Which home charging point?
Discussion
techguyone said:
If you get a tethered one, and then your next car has a different cable type, how hard is it to get it changed?
You don't need to to get a different charger do you ?
They can be changed. But unless you are looking to get an older type 1 car first it won't be an issue. Type 2 is here to stayYou don't need to to get a different charger do you ?
LordGrover said:
Getting an i3 next week so have spent too much time reading this thread trying to decide which charger.
The list so far:
Are there any glaring omissions?
BMW are recommending the BP Pulse, but it's easily the nastiest looking device. I'm leaning towards the EO Pro 2 at the moment, especially as I have solar panels; though they're over ten years old so not sure of compatibility... The app looks a bit naff too.
I had a similar list. Went with the podpoint in the end mainly due to a 7.5m cable as the charger is behind the car. The 2.5m on many others is pretty limiting in many circumstances The list so far:
Are there any glaring omissions?
BMW are recommending the BP Pulse, but it's easily the nastiest looking device. I'm leaning towards the EO Pro 2 at the moment, especially as I have solar panels; though they're over ten years old so not sure of compatibility... The app looks a bit naff too.
Frimley111R said:
See below, based on our experiences or other installers, plus one added...
Andersen - Nice but pricey. If you can afford it it is a nice option
BP Pulse - Old style charger, unattractive and cheap looking
Easee - Not installed one so not sure
EO - Good, small but needs earth spike/cabling which doesn't look nice and they look small from the front but are quite deep these days
Ohme - Fine but not the best looking thing
PodPoint - Fine but quite big
Rolec - As above
Wallbox - Tethered only but good, has Bluetooth connectivity
Webasto - No idea
Zappi - Big, works with solar etc but so do many others
SyncEV - 'Best' - smaller than the EO, no earth spike so neat finish, GSM capability, RFID, does solar etc
I wouldn't say there are any terrible chargers in your list and you won't go wrong with any. Key differences are in looks.
As far as Apps go, most are fine but connecting them via wifi, GSM etc can be patchy however you can ignore them really as all they do is allow you to monitor and schedule charging essentially and most EVs do this anyway with far better Apps.
Hope that helps
Just a quick note about the EO, it doesn't necessarily need a dedicated earth spike. Mine has an external box containing the necessary protection gubbins, which the installer managed to squeeze into the meter cabinet.Andersen - Nice but pricey. If you can afford it it is a nice option
BP Pulse - Old style charger, unattractive and cheap looking
Easee - Not installed one so not sure
EO - Good, small but needs earth spike/cabling which doesn't look nice and they look small from the front but are quite deep these days
Ohme - Fine but not the best looking thing
PodPoint - Fine but quite big
Rolec - As above
Wallbox - Tethered only but good, has Bluetooth connectivity
Webasto - No idea
Zappi - Big, works with solar etc but so do many others
SyncEV - 'Best' - smaller than the EO, no earth spike so neat finish, GSM capability, RFID, does solar etc
I wouldn't say there are any terrible chargers in your list and you won't go wrong with any. Key differences are in looks.
As far as Apps go, most are fine but connecting them via wifi, GSM etc can be patchy however you can ignore them really as all they do is allow you to monitor and schedule charging essentially and most EVs do this anyway with far better Apps.
Hope that helps
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4873098-s...
(No idea how good the EO is as a charger, though, as my EV is yet to be delivered!)
I recently fitted a Hypervolt. So far very happy with it - the price was on par with the cheapest options my fitter could offer - yet is Wifi enabled, with an App allows for scheduled charging and seems to have frequent updates by the vendor so I'd anticipate more features soon. For example, integration with solar charging and Alexa due soon. It is tethered with 5 or 7.5m cable options and has a 3-yr warranty.
TBH while looking dated (not that I care) it feels tough and robust and mines never failed to do a charge, however the comms keeps failing on it and I'm now on my 3rd unit in just 14 months and again waiting on BP Chargemaster to get back to me. It was free and it works, just wish I could get the online side to work and stay working as I now have solar panels and would like to throttle the charging (only possible through the app via their servers).
LordGrover said:
Getting an i3 next week so have spent too much time reading this thread trying to decide which charger.
