Which home charging point?

Author
Discussion

NDA

21,488 posts

224 months

Saturday 11th June 2022
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Pflanzgarten said:
Or, can anyone explain how you would know a charger that is being sold now is a “dumb” one?
I have a 7kw commando socket to charge my car. That's fairly dumb - the car is the smart bit.

blank

3,439 posts

187 months

Saturday 11th June 2022
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kiethton said:
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
Something like this is probably the cheapest way:
https://evonestop.co.uk/products/ev-charging-cable...

(No idea if that specific item is good but looks legit)


You'd then need a 32A outdoor commando socket installed by an electrician with the required protection for EV charging, which is generally:
Dedicated circuit/MCB
Open PEN fault detection

There really is no issue having a smart charging point though if you want a proper type 2 socket or tethered cable.

Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Saturday 11th June 2022
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The new ones or current EV chargers are still a better option for you. You'll end up with an EV at some point and by then home chargers will be more expensive and you may have wished you'd bought one now rather than later. I haven't seen the latest home charger pricing so not sure if/how much they are going up but new electrical regs come in in Sept which will increase install prices too. Things don't get cheaper...

Jugosaurus

95 posts

43 months

Tuesday 14th June 2022
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Charge point being fitted Thursday.
Due to a cock up we’ve been sent 2 chargers and I’ve no idea which one you have them install. Choices are
eo mini pro 2 or ohme pro 2. Both are tethered.
Any experiences or guidance.
Reviews look ok for both. Both have smart functions. No Solar to contend with and the cost of it means it’s not likely to be something I need to think about anytime soon!

Thanks

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Tuesday 14th June 2022
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Frimley111R said:
The new ones or current EV chargers are still a better option for you. You'll end up with an EV at some point and by then home chargers will be more expensive and you may have wished you'd bought one now rather than later. I haven't seen the latest home charger pricing so not sure if/how much they are going up but new electrical regs come in in Sept which will increase install prices too. Things don't get cheaper...
Thanks

malaccamax

1,247 posts

230 months

Wednesday 15th June 2022
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Frimley111R said:
The new ones or current EV chargers are still a better option for you. You'll end up with an EV at some point and by then home chargers will be more expensive and you may have wished you'd bought one now rather than later. I haven't seen the latest home charger pricing so not sure if/how much they are going up but new electrical regs come in in Sept which will increase install prices too. Things don't get cheaper...
Think they should get cheaper, given how much home 'chargers' cost for what's basically an outlet (the charger is actually in the car). It's been a bit of racket in my view, although maybe somebody has some insight into why they cost so much?

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th June 2022
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malaccamax said:
Think they should get cheaper, given how much home 'chargers' cost for what's basically an outlet (the charger is actually in the car). It's been a bit of racket in my view, although maybe somebody has some insight into why they cost so much?
Exactly this, with time surely prices will go down rather than up? For the unit at least - the cost of installation is a great unknown. The fact that my cheapest quote to install a 7kW home charger is without the £350 government grant tells you everything you need to know about how real the EV charger installation 'racket' is...

Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Wednesday 15th June 2022
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C.A.R. said:
malaccamax said:
Think they should get cheaper, given how much home 'chargers' cost for what's basically an outlet (the charger is actually in the car). It's been a bit of racket in my view, although maybe somebody has some insight into why they cost so much?
Exactly this, with time surely prices will go down rather than up? For the unit at least - the cost of installation is a great unknown. The fact that my cheapest quote to install a 7kW home charger is without the £350 government grant tells you everything you need to know about how real the EV charger installation 'racket' is...
Lol. I'm not about to get into cost breakdowns but you're kidding yourself if you think charger costs are going down. The Government add more requirements to them and the IET do the same. Each time it adds cost for manufacturers or installation companies and so, ultimately, to you.

It's not uncommon for people to assume anything with a government grant is a licence to print money and yet most EV installation companies were desperate for the grants to go.

And let's also not get into some of the horror show installations I have seen in the name of a cheap installation...

Greenmantle

1,256 posts

107 months

Thursday 16th June 2022
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Frimley111R said:
C.A.R. said:
malaccamax said:
Think they should get cheaper, given how much home 'chargers' cost for what's basically an outlet (the charger is actually in the car). It's been a bit of racket in my view, although maybe somebody has some insight into why they cost so much?
Exactly this, with time surely prices will go down rather than up? For the unit at least - the cost of installation is a great unknown. The fact that my cheapest quote to install a 7kW home charger is without the £350 government grant tells you everything you need to know about how real the EV charger installation 'racket' is...
Lol. I'm not about to get into cost breakdowns but you're kidding yourself if you think charger costs are going down. The Government add more requirements to them and the IET do the same. Each time it adds cost for manufacturers or installation companies and so, ultimately, to you.

It's not uncommon for people to assume anything with a government grant is a licence to print money and yet most EV installation companies were desperate for the grants to go.

And let's also not get into some of the horror show installations I have seen in the name of a cheap installation...
totally agree with the comments above. splashed out £800 on zappi plus harvi and then another £700 on installation. money well spent even though the EV might only arrive end of 2022 beginning of 2023.

installation was a first class job with second CU and mains switch added before primary CU. All neat and tidy so satisfy my OCD. Electrician had a type 2 testing device even though I was only his second install. He had done a Tesla.

