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

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121109554#Comment_121109554

They might be classed as two separate appliances requiring individual isolation. 🤷

Would it not be easier to remove the Zappi and reinstall if it doesn't work out?

micks_address

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121109577#Comment_121109577

Yeah i might need to anyway due to space.. all supposition anyway till I find out if they sending me a charger. They just recommended not removing the existing charger in case for some reason theirs has teething issues.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121109586#Comment_121109586

Ya that's where you might run into problems alright.

Depending on the spark you might get away with just the changeover switch. I can't think of a safety issue here and the whole point of this exorcise is to only use one charge point at a time anyway.

WiseOldOwl

Hey, totally new to this game. Got quoted €2,400 to install Zappi at home. Quite a bit more than I expected. Need some upgrading at home apparently.

Any advice on getting cheaper? Is it pointless getting EV and not having home charger? Home charging from normal plug any use at all??

Buddy Bubs

They're about 1200 and you can knock half off with the SEAI grant

I've no idea what upgrades are needed to cost 2400 but maybe get a 2nd opinion and quote. I wouldn't get too hung up on brand once it's safe and legit, they're only a socket really. Just make sure it's tethered.

And yes, it'll be a pain to have an EV without a home charger and will be more costly in a matter of months using the public network v installing your own. Don't do it without home charger

zg3409

You can charge from any household outlet and get 2kW per hour or say 24kWh overnight each night which is enough for 100km daily commute. It's slow , not recommended and you should at least replace the socket on the house side for a brand new one. There is a higher fire risk and it does not have all the safety features of a proper charger.

A proper charger is 3 x quicker and also allows you to top up after arriving home before you go out again in the evening to meet friends etc.

As suggested get another quote. Try find out the technical reason. Often they are correct in that they are not allowed install chargers where the fuse board is very old, bad or no earth, new tails needed etc. I would be worried if someone else said these safety upgrades are not needed. Some installers just walk away in these cases as it needs multiple visits and hassle.

Some installers can quote over the phone with a video call to check fuse board etc.

You may need to get ESB networks to also visit depending on issue.

Long term it's an addition to the house, possibly reducing fire and shock risk and hopefully the install will outlive the car and work for a long time.

WiseOldOwl

Extras were isolator cable truckn breaker €200, surge protection €200, earth rod €150, earthing in hot press €150, upgrade mains cable €380 and labour €350 .

if it need to be done it needs to be done but just don’t want to get ripped off either.

Daveq

I had a similar issue and similar cost. House was built approx 1970 and to get safe cert the tails had to be upgraded to 16sq. New earth rod, earth to earth rod, earth in the hot press and kitchen sink all upgraded to 10sq.

crl84

Same as above for me.

Charger was installed for 1200, then 600 back with the grant. They left it running 16a until upgrades were done to the house, charged at 3.5KW/h for a few months.

1800 to an electrician for upgrades to mains connection for 16sq, earth rod installed, earthing of hot water cylinder and sinks, metal switches to lights replaced, testing of sockets and certification etc.

Also 165 to ESB to come out and upgrade from the mains/meter into the junction box thing the electrician left.

Garzard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058314213/home-ev-chargers

In much the same boat in that a few weeks back I was quoted €3,500, later €1,600 when I approached another company. Was due the install on Friday, but the electrician had to walk away when he pointed out that there's nowhere along the side of the house suitable to fit the Zappi because of the external insulation - also because the fuse board is located in the back of the kitchen, linking it to a charger (and where to place the cabling) complicates things further again. Even though it's an A-Rated new build, it wasn't pre-wired. Because he was expecting a simpler install, they're going to have to send someone else out to assess it in more detail but I was assured it'll be sorted. Though it could be back to square one again with a high quote with all the apparent work needed.

As was already said, I'd keep looking for quotes. The granny cable is fine on occasion, but extremely slow and I wouldn't be using it for a full charge.

Beta Ray Bill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058314213/home-ev-chargers

Unless Electricity prices come down soon, yes, it's a completely pointless and a waste of money

I defo need to change the car in the next few year and was/am considering EV an PHEV

Problem is that electricity is nearly as expensive as fuel at the moment.

