Home charge points (purchase/problems/questions) (See mod note post#1)

kirving

Gumbo wrote: »

7kw charger requires works to the consumer unit and appropriate wiring from there to the charger or if its unfeasible, you can piggy back from the Meter Cabinet. The REC will decide the best course of action here.

your 330e can only charge at 3.6kw so you can never charge any quicker than that at home.

That's probably moreso my thought, that a more powerful charger needed to be fed from the meter cabinet. If the installer next week knew that was coming in future, would they do anything different?

I've no idea what that might be. Leave a little extra cable for the next guy? Place a meter to one side of the cabinet in case more equipment in future?

KCross

Padraig Mor wrote: »

1. €600 grant - I'm pretty sure I don't qualify for this as I already got a free charger. However, I've read that the grant is linked to the MPRN. I changed to a night meter subsequent to the charger installation so would I now have a different MPRN.....and qualify for the grant?

Are you sure you got a new MPRN though? I'd say you didnt. Look at an old and a new invoice... the MPRN is on it.

Padraig Mor wrote: »

2. I'll need load balancing as I have an electric shower and electric oven (although in practice the charger would very rarely be run at the same time as the shower at least). What's the cheapest decent quality charger with this capability - I've heard EO are good? I doubt I'll need all the bells and whistles - happy enough with a dumb charger unless there's a pressing need for the fancy stuff.

Its not so much about being fancy. A self respecting electrician wont put in a dumb charge pointon its own if there is a reasonable chance you'll blow the house fuse. That means they have to either install a priority switch or a charge point with load sensing. If you go the dumb charge point route and add on a priority switch there isnt much difference in price then to get the "fancy" one.

Padraig Mor wrote: »

3. How does my current charger affect the installation - does it make it cheaper? I'd presume they'll need to replace the wiring so are they just saving on drilling the hole? Fuse box is inside front door; charger on the outside of the wall - i.e. easy enough install.

Probably wont make it any cheaper. They will save time on drilling the hole but have to spend time uninstalling it so much of a muchness.

Padraig Mor wrote: »

4. The VW ID charger seems to be fairly reasonable for the money (~€400) but it's hard to tell whether it includes load balancing, or requires extra hardware for this - anyone know?

It has the capability but they are still working on the software for it.

Padraig Mor wrote: »

5. I understand any registered electrician can do the install, but am I better getting a 'special' EV installation specialist?

No, unless you want to pay more!

Gumbo

kirving wrote: »

That's probably moreso my thought, that a more powerful charger needed to be fed from the meter cabinet. If the installer next week knew that was coming in future, would they do anything different?

I've no idea what that might be. Leave a little extra cable for the next guy? Place a meter to one side of the cabinet in case more equipment in future?

Piggybacking from the meter cabinet makes no difference to the charger power. You’ll still get 7kw. It just means you don’t have to run a cable from the charger location through the house to the consumer unit.

Nothing next week will help.
The EVSE installer has to install and certify his own work.

Gumbo

Padraig Mor wrote: »

I have a 3.3kW (16A) charger at home for the last ~six years and am now looking at upgrading to a 7.2kW as I have an ID4. I have a few queries I hope people might be able to shed some light on!

1. €600 grant - I'm pretty sure I don't qualify for this as I already got a free charger. However, I've read that the grant is linked to the MPRN. I changed to a night meter subsequent to the charger installation so would I now have a different MPRN.....and qualify for the grant?

2. I'll need load balancing as I have an electric shower and electric oven (although in practice the charger would very rarely be run at the same time as the shower at least). What's the cheapest decent quality charger with this capability - I've heard EO are good? I doubt I'll need all the bells and whistles - happy enough with a dumb charger unless there's a pressing need for the fancy stuff.

3. How does my current charger affect the installation - does it make it cheaper? I'd presume they'll need to replace the wiring so are they just saving on drilling the hole? Fuse box is inside front door; charger on the outside of the wall - i.e. easy enough install.

4. The VW ID charger seems to be fairly reasonable for the money (~€400) but it's hard to tell whether it includes load balancing, or requires extra hardware for this - anyone know?

5. I understand any registered electrician can do the install, but am I better getting a 'special' EV installation specialist?

1. MPRN tends to stick with the property for its entire life. Most likely you have the same MPRN.

2. Oven is fine. You’ll need a priority switch or a charger with built in load balancing like the Zappi.

3. If the original hole is big enough, they may be able to fish through the 6Sq cable that’s required for a 32a charger. I’d not, then they will have to drill again or make the existing opening bigger. In the brand scheme of things it’s not a big part of the job as the cable requires running to the CU anyway.

4. Confirm with VW. Or post up the spec.

5. Get a trusted REC.

Felexicon

Gumbo wrote: »

4. Confirm with VW. Or post up the spec.

The VW chargers do work with a number of CT clamps to provide load management.
You can find the different models that work with it in the user manual which also shows the different dip switch configurations for each model.

