Which home charging point?

[Mikehig]

Lord Flashheart said:

Mr Ignorant here. I came home with a new iPace yesterday with very little knowledge on how these things work...car and chargers!
I know a sparks who is happy to fit a charger for me and I'm happy to run the cable. Paying someone to run the cable will be double dear and I'm not even going to bother getting quotes for it. My consumer unit is central to my house and the route to the drive is via a kitchen with solid floor, then through another room with a floating wooden floor, to outside via a 2ft thick stone wall, a 6ft run along an outside wall, under 3ft wide flagstone path, through 3 small outbuilding rooms, then under a gravel drive for about 12 ft to a charger. I just can't see that being cheap!
My sparks will make sure I use the correct cable/clips/route etc. so I'm happy with that, and he will fit a new consumer unit and charger.
Is there anything about my plan that is unacceptable as far as any rules go specific to EV charging? I also like how discreet the EO mini is, but as I know virtually nothing about the car at this stage, would that charger be controllable via the car without the need for an app? I have a Bulb account where my tariff is a flat rate 24/7, so I can't imagine I need do anything but plug in. I assume charging simply stops when full and automatically tops up if the car has been unused for a few weeks but power has dropped through whatever aan EV does when sat around.
Any pointers?

That's a challenging run!
Shooting from the hip.....is there an option to run it in the floor above, or roof space if it's a bungalow? Then it could be strung across the flagstone path as well, at a suitable height.

[knitware]

Mikehig said:

Lord Flashheart said:

Mr Ignorant here. I came home with a new iPace yesterday with very little knowledge on how these things work...car and chargers!
I know a sparks who is happy to fit a charger for me and I'm happy to run the cable. Paying someone to run the cable will be double dear and I'm not even going to bother getting quotes for it. My consumer unit is central to my house and the route to the drive is via a kitchen with solid floor, then through another room with a floating wooden floor, to outside via a 2ft thick stone wall, a 6ft run along an outside wall, under 3ft wide flagstone path, through 3 small outbuilding rooms, then under a gravel drive for about 12 ft to a charger. I just can't see that being cheap!
My sparks will make sure I use the correct cable/clips/route etc. so I'm happy with that, and he will fit a new consumer unit and charger.
Is there anything about my plan that is unacceptable as far as any rules go specific to EV charging? I also like how discreet the EO mini is, but as I know virtually nothing about the car at this stage, would that charger be controllable via the car without the need for an app? I have a Bulb account where my tariff is a flat rate 24/7, so I can't imagine I need do anything but plug in. I assume charging simply stops when full and automatically tops up if the car has been unused for a few weeks but power has dropped through whatever aan EV does when sat around.
Any pointers?

That's a challenging run!
Shooting from the hip.....is there an option to run it in the floor above, or roof space if it's a bungalow? Then it could be strung across the flagstone path as well, at a suitable height.

Where is your outside electric supply box located? We fitted a dedicated EV supply box next to it and routed from there, no real need to go from inside the house unit if you have space on the outside wall.

[carl0]

Our Podpoint comes directly of the meter rather than the consumer unit which may simplify things for you ?

[Lord Flashheart]

knitware said:

Mikehig said:

Lord Flashheart said:

Mr Ignorant here. I came home with a new iPace yesterday with very little knowledge on how these things work...car and chargers!
I know a sparks who is happy to fit a charger for me and I'm happy to run the cable. Paying someone to run the cable will be double dear and I'm not even going to bother getting quotes for it. My consumer unit is central to my house and the route to the drive is via a kitchen with solid floor, then through another room with a floating wooden floor, to outside via a 2ft thick stone wall, a 6ft run along an outside wall, under 3ft wide flagstone path, through 3 small outbuilding rooms, then under a gravel drive for about 12 ft to a charger. I just can't see that being cheap!
My sparks will make sure I use the correct cable/clips/route etc. so I'm happy with that, and he will fit a new consumer unit and charger.
Is there anything about my plan that is unacceptable as far as any rules go specific to EV charging? I also like how discreet the EO mini is, but as I know virtually nothing about the car at this stage, would that charger be controllable via the car without the need for an app? I have a Bulb account where my tariff is a flat rate 24/7, so I can't imagine I need do anything but plug in. I assume charging simply stops when full and automatically tops up if the car has been unused for a few weeks but power has dropped through whatever aan EV does when sat around.
Any pointers?

