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

rx8 · 29-01-2021 05:58PM

403 Forbidden wrote: »

Just got my Zappi unit installed today! Very happy with it so far! Now just need to wait for the car to arrive

Was it Ken B, who put it in, or did you go with someone else?

Itchyness · 29-01-2021 06:01PM

403 Forbidden wrote: »

Just got my Zappi unit installed today! Very happy with it so far! Now just need to wait for the car to arrive

Can you recommend your installer? Feel free o PM with the details if you wouldn’t mind?:P Cheers

403 Forbidden · 29-01-2021 06:07PM

rx8 wrote: »

Was it Ken B, who put it in, or did you go with someone else?

I actually went with someone else as it was a little bit cheaper! Was in and out in under an hour!

403 Forbidden · 29-01-2021 06:14PM

Itchyness wrote: »

Can you recommend your installer? Feel free o PM with the details if you wouldn’t mind?:P Cheers

You should have a PM

Sattwa06 · 29-01-2021 07:16PM

403 Forbidden wrote: »

Just got my Zappi unit installed today! Very happy with it so far! Now just need to wait for the car to arrive

Hi, this is my first post in this group !

I am just about to decide on a home charger unit. May I ask why you went for Zappi and which one you went for ?

Risteard81 · 29-01-2021 07:32PM

403 Forbidden wrote: »

Was in and out in under an hour!

That wouldn't inspire me with confidence for a quality job, compliant with the Rules.

Aph2016 · 29-01-2021 07:35PM

Sattwa06 wrote: »

Hi, this is my first post in this group !

I am just about to decide on a home charger unit. May I ask why you went for Zappi and which one you went for ?

I bought a zappi also, big reasons were warranty and support, app, and the cable looks very tidy coiled around the unit compared to others.

Pat201 · 29-01-2021 07:37PM

Pat201 wrote: »

Hello
I have just ordered a VW ID4 as my company vehicle, Hoping to get it for June if no delays. I am looking into charger installation at the moment. I would need a charger that can tell me how much units I have used so I could provide that data to my company. Based off this requirement I think the Wallbox Pulsar plus would be a good option. My house has already got a 32A cable ran from fusebox to outside by electrician when it was built for future use of electric car. Neither side is connected obviously at the moment. I asked the electrician who installed the cable for a quote to install the Pulsar plus and he quoted me 250 euro. Is this a fair price ? He said` material would cost 120 (I though it would only be RCD fuse and Isolator switch but did not question him yet on what 120 entailed)

Just to update i got a quote today for install of Pulsar plus with load balancing for 1100. Best ive got so far so went with it

Pat201 · 29-01-2021 07:38PM

Pat201 wrote: »

Have decided to go with a Pulsar Plus as Charger as it suits my needs to be able to submits bills to company for charging. Im a bit confused at moment on model types. I see 2 online that are same price but end in different manufacturing version. It is not clear to me what the versions signify? The 2 Model types i have seen are PLP1-0-2-2-3-001-A and PLP1-0-2-2-3-001-C. Does anyone know what this signifies?

Got Info back from Wallbox. Basically the difference in both these chargers is front cover. No functionality difference

403 Forbidden · 29-01-2021 07:41PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

That wouldn't inspire me with confidence for a quality job, compliant with the Rules.

House was prewired so it just needed the RCB on the consumer unit and then the zappi installed.

403 Forbidden · 29-01-2021 07:42PM

Sattwa06 wrote: »

Hi, this is my first post in this group !

I am just about to decide on a home charger unit. May I ask why you went for Zappi and which one you went for ?

Mostly the support, its well used in the UK and Ireland so no issues with them. I also like that I can add solar at a later stage and the car can use the power

myshirt · 29-01-2021 07:42PM

I've ordered an XC60 T8.

Where's best to start in terms of charger options? I've my own driveway and all that. Ideally would like a charger that you can time to come on at night and then cut off when charged.

Or am I mad? Would the cable not get stolen?

