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

eoferrall · 01-12-2020 05:19PM

cruisey1987 wrote: »

I think a lot of car makers do this, seen Nissan and BMW do it, they'll supply the granny lead and make the charging cable an extra, or vice versa.

Glad some of them have grown up and started supplying both

Mad! I got the lead and a granny cable with my C350e in 2016, assumed it was standard!

the_amazing_raisin · 01-12-2020 09:35PM

I suppose with most phevs having a battery size around 10-15kWh, you could realistically survive long term with just the granny lead and charging at home.

Still pretty cheap behaviour though

dbloke · 03-12-2020 01:08PM

Got another quote for installation only of Tesla charger: €780 PLUS VAT.

Do they see the Tesla, assume you're loaded and then double the price?

AndyBoBandy · 03-12-2020 01:39PM

dbloke wrote: »

Got another quote for installation only of Tesla charger: €780 PLUS VAT.

Do they see the Tesla, assume you're loaded and then double the price?

Guy from Kildare installed mine back in February for around €540. No external isolator switch (Charger about 5m from board), and no issues.

Forms filled in, and grant received (knocking €60 off the purchase price of the Tesla Charger).

the_amazing_raisin · 03-12-2020 02:08PM

dbloke wrote: »

Got another quote for installation only of Tesla charger: €780 PLUS VAT.

Do they see the Tesla, assume you're loaded and then double the price?

There seems to be a general issue of installation costs going up the last couple of years. One might almost think electricians are pushing the prices up to keep the grant money for themselves :eek:

As an experiment, you could tell them you aren't eligible for the grant and see if the price moves?

yannakis · 04-12-2020 12:28AM

Hi guys, buying one of these cars with a plug soon so I'm slowly introducing myself to the universe of charge points!

I live in a newbuilt house, and I've made a provision for a charger through the builder - basically asked them to ran a 10mm cable from the consumer unit to the driveway so that part is done. It's currently unterminated on both ends so I guess that'll save me some money off of the installation cost.

The house has some PV solar panels; production peaks at 1,000W and on long sunny days I might get up to 6-7kWh. They are south facing and that definitely helps. My question is - would it be worth it investing on a charger with solar diversion or is my production too small to worry about? So far we have been scheduling washers/dryers for mid-day to take advantage of any potential excess.

Any feedback welcome!

graememk · 04-12-2020 12:43AM

yannakis wrote: »

The house has some PV solar panels; production peaks at 1,000W and on long sunny days I might get up to 6-7kWh. They are south facing and that definitely helps. My question is - would it be worth it investing on a charger with solar diversion or is my production too small to worry about? So far we have been scheduling washers/dryers for mid-day to take advantage of any potential excess.

In short, No

The minimum that the solar charge points can go is 6A, so thats 1.4kW

so you would want to be able to regularly get over that in excess to even think about it.

Do get a Night rate meter installed! think 6-7c/kwh compared to 15 c/kwh

Gumbo · 04-12-2020 12:43AM

yannakis wrote: »

Hi guys, buying one of these cars with a plug soon so I'm slowly introducing myself to the universe of charge points!

I live in a newbuilt house, and I've made a provision for a charger through the builder - basically asked them to ran a 10mm cable from the consumer unit to the driveway so that part is done. It's currently unterminated on both ends so I guess that'll save me some money off of the installation cost.

The house has some PV solar panels; production peaks at 1,000W and on long sunny days I might get up to 6-7kWh. They are south facing and that definitely helps. My question is - would it be worth it investing on a charger with solar diversion or is my production too small to worry about? So far we have been scheduling washers/dryers for mid-day to take advantage of any potential excess.

Any feedback welcome!

The good bits :
Your considering EV.
You have solar PV.
The cable run is done. That’s the messy bit.

The bad bits.
Peak is 1kw so you’ll never get enough to divert to the car. Some cars require 1.2-1.3kw to initiate the charge process.

Questions.
Do you want basic plug in and charge or do you want to get WiFi enabled, smart app control etc?

Me personally I just plug in and charge. You can control charge start times etc in the car.

yannakis · 04-12-2020 01:13AM

Thanks lads, I didn't know about the minimum 1.2-1.4kWh. That sums it up nicely. Really appreciate the feedback.

Gumbo wrote: »

Questions.
Do you want basic plug in and charge or do you want to get WiFi enabled, smart app control etc?

Me personally I just plug in and charge. You can control charge start times etc in the car.

