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

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118022599#Comment_118022599

The "logic" of the requirement is that the power supply to the Charge point can be isolated without needing to gain access to the interior of the house etc. in case of emergency.

That's the argument anyway - The merits of said argument are up for debate however.

fafy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117822732#Comment_117822732

2nd full month stats for 2 EV’s both charged fully at home, bar 1 trip to Dublin. Adjusted for latest, electricity rate increases.

Summer2020

Hi,

have an ID4 ordered for January delivery so trying to do my research on the home charge points now. I’ve read through most of the thread but have a few questions if that’s ok.

Can you apply for the grant in advance of getting the car delivered?

what charger is recommended? I know I need a type 2. Want a nice clean looking charger, I’m seeing the EO mini mentioned several times here, is that a good option? Are people buying the chargers themselves or through a package with an installation company? Any recommendations where to buy?

recommendations for a good reasonably priced installer in Dublin 18 area? How much can I expect to pay over and above the grant of €600?

many thanks

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118032145#Comment_118032145

Eo mini pro via electric Ireland , 1100 installed.

You can't apply for the grant without some info re the car I believe .

DaveByDavid

We will hopefully getting a new EV by January and are starting to look into chargers.

As per above the EV mini pro looks good and we are already with Electric Ireland.

We had a couple of dealers say you can get this charger, or this one is future proofed. What did they mean by future proofing, an is the EV mini pro that?

Any reason we shouldn't just get it done via electric Ireland? Seems to be a reasonable price.

Can the 5m tethered version be extended? WE think we might need more like 7-8m.

silver_sky

I got a Zappi installed in the end. The crowd that fit it did a good job installing but not configuring it. Despite being one of the big names and well-recommended everywhere they were difficult to deal with as a company. Anyways, my issue is that the app isn't showing PV generation - only import and exporting. Would this mean the extra CT for generation isn't installed?

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118032489#Comment_118032489

Dealers know less about EV chargers than they do about EV's, any type 2 charger will be fine.

You dont need to be an EI customer to get the EO, they sub it out to KN.

Dont think you can get the tethered one longer so get untethered and buy a 7m cable and leave it connected ;)

DaveByDavid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118047226#Comment_118047226

Would that make it easier to nick if it's untethered?

Any recommendations for where to get it from? Cheers!

Is there somewhere decent that could install a tethered point with over 5m cabling even if it's extra?

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118047815#Comment_118047815

Only if you left it connected to the wall when the car isn't there.

Once it's connected tot he car it's locked in tethered or not.

DaveByDavid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048596#Comment_118048596

Yeah, that's what I mean. So with non-tethered we still have to put the cable away when not in use.

It's why I was siding towards tethered if we could get one with a long enough lead.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048685#Comment_118048685

if you are buying a normal ev (not a PHEV) then you are probably going to be charging once a week, twice max, taking a cable out of the boot or out of a shed once a week isnt a big deal.

DaveByDavid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118049111#Comment_118049111

Time is money!

But yeah, fair enough...

Felexicon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118049931#Comment_118049931

Loads of places doing tethered chargers with 5 and 10m leads. Can PM if interested.

DaveByDavid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118051915#Comment_118051915

Yeah DM or leave it here if you want - just after some installers/companies that people would recommend. 10m would be ideal I think

Roger the cabin boy

Some tips from my experience.

1) map out your requirements and study carefully what you have vs what you need.

Read your manuals carefully. Some car chargers provided with the car are all you need. If you have a 32amp type socket nr where you usually charge and demand isn't an issue, you might not need anything at all.

2) Get your meter sorted before you purchase any charger. By sorted, i mean have it changed to suit your new electric demand which may actually mean no change at all.... (Low mileage users for example)

3) Have the meter installed before the charger. On The day, tell the ESB you are fitting a charger and ask them to arrange the meter box accordingly. They do this all the time so know whats needed and its no fuss to do. Ask them to check the fuse rating. You might have a smaller fuse than should be. Most modern houses are good for 80 amps but have a 60amp fuse fitted. The ESB will change it with no bother. (Important for load balancing)

4) Believe nothing anyone tells you. Do your own research.

5) The location of your charger and its cabling are governed by meter/consumer unit location and condition. Only use a charger company who asks detailed questions about your situation and asks for photos of the meters and boards. The final location may be influenced by the discussion. Don't be afraid to ask and challenge.

6) don't rely on your provider to actually be competent at arranging the ESB. Call the ESB to confirm any arrangements made on your behalf.

7) Chargers are unsightly warts stuck on the house with horrendous cables and day-glo switches. Take some time to plan where you want the charger and how it is going to be cabled. (See point 5). Be in and present on the day of installation and talk through the location, routing etc before the installer begins.

Hurley6969

Hi, has anyone been told they need a full rewire to facilitate a charger? The charger installer said we need a tails upgrade. House has not been rewired in last 25 years.

Called for a few quotes and got back that I'll fail a test so won't get certs for ESB to get the tails connection registered.

Because no work was done in so long I'd basically be looking at a full rewire at about 9000.

So that's not a runner at all...