The list so far:
Are there any glaring omissions?
BMW are recommending the BP Pulse, but it's easily the nastiest looking device. I'm leaning towards the EO Pro 2 at the moment, especially as I have solar panels; though they're over ten years old so not sure of compatibility... The app looks a bit naff too.
Age of the solar install shouldn’t matter, will be a CT clip that looks at how much power they’re producing and the charger then decides how much juice to send to the car.The list so far:
Are there any glaring omissions?
BMW are recommending the BP Pulse, but it's easily the nastiest looking device. I'm leaning towards the EO Pro 2 at the moment, especially as I have solar panels; though they're over ten years old so not sure of compatibility... The app looks a bit naff too.
Zappi is possibly the most well known/ popular for this - I’d also look/ ask over at SpeakEV if picking a charger now.
I have an old Rolec with “solar switch” which has been fine but there is a big thread on speakEV with pictures of burnt out ones. Rolec didn’t handle it well - I’d avoid them personally.
Edited by danp on Sunday 23 May 09:26
LordGrover said:
Related to topic, but completely different...
Charging at public ev chargers; how does that work? Do have to join a club/apply for card for any/all suppliers or do you just pay by card at point of sale/charge?
Alas it varies from supplier to supplier. Some just allow you to swipe a credit card, some need you to use an app (even if the charge is free). You do get used to it, and in theory all new installs are meant to allow credit card swipe but I'm not sure it has yet been pushed in to law. Even with CC swipe, some of those give you a discount if you use their app or subscription.Charging at public ev chargers; how does that work? Do have to join a club/apply for card for any/all suppliers or do you just pay by card at point of sale/charge?
LordGrover said:
Related to topic, but completely different...
Charging at public ev chargers; how does that work? Do have to join a club/apply for card for any/all suppliers or do you just pay by card at point of sale/charge?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwAZK6j5v5ACharging at public ev chargers; how does that work? Do have to join a club/apply for card for any/all suppliers or do you just pay by card at point of sale/charge?
LordGrover said:
Related to topic, but completely different...
Charging at public ev chargers; how does that work? Do have to join a club/apply for card for any/all suppliers or do you just pay by card at point of sale/charge?
I’d suggest having a look on Zap-Map and working out which chargers/ networks are likely to be most useful for you, i.e. for regular journeys beyond the range of the car.Charging at public ev chargers; how does that work? Do have to join a club/apply for card for any/all suppliers or do you just pay by card at point of sale/charge?
Instavolt and Osprey are my preferred networks, contactless, reliable and usually more than one charger per site.
I do have a Shell Recharge RFID card (free) which gives access to many networks, main reason for me was to access the Ionity network (very expensive) but sometimes handy for me.
Once Gridserve have replaced the 300 or so unreliable Ecotricity chargers at motorway services that’ll make a huge difference, should be over the next few months.
Evening all, in anticipation of ordering an EV (Polestar 2) I'm looking into my options for a home charging point.
Difficult point for me is that my car parking space is 20m away from my house, across a shared driveway, with no features suitable for mounting a typical wall unit.
I've installed a duct, with rope, for pulling a cable through and have a local electrical firm who will install for me.
What I'm wondering is what is my best option for a charging point? Does it need to be of the pedestal type you see in car parks? Is there any merit in future proofing and installing one with two sockets for when the wife gets an EV? The Rolec Basiccharge EVCL2016 seems to cover my requirements but isn't the cheapest.
Any help? Thanks
Difficult point for me is that my car parking space is 20m away from my house, across a shared driveway, with no features suitable for mounting a typical wall unit.
I've installed a duct, with rope, for pulling a cable through and have a local electrical firm who will install for me.
What I'm wondering is what is my best option for a charging point? Does it need to be of the pedestal type you see in car parks? Is there any merit in future proofing and installing one with two sockets for when the wife gets an EV? The Rolec Basiccharge EVCL2016 seems to cover my requirements but isn't the cheapest.
Any help? Thanks
T.B. said:
Evening all, in anticipation of ordering an EV (Polestar 2) I'm looking into my options for a home charging point.