Prices are not coming down unless you pick on the cheaper stuff and a cowboy installer.

How important is it to you to have your vehicle properly charging without causing RCD trips etc.

Lord Flashheart

3,767 posts

192 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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Just an update on my charger situation. I have run an armoured cable and bought an EO Mini Pro 2 with a Garo dedicated consumer unit. Materials were around £500 and I'm just waiting on a sparky to make the connections, which I expect will cost around £250 -£300. I'm very happy with that considering the pain in the arse run for the cable.
Pic of the EO by my glasses for scale.



Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Thursday 23rd June 2022
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The EO Mini Pro 2 is a good charger but the SyncEV is smaller (much less deep but same from the front), has the option of GSM if you do not have WIFI and has it's own PEN protection meaning you do not need to spend around £120 + VAT on a device to do this.

I believe the next EO Mini may have these facilities.


a_dreamer

2,031 posts

36 months

Saturday 25th June 2022
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Tempted by an ev and looking at charging points. Got an external garage which is about 25m from house. It has power and a small fuse box that was put in when house was built 25+ years ago. Powers the lights and two garage doors. I know this is a random question but is it fair to assume that that may mean there is enough power there not to have to run another cable from the main supply?

Is there any things I could check before looking to set it up. Very uninformed on this and don't fancy getting ripped off

TheRainMaker

6,302 posts

241 months

Saturday 25th June 2022
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Depends, sounds like you need a spark to come and have a look.

a_dreamer

2,031 posts

36 months

Saturday 25th June 2022
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TheRainMaker said:
Depends, sounds like you need a spark to come and have a look.
Yeah that was gonna be my next question as to whether I get a spark to sort that first or the company who'd likely fit one.

First I need to clear the garage to get to the fuse panel. That side is full of all kinds....

5s Alive

1,771 posts

33 months

Saturday 25th June 2022
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a_dreamer said:
Is there any things I could check before looking to set it up. Very uninformed on this and don't fancy getting ripped off
If you can see the outgoing cable from the house or at the fuse/consumer unit in the garage it may have the size embossed on it as below. 6mm sq would be the minimum for a 7kW charge point.
You will probably need a spark to assess the house supply/usage in any case.

I was fortunate that our garage supply was (just) up to the job. If it hadn't been I planned to use the 10A granny charger.




a_dreamer

2,031 posts

36 months

Saturday 25th June 2022
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5s Alive said:
If you can see the outgoing cable from the house or at the fuse/consumer unit in the garage it may have the size embossed on it as below. 6mm sq would be the minimum for a 7kW charge point.
You will probably need a spark to assess the house supply/usage in any case.

I was fortunate that our garage supply was (just) up to the job. If it hadn't been I planned to use the 10A granny charger.

A cheers. When I move the stuff and can get to the fuse box I will have a look. I can see two decent size black cables going in so fingers crossed.....

C63sxb

48 posts

36 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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Lord Flashheart said:
Just an update on my charger situation. I have run an armoured cable and bought an EO Mini Pro 2 with a Garo dedicated consumer unit. Materials were around £500 and I'm just waiting on a sparky to make the connections, which I expect will cost around £250 -£300. I'm very happy with that considering the pain in the arse run for the cable.
Pic of the EO by my glasses for scale.


Just to make you aware, you need to be EO accredited to commission their chargers.

I don’t know why, they are a very basic unit.

Customer support is non-existent, check out the reviews on trust pilot. The worst score of any charging company


Lord Flashheart

3,767 posts

192 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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C63sxb said:
Lord Flashheart said:
Just an update on my charger situation. I have run an armoured cable and bought an EO Mini Pro 2 with a Garo dedicated consumer unit. Materials were around £500 and I'm just waiting on a sparky to make the connections, which I expect will cost around £250 -£300. I'm very happy with that considering the pain in the arse run for the cable.
Pic of the EO by my glasses for scale.


Just to make you aware, you need to be EO accredited to commission their chargers.

I don’t know why, they are a very basic unit.

Customer support is non-existent, check out the reviews on trust pilot. The worst score of any charging company
I didn't know that and definitely didn't see anything about dedicated commissioning. I'd better look through the instructions!

5s Alive

1,771 posts

33 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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Lord Flashheart said:
I didn't know that and definitely didn't see anything about dedicated commissioning. I'd better look through the instructions!
SyncEv also had a list of approved installers. I received this shortly after contacting them and Walls Electrical were actually a surprising distance from us

C63sxb

48 posts

36 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
Lord Flashheart said:
C63sxb said:
Lord Flashheart said:
Just an update on my charger situation. I have run an armoured cable and bought an EO Mini Pro 2 with a Garo dedicated consumer unit. Materials were around £500 and I'm just waiting on a sparky to make the connections, which I expect will cost around £250 -£300. I'm very happy with that considering the pain in the arse run for the cable.
Pic of the EO by my glasses for scale.


Just to make you aware, you need to be EO accredited to commission their chargers.

I don’t know why, they are a very basic unit.

Customer support is non-existent, check out the reviews on trust pilot. The worst score of any charging company
I didn't know that and definitely didn't see anything about dedicated commissioning. I'd better look through the instructions!
You have to set up the customer site, before install

They don’t advertise the fact

https://www.speakev.com/threads/eo-approved-instal...