nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Enclosure for EV Charger

youtheman

Has anyone installed their EV charger in an enclosure?. I am about to install a Zappi charger. I live 1 km from the coast. I know the charger is IP rated, but I'm still concerned about the rain, UV, wind etc. It can get very bleak where I live. I reckon I can fit the charger in a standard surface mounted ESB box (Tricel or equivalent). Should protect it from the elements, possibly extend it's life, and keep it from prying eyes!. Just wondering if there is any reason I should not do so?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Buddy Bubs

No reason not to. Theres a company in UK called Andersen chargers they have lovely enclosures not sure if they sell seperately or not.

If I was making one up I would use composite decking boards as the material, can look very well

youtheman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124566816#Comment_124566816

You must have seen this site?. Certainly got me thinking!.

MojoMaker

Many owners are opting to install the chargepoint in their porches for this very reason.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124567036#Comment_124567036

No just an idea I had when my dad got his charger installed and my mam didn't like it, thought it was ugly. Zappi too.

Never did it in the end, its already under a canopy so it would have just been for aesthetics

MojoMaker

Protecting your (expensive and critical) CP from the elements seems like a very fundamentally sensible decision - regardless of location….city, town, rural or coastal.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124566833#Comment_124566833

The look slick.

Looking at the assembly video and there is “very little to them” as they say, expensive.

I am considering getting someone local making up a cage from metal and galavaning it and powder dipping it. More to protect from stray footballs and the like.

Firblog

cheap solution?

BOXEXPERT.DE IP65 wall enclosure, 300 x 400 x 220 mm, transparent | Industrial and wall cabinets at very favourable prices | reichelt elektronik

slave1

I wouldn't be too worried, we live on islands in the British Isles and they have the appropriate rating. If you want to do it for aesthetics that that's different

Buffman

Presumably you're going for an untethered Zappi OP, as I think you'd be doing well to squash a 5m cable in there as well?

Probably the only thing I'd advise is for you check with MyEnergi that installing it like that will 100% not have any impact on the warranty. I can't see any reason it would but it's better to be sure as although Zappi customer service is usually pretty good they normally look for photos of the installation/issue for warranty replacements, not so much of an issue when your Zappi dies out of warranty as then they will normally offer to sell you a refurbished unit at a discount.

zg3409

You can use an electricity enclosure or any box to keep out 99% of the rain, if it's tethered then you can leave cable outside and never open box, make sure the end of the tethered is in a holder, dont let it hang loose or the salt air will corrode the pins, and the whole plug can fill with water if upside down.

Couple of downsides, esb cabinets are hard to open, need a special tool tool, the zappi shows you the energy consumed on the screen after every charge, you may not get that info to (now car was charged and rough cost.

The screen shows you if car is connected ok, no screen you can't be sure, finally you can easily change mode from night only charging to charge immediately if you need it, otherwise you need to open cabinet or open the app and change mode. You could hide the entire thing behind a gate or box, and only use the cable, the older ones did let in water where the buttons are located and they often let in water through the mounting holes or cable holes if not sealed fully.

youtheman

It's a tethered Zappi that I purchased. I can easily get an enclosure that is bigger than the carboard box the unit came in. So it will fit. I'll have to leave the plug 'loose' in the box, and not plug it into the dummy socket on the front of the charger (that increases the overall depth required). I do note the feedback about the hassle of opening the enclosure every time. Still just thinking about it. I think I'll 'CYA' and ask Zappi if they have any reason not to do do.

opus

One of my neighbours (on a narrow laneway in Cork) has a charging point on the outside wall of his house & removes the cable & slides a metal box over it when it's not is use. He gets round the trip risk by parking his car tight against the wall so you couldn't walk past it & trip 🙂

opus

I took a pic when I was walking past this morning.

User1998

Looks awful IMO. Theres no need to cover it, especially not with something that ugly

AndyBoBandy

I live 500m from the sea and have my charger installer 6.5 years and it's never skipped a beat once…

Granted it doesn't have any buttons or screens on it to be damaged (Charge Points don't need them), but the thought of enclosing in in a protective case has never once entered my mind..

Here's a picture taken 2 minutes ago, and the only signs of wear are some scuffs & discolouration on the cable!!

youtheman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124572956#Comment_124572956

As they say 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. Not saying that it is a thing of beauty, but I certainly would not class it as 'ugly'.

MojoMaker

That Tesla chargepoint is one of the nicest around.

No smart features or app access though, right?

AndyBoBandy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574376#Comment_124574376

yep. mine is a gen2 and I believe the gen3 has wifi…

I control mine through the Tesla app where I can dial the charge rate from 5a to 32a.. but they all charge the car at the same 7.2kW when maxed out!!

MojoMaker

Doh…how was I forgetting the Tesla app 🙈

youtheman

Well, I went ahead and fitted the enclosure for the Zappi unit. See phots (it's not wired up yet). I've done a 'dry run' on it and it works well. I also installed a new 'Electric Meter Outer Box Door and Frame' as the existing one was over 50 years old.

Flinty997

I think they are all a bit ugly. Covering them makes a lot of sense to me. I also think it's stops people messing with them

digitaldr

I think of ev chargers like an external power socket or tap - not necessarily something you would want stuck on the front of your house. To this end I chose the most unobtrusive charger possible and located it where it wouldn't easily be seen. It might be mounted a bit low for some people's taste but again it helps keep it out of sight. I don't really see the need for a screen either.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124606254#Comment_124606254

Why? its really ugly and the charger is designed to be outside…..

Also what was the price difference between that one and the new Zappi? i didn't think they were still installing those ones

youtheman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124642944#Comment_124642944

I believe the new Zappi Glo is the latest version, but it can only be managed via the App (i.e. has no screen). My electrician recommended I stay away from the Glo version. The Glo is actually a few hundred quid cheaper as well.

As mentioned previously, my decision to put it in an anclosure if just to protect it from rain, wind, UV etc. I know it is IP rated, but when you are that close to the sea, everything has a reduced operational life.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124643104#Comment_124643104

I was right below the sea in my old house, no issues what so ever. Does your electrician actually drive an EV? i don't think I have ever pressed the button on my charger.

youtheman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124643251#Comment_124643251

No he doesn't drive an EV. Think he recommendation was based upon the Zappi units he has installed to date. So as regards Zappi, I supposed it's down to the traditional Zapp versus the new Zappi Glo. Don't have enough experience of chargers to comment on the pros/cons of each. With my Zappi I can configure the schedule charge times three ways, on the website (when I log on), on the app or on the panel itself. Presume the Glo has only the first 2 options. Not sure if there are any other significant differences!.