Risteard81 · 29-01-2021 07:56PM

403 Forbidden wrote: »

House was prewired so it just needed the RCB on the consumer unit and then the zappi installed.

What about the isolator? Did you get a Completion Certificate?

403 Forbidden · 29-01-2021 08:08PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

What about the isolator? Did you get a Completion Certificate?

And yes an isolator was also added!

slave1 · 29-01-2021 08:26PM

myshirt wrote: »

I've ordered an XC60 T8.

Where's best to start in terms of charger options? I've my own driveway and all that. Ideally would like a charger that you can time to come on at night and then cut off when charged.

Or am I mad? Would the cable not get stolen?

Most chargepoints "lock" the cable once connected and can only be released via the car so in this case the cable will not be stolen (unless someone jimmys it)

the_amazing_raisin · 29-01-2021 09:34PM

myshirt wrote: »

I've ordered an XC60 T8.

Where's best to start in terms of charger options? I've my own driveway and all that. Ideally would like a charger that you can time to come on at night and then cut off when charged.

Or am I mad? Would the cable not get stolen?

The car might support charging timers, so you might get away with a basic charger if you want. Personally I prefer the timers to be on the charger so that when the car plugs in at a public charger it'll just start charging

If you can, get a 7kW charger, it's about the most your house will likely be able to support anyway. Most PHEVs will charge at 3.3kW, but the charger will supply less power to the car in this case, it won't try to overload the car or anything

In terms of the cable, you can get a tethered unit which has the cable permanently attached if you're concerned about the cable getting stolen. They're a bit more convenient at the cost of being a bit bulkier from the cable hanging out.

You'll need to get a wire from your fuse board to the charger outside, if the board is deep in the middle of the house then this will be trickier and will add cost

You also want to look at the main consumers of electricity in your house. If you have something that eats a lot of power (power shower, heat pump, immersion) you'll want a charger that's capable of load balancing. Basically it'll monitor the power usage of the house and reduce the charging power to the car if the house goes above a predefined limit

Some options to consider

Basic ones

QUBev (I might have misspelled that)
Rolec
EO Basic

More advanced

Zappi
Wallbox Pulsar plus
EO Mini Pro

Gumbo · 29-01-2021 10:57PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

That wouldn't inspire me with confidence for a quality job, compliant with the Rules.

His consumer unit already had the wire to external.
Clip in the RCBO.
Connect the isolator if required and fix charger to wall.

I could even do that in an hour so a Safe Electric Qualified professional should be well out and that’s including the Test Record Sheet and Cert No. 3 filled out.

Risteard81 · 29-01-2021 10:59PM

Gumbo wrote: »

His consumer unit already had the wire to external.
Clip in the RCBO.
Connect the isolator if required and fix charger to wall.

I could even do that in an hour so a Safe Electric Qualified professional should be well out and that’s including the Test Record Sheet and Cert No. 3 filled out.

Getting tools in and out of a van would take half of that time to start with so don't talk rubbish.

Gumbo · 29-01-2021 10:59PM

cruisey1987 wrote: »

The car might support charging timers, so you might get away with a basic charger if you want. Personally I prefer the timers to be on the charger so that when the car plugs in at a public charger it'll just start charging

If you can, get a 7kW charger, it's about the most your house will likely be able to support anyway. Most PHEVs will charge at 3.3kW, but the charger will supply less power to the car in this case, it won't try to overload the car or anything

In terms of the cable, you can get a tethered unit which has the cable permanently attached if you're concerned about the cable getting stolen. They're a bit more convenient at the cost of being a bit bulkier from the cable hanging out.

You'll need to get a wire from your fuse board to the charger outside, if the board is deep in the middle of the house then this will be trickier and will add cost

You also want to look at the main consumers of electricity in your house. If you have something that eats a lot of power (power shower, heat pump, immersion) you'll want a charger that's capable of load balancing. Basically it'll monitor the power usage of the house and reduce the charging power to the car if the house goes above a predefined limit

Some options to consider

Basic ones

QUBev (I might have misspelled that)
Rolec
EO Basic

More advanced

Zappi
Wallbox Pulsar plus
EO Mini Pro

I just had the QUBEV basic charger installed this week in my parents. Their 530e maxes out at 3kw or thereabouts so the full 7kw is not required but handy to have it for future proofing.