That's a challenging run!
Shooting from the hip.....is there an option to run it in the floor above, or roof space if it's a bungalow? Then it could be strung across the flagstone path as well, at a suitable height.

Where is your outside electric supply box located? We fitted a dedicated EV supply box next to it and routed from there, no real need to go from inside the house unit if you have space on the outside wall.

Unfortunately there's no easy solution. The house is listed and is constructed like 3 semis with an upstairs in the middle, single storey each side and with roof valleys between the 3. My main supply comes from a pole in the front garden, but I can't imagine it could spilt it there?? Ideally it would as it'd be great to have a separate supply and meter for the car.

[S600BSB]

carl0 said:

Our Podpoint comes directly of the meter rather than the consumer unit which may simplify things for you ?

Same here.

The ipace is a great choice - had mine 18 months and been really impressed with it.

[SWoll]

Lord Flashheart said:

Mr Ignorant here. I came home with a new iPace yesterday with very little knowledge on how these things work...car and chargers!
I know a sparks who is happy to fit a charger for me and I'm happy to run the cable. Paying someone to run the cable will be double dear and I'm not even going to bother getting quotes for it. My consumer unit is central to my house and the route to the drive is via a kitchen with solid floor, then through another room with a floating wooden floor, to outside via a 2ft thick stone wall, a 6ft run along an outside wall, under 3ft wide flagstone path, through 3 small outbuilding rooms, then under a gravel drive for about 12 ft to a charger. I just can't see that being cheap!
My sparks will make sure I use the correct cable/clips/route etc. so I'm happy with that, and he will fit a new consumer unit and charger.
Is there anything about my plan that is unacceptable as far as any rules go specific to EV charging? I also like how discreet the EO mini is, but as I know virtually nothing about the car at this stage, would that charger be controllable via the car without the need for an app? I have a Bulb account where my tariff is a flat rate 24/7, so I can't imagine I need do anything but plug in. I assume charging simply stops when full and automatically tops up if the car has been unused for a few weeks but power has dropped through whatever aan EV does when sat around.
Any pointers?

So you bought a new car with no research into how it works or how you plan to charge it?

Out of interest, what does you usage look like? I ask as we've had EV's for 3+ years and 40k miles and haven't had a dedicated charger during that time, we just use the granny charger overnight with a very occasional public charge as required.

[Pflanzgarten]

Was in my electrical wholesalers yesterday, they said that any EV charger sold after the 1st of July had to have network connection activated-due to the gov throttling chargers during peak ties.

Any truth in this?

[JonnyVTEC]

Yes smart charging. Hence the grant was only for smart to allow a degree of control to avoid brownouts!

[Lord Flashheart]

SWoll said:

Lord Flashheart said:

Mr Ignorant here. I came home with a new iPace yesterday with very little knowledge on how these things work...car and chargers!
I know a sparks who is happy to fit a charger for me and I'm happy to run the cable. Paying someone to run the cable will be double dear and I'm not even going to bother getting quotes for it. My consumer unit is central to my house and the route to the drive is via a kitchen with solid floor, then through another room with a floating wooden floor, to outside via a 2ft thick stone wall, a 6ft run along an outside wall, under 3ft wide flagstone path, through 3 small outbuilding rooms, then under a gravel drive for about 12 ft to a charger. I just can't see that being cheap!
My sparks will make sure I use the correct cable/clips/route etc. so I'm happy with that, and he will fit a new consumer unit and charger.
Is there anything about my plan that is unacceptable as far as any rules go specific to EV charging? I also like how discreet the EO mini is, but as I know virtually nothing about the car at this stage, would that charger be controllable via the car without the need for an app? I have a Bulb account where my tariff is a flat rate 24/7, so I can't imagine I need do anything but plug in. I assume charging simply stops when full and automatically tops up if the car has been unused for a few weeks but power has dropped through whatever aan EV does when sat around.
Any pointers?

