At home charger - in a terraced house?

[Nickbrapp]

I live in a new build mid Terrace and I’m exploring getting a electric car, but how would the charger be installed

I have 2 spaces outside my house as off road parking, electric meter is at the front and I have a outside socket too

Consumer unit is under the stairs in the middle of the house

Do these chargers require a armoured cable to be run as a new supply? I don’t really want conduit or a cable on show.

[IJWS15]

Proper terrace with footpath in front of the house or do you own the land in front?

[Nickbrapp]

IJWS15 said:

Proper terrace with footpath in front of the house or do you own the land in front?

I own the land in front, it’s a new build so there’s my front door, my path and then my 2 parking spaces/ driveway

[IJWS15]

You could probably get it connected your side of the meter in the meter box with the charger on the wall beside the meter box, lead across your garden to the car.

[ruggedscotty]

Easy install
Would require a check of your consumer unit and the supply capacity. also if your heating and cooking is electric etc.

There is a misunderstanding that the main switch will protect you from over loading the system, but that main switch is just a switch. You have to take into account the diversification of the installation. If your heating is electric and you have an electric shower and an electric cooker... you can quickly get to that 60A fuse....

Decent electrician will advise. but it would be a charge point connected back to the consumer unit. And id advise that you got an interlock sorted so that only you can power it up. Were starting to see power theft from charge units that are not controlled....

[Nickbrapp]

IJWS15 said:

You could probably get it connected your side of the meter in the meter box with the charger on the wall beside the meter box, lead across your garden to the car.

This is what I thought, take the supply at the meter but wasn’t sure if it needed a isolation at the consumer unit as well?

[ruggedscotty]

Nickbrapp said:

IJWS15 said:

You could probably get it connected your side of the meter in the meter box with the charger on the wall beside the meter box, lead across your garden to the car.

This is what I thought, take the supply at the meter but wasn’t sure if it needed a isolation at the consumer unit as well?

cant take it from the meter - you need a means to isolate and protection. You could use a henly block to split the tails - but id be wanting an isolator between the meter and the henley blocks...

[Nickbrapp]

ruggedscotty said:

cant take it from the meter - you need a means to isolate and protection. You could use a henly block to split the tails - but id be wanting an isolator between the meter and the henley blocks...

Could you have a external RCD or lock off isolator etc in a waterproof enclosure after the meter and before the charger in the same vein as say having a consumer unit in a shed or for a hot tub?

[andy43]

Nickbrapp said:

ruggedscotty said:

cant take it from the meter - you need a means to isolate and protection. You could use a henly block to split the tails - but id be wanting an isolator between the meter and the henley blocks...

Could you have a external RCD or lock off isolator etc in a waterproof enclosure after the meter and before the charger in the same vein as say having a consumer unit in a shed or for a hot tub?

You could fit an external IP66 isolator switch and enclosure that you can fit an isolock padlock to - £30 max.
Other option would be an internal switch - a 45a shower switch would do it - but you’d be less likely to remember to switch it off when not in use.
Can’t believe people are stealing a couple of quids worth of electricity. An unfamiliar EV parked up with a bright blue cable sticking out the front isn’t exactly an under the radar theft...

[ruggedscotty]

andy43 said:

Nickbrapp said:

ruggedscotty said:

cant take it from the meter - you need a means to isolate and protection. You could use a henly block to split the tails - but id be wanting an isolator between the meter and the henley blocks...

Could you have a external RCD or lock off isolator etc in a waterproof enclosure after the meter and before the charger in the same vein as say having a consumer unit in a shed or for a hot tub?

You could fit an external IP66 isolator switch and enclosure that you can fit an isolock padlock to - £30 max.
Other option would be an internal switch - a 45a shower switch would do it - but you’d be less likely to remember to switch it off when not in use.
Can’t believe people are stealing a couple of quids worth of electricity. An unfamiliar EV parked up with a bright blue cable sticking out the front isn’t exactly an under the radar theft...

Need to ensure that the cable and nswitchgear is adequately protected. Hooking up to the meter direct isnt to be advised.

There is the type of supply to your building is it PME ?

Id be looking to get in an expert.

Ive added a link thats worth reading..

https://myenergi.com/pen-protection/

[Nickbrapp]

ruggedscotty said:

andy43 said:

Nickbrapp said:

ruggedscotty said:

cant take it from the meter - you need a means to isolate and protection. You could use a henly block to split the tails - but id be wanting an isolator between the meter and the henley blocks...

Could you have a external RCD or lock off isolator etc in a waterproof enclosure after the meter and before the charger in the same vein as say having a consumer unit in a shed or for a hot tub?

You could fit an external IP66 isolator switch and enclosure that you can fit an isolock padlock to - £30 max.
Other option would be an internal switch - a 45a shower switch would do it - but you’d be less likely to remember to switch it off when not in use.
Can’t believe people are stealing a couple of quids worth of electricity. An unfamiliar EV parked up with a bright blue cable sticking out the front isn’t exactly an under the radar theft...

Need to ensure that the cable and nswitchgear is adequately protected. Hooking up to the meter direct isnt to be advised.

There is the type of supply to your building is it PME ?