Padraig Mor

KCross wrote: »

Its not so much about being fancy. A self respecting electrician wont put in a dumb charge pointon its own if there is a reasonable chance you'll blow the house fuse. That means they have to either install a priority switch or a charge point with load sensing. If you go the dumb charge point route and add on a priority switch there isnt much difference in price then to get the "fancy" one.



Probably wont make it any cheaper. They will save time on drilling the hole but have to spend time uninstalling it so much of a muchness.



It has the capability but they are still working on the software for it.



No, unless you want to pay more!

By "fancy" I mean internet connected and all that stuff - I'll definitely need load balancing alright. Seems I'm out of luck re grant and cheaper installation anyway - oh well.

Does anyone have experience of upgrading their charger vis a vis price - i.e. do discounts suddenly appear on the table when the grant isn't applicable?

vectra

Hi Guys.
I am in the proccess of getting all my ducks in a row as I have a lot to learn etc. before I take delivery of my id4.

First off,
Charger, from reading here I am guessing a cheaper alternatives to doing the VW install would be to purchase the charger from VW and get it installed by a registered electrician. Am I correct? I have an electric shower but no solar panels or anything like that.

I am currently in discussion via email with the SEAI regarding the grant as I live in a terraced house. ( I will post here how I get on once I know ) for anyone else in my situation.

I am reading a lot of issues with timed charging.!
I assume that would not affect me if I use plug and charge ?

I will think of more
Thanks

Patmwgs

Hi guys sorry for jumping in, currently trying to get a spark out to survey a ev charger install in garage. Existing cu is full and just on inside wall above meter box. Can he use henley blocke to split main tails and add second small cu for charger?

WayneEnterprise

vectra wrote: »

I am currently in discussion via email with the SEAI regarding the grant as I live in a terraced house. ( I will post here how I get on once I know ) for anyone else in my situation.

What’s your concern about being in a terraced house? I’m in a terraced house and got charger and grant without issue.

WayneEnterprise

Patmwgs wrote: »

Hi guys sorry for jumping in, currently trying to get a spark out to survey a ev charger install in garage. Existing cu is full and just on inside wall above meter box. Can he use henley blocke to split main tails and add second small cu for charger?

Could do it in meter cabinet

Gumbo

Patmwgs wrote: »

Hi guys sorry for jumping in, currently trying to get a spark out to survey a ev charger install in garage. Existing cu is full and just on inside wall above meter box. Can he use henley blocke to split main tails and add second small cu for charger?

The REC will have to decide that unfortunately.
Or come direct from the MC if no other option exists.

Felexicon

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

What’s your concern about being in a terraced house? I’m in a terraced house and got charger and grant without issue.

Only issue I can think of is no private drive to park in.

declan123

vectra wrote: »

Hi Guys.
I am in the proccess of getting all my ducks in a row as I have a lot to learn etc. before I take delivery of my id4.

First off,
Charger, from reading here I am guessing a cheaper alternatives to doing the VW install would be to purchase the charger from VW and get it installed by a registered electrician. Am I correct? I have an electric shower but no solar panels or anything like that
I am currently in discussion via email with the SEAI regarding the grant as I live in a terraced house. ( I will post here how I get on once I know ) for anyone else in my situation.

I am reading a lot of issues with timed charging.!
I assume that would not affect me if I use plug and charge ?

I will think of more
Thanks

That's what I did. I bought the charger from volkswagen and got my own electrician to install. It was far cheaper than the vw install which is carried out by bord gais as it happens.

Patmwgs

Gumbo wrote: »

The REC will have to decide that unfortunately.
Or come direct from the MC if no other option exists.

I had a quick look in the meter box and it looks like two loads are already connected to the esb disconnect switch. It looks like tails will have to be split with a couple of blocks. My spark said he will look at it in a couple of weeks😟

vectra

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

What’s your concern about being in a terraced house? I’m in a terraced house and got charger and grant without issue.

Cable running across public footpath?

Felexicon wrote: »

Only issue I can think of is no private drive to park in.

This ^^

declan123 wrote: »

That's what I did. I bought the charger from volkswagen and got my own electrician to install. It was far cheaper than the vw install which is carried out by bord gais as it happens.

Could you give me an idea of cost?
Thanks

Gumbo

vectra wrote: »

Cable running across public footpath?



This ^^



Could you give me an idea of cost?
Thanks

This is an issue then.
You can’t get a grant.

And if you self install you run a liability risk every time the cable is across the public path, even with one of those cable mats.

vectra

Gumbo wrote: »

This is an issue then.
You can’t get a grant.

And if you self install you run a liability risk every time the cable is across the public path, even with one of those cable mats.