The cheapest Day rate I could find as of the 13th of Sept 2023 was 44.51c per kWh (I get there are better bundle deals and night rates)

based on my calculations:

2020 Nissan Leaf 62kWh

€30 to charge it from a Domestic Charger - 239 miles

1 mile = €0.12 per mile

2008 Mazda 6 Diesel (Current Car)

€117 to fill it - 770 mile range

1 mile = €0.15 per mile

VW Polo Petrol 1.0

€71 to fill it - 497 mile range

1 mile = €0.14

The cost incentive is basically gone at this stage. If charging from a fast charger expect to pay more.

https://www.moneyguideireland.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-charge-an-electric-car-in-ireland.html

Night Rate is grand if ya fancy plugging in the the car at 23:00 and have DR/NR meter

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

Generally you rely on timers either on the car or the charge point to use time of use tariffs such as a night rate. You don't have to plug in at 11pm.

trant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121126365#Comment_121126365

This is exactly what I'm doing and it works perfectly.

Beta Ray Bill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

The cost incentive is basically gone at this stage. If charging from a fast charger expect to pay more.

Just to be clear on this.... fueling costs are roughly the same but the prices of the vehicles themselves are also approaching parity. (particularly EV's) So things are beginning to level out.

PHEV's are still quite dear

kanuseeme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121126423#Comment_121126423

Not all, take the niro k3, hybrid 38k, plug in 40k and the EV 44 k, its worse again for the k4, 7000 between the phev and ev.

In my use case the plug in for 40k would be better value, it would still take 2 years or so to recover the extra 2000 euro over the 38 k hybrid.

It was the case for the ID4 and tiguan phev, 4000 euro cheaper for the phev, but that has now reversed, I don't know what price the diesel version is,

Any way phev on a timer and night rate, night rate also means other things could be put on timers, washing machines, dish washers.

crl84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

If you use standard day rates then sure.

Most people will use night rate or special EV rates though.

I have the Electric Ireland free weekend day, I've done over 2200kms in my EV and spent less than €25 on electricity for the car.

Core6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

I agree that charging an EV using standard rates like you have shown above isn't financially advisable.

However, if you have an EV charger installed at home, have an enabled smart meter and a smart meter rate that offers low EV charging prices then you can charge an EV for around 0.07c to 0.10c per kW.

For me with a Tesla Model 3 RWD, that works out at about €1.33 per 100km.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121123448#Comment_121123448

Get another quote I’d recommend https://www.goelectrical.ie/

Delboy5

Hi,

Has anyone bought a Zappi charger from ebay and then got an electrician to install it?

I see you can get the charger for about £500 on ebay uk.

Any issues with claiming the grant by going this route?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121133387#Comment_121133387

No issues with the grant so long as you can provide a receipt for the charge point and an invoice from the rec.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

charge at night. Plug in the car at 6pm and sets a timer in the car or charger to automatically charge at night.

You don’t need to plug in at 23:00. And you don’t need a day night meter , a smart meter will do too

WiseOldOwl

Hey guys, As my fusebox needs upgrading does anyone know if it would be safe to use the granny cable in the meantime until I get upgrades done??

thanks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121137887#Comment_121137887

Honestly, nobody here can answer that without seeing your electrics. It should be fine, If the house wiring is good and it's just the board that needs attention. I wouldn't leave it in for 8, 9, 10 hours continously if I had reservations about the wiring, certainly not at night. You could try it for a few hours and check for heat.

donalh087

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121127035#Comment_121127035

Jaysus - I just filled in their online quote questionnaire and on the last page they say they don't work outside the 6 or 7 counties around Dublin.

Smoggy

Slightly off topic. As I don't have an EV and don't see myself having one for a few years.

But could I use the grant to install an EV charge point, whilst still getting any short term gains from it, like having the fuse board upgraded to run two electric showers?

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145923#Comment_121145923

When I got my cp installed I had to send pictures of the installed CP with my car in the picture with its number plate clearly visible. I'm assuming you want to get the grant. Is there any domestic installation that allows 2 showers to run simultaneously? I didn't think there was tbh, if you can get it installed I'd imagine 600 euro would make very little impact on the total cost.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146076#Comment_121146076

Rules have changed, you don't need a car anymore to get the grant

Smoggy

Two showers was an example (I know close to nothing about electrics) but wanted to see if there was a short term advantage I can use now, whilst using the EV Charger in the future.

If there isn't I will sit tight until I need a charger, if there is I would consider getting it done now and have X years of whatever this advantage is.

So the question is, is there any short term benefits that can be gained?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121147562#Comment_121147562

Only advantage is to get the grant while it's still in place.