Id be looking to get in an expert.

Ive added a link thats worth reading..

https://myenergi.com/pen-protection/

Thanks both, I did have a read up and see that install from one of the big firms included a earth rod if required, It was mainly avoiding having a cable inside the house on show I was worried about but sounds like it can all be done externally.

[andy43]

Just to be clear, no don’t wire it up direct to the meter...
Stick a second consumer unit and some Henley blocks and extra tails in, and to meet the new regs you now need a special expensive RCD or something.
I fitted a £30 switched 32A commando socket into a spare RCD protected slot to charge our Tesla and was told by the internet I’m going to die.
It’ll be expensive to do it correctly...

[Frimley111R]

ruggedscotty said:

And id advise that you got an interlock sorted so that only you can power it up. Were starting to see power theft from charge units that are not controlled....

In 4 years I've heard of this once (and I work in the industry). Who sits there for a couple of hours hoping a home owner won't notice them? I understand it in commercial business parks but not in homes.

[aestetix1]

Kind of insane that in 2021 they are building new houses without charge points, isn't it?

I'd have a word with the developer, if it's not too late, because it would be so much easier to install all the needed cable before the floors etc. go in.

The government was talking about mandating charging on new builds but they seem to have dropped it. UK climate goals are a joke.

[Toaster Pilot]

aestetix1 said:

Kind of insane that in 2021 they are building new houses without charge points, isn't it?
.

Planning varies by council. I’ve heard that some make it a requirement.

Currently looking at a new build in the Tewkesbury Borough Council area - the planning conditions state that each property must be fitted with an outdoor socket “to facilitate easier future installation of an EV charge point” - I’m not sure how a dual 3 pin outdoor socket does that given it’ll not be cabled in 6mm+

[ruggedscotty]

Frimley111R said:

ruggedscotty said:

And id advise that you got an interlock sorted so that only you can power it up. Were starting to see power theft from charge units that are not controlled....

In 4 years I've heard of this once (and I work in the industry). Who sits there for a couple of hours hoping a home owner won't notice them? I understand it in commercial business parks but not in homes.

this is because the uptake of electric vehicles is going to ramp up - and all those points around that could be used to let the juice flow without charge... there is going to a be a lot more theft of juice. best to get something in that can be controlled so that it cant be taken without permission.

[aestetix1]

Toaster Pilot said:

Planning varies by council. I’ve heard that some make it a requirement.

Currently looking at a new build in the Tewkesbury Borough Council area - the planning conditions state that each property must be fitted with an outdoor socket “to facilitate easier future installation of an EV charge point” - I’m not sure how a dual 3 pin outdoor socket does that given it’ll not be cabled in 6mm+

I've seen a few with charge points bolted to the front of the house but no driveway and a public footpath between the house and the car.

[paralla]

I'm surprised at how many home charging points I see installed with the armoured cable surface mounted to the wall into a bottom entry into the charge point.

I used to be an electrician so maybe I'm more sensitive to exposed wiring than most people but I think it looks rubbish. The majority of people wouldn't accept surface wiring for an outside light but they don't seem bothered by it for an EV charge point.

This (random google image search) lady seems quiet happy with herself, I'd be cringing at the path of least resistance, cheapest and fastest instillation job if it was my house.

[Frimley111R]

paralla said:

I'm surprised at how many home charging points I see installed with the armoured cable surface mounted to the wall into a bottom entry into the charge point.

I used to be an electrician so maybe I'm more sensitive to exposed wiring than most people but I think it looks rubbish. The majority of people wouldn't accept surface wiring for an outside light but they don't seem bothered by it for an EV charge point.

This (random google image search) lady seems quiet happy with herself, I'd be cringing at the path of least resistance, cheapest and fastest instillation job if it was my house.

You can run the cable through the back of some chargers but often you simply can't for some chargers. Also, like the one you highlighted, many are quite old designs and no-one seemed to have considered cabling.

Chargers don't need armoured of course but people fit all sorts of different cables (which are fine I might add).

The industry is evolving quickly but is still relatively new.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Nickbrapp said:

I live in a new build mid Terrace and I’m exploring getting a electric car, but how would the charger be installed

I have 2 spaces outside my house as off road parking, electric meter is at the front and I have a outside socket too

Consumer unit is under the stairs in the middle of the house

Do these chargers require a armoured cable to be run as a new supply? I don’t really want conduit or a cable on show.

i got permission from the residents/management committee to put a post outside my terraced house in front of my parking bays (about 2m from the house)

installer lifted the paviours and ran armoured cable, i went for a galvanised post for rust resistance, they installed the hardware needed in my electric meter box (small 2x32amp panel) after moving a couple of bits to make space and made good (you cant tell the blocks were lifted), so no need to change anything in the house.

i got most of the cost back from the OLEV grant but i think its been reduced now



I got them to run 2 armoured cables (and the hardware for it in the cabinet) for when 'er indoors gets an EV, having lived with an EV for sometime know now 1 charging point is more than enough as i only need to use it twice a week, if the OLEV grant is still about I will get a second one fitted as a spare


and don't forget to switch to octopus go for 5p/kwh off peak charging

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Wednesday 18th August 11:22