OWNER ANSWER
DOLPHIN portable charger: can it stay outside when unused?
Put the portable charging lead away in a cool, dry place when you have finished using it. The DOLPHIN handbook gives that storage instruction for the Mode 2 lead with a household plug and control box; it does not approve leaving it permanently exposed to rain and sun. A permanently installed wallbox is different equipment, with its own installation and weather instructions.
These instructions cover the DOLPHIN right-hand-drive May 2025 EN_V3 handbook and matching Mode 2 equipment, not DOLPHIN SURF or an unspecified aftermarket charger.
- Identify the equipment: this answer is for the portable lead with a household mains plug, an in-line control box and a vehicle connector. Check its own label and supplied instructions as well as the car handbook.
- End charging normally and unlock the car before removing the vehicle connector. Remove the connector from the car first, then unplug the household mains plug. Do not pull against the car’s connector lock.
- Close the car’s charge-port cap and door. Put the disconnected charging equipment in a cool, dry place; keep it away from heaters and avoid carrying it by pulling on its cable.
- Before the next use, inspect the cable, control box, plugs and car port for damage, corrosion or moisture. With the equipment disconnected, follow its cleaning instructions; BYD specifies a clean, dry cloth for visible dampness or dirt and a dry, clean connection before use.
- For repeated outdoor charging, have a qualified electrician check the intended supply and the exact charging equipment’s outdoor-use instructions. Do not assume a waterproof-looking control box makes the household socket or the whole installation suitable.
Safety note: Do not use damaged equipment or a connection that remains wet. Keep your hands dry, use a sheltered charging location in rain, and avoid charging in a thunderstorm; do not open or repair the control box yourself.
What success looks like
The unused portable lead is stored dry, rather than hanging permanently in the weather. At the next charge, the equipment and connections pass the checks in their instructions and the car shows an active charging session without a fault indication.
If that did not work
If the lead has already been left outside, inspect it before using it again; an absence of visible damage is not proof that submerged or internally wet equipment is safe. For moisture inside the control box, damaged insulation, corrosion or a recurring electrical fault, stop using that lead and ask its supplier to assess it. Give the supplier its model number, the visible damage or fault indication and whether the box or plug was immersed. Ask an electrician to assess an exposed household socket or uncertain outdoor supply. If you cannot provide the required dry storage and suitable supply, discuss a properly installed outdoor chargepoint instead of improvising a cover or enclosure.
Useful next steps
BYD DOLPHIN RHD May 2025 EN_V3, PDF pages 73–80 and 95. Checked 13 November 2026.
Open source (BYD UK)