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

Manion · 12-01-2023 08:45PM

It's been there a while and recently they have gone further to state an EV charger must be installed on all new homes, not just wired. Not sure when that comes into affect though as it was announced late last year.

It doesn't matter where your charger is, all that matters is if the solar inverter can see the full property load including the charger or not. Not sure I follow the point regarding batteries.

slave1 · 12-01-2023 10:09PM

Wiring is plenty enough, there are still folk alive in Ireland that don't have a car!!!

Sammy96 · 12-01-2023 11:13PM

Got a quote for 1900 for an installation from a major installer.

Zero wiring needed as I have it all pre done by electrician as I retro fitted my house.

Sierra Oscar · 12-01-2023 11:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120100174#Comment_120100174

I was assuming if installed from the meter then the solar inverter could not detect the full property load, which I'm guessing I was wrong to assume.

Manion · 12-01-2023 11:48PM

I see your point regarding batteries now. This is the set up I have where the inverter cannot see the the charger. As my inverter required a hard wired ct clamp and there was no way to get it to the meter box. For solar it makes no difference as the charger can see what is excess and match charging to it. The issue is with batteries if you may want to power the car as opposed to fill the battery, minor inconvenience tbh.

Spipov · 13-01-2023 12:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120100879#Comment_120100879

If just charger and installer thats incredibly expensive. He selling you a charger or a car?

RainInSummer · 13-01-2023 01:52PM

Anyone got any idea of what this charger allows the car to draw at? I would have assumed 3kW, but my recently installed CT clamp tells me it's pulling just under 5kW for the duration of the charge (reduces a bit when the car gets to 90ish % though). I got it for free 8 years ago when I first got an EV.

MacDanger · 13-01-2023 04:06PM

Hi

We're applying for an ESB connection for a new one-off build and one of the questions on the connection form is what is the Max Import Capacity Required? 12kVA (Max Standard), 16kVA (Max Enhanced), 20kVA or 29kVA are the options.

We're installing a heat pump and the house be wired for an EV charger as per the regs but we won't be installing one straight away. If budget allows, we'll install some panels but not sure on that yet (I don't think the panels will impact this but just mentioning it in case).

Which of these options should we go with to allow us the option to have an EV and / or panels in the future? Or does it even matter from either of those points of view

Manion · 13-01-2023 04:10PM

If it's all the same I'd get the 16. It has no bearing in your solar installation.

MacDanger · 13-01-2023 04:13PM

Sound, thanks

Manion · 13-01-2023 04:22PM

My thoughts on that btw are to do with if you have a heatpump and an EV in the future charging at night. A 12kVA is probably fine but it will depend on the size of your heat pump. I believe it's default these days for a 16kVa on new builds with a heatpump.

meercat · 13-01-2023 05:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120103643#Comment_120103643

Yeah. 16kva is the way to go. I think it’s slightly dearer to get installed. Your rec should use 25mm main cables

KCross · 13-01-2023 05:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120103618#Comment_120103618

16kVA is what you should go for. As time progresses you will likely use more and more electricity, so better to have the capacity now than to be looking for it in the future at a much higher install cost.

Once you have 16kVA in, the costs for using the electricity are the same as everyone else, so it wont cost you more just because you pick 16kVA now.... it just costs a little more for the initial install.

NOTE: Your electrician has to wire the consumer unit to support 16kVA, so he needs to be told what you have picked.

KCross · 13-01-2023 05:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120102851#Comment_120102851

They usually can be configured to support 16A or 32A. If you say you have already confirmed it is pulling 5kW then it is configured for 32A.

You could also look at your consumer unit and see what rating is on the trip switch. Its probably 40, which would further confirm its setup to support 32A.

horse7 · 14-01-2023 11:15AM

Can an electrician put an isolation switch in my mains cabinet between my smart meter and the cable to my consumer unit?

ted1 · 14-01-2023 11:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120106532#Comment_120106532

some will some won’t.

they have no way of killing the supply so it would involve working on live wires. With an 60/80/100A fuse.

micks_address · 14-01-2023 01:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120106532#Comment_120106532

I got the esb to fit one in the meter box when there swapped over my tails. Customer service said no hassle but the engineer didn't want to do it.. in the end he begrudgingly did it

Gumbo · 14-01-2023 01:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120100174#Comment_120100174

The 2022 Regs state that a new dwelling has to have ducting in place. A charger does not have to be installed.

Technical Guidance Document Part L, Section 1.4.6.3. Suitable infrastructure from the meter cabinet or Consumer Unit to the parking spot that allows for the installation of a charger without builders work.

A developer can of course install a charger and consider that as a compliance.

Manion · 14-01-2023 02:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120107043#Comment_120107043

Yeah, there was a bit of coverage, https://www.thejournal.ie/electric-vehicle-recharging-infrastructure-new-homes-5917576-Nov2022/ that changes are coming.

Gumbo · 14-01-2023 02:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120107164#Comment_120107164

That is the regulations I quoted already. TGDL 2022. Infrastructure only. No requirement to provide an actual charger.

Manion · 14-01-2023 02:23PM

Ah right, I apologies, I just jumped to the conclusion Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien was making things worse. I thought the ducting requirement was in years? All the newer houses in my estate have it and wiring.

Gumbo · 14-01-2023 02:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120107202#Comment_120107202

No ducting requirement at all. It was at the discretion of the developer. I pushed for it on many sites and in fairness, many did it.

But now they have no choice. Ducting and space on the consumer unit for it.

horse7 · 14-01-2023 04:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120106602#Comment_120106602

Dont know how they would do it as the smartmeter has a seal, can they unseal and seal the smartmeter to fit an isolation switch?

ted1 · 14-01-2023 04:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120107837#Comment_120107837

No they wouldn’t touch the seal. What they might do is cut the tails and then connect to a MCB. , but they would be live. Some will do this. Some won’t

horse7 · 14-01-2023 04:43PM

Will ESB networks put the MCB IN with a 16 tail to the smart meter?

Manion · 14-01-2023 04:59PM

No, that would be the job of your Electrician, they wont touch anything on the house side.

horse7 · 14-01-2023 05:25PM

so whats the process, ask the esb to pull the power and unseal the meter so the electrician can put in 16 tails from the meter to a new MCB?

Manion · 14-01-2023 05:35PM

Your Reci would have to do all the work of providing a new MCB on the consumer unit and running the tails back and then arrange a time with EBSn to make the new connection. It's a multi stage process. From memory going back nearly 20 years the ESB network guy did the switch at the consumer unit for the parents house, but the CU and the meter where co-located and it was a new consumer unit going in. But you get the idea. Your Reci does one part, the ESBn do the next, then your Reci has the finish it off. They should coordinate all that btw.

horse7 · 14-01-2023 05:51PM

I wanted the MCB in the cabinet.

Manion · 14-01-2023 06:03PM

I dont think that's allowed, cannot see them making that connection for you. You're not being super clear tbh. I'm assuming you want this in connection to a charger installation? An Isolator is just an Isolator, it's no a breaker though some breakers also act as Isolators. What is your goal?

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

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