Enclosure for EV Charger

youtheman · 20-06-2026 08:27PM #1

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?

Buddy Bubs · 20-06-2026 09:04PM

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 · 20-06-2026 09:13PM

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

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

MojoMaker · 20-06-2026 10:24PM

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

Buddy Bubs · 20-06-2026 10:26PM

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 · 20-06-2026 10:30PM

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 · 20-06-2026 10:38PM

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 · 21-06-2026 08:58AM

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 · 21-06-2026 12:52PM

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 · 21-06-2026 07:38PM

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 · 21-06-2026 10:48PM

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 · 21-06-2026 11:30PM

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 · 22-06-2026 10:26AM

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 · 23-06-2026 09:59AM

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

User1998 · 23-06-2026 10:52AM

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

AndyBoBandy · 23-06-2026 11:01AM

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 · 23-06-2026 11:25AM

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 · 23-06-2026 08:01PM

That Tesla chargepoint is one of the nicest around.

No smart features or app access though, right?

AndyBoBandy · 23-06-2026 08:09PM

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 · 23-06-2026 08:13PM

Doh…how was I forgetting the Tesla app 🙈

Enclosure for EV Charger

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