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

Are you sure the PEN fault detection is mandatory in Ireland?

I know it is in the UK, like that video shows, but not sure if it was mandatory in latest Irish regs. Did you ask a RECI to be sure?

Thinking of getting a phev in new year. Debated full ev but for now phev suits better but in the next 2 years probably replace 2nd car with full ev so want to future proof. Have read through last 30 pages but can’t find similar situation for home charging. I’m no sparky and knowledge here is very limited so bear with me.

Liive “in the country”, normal electric supply (ie not a farm), house built in 2019, 1/2 acre site, no heat pumps/electric showers but plenty of normal pumps for underfloor heating and water pressure in house. Would like to get solar panels in the future. No unusual house appliances (well bar one of those boiling water taps and an insinkerator).

This is where gets complicated. Small driveway up a hill to the house where parking area is 10 steps below the level of the house and a good 10/15 meters from the house itself and a good 30 meters from the Esb box (where take readings) as crow flies with steps/driveway in the way to where want charging point(s). No wall where park cars/need charging point. There is cable near where want charging points and used for outside lights

are there options out there anyone aware of or know anyone in Limerick/Shannon/Ennis area that could check it out and do the install.

Thanks.

Thanks, was thinking that. Running from one of the fuse box’s in the house would be a nightmare. Suppose only option is to set up time with one of nationwide installers and see what they say.

anyone hear if a dedicated solar powered charging unit (not off house solar panels) but probably “enough power” I’m thinking.

A s7$t load of panels would be needed 😮

https://www.thesolarnerd.com/blog/electric-car-solar-panels/

Yup, would be a plan but I’m absolutely useless at that stuff, time limited (read as lazy also) and will make a mistake or three 😃

any recommendations of someone that could survey/quote in limerick/Clare area?

Our neighbour across the street installed 13 panels and a giant battery (on top of the 3 existing panels for water boiler). They have a 5-bedroom house with 2 EV's. I think he said it cost him 20 grand and these should make themselves fully self-sufficient on electricity.

For anyone looking for self sufficiency, money is usually not an issue :)

One definitely needs a sense check common sense approach.

For Pay backs, of more than 10 years, i would generally tend to shy away from.

We did install solar for water heating about 8 years ago, at the time i was expecting a 10 year pay back, it was probably a little longer, all though my gas bills are about, just over half of what several people i know are paying, at €600 pa.

20k is at least 15 years of my annual electricity bills, which includes fully charging 2 EV’s, about 12k kms per vehicle pa. which, on their own, the two EV’s accounts for about 60 % of our annual electricity.

Does that make sense ? , its a personal opinion, for me it would not, and as mentioned, there are definitely additional maintenance costs in the medium term, which are currently unquantifiable.

Where 20k on oanels and batteries, might make a lot more sense, is if electricity increases significantly, but would have to go up by 40 % + and who has a crystal ball to say that will be the case.

I seriously doubt that the panels and battery will be self sufficient 100 %, i’d guess over a year much closer to 70%

I looked at a air to whatever heat pump recently, for a C3 rated house, even after the generous 30 odd% grants, it amounted to roughly 15 years of my annual gas bills, so, it got ruled out immediately. So now looking at new windows, and new external doors, and a new condenser boiler and heating controls. Theres not a substantial pay back on this, but there is a general comfort upgrade, maintenance free new windows and doors, and a replacement for a nearly 30 year old boiler, which is going to need replacing any way in the short term. I will look at this once i get all the quotes in and see does it all make sense. If we do this we should move to BER B2/3, which is becoming a much bigger deal now, when it comes to selling, if we decide to move in x years time.

Have a Kia EV6 on order and will need a wall charger here's my concern I'm down for a smart meter install in a few weeks i have been reading conflicting views about whether I should have it installed or request a day/night meter installed instead if anyone has a view I'd appreciate it thanks

The meter is the single ring type... Might need to upgrade the tails/cables as they look a tad on the thin side as well... Going to chance my arm and ask my supplier to do them as well...

They do look thin alright.

Your electricity provider wont do any work for you other than order ESB to change your meter.

If your tails need upgrading to support the EV thats entirely up to you who does that and it's at your expense. The changing of the meter itself is free.

Upgrading tails could be costly as the electrician will have to check everything else in the house and bring it all up to current regs. If he finds any issues (earth rods and the like) he would have to do that as well.

When do you expect to get the EV6 and how many km's per year will you likely be doing in it? Just trying to gauge how much charging you will be doing. If you are low mileage you might be better off getting a lower power charge point if you want to avoid the cost of electrical upgrades but I suppose you will need to bite the bullet sometime.

Ultimately you'll need an electrician to come out and assess the whole thing and decide from there but avoid the smart meter if you can.

@ KCross it's for a Taxi so I'll definitely need the wall charger I'll be doing 40 to 50k a year the EV6 delivery I'd say will be March next year ... Just thought if i were to get the wall charger wired directly to the fuse box would I still need to upgrade the tails? ... I suppose I'll get a electrician out and talk to him

Thanks KCross... The grants available are published on the NTA website so no problem talking.. My car is a Avensis 2015 diesel in as new condition if the taxi is between 7 and 10 years old with 300k plus mileage... I'll supply a certificate of destruction of my Avensis and i get a refund of 20k from the purchased price from the NTA ... its a no brainer for me really... an EV6 for the price of a corolla... I spend on average 5 to 6k on diesel... I'd imagine the savings will go towards battery replacement down the line... but still!!!