If you have spotted a blue Commando socket at a campsite hook-up point, a marina berth, or an outdoor event and wondered whether you can plug your electric car in, the answer is yes, with the right cable. A Type 2 to Commando cable bridges the gap between the industrial IEC 60309 socket already on-site and the Type 2 inlet fitted to every modern EV sold in the UK. But the colour of that Commando socket matters enormously, and we will explain exactly why.
What is a Type 2 to Commando cable?
A Type 2 to Commando cable has a Type 2 female connector at the car end (IEC 62196-2) and an IEC 60309 Commando male plug at the socket end. It lets you charge your EV from an industrial Commando outlet, the kind found at campsites, marinas, workshops and outdoor events, without needing a separate portable EVSE unit.
- Left end: Type 2 female (7-pin, IEC 62196-2, fits car inlet); Right end: Blue 16A Commando male (3-pin: L, N, PE; IEC 60309; single-phase 230V 16A); Cable label: Type 2 to 16A Blue Commando, ~3.7kW; Typical lengths: 5m, 7m, 10m
The Type 2 end (IEC 62196-2) fits the inlet on virtually every EV sold in the UK since 2018, from a Volkswagen ID.4 to a Nissan Leaf. The Commando end fits directly into the socket on-site. There is no control box in the middle: unlike a home granny charger (which contains an in-cable control pilot device), this is a straight cable whose safety functions rely on the socket’s own circuit protection. Available in 5 m, 7 m and 10 m; most campsite pitches need no more than 5 m.
Blue 16A vs red 32A Commando: why the colour is not just cosmetic
This is the question we are asked most often, and it is the most important thing to understand before you buy.
IEC 60309 uses colour to indicate voltage. Blue means 200-250V single-phase: the same 230V supply as a domestic socket, rated at 16A for roughly 3.7 kW. Red means 380-480V three-phase: a completely different supply type, rated at 32A for up to 22 kW. The two socket types are physically incompatible. You cannot accidentally plug a blue cable into a red socket.
These are not simply a “smaller” and “larger” version of the same thing:
- Blue 16A Commando: single-phase, 230V, 3-pin (L, N, PE). The same voltage as a domestic supply in a robust, weather-sealed industrial housing.
- Red 32A Commando: three-phase, 400V, 5-pin (L1, L2, L3, N, PE). A fundamentally different supply, relevant only for equipment designed to run on three-phase, or EVs whose on-board charger supports three-phase AC input.
The IEC 60309 colour coding is not decorative. The standard maps colour to voltage band: Yellow = 100-130V; Blue = 200-250V; Red = 380-480V. Different keyway positions, pin arrangements and physical sizes make cross-voltage mating mechanically impossible, a deliberate safety design.
- Blue 16A Commando: single-phase, 230V, 3-pin (L,N,PE), ~3.7kW, campsites/marinas/events, IEC 60309; Red 32A Commando: three-phase, 400V, 5-pin (L1,L2,L3,N,PE), ~22kW, workshops/trade sites/industrial, IEC 60309; Yellow 110V: single-phase 110V, construction sites ONLY, NOT for EV charging
What about yellow Commando sockets?
Yellow IEC 60309 sockets operate at 110V, a centre-tapped voltage used on UK construction sites to reduce electrocution risk from power tools. This is not the voltage your EV expects, and no Type 2 to yellow Commando cable should exist for EV use. If you see a yellow Commando socket, walk past it. Only blue (230V) and red (400V three-phase) Commando outlets are relevant for EV charging.
Where will you find Commando sockets?
Blue 16A: campsites, marinas and outdoor events
Blue 16A Commando sockets are the most common type an EV driver will encounter:
- Campsites: hook-up points for motorhomes and caravans use blue 16A sockets; these are identical to the sockets you need for EV charging. See our EV charging cable for caravan guide for the full touring picture.
- Marina berths: shore-power points on UK pontoons and berths are almost universally blue 16A Commando.
- Outdoor events and festivals: temporary hook-ups in trader and staff areas increasingly use blue 16A.
- Holiday parks and glamping sites: particularly those with motorhome or caravan pitches.
Red 32A: workshops, trade sites and industrial premises
Red 32A Commando sockets appear wherever a three-phase supply powers industrial equipment:
- Vehicle workshops and garages: many bays already have red 32A Commando sockets on the wall.
- Trade yards and builders’ merchants: red Commando supply is standard throughout.
- Industrial units and warehouses: fleet vehicles and vans can charge overnight from red 32A sockets.
If you manage a workshop or trade site, our EV charging for trade and workshop guide covers the infrastructure picture.
Is a Type 2 to Commando cable safe to use?