Probably plug and charge. All the rest can be managed via the car and the app so no real need to double up on the functionality.

finneys13 · 04-12-2020 08:31AM

finneys13 wrote: »

Just to double check, whenever I get my €600 from the SEAI (been waiting since April, emails have been sent), I can transfer my car registration address to a second residental property in my name and reapply for the grant again?

5 months since that post, I got my second "€600" this week from the SEAI after installing anther charger at a second address

danoriordan1402 · 04-12-2020 12:06PM

Hi all - just picked up a PHEV and got the grant approval. I wont have solar connected so really just a simple charging station. From reading back the thread the Mini PRO EO looks like the one that will suit me. I already have a 6mm pulled into the location so I am wondering if I need a cat6 as well. Will hope to go BEV in a year or so. Any other recommendations appreciated before I look for prices.

the_amazing_raisin · 04-12-2020 03:52PM

finneys13 wrote: »

5 months since that post, I got my second "€600" this week from the SEAI after installing anther charger at a second address

There's great potential for a bit of a scam there.

Say you wanted to install a charger at a relative's house who you visit regularly and they're far enough away to merit a destination charger.

You could 'sell' your car to them, transfer the registration into their name. They get the grant and install a charger then 'sell' the car back to you

Gumbo · 04-12-2020 04:40PM

cruisey1987 wrote: »

There's great potential for a bit of a scam there.

Say you wanted to install a charger at a relative's house who you visit regularly and they're far enough away to merit a destination charger.

You could 'sell' your car to them, transfer the registration into their name. They get the grant and install a charger then 'sell' the car back to you

You don’t even have to “sell” it to them.
Do a change of address. It doesn’t add an owner to the car then.

The SEAI ask if your names on the bill it you could say you are in your parents house so name is theirs.

the_amazing_raisin · 04-12-2020 05:10PM

Gumbo wrote: »

You don’t even have to “sell” it to them.
Do a change of address. It doesn’t add an owner to the car then.

The SEAI ask if your names on the bill it you could say you are in your parents house so name is theirs.

True enough, that's an even simpler way

finneys13 · 05-12-2020 12:24PM

To clarify, SEAI asked me to provide an utility bill in my name plus a letter explaining the change of residence. Both I was able to provide. I already changed the vehicle ownership address.

Only took 3.5 months to get the grant back, fairly standard

Gumbo · 08-12-2020 01:02PM

Anyone any experience with the following

QUBEV - EV CHARGING UNIT | TYPE 2 SOCKET | 32 AMP/7.2 KW | IP65 | (17th Edition) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07WW6ZWVN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_2S2ZFb5XGZE4J

the_amazing_raisin · 08-12-2020 01:21PM

Gumbo wrote: »

Anyone any experience with the following

QUBEV - EV CHARGING UNIT | TYPE 2 SOCKET | 32 AMP/7.2 KW | IP65 | (17th Edition) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07WW6ZWVN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_2S2ZFb5XGZE4J

A couple of people were singing their praises a while back, certainly it seems a nice basic charger and you can't argue with the price

The one thing I wouldn't be so keen on is that current selector switch. I'd prefer if it was a bit more difficult to adjust, I'd be worried about kids messing with it and dropping your charging speed down to 1kW (or blowing the fuse if you're limited to 3.6kW)

Otherwise, it seems okay

yannakis · 08-12-2020 01:21PM

Follow-up question - thinking how to provision for a second charge point as the second car will also have a plug in a year or two. As mentioned, I already have a 10sqmm from the consumer unit to the driveway so I estimate it can carry 45A/10kW if my math is correct.

Are there charge points with 2 ports that do load balancing?

I bumped on Easee Home - a bit pricey, but it allows adding more devices in-line, configuring the maximum they can pull, and the rest is done automatically.

Are there other ways to achieve something similar maybe?

Felexicon · 08-12-2020 02:51PM

yannakis wrote: »

Follow-up question - thinking how to provision for a second charge point as the second car will also have a plug in a year or two. As mentioned, I already have a 10sqmm from the consumer unit to the driveway so I estimate it can carry 45A/10kW if my math is correct.

Are there charge points with 2 ports that do load balancing?

I bumped on Easee Home - a bit pricey, but it allows adding more devices in-line, configuring the maximum they can pull, and the rest is done automatically.

Are there other ways to achieve something similar maybe?

I know it's possible to set up a cluster using Wallbox Pulsar and Pulsar Plus.