So you bought a new car with no research into how it works or how you plan to charge it?

Out of interest, what does you usage look like? I ask as we've had EV's for 3+ years and 40k miles and haven't had a dedicated charger during that time, we just use the granny charger overnight with a very occasional public charge as required.

Pretty much that! I just liked the look of the iPace, so went to a dealer to see what they were all about . He had one new one in stock that was right up my street, so I bought it. It's very nice.
My usage is likely to be weekends, so like you, I could probably run it off a 3 pin plug most of the time. But sooner or later my wife will probably go electric too and she has a minimum 50 mile journey daily.

Edited by Lord Flashheart on Wednesday 1st June 21:26

[Frimley111R]

Pflanzgarten said:

Was in my electrical wholesalers yesterday, they said that any EV charger sold after the 1st of July had to have network connection activated-due to the gov throttling chargers during peak ties.

Any truth in this?

Yes, they will all begin their charging at between 0 and 10 minutes after you connect them. Also the default software will only allow charging at night and during the daytime, although this can be over ridden.

[pills]

Information on smart charging in this document - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

Worth a read.

[SWoll]

Lord Flashheart said:

Pretty much that! I just liked the look of the iPace, so went to a dealer to see what they were all about . He had one new one in stock that was right up my street, so I bought it. It's very nice.
My usage is likely to be weekends, so like you, I could probably run it off a 3 pin plug most of the time. But sooner or later my wife will probably go electric too and she has a minimum 50 mile journey daily.

Edited by Lord Flashheart on Wednesday 1st June 21:26

Dependent on which car you go with for your wife you can still add 70-100 miles overnight on a granny charger. A dedicated charger is certainly nice to have, but far from essential for your usage assuming you have somewhere close enough to where you park the cars to plug in.

Just something to consider if the alternative involves considerable cost and pain to achieve for what would appear to be limited benefit.

[mikeiow]

SWoll said:

Lord Flashheart said:

Pretty much that! I just liked the look of the iPace, so went to a dealer to see what they were all about . He had one new one in stock that was right up my street, so I bought it. It's very nice.
My usage is likely to be weekends, so like you, I could probably run it off a 3 pin plug most of the time. But sooner or later my wife will probably go electric too and she has a minimum 50 mile journey daily.

Dependent on which car you go with for your wife you can still add 70-100 miles overnight on a granny charger. A dedicated charger is certainly nice to have, but far from essential for your usage assuming you have somewhere close enough to where you park the cars to plug in.

Just something to consider if the alternative involves considerable cost and pain to achieve for what would appear to be limited benefit.

Yup: your lightweight usage sounds like some armoured ‘extension’ cable to a regular outdoor socket might be the easiest solution here.
Will your wife also go for a “thirsty” EV, or something *ahem* more economical?
Serious point - I appreciate you haven’t done the usual research into this: the iPace might only go just over 2miles per kW in winter, where our Kona EV (& some others) can usually get 3-5.
Usage patterns are important when considering EVs (& most vehicles, I guess!).

[Lord Flashheart]

mikeiow said:

SWoll said:

Lord Flashheart said:

Pretty much that! I just liked the look of the iPace, so went to a dealer to see what they were all about . He had one new one in stock that was right up my street, so I bought it. It's very nice.
My usage is likely to be weekends, so like you, I could probably run it off a 3 pin plug most of the time. But sooner or later my wife will probably go electric too and she has a minimum 50 mile journey daily.

Dependent on which car you go with for your wife you can still add 70-100 miles overnight on a granny charger. A dedicated charger is certainly nice to have, but far from essential for your usage assuming you have somewhere close enough to where you park the cars to plug in.

Just something to consider if the alternative involves considerable cost and pain to achieve for what would appear to be limited benefit.