Used correctly, yes. But you must confirm one thing first.
The RCD protection requirement
Charging from a Commando socket is safe provided the socket is on a properly earthed, RCD-protected circuit. The IET Code of Practice for EV Charging Equipment Installation, 5th edition (2023) requires appropriate RCD protection on all EV charging circuits. A reputable campsite or marina should already meet this standard; if in doubt, ask the site manager before plugging in.
A Type 2 to Commando cable carries no control pilot electronics. Unlike a wallbox, it does not independently verify that the circuit is healthy before current flows. Protection comes entirely from the socket’s earthing, RCD and circuit breaker. This is standard practice for directly-wired charge points, and on a properly inspected campsite or marina hook-up circuit it is entirely safe. If the socket is at a less formal location, ask whether it has been tested.
Portable EVSE units and the Mode 3 distinction
Some industrial-grade portable EVSE units accept a Commando input and include their own control pilot electronics to communicate with the car. A Type 2 to Commando cable bypasses those units entirely. It operates as a direct connection, Mode 3 equivalent, with protection delegated to the socket circuit. This makes it simpler and less expensive than a Commando-input portable EVSE, but it requires the socket to meet the IET Code of Practice earthing and RCD requirements.
How much power will you actually get?
The supply rating sets the ceiling; your car’s on-board charger (OBC) sets the actual draw.
- Blue 16A (single-phase 230V): 16A × 230V = ~3.7 kW. Most EVs accept the full 16A. At 3.7 kW, expect roughly 15-20 miles of added range per hour.
- Red 32A (three-phase 400V): 32A × 400V × √3 ≈ 22 kW maximum. The power you actually receive depends on whether your OBC supports three-phase AC input. Many mainstream UK EVs peak at single-phase 7.4 kW. Even connected to a red 32A supply, they draw only 7.4 kW. Only vehicles with three-phase OBCs approach 22 kW.
For a direct comparison of what 16A and 32A supplies mean in everyday charging, see our 16A vs 32A EV charging cable guide.
Choosing the right cable
Match the cable to the socket colour. For campsite, marina or outdoor event use, choose a Type 2 to blue 16A Commando cable: 5 m suits most pitches, 7 m or 10 m for extra reach. For workshops and trade sites, choose a Type 2 to red 32A Commando cable and confirm your car supports three-phase AC charging if you want more than 7.4 kW. All our cables carry a minimum two-year warranty, free next-working-day DPD delivery over £150, and 30-day returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Type 2 to Commando cable?
A Type 2 to Commando cable has a Type 2 female connector (IEC 62196-2) at the car end and an IEC 60309 Commando male plug at the socket end. It lets you charge your EV from an industrial Commando socket (the kind commonly found at campsites, marinas, and workshops) without needing a separate portable EVSE unit, provided the socket is properly protected.
What is the difference between a blue and red Commando plug?
The colour indicates voltage and phase under IEC 60309. Blue is single-phase 230V, rated at 16A, delivering around 3.7 kW, the same voltage as a domestic supply. Red is three-phase 400V, rated at 32A, delivering up to 22 kW depending on your car’s on-board charger. They use different pin counts (3-pin vs 5-pin) and are physically incompatible. You cannot plug one into the other by mistake.
Can I charge my EV from a blue Commando socket?
Yes. A Type 2 to blue 16A Commando cable connects your car’s Type 2 inlet directly to a blue IEC 60309 socket. Your car’s on-board charger manages the current draw at or below 16A, giving you roughly 3.7 kW, enough to add 15-20 miles of range per hour of charging. The socket must be on an earthed, RCD-protected circuit.
Where will I find Commando sockets?
Blue 16A Commando sockets appear at campsites (hook-up points), marina berths, and outdoor event sites. Red 32A Commando sockets are common in workshops, trade yards, and industrial premises. Both are IEC 60309 sockets, but they serve different environments and supply different power levels.
Is a yellow Commando socket safe for EV charging?
No. Yellow IEC 60309 sockets supply 110V, which is a centre-tapped voltage used on UK construction sites to reduce electrocution risk from power tools. Your EV requires 230V (single-phase) or 400V (three-phase). Using a 110V supply for EV charging is wrong and potentially damaging. There is no legitimate Type 2 to yellow Commando cable; if you see one, do not use it.
Does the Commando socket need an RCD?
Yes. The IET Code of Practice for EV Charging Equipment Installation, 5th edition (2023) requires EV charging circuits to have appropriate RCD protection. A Type 2 to Commando cable relies on the socket’s circuit protection rather than an in-cable control pilot device. Reputable campsites and marinas typically comply, but ask the site operator if you have any doubt before charging.
Compare a good Type 2 cable for your car.