I got the go ahead from the local council, but, as you said. Liability in the case of a trip or whatever would fall on my shoulders.

WayneEnterprise

vectra wrote: »

Cable running across public footpath?



This ^^



Could you give me an idea of cost?
Thanks

Ah ok. I own the spaces outside my house and just had to run the cable under a paved footpath that was lifted and re-laid

the_amazing_raisin

vectra wrote: »

I got the go ahead from the local council, but, as you said. Liability in the case of a trip or whatever would fall on my shoulders.

Since you'd be running power out there anyway, you could install an electric fence across the pavement to keep people from tripping over the wire

Jokes aside, I can see the difficulty, even with a mat you'd have some clown looking to make a quick buck throwing himself on the ground and claiming he tripped over your charging cable

Felexicon

vectra wrote: »

Cable running across public footpath?



This ^^



Could you give me an idea of cost?
Thanks

You will find it difficult to get someone to install a charger that will have a cable crossing a footpath.
There could be a case against holding the installer liable in the case of an accident.
It's something that needs to be addressed by councils and property management companies fairly sheepish.

Gumbo

vectra wrote: »

I got the go ahead from the local council, but, as you said. Liability in the case of a trip or whatever would fall on my shoulders.

Can you give more detail on how the council gave you the go ahead?
One of the biggest stumbling blocks during my work (planning applications) is people asking about charging pedestal space but the councils I deal with would not allow it.

baldshin

Question folks, have just had Gas Networks Ireland out to install a smart meter on our gas meter. They've told me that my car charger and isolator are too close to the gas meter and need to be moved. Is this something my installer should have been aware of, and is it something they should be rectifying?

Have been given a notice of non conformance from GNI.

Charger is a Zappi and was installed by a reputable, well known installer.

Gumbo

baldshin wrote: »

Question folks, have just had Gas Networks Ireland out to install a smart meter on our gas meter. They've told me that my car charger and isolator are too close to the gas meter and need to be moved. Is this something my installer should have been aware of, and is it something they should be rectifying?

Have been given a notice of non conformance from GNI.

Charger is a Zappi and was installed by a reputable, well known installer.

Did they say how far from the Gas Meter Cabinet it has to be located?

Heres their Location Guide, not alot of info on it.

https://www.gasnetworks.ie/home/get-connected/meter-location/GNI_Meter_Location_Guide.pdf

baldshin

The notice says it should be at least 500mm away. I'd say currently it's maybe 200mm from memory. Will be seriously annoyed if I've to pay to have the charger moved after paying a small fortune to have it installed!

vectra

baldshin wrote: »

The notice says it should be at least 500mm away. I'd say currently it's maybe 200mm from memory. Will be seriously annoyed if I've to pay to have the charger moved after paying a small fortune to have it installed!

If it were me I would point the finger directly at the installer and refuse to pay any more to have it moved.
If they refuse tell them you will be reporting them health and safety.

WayneEnterprise

baldshin wrote: »

The notice says it should be at least 500mm away. I'd say currently it's maybe 200mm from memory. Will be seriously annoyed if I've to pay to have the charger moved after paying a small fortune to have it installed!

Looks like this example install from Safe Electric March newsletter would fall afoul of GNI too so. Gas meter is bottom right

Gumbo

vectra wrote: »

If it were me I would point the finger directly at the installer and refuse to pay any more to have it moved.
If they refuse tell them you will be reporting them health and safety.

Depends, the REC may have installed it in compliance with the IS regulations as mentioned below.

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

Looks like this example install from Safe Electric March newsletter would fall afoul of GNI too so. Gas meter is bottom right

Possible but it could be a determination on where you measure the 500mm from. The actual meter inside the box or from the outside frame of the white box.

I’d love to see the regulation document on this.

Cyrus

baldshin wrote: »

Question folks, have just had Gas Networks Ireland out to install a smart meter on our gas meter. They've told me that my car charger and isolator are too close to the gas meter and need to be moved. Is this something my installer should have been aware of, and is it something they should be rectifying?

Have been given a notice of non conformance from GNI.

Charger is a Zappi and was installed by a reputable, well known installer.

what happens if you dont move it?

the_amazing_raisin

Gumbo wrote: »

Did they say how far from the Gas Meter Cabinet it has to be located?

Heres their Location Guide, not alot of info on it.

https://www.gasnetworks.ie/home/get-connected/meter-location/GNI_Meter_Location_Guide.pdf

The guide there just mentions the electricity meter cabinet and the distance should be 300mm. Nothing about appliances near the gas meter



Sounds a bit suspicious from GNI, maybe the lads just felt overworked and didn't want to do that house

baldshin

No idea what happens if I don't move it, though I'm unsure how my insurance would react if a fire did happen to break out in that area. They still did the work of replacing the meter, just provided me with the notice of non conformity after.