T6.1 E-Grille EHU

[drinfinity]

Under the bonnet next to the battery you can get a consumer unit squeezed in.

CandyVan conversion journey

Left roof beam back in and trimmed. Original courtesy light refitted, and it lights up, and no blown fuses!

www.t6forum.com

 

[Hypnoboutique]

Hi all. Joined to share my intel on the eGrille. I bought a van that has one of these fitted. It looks amazing. Is somewhat hard to open... you have to apply a push a little way in from the edge of the badge. But something to note: a typical female ECC plug will not push into the socket enough to make a connection because the door is in the way.



In VA's own video, you can see the plug has had its door removed, which seems a bit naughty-naughty-possibly-even-illegal to me:

I found this cable with what looks like a alternative plug style but damned if I'm forking out 200 quid for it

Very interested to know what others have done...

 

[JumpShip]

Can you push the plug in with the flap in the forward position? Rather than flapped all the way back ?

 

[Bav]

Hi all. Joined to share my intel on the eGrille. I bought a van that has one of these fitted. It looks amazing. Is somewhat hard to open... you have to apply a push a little way in from the edge of the badge. But something to note: a typical female ECC plug will not push into the socket enough to make a connection because the door is in the way.

View attachment 301648

In VA's own video, you can see the plug has had its door removed, which seems a bit naughty-naughty-possibly-even-illegal to me:

I found this cable with what looks like a alternative plug style but damned if I'm forking out 200 quid for it

Very interested to know what others have done...

Yep, I've found that too.

My van was supplied with a 10m cable - a bit stingy of the convertor I thought, but the plug fits the e-grille fine. The plug on my new, 30m cable, however, has an updated design that doesn't engage fully, just as you describe. As a stop-gap, I've been daisy-chaining the two cables together, but I reckon a bit of dremmeling will allow the flap to open wider without having to resort to removing it completely.

EDIT: Seems you can buy just the plug in the style you linked to. No prices, but gotta be cheaper than £200 for the full cable...

Shore Power Assemble Plugs - Shore Power Assemble Plugs - Shore Power

Shore Power Assemble Plugs - The Ratio Shore Power plugs are also available as a assemble version:

www.ratio-electric.com

 

[Hypnoboutique]

Thanks for the info @Bav

but the plug fits the e-grille fine.

O rly? Does it just flap all the way back or something? Modification is a great idea.

I couldn't find that plug anywhere, super helpful. But I prefer your modification suggestion; I would be way happier with a flap for safety.

 

[Hypnoboutique]

Can you push the plug in with the flap in the forward position? Rather than flapped all the way back ?

Negative, Ghost rider:




The flap on this plug goes quite far back, allowing that first shot I shared. But I have another where THIS is the only way it would be even be possible. But, yeah, there is nowhere for it to go.

Maybe it's possible to get a plug where the flap goes all the way back, like 270º. But then there's another interesting question: if memory serves, the flap also forms a kind of locking mechanism when the plug and socket are fully engaged.

I have young (read: daft) kids and wouldn't want a long shore cable with the door removed, which could be left exposed and live to weather/fingers/cutlery. I think I might make a tiny cable as an adaptor where the female has no door. At least this would be less likely to get plugged in anywhere other than here. But then, if someone trips on the connected cable and yanks it out...

 

[JumpShip]

Pretty pants design I reckon

 

[JumpShip]

Is there any way to turn the plug around 180° ?
Normally on an inlet the flap would be at the top and that 'might' provide enough room for the flap to fit inside the housing

 

[Bav]

Thanks for the info @Bav


O rly? Does it just flap all the way back or something? Modification is a great idea.

I couldn't find that plug anywhere, super helpful. But I prefer your modification suggestion; I would be way happier with a flap for safety.

Yes, the flap on the old plug opens to a much wide angle...


..compared to the flap on the new plug...


I'm hoping to sort it by removing the portion of the flap that protrudes beyond the pivot-point.

 

[Hypnoboutique]

Is there any way to turn the plug around 180° ?
Normally on an inlet the flap would be at the top and that 'might' provide enough room for the flap to fit inside the housing

I'm not going to mess with it. I've seen the installation video and it looks like kindof a Pandora's box that I don't want to open. Regarding the design, I don't want to crap all over VA ; the unit is super cool and probably they were impeded by physics to get it recessed AND concealed by the badge. On the whole, I think it's good

Yes, the flap on the old plug opens to a much wide angle...

..compared to the flap on the new plug...

I'm hoping to sort it by removing the portion of the flap that protrudes beyond the pivot-point.

Ahhhhh. Yes, mine are both like the latter. I'm prepared to scour a bit for another that flexes right back like your original one. Reckon it might even be apparent from the visual design, based on your image.

That Ratio Electric connector we discussed is spicy pricy at ~£40 and although it looks quite cool without the outer casing, it's hard to justify when you can get a "normal" CEE cable for a few quid.



Really appreciate input on this @JumpShip @Bav

 

[JumpShip]

I NEED a 3d printer .

I don't like the idea of the detachable badge on the 'lite' version

 

[Bav]

I'm not going to mess with it. I've seen the installation video and it looks like kindof a Pandora's box that I don't want to open. Regarding the design, I don't want to crap all over VA ; the unit is super cool and probably they were impeded by physics to get it recessed AND concealed by the badge. On the whole, I think it's good


Ahhhhh. Yes, mine are both like the latter. I'm prepared to scour a bit for another that flexes right back like your original one. Reckon it might even be apparent from the visual design, based on your image.

That Ratio Electric connector we discussed is spicy pricy at ~£40 and although it looks quite cool without the outer casing, it's hard to justify when you can get a "normal" CEE cable for a few quid.

View attachment 301690

Really appreciate input on this @JumpShip @Bav

Good luck trying to source one like my original. Try as I might, I couldn't find one. I seem to remember reading that the design has been superseded, so you might need to strike it lucky and find somewhere with old stock. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Oh, and the other issue I found was that not every stockist has up to date pics on their website, so you think you're buying the old design, but the product they send is of the new design.

 

[Green Giant]

I removed the plug flap on my lead, I can’t see it doing any harm, but yes agree, I’m sure the e grille could be improved, think there is a different version on the market now

 

[Bav]

...think there is a different version on the market now

There is - there's a new trade member on here that sells a different version: @Van-Plugs.

 

[Van-Plugs]

We are certainly on here now!!

Van-Plugs website

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[Hypnoboutique]

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

I have one... where's the flap?

 

[Van-Plugs]

Some fold all of the way back, some stop half way, so we sell a version which some of the 'stopper' reduced, you can do this yourself.

Some users just remove the stopper completely.

Our latest version has seen the male plug offset now, so this gives more room for the flap within the recess.

Hope that helps.

 

[Skyliner33]

Some fold all of the way back, some stop half way, so we sell a version which some of the 'stopper' reduced, you can do this yourself.

Some users just remove the stopper completely.

Our latest version has seen the male plug offset now, so this gives more room for the flap within the recess.

Hope that helps.

Do you have any fitting instructions / video for a T6.1? Can't see any on the website.

 

[Van-Plugs]

There should be a downloadable pdf online, but here is the T6 version.

Thanks