Difficult point for me is that my car parking space is 20m away from my house, across a shared driveway, with no features suitable for mounting a typical wall unit.
I've installed a duct, with rope, for pulling a cable through and have a local electrical firm who will install for me.
What I'm wondering is what is my best option for a charging point? Does it need to be of the pedestal type you see in car parks? Is there any merit in future proofing and installing one with two sockets for when the wife gets an EV? The Rolec Basiccharge EVCL2016 seems to cover my requirements but isn't the cheapest.
Any help? Thanks
Unless you are both doing serious mileage every day it's unlikely that you'll need to charge both cars at the same time so I wouldn't worry about having two sockets.Difficult point for me is that my car parking space is 20m away from my house, across a shared driveway, with no features suitable for mounting a typical wall unit.
I've installed a duct, with rope, for pulling a cable through and have a local electrical firm who will install for me.
What I'm wondering is what is my best option for a charging point? Does it need to be of the pedestal type you see in car parks? Is there any merit in future proofing and installing one with two sockets for when the wife gets an EV? The Rolec Basiccharge EVCL2016 seems to cover my requirements but isn't the cheapest.
Any help? Thanks
For the charging point itself most people just concrete in a fence post and use a regular charger screwed to it in situations like yours.
T.B. said:
Evening all, in anticipation of ordering an EV (Polestar 2) I'm looking into my options for a home charging point.
Difficult point for me is that my car parking space is 20m away from my house, across a shared driveway, with no features suitable for mounting a typical wall unit.
I've installed a duct, with rope, for pulling a cable through and have a local electrical firm who will install for me.
What I'm wondering is what is my best option for a charging point? Does it need to be of the pedestal type you see in car parks? Is there any merit in future proofing and installing one with two sockets for when the wife gets an EV? The Rolec Basiccharge EVCL2016 seems to cover my requirements but isn't the cheapest.
Any help? Thanks
Zappi do one for their charger - https://myenergi.com/product/zappi-pedestal/Difficult point for me is that my car parking space is 20m away from my house, across a shared driveway, with no features suitable for mounting a typical wall unit.
I've installed a duct, with rope, for pulling a cable through and have a local electrical firm who will install for me.
What I'm wondering is what is my best option for a charging point? Does it need to be of the pedestal type you see in car parks? Is there any merit in future proofing and installing one with two sockets for when the wife gets an EV? The Rolec Basiccharge EVCL2016 seems to cover my requirements but isn't the cheapest.
Any help? Thanks
Otherwise, I'd concrete a 200mm x 100mm wooden post into the ground
Phunk said:
Unless you are both doing serious mileage every day it's unlikely that you'll need to charge both cars at the same time so I wouldn't worry about having two sockets.
To hit that sweet Octopus 5p charging slot you definitely want to charge two at once[but the cost of a new charger + all the hassle fitting it, paperwork etc would pay for a lot of 10p/kWh over the Octopus Go prices... I reckon about 32,000 miles before another £800 charger paid for itself]
Phunk said:
Unless you are both doing serious mileage every day it's unlikely that you'll need to charge both cars at the same time so I wouldn't worry about having two sockets.
Also, two chargers don't mean two fast chargers either. You only have X amount of power available and so you'll end up with 2 x 3.6kW, not 2 x 7kW. Might as well stick with one 7kWThanks, I hadn't realised that you could get pedestals to mount a wall unit on. They look a good solution.
It's having the ability to charge during the Octopus Go low periods that I'm looking for a dual socket set up. Overnight the load used by the house should be minimal so I would hope with suitably sized cabling we can achieve 2x 7kw? Question for the electrician I guess!
It's not so much serious mileage (circa 70miles daily for me), but ensuring both cars would be fully charged and (in winter) pre conditioned as well.
It's having the ability to charge during the Octopus Go low periods that I'm looking for a dual socket set up. Overnight the load used by the house should be minimal so I would hope with suitably sized cabling we can achieve 2x 7kw? Question for the electrician I guess!
It's not so much serious mileage (circa 70miles daily for me), but ensuring both cars would be fully charged and (in winter) pre conditioned as well.
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