It’s a basic, small box but has a handy switch on the side where you can switch between 6a, 13a, 16a and 32a charging.

Gumbo · 29-01-2021 11:00PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

Getting tools in and out of a van would take half of that time to start with so don't talk rubbish.

Drill and bits in one box.
Screwdriver set in the one belt. Couple of clips and fixings. Sorted.

Could spend the last 5 mins cleaning up the rubbish.

Jofspring · 29-01-2021 11:01PM

Just bought a 17 Nissan leaf and I'm ordering a Zappi. Have a heatpump in the house so to be on the safe side I'm going with the same crowd that put it in. They are also doing home chargers. They supply Zappi so gives me a bit of piece of mind over buying the unit seperatly and just getting an electrician in myself.

Gumbo · 29-01-2021 11:02PM

Jofspring wrote: »

Just bought a 17 Nissan leaf and I'm ordering a Zappi. Have a heatpump in the house so to be on the safe side I'm going with the same crowd that put it in. They are also doing home chargers. They supply Zappi so gives me a bit of piece of mind over buying the unit seperatly and just getting an electrician in myself.

Zappi can load balance too so handy with the A2W in the background.

Jofspring · 29-01-2021 11:03PM

Also I just did my first charge with the granny cable. The socket inside the house felt pretty warm when I plugged it out. Is this normal?

Risteard81 · 29-01-2021 11:03PM

Gumbo wrote: »

Drill and bits in one box.
Screwdriver set in the one belt. Couple of clips and fixings. Sorted.

Could spend the last 5 mins cleaning up the rubbish.

What about the inspection, testing, verification and certification? Also testing functionality of the EVSE with an EV test adaptor? There's a lot more to EVSE installations than you realise.

Jofspring · 29-01-2021 11:04PM

Gumbo wrote: »

Zappi can load balance too so handy with the A2W in the background.

That was my thinking. Looks like it'll be fairly future proofed also.

403 Forbidden · 29-01-2021 11:04PM

Gumbo wrote: »

Drill and bits in one box.
Screwdriver set in the one belt. Couple of clips and fixings. Sorted.

Could spend the last 5 mins cleaning up the rubbish.

So I looked back on the camera from pulling up to the house to leaving was 1 hour and 33 mins. The actually install took 1 hour and 18 mins! But yea was simple enough and not his first install. Knew exactly what was happening and all tested and certified.

Risteard81 · 29-01-2021 11:05PM

Jofspring wrote: »

Also I just did my first charge with the granny cable. The socket inside the house felt pretty warm when I plugged it out. Is this normal?

Yes, because they're not designed for running 10A loads for long periods of time. Granny cables aren't good and will burn out the socket-outlet over time.

Risteard81 · 29-01-2021 11:06PM

403 Forbidden wrote: »

So I looked back on the camera from pulling up to the house to leaving was 1 hour and 33 mins. The actually install took 1 hour and 18 mins! But yea was simple enough and not his first install. Knew exactly what was happening and all tested and certified.

Hardly less than an hour then. In fact it was closer to two.

Kramer · 29-01-2021 11:39PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

Hardly less than an hour then. In fact it was closer to two.

I'm not sure, but isn't 1 hour, 18 minutes, closer to 59 minutes (less than an hour), that 2 hours?

403 Forbidden wrote: »

So I looked back on the camera.......The actually install took 1 hour and 18 mins!

Still, a two hour install, after testing, certification etc. (not including the charge point), seems to be running upwards of €1,000 these days..........

:P.

Jofspring · 29-01-2021 11:45PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

Yes, because they're not designed for running 10A loads for long periods of time. Granny cables aren't good and will burn out the socket-outlet over time.

Cheers, hopefully get the home charger in asap.

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

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