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

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120095650#Comment_120095650

It should be wired directly to the distribution board. There are some instances where an outside distribution board mounted beside the meter box is permitted.

how awkward it is to get a cable back to the distribution board or the aesthetics shouldn’t be a factor .outside distribution boards look terrible too.

Sierra Oscar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120095889#Comment_120095889

It would be fairly awkward getting it back to the distribution board. The cable would have to run inside the house across multiple rooms. It isn't possible to route the cable back via an outside wall. Aesthetics isn't really coming into it for me, it's more so the practicality of getting the cable back to the distribution board.

I was thinking taking the cable up to the attic and then down to the distribution board might be an option, but the foreman on site reckoned it would be difficult to do so.

What are the instances where it is permitted to install an outside distribution board? That's what I'm trying to find out.

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096025#Comment_120096025

If it’s possible to get a cable back to the distribution board then that’s the way it should be done.irrespective of the number of rooms or how awkward,time consuming,costly it is. Unfortunately that’s the regulations. Some charger installation companies won’t go to the trouble of doing this however and take the handiest option of mounting an outside distribution board. It looks terrible outside the front of a house beside the meter cabinet (not my install in photo)

Sierra Oscar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096044#Comment_120096044

So if it is not possible to bring the cable back to the distribution board then installing directly from the meter cabinet is potentially an option?

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096060#Comment_120096060

Some companies have different opinions on what’s possible and what’s not.Just because it’s difficult or may not look aesthetically pleasing doesn’t mean it’s not possible

UID0

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120091268#Comment_120091268

Test record and cert 3 will come from your electrician. Cert 3 will look like Certificate No. 3 - Sample (safeelectric.ie) and test record looks like Test-Record-Sheet-Sample.png (1040×720) (safeelectric.ie)

It's to verify that the installation was done by a REC and is to an appropriate standard.

Gumbo

Just apply for the EV Charger grant tonight. It’s an auto approval and you’ll have it before the end of the week in most cases.

Get it installed now if you can get an eco system that all works together.

Sierra Oscar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096112#Comment_120096112

So I went and did something that I probably should have done initially - checked what others have done in the development. It appears two houses that would have been occupied in recent months have their EV Charger wired to the meter cabinet. There's another older house that has a cable coming down from the roof to the unit, presumably that's wired back to the distribution board with the cabling routed through the attic.

Are there any plans to make it a requirement for developers to pre-wire for EV Home Chargers back to the distribution board? It's a bit of a no brainer.

yer man!

Mine looks like this, new build terraced house, no easy way back to the fusebox so the installer wired to the meter. Happy enough with how it turned out.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120095650#Comment_120095650

do new build not need to be prewired these days ?

yer man!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096384#Comment_120096384

Mine wasn't anyway and the house is 6 months old.

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096317#Comment_120096317

Lots of breaches of regulations there

no isolator

no surge protection

no main switch for distribution board

no main switch for house distribution board

no blank plate leaving open access to connections

should be a key to prevent access

this enclosure should be at least a 7 module enclosure

that’s the reason they are no longer permitted inside the meter cabinet as they are too big and esbn require the space for their own equipment

would you mind posting a photo of inside the meter box

did he also put a sticker on your consumer unit in the house

helimachoptor

Hi all, I'm doing a renovation/extension at the moment.

I've got a VW ID3 and another ICE, I expect to keep that for at least a couple of years before looking at changing.

My electrician will fit the unit and do the various other work.

Any recommendations on a unit?

yer man!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097244#Comment_120097244

Was compliant at the time from SAFE electric according to the installation company. Regs kept changing around the week I was getting it fitted.

There are some components in the meter cabinet too.

Was signed off and accepted by SEAI. Not that that means much.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097409#Comment_120097409

SEAI don't sign off on anything, that's the electrician's job. When did you get it done? Any chance of a pic of inside the meter box?

horse7

Have done so thanks,. I've just realised that the grant seems only for smart chargers, please tell me I'm wrong.

josip

If he did post a picture of the inside of his meter box, what would be to stop someone on Boards from reporting Yer Man's installation to ESBN for perceived breaches using the meter serial number to identify him?

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097409#Comment_120097409

What has been done there was never compliant either before or after reg changes

can you post a photo of inside your meter cabinet.

it would be beneficial to see exactly how the connections are made

you can cover the meter number if you are concerned about identifying the installation (although there’s no way we can)

only you can report this to safe electric if that’s a concern

if another rec calls to your house in the future (on unrelated matters)then it’s possible they will issue a notice of potential hazard

you really should get this addressed by the installation company before it is too late to get them back

if you doubt anything I’ve said then post in the electrical forum so not to derail this thread

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097543#Comment_120097543

Only the householder can report this as safe electric will Need access for testing and inspection

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097501#Comment_120097501

Don't know the answer. We got approval for Other-Other back in December and that option is still on the website. Despite some Facebook posts claiming it would be removed in 2023, thus restricting the types of chargers that could avail of the grant.

Manion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096112#Comment_120096112

Well anything is possible with enough time and money, including flatting the house and rebuilding it from the ground up. Back in 2021 this was the guidance and loads of people have installed just like it. That said the install does look dodgy for reasons other than the positioning.

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097872#Comment_120097872

Yeah that was their guidance then. Since march 2022 that’s not permitted though.

Even if this installation was done before then it doesn’t comply to the requirements you have linked (as you also pointed out)

Manion

Honestly the installation looks dangerous though. I wouldn't pay them as I'd imagine the safety cert is a work of fiction. Positioning is a distraction. If the poster ever went to sell the house this would require remedial work and it would be too late then to get the vendor back.

horse7

What model did you get, have you installed yet and been paid?

Core6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097501#Comment_120097501

It only covers smart chargers.

This is from the SEAI website:-

From September 2022 the EV Home Charger Grant Scheme will only support smart chargers registered on Triple E

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120099339#Comment_120099339

Haven't decided which type to buy yet

Tij da feen

Does the EV Charger need to go back to the breaker box or can the installer install it directly from the meter box?

horse7

Good question, will attract a lot of answers

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120099726#Comment_120099726

Yeah, surprised nobody has already answered that particular question on the thread.

Sierra Oscar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096384#Comment_120096384

I'm not sure, do they? Perhaps it's something only required for new planning authorisations, those would take a while to filter through to new builds coming onto the market? I'd be curious to know if someone has an answer either way.

Also, I know some people would find it handier to have it wired directly to the meter cabinet - but for those of us with solar PV panels I would imagine it needs to be integrated with the fuse board to take advantage of them? That's especially important if you're looking to install batteries for the solar PV panels long term. Or am I wrong?