Yup: your lightweight usage sounds like some armoured ‘extension’ cable to a regular outdoor socket might be the easiest solution here.
Will your wife also go for a “thirsty” EV, or something *ahem* more economical?
Serious point - I appreciate you haven’t done the usual research into this: the iPace might only go just over 2miles per kW in winter, where our Kona EV (& some others) can usually get 3-5.
Usage patterns are important when considering EVs (& most vehicles, I guess!).

I will run the cable for the 7kw charger, as it'll be required whatever the future. My wife will no doubt want something fancy. Currently she drives a Macan that will be 3 years old at the end of next year. By then I expect Porsche will only be selling an electric version, so depending on price, I expect she'll consider one as she tries to update every three years.
Miles per KW isn't too much of an issue right now, but definitely something to keep an eye on as we settle into the EV world.

[Pflanzgarten]

Our usage meant a grant charger would do but since installing a proper wall charger it is indeed the way to go.

We were never caught out by granny charging but in the time we’ve used the wall box it has meant charging is now never thought about, instead of the planned over nighters twice or thrice a week we used to do.

[Condi]

Lord Flashheart said:

My main supply comes from a pole in the front garden, but I can't imagine it could spilt it there?? Ideally it would as it'd be great to have a separate supply and meter for the car.

Where is the meter? If it's outside you could just route from there, or if it is at the top of the house (if your power comes from overhead) then you could route it out and across the roof valley to the back/side of the house.

There has to be a more sensible option than cutting across all the house.

[SWoll]

Pflanzgarten said:

Our usage meant a grant charger would do but since installing a proper wall charger it is indeed the way to go.

We were never caught out by granny charging but in the time we’ve used the wall box it has meant charging is now never thought about, instead of the planned over nighters twice or thrice a week we used to do.

TBH I never give it any thought anyway. Set max charge to 80% and plug in every night just in case of an emergency, takes 30 seconds or so. Charge to 95% on the rare occasions we are doing a round trip longer than 150 miles. Treat it the same way as a dedicated charger, just slower.

[Lord Flashheart]

Condi said:

Lord Flashheart said:

My main supply comes from a pole in the front garden, but I can't imagine it could spilt it there?? Ideally it would as it'd be great to have a separate supply and meter for the car.

Where is the meter? If it's outside you could just route from there, or if it is at the top of the house (if your power comes from overhead) then you could route it out and across the roof valley to the back/side of the house.

There has to be a more sensible option than cutting across all the house.

There really isn't. The power appears smack bang in the middle of the house at the ground floor. The 100amp fuse, meter and consumer unit are all there. There's no simple solution. If I took the power upstairs and into the loft, there's a valley between that loft and the next. It has to go sideways from the centre of the house. I do have a cunning plan though. Some years ago I ran a 2in pipe around the house under floors/kick spaces etc for a built in vacuum cleaner. I didn't complete it as I went off the idea. Hopefully I can use it as a conduit for this project...or at least some of it.

[kiethton]

Frimley111R said:

Pflanzgarten said:

Was in my electrical wholesalers yesterday, they said that any EV charger sold after the 1st of July had to have network connection activated-due to the gov throttling chargers during peak ties.

Any truth in this?

Yes, they will all begin their charging at between 0 and 10 minutes after you connect them. Also the default software will only allow charging at night and during the daytime, although this can be over ridden.

In light of this can anybody recommend me a "dumb" charger to buy this month? Cheaper the better as have an X5 hybrid (slow peak charging) arriving next month

[Pflanzgarten]

kiethton said:

Frimley111R said:

Pflanzgarten said:

Was in my electrical wholesalers yesterday, they said that any EV charger sold after the 1st of July had to have network connection activated-due to the gov throttling chargers during peak ties.

Any truth in this?

Yes, they will all begin their charging at between 0 and 10 minutes after you connect them. Also the default software will only allow charging at night and during the daytime, although this can be over ridden.

In light of this can anybody recommend me a "dumb" charger to buy this month? Cheaper the better as have an X5 hybrid (slow peak charging) arriving next month

Or, can anyone explain how you would know a charger that is being sold now is a “dumb” one?