Basically you need a CT coil from main incomer to the Plus which acts as Master then a Cat6 from Plus to second charger which acts as slave.
You could bring 10sq to isolator and branch off to chargers.
Obviously you would need to set limits taking 10sq in to account or ideally you run a separate feed to second charger

Gumbo · 08-12-2020 02:53PM

cruisey1987 wrote: »

A couple of people were singing their praises a while back, certainly it seems a nice basic charger and you can't argue with the price

The one thing I wouldn't be so keen on is that current selector switch. I'd prefer if it was a bit more difficult to adjust, I'd be worried about kids messing with it and dropping your charging speed down to 1kW (or blowing the fuse if you're limited to 3.6kW)

Otherwise, it seems okay

Cheers. It will be in my parents side entrance behind a steel gate so tampering is generally not an issue.

Currently it’s only for a PHEV but I’m making sure he gets a 32a machine to future proof. Should have this installed for about the same as the grant price.

Chumpski · 10-12-2020 06:58PM

I’ve contacted quite a few companies and am being quoted 1500,1600 to install an EV charger.

Seems like quite a lot of money, why is it so expensive? I’m getting the feeling there is huge profit margins in installing these chargers?

Is this the same for everyone else yeah?

AndyBoBandy · 10-12-2020 07:02PM

Chumpski wrote: »

I’ve contacted quite a few companies and am being quoted 1500,1600 to install an EV charger.

Seems like quite a lot of money, why is it so expensive? I’m getting the feeling there is huge profit margins in installing these chargers?

Is this the same for everyone else yeah?

I paid around €540 for an install back in February. And folk even said that was on the high side....

Chumpski · 10-12-2020 07:05PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I paid around €540 for an install back in February. And folk even said that was on the high side....

Is that after you subtracted the 600 grant?

We have a tricky install in a terraced house but the prices quoted so far seem insane.

AndyBoBandy · 10-12-2020 07:41PM

Chumpski wrote: »

Is that after you subtracted the 600 grant?

We have a tricky install in a terraced house but the prices quoted so far seem insane.

No, that was the price I paid the installer, bought my own charge unit for €530, so total price (after grant) was about €470

the_amazing_raisin · 10-12-2020 08:09PM

Can anyone recommend a Zappi installer around Dublin?

I'm replacing an existing charger so it should be a straight swap out.

I would imagine any electrician can manage that but would prefer one with experience installing a Zappi if possible

slave1 · 10-12-2020 09:31PM

cruisey1987 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a Zappi installer around Dublin?

I'm replacing an existing charger so it should be a straight swap out.

I would imagine any electrician can manage that but would prefer one with experience installing a Zappi if possible

When I got my PV setup last month I had my existing charge point replaced, it is extremely straightforward, just needed the cable to go via an isolator and then short run into Zappi, all of half an hour and done.
Just letting you know as guidance.
If you are in any way DIY and don't want an isolator then it's like wiring a socket and will take no more than 15-20minutes

the_amazing_raisin · 10-12-2020 09:41PM

slave1 wrote: »

When I got my PV setup last month I had my existing charge point replaced, it is extremely straightforward, just needed the cable to go via an isolator and then short run into Zappi, all of half an hour and done.
Just letting you know as guidance.
If you are in any way DIY and don't want an isolator then it's like wiring a socket and will take no more than 15-20minutes

Yeah I'd be tempted to do it myself, especially since I've got an isolator nearby it should be very straightforward

I'll still check around though, since I want to fit an outdoor socket on that circuit as well

Risteard81 · 10-12-2020 09:55PM

slave1 wrote: »

When I got my PV setup last month I had my existing charge point replaced, it is extremely straightforward, just needed the cable to go via an isolator and then short run into Zappi, all of half an hour and done.
Just letting you know as guidance.
If you are in any way DIY and don't want an isolator then it's like wiring a socket and will take no more than 15-20minutes

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment installation should not be considered to be a DIY task. Frankly that's dangerous advice.

yannakis · 10-12-2020 09:55PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

No, that was the price I paid the installer, bought my own charge unit for €530, so total price (after grant) was about €470

Oh this one I wasn't aware - can you claim the cost of a used charger through the grant too?

AndyBoBandy · 10-12-2020 10:02PM

yannakis wrote: »

Oh this one I wasn't aware - can you claim the cost of a used charger through the grant too?

I believe you can yes,

as long as the combined cost of charger & installation is over €600, you'll get the full €600 entitlement back. (so even if installation was €600, the charger or when/where you bought it wouldn't even come into play).

If your total outlay is €500 for charger and install, that's what you'll get back.

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

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