Anyone come across this issue?

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057297#Comment_118057297

25 years isn't that long for the main household wiring - You probably just need a new Consumer unit with the tails upgrade.

Easiest way to resolve that is to call your electricity provider and ask to be switched to a Day/Night rate unit - Which you'll want anyway for charging the car. Don't get a smart meter though!

From what others have posted in this thread previously this is a no cost swap out and gets you new kit and upgraded connections pretty quickly.

Hurley6969

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057466#Comment_118057466

The smart meter was installed a few weeks back so that's not an option in terms of not having it. Why would you not recommend having one?

I say 25 years but that's because the electrician asked that, house is from 70s.

Im with Electric Ireland so you reckon they would arrange the work if I go on a day/night meter?

Edit:

I was on to electric Ireland who couldn't help with the tails connection. Called ESB who said its 169 for them to come out check the cert, connect and sign off on new tails connection but obviously I won't have a cert for them if the electrician deems a rewire essential.

Massive spanner in the works in terms of the purchase of the car, wasn't expecting the costs/effort to be this much

Quin_Dub

Nothing wrong with Smart meters in and of themselves , it's just that the pricing isn't great to say the least - more expensive per unit across the board than the unit costs for a standard day/night box.

silver_sky

I ordered an extra CT clamp for the harvi. Hasn't arrived yet but went for a look at the cabinet to see how it was setup and no harvi... installer put it in the meter box outside. Are they allowed do that?

Dubwat

Hi Guys,

I seem to be a similar situation to some of you. Got a new EV. A charger + installation was included for free. Free as in I pay the installer €600 and claim that back from SEAI so free (eventually) for me.

However the guy who did the survey AND installation spent about 2 hours installing the charger before he decided the meter tails were not thick enough. I suspect his company quoted the job too low to the car company so he refused to upgrade the meter tails between meter and fuse board. I guess it wasn't part of the contract between the car company and the installation company. And then the ESB Networks need to upgrade their part of the tails! ESB Networks have already sent me an invoice for €169! The original installer will only come back once I've sorted the two parts of the meter tails and I need his paperwork for ESB Networks. My head is wrecked trying to sort it out. 3 electricians for 1 charger :(

If I order a day/night meter from Electric Ireland (current supplier), will they upgrade any of the tails? This would speed things up maybe?

Finding it very hard to get an electrician. Have one who may be able to do it in 2 weeks. (anyone know a good electrician in Dub 11/9/7?)

Thanks in advance.

Hurley6969

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059421#Comment_118059421

Yeah didn't expect this much hassle to get it installed myself. Im with electric Ireland too, was on to them twice earlier, they were nice but no help really but I didn't mention the day/night meter and they never suggested it. Just said to call an electrician or get on to ESB..

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118055116#Comment_118055116

What do you need the ESB for?

Roger the cabin boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057297#Comment_118057297

Someone is taking the piss with you.

You take the ev feed from the meter box or the consumer unit. If you are coming from the consumer unit and the feed from the meter box is goosed, I'd hardly think it needs the whole house rewiring to fix it.

Go get a second opinion

meercat

To get a mains cable upgraded to 16mm requires a certificate to be sent to esbn by a rec stating the house has been tested and passed all tests. Some older installations won’t pass these tests so a full Rewire will be recommended to ensure the integrity of the installation.

thunderbolt

Anyone able to recommend (via DM) a home charger installer in Mayo (Castlebar/Ballina/Foxford area)? Thanks

Roger the cabin boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059626#Comment_118059626

Right, but the regulations in force are for the time of construction, not time of appraisal.

Otherwise everything has to be updated as the codes change and develop over time.

This is a gross misunderstanding of code.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059558#Comment_118059558

Go get a second opinion

^^ @Hurley6969 definitely that.

Maybe he is right that you do need a rewire if he has found it to be sub-standard but definitely a second opinion should be sought. Did he actually come out and inspect it to tell you that a complete rewire was required or was that nugget provided over the phone without an onsite visit?

If you do fine a rewire is required you could decide to go with a 16A charge point. That will charge at half the speed but might negate the need for a rewire. Try that option if all else fails.

Hurley6969

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060339#Comment_118060339

Cheers yeah will do, just felt like a kick in the balls earlier. Spent so much time deciding on a car (id3), working out budgets etc and first foray into home chargers and 9k is getting thrown about. Not ideal. But yeah explained the situation over the phone, so that rewire chat was not based on an actual visit.

Twiki

I'm trying to get a charger installed at the moment and have got surveys/quotes from two fairly prominent EV charger installers.

The first installer said the tails from the meter to the CU were undersized and needed to be upgraded along with an earthing cable. It was for me to sort this out with my own electrician seperately and they would follow up and connect the charger to the CU once the cabling was sorted.

The second installer came, did his survey and said they'd just connect directly to the meter box and that the internal cabling didn't need any changes.

I'm seriously confused at this stage and not sure which option to go with. Second option seems much simpler and cheaper but I'm wary of going with something that might have some disadvantages that I haven't been informed of. Opinions appreciated, thanks.