environment is safe for charging. However, I've seen many car owners experience tripped circuits or overheated plugs after using low-quality grounding adapters due to excessive circuit load and poor heat dissipation. Especially those uncertified products from small factories, which lack even basic temperature control protection—using them in high summer temperatures is really risky. If you must use one in an emergency, it's advisable to choose a dual-certified brand with short-circuit and leakage protection. Before charging, ensure the plug is secure, and it's best to monitor the charging process closely. Ultimately, though, the proper solution to charging issues lies in using standard charging stations or modifying the grounding circuit.
My old residential area doesn't have charging stations, and last year I also considered using a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) adapter. The main safety risks lie in two aspects: first, in a false grounding state, if the equipment leaks electricity, the metal car body may become electrified; second, continuous high current may cause the wiring to overheat and catch fire. Nowadays, reliable products come with 10mA leakage protection and will automatically cut off power if charging takes too long. However, I suggest not opting for cheap options—check for CE certification before buying, and avoid sharing the socket with other high-power appliances during use. Additionally, never use this device with old wiring, as aluminum wires are even more dangerous. From my own experience, I only use it for emergency charging at most twice a month, and rely on public charging stations the rest of the time.
