EV Charger Install - Octopus or Local Electrician?
Discussion
I've just got an EV so need a wall charger. Octopus seem elusive at defining what their 'standard' install includes and response time to emails and an undefined lead in time for install isn't inspiring confidence!
I've just got an install quote (with me supplying charger) from a local electrician which is £600. My consumer unit is full so I need an additional CU and surge protection unit installed. Quote for new consumer unit which will accommodate charging circuit and charger install is £800.
Has anyone had/heard of experiences with Octopus compared to local electrician? My gut feeling is the install from Octopus will be cheaper and suspect the install will be 'quick and dirty'. Lead in time for leccy is 6 weeks.
I've just got an install quote (with me supplying charger) from a local electrician which is £600. My consumer unit is full so I need an additional CU and surge protection unit installed. Quote for new consumer unit which will accommodate charging circuit and charger install is £800.
Has anyone had/heard of experiences with Octopus compared to local electrician? My gut feeling is the install from Octopus will be cheaper and suspect the install will be 'quick and dirty'. Lead in time for leccy is 6 weeks.
I had an Ohme installed by Octopus as part of my SS lease, I couldn't have been more impressed, the guy spent nearly a whole day on the job and it was a very professional install. Especially as it wasn't a standard install, the cable had to go from the rear of the house to the front, through a trench (which I'd dug beforehand) and then fixed to the outbuilding wall. No mess and the end result was very tidy.
Mammasaid said:
I had an Ohme installed by Octopus as part of my SS lease, I couldn't have been more impressed, the guy spent nearly a whole day on the job and it was a very professional install. Especially as it wasn't a standard install, the cable had to go from the rear of the house to the front, through a trench (which I'd dug beforehand) and then fixed to the outbuilding wall. No mess and the end result was very tidy.
Thanks for the feedback. What was the extra uplift in cost?I had Octopus install a charger for me a few weeks ago. Also very impressed. Their standard install always includes a new dedicated consumer unit with a surge protector alongside the breaker.
Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
_Hoppers said:
Mammasaid said:
I had an Ohme installed by Octopus as part of my SS lease, I couldn't have been more impressed, the guy spent nearly a whole day on the job and it was a very professional install. Especially as it wasn't a standard install, the cable had to go from the rear of the house to the front, through a trench (which I'd dug beforehand) and then fixed to the outbuilding wall. No mess and the end result was very tidy.
Thanks for the feedback. What was the extra uplift in cost?mikey_b said:
I had Octopus install a charger for me a few weeks ago. Also very impressed. Their standard install always includes a new dedicated consumer unit with a surge protector alongside the breaker.
Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
I've just literally had an email back from Octopus! They've said an additional consumer unit with surge protection may not fall under standard installation, and I'd need to check with their installation team to confirm! I've asked them to check with their installation team!Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
_Hoppers said:
mikey_b said:
I had Octopus install a charger for me a few weeks ago. Also very impressed. Their standard install always includes a new dedicated consumer unit with a surge protector alongside the breaker.
Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
I've just literally had an email back from Octopus! They've said an additional consumer unit with surge protection may not fall under standard installation, and I'd need to check with their installation team to confirm! I've asked them to check with their installation team!Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
mikey_b said:
_Hoppers said:
mikey_b said:
I had Octopus install a charger for me a few weeks ago. Also very impressed. Their standard install always includes a new dedicated consumer unit with a surge protector alongside the breaker.
Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
I've just literally had an email back from Octopus! They've said an additional consumer unit with surge protection may not fall under standard installation, and I'd need to check with their installation team to confirm! I've asked them to check with their installation team!Ordered (approx) the 25th Jan, was installed on 17th Feb. They contacted the DNO and got approval first, then scheduled the date. A couple of days before he arrived, the installer contacted me via WhatsApp to get photos of what he would be facing when he arrived, and also evidence of existing earth bonding to gas/water.
It wasn't an especially complex install - new small CU next to meter inside the house, cable then goes through the wall behind and into the garage, up and over the garage door, back down the other side, and finally out the wall into the back of the charger. The cable they use is a thick black one containing the main current-carrying wires, and also has CAT-5 ethernet cable in it in case the wifi is weak. Was done neatly, everything tidied up afterwards, and the installer was cheerful and friendly. All done in about 4 hours - some of which was re-jigging the cabling where it comes out the meter (we now have 3 CUs, each of which needs L and N from the meter), so that wooden board with the meter is quite 'busy'!
I also had a charger installed by Octopus recently, from order the install was less than 2 weeks, on day of install engineer arrived promptly, was very clear in what was involved and what access etc he needed. As my consumer unit was full a separate one was added for the charger (included in the quoted cost). Install / commissioning took about 4 1/2 hours in total and when he left I had a fully functioning charger with the required apps set up for use. I would recommend if you are currently an Octopus customer.
I used a local guy who is an electrician but fills up the local Facebook with pictures of new charger installations he's done. I needed it doing quickly and didn't want to be stuck in the uncertainty of dealing with big organisations. As it happened the car was delayed a week so it was in well before the car arrived.
Job itself was super simple - literally back-to-back with the incoming supply & meter. Fitted a new consumer unit for the charger with surge protection as the main consumer unit is remote from the incoming supply.. Got all the certs / paperwork quicky - first time I've ever had that on a job without chasing. He supplied the tethered Ohme Pro and the CU. Cost £1180 (£900+VAT).
Job itself was super simple - literally back-to-back with the incoming supply & meter. Fitted a new consumer unit for the charger with surge protection as the main consumer unit is remote from the incoming supply.. Got all the certs / paperwork quicky - first time I've ever had that on a job without chasing. He supplied the tethered Ohme Pro and the CU. Cost £1180 (£900+VAT).
Thanks Cylon/Sheepshanks for your feedback. I managed to speak to someone in the Wall Charger team and they confirmed an additional CU and surge protector would be within the standard installation scope. Fitting should be within 4 weeks. It seems like my two quotes from electricians are on the high side so I think I'll go with Octopus.
Thanks all!
Thanks all!
I wouldn't have wanted to pay any more than I did especially as the job was so simple - he managed to quote just on the edge of what was acceptable.
He was very responsive when it looked like it was turning into a panic - I'd held off thinking we were going to get a nearly-new car and they included a charger but I got a good offer on a new one and that didn't have the free charger offer.
He was very responsive when it looked like it was turning into a panic - I'd held off thinking we were going to get a nearly-new car and they included a charger but I got a good offer on a new one and that didn't have the free charger offer.
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