No EV but I want to install a charger...
Discussion
I'm currently building a triple garage and although I have no immediate plans for an EV, it seems sensible to at least consider installing some infrastructure at this point to accomodate one (e.g. before the garage floor goes down).
I have a 3 phase supply coming into my consumer unit but just 1 phase is connected. From doing some reading it looks as if a dedicated ring from the consumer unit for the EV charger would be best but unfortunately I don't think this is an option - all the cables etc from the consumer unit disappear into a screed floor. There's currently a 32A ring into the garage with very little load on it.
Can anyone suggest companies I should talk to about installing for an EV charger at this point. Is it worth it - or should I just hold back on the assumption any charger would ultimately use the 32A ring eventually?
I have a 3 phase supply coming into my consumer unit but just 1 phase is connected. From doing some reading it looks as if a dedicated ring from the consumer unit for the EV charger would be best but unfortunately I don't think this is an option - all the cables etc from the consumer unit disappear into a screed floor. There's currently a 32A ring into the garage with very little load on it.
Can anyone suggest companies I should talk to about installing for an EV charger at this point. Is it worth it - or should I just hold back on the assumption any charger would ultimately use the 32A ring eventually?
The current crop of chargers typically need a dedicated 32A feed; you'd not run them off a lightly-loaded ring main, much in the same way as you wouldn't run a cooker or electric shower from the ring main.
You'll need to run a cable suitable for 32A and one phase from the consumer unit to your garage, although if you're looking at a 3 berth garage, it might not be the worst idea ever to run cable that's capable of at least 3 phases at 32A, leaving you with a relatively straightforward upgrade path to a 32A charger for each of the 3 bays in your garage. If there's the chance to scale this up a bit (e.g. cable good for 3ph and 40A per phase, say), no harm in making sure there's some headroom.
You'll need to run a cable suitable for 32A and one phase from the consumer unit to your garage, although if you're looking at a 3 berth garage, it might not be the worst idea ever to run cable that's capable of at least 3 phases at 32A, leaving you with a relatively straightforward upgrade path to a 32A charger for each of the 3 bays in your garage. If there's the chance to scale this up a bit (e.g. cable good for 3ph and 40A per phase, say), no harm in making sure there's some headroom.
blueacid said:
The current crop of chargers typically need a dedicated 32A feed; you'd not run them off a lightly-loaded ring main, much in the same way as you wouldn't run a cooker or electric shower from the ring main.
You'll need to run a cable suitable for 32A and one phase from the consumer unit to your garage, although if you're looking at a 3 berth garage, it might not be the worst idea ever to run cable that's capable of at least 3 phases at 32A, leaving you with a relatively straightforward upgrade path to a 32A charger for each of the 3 bays in your garage. If there's the chance to scale this up a bit (e.g. cable good for 3ph and 40A per phase, say), no harm in making sure there's some headroom.
That would be ideal but unfortunately I can't see how to get a new dedicated line to the consumer unit without taking up an extensive amount of solid floor (not really an option). However, I may be talking out my arse - do any companies offer surveys to determine what my options are?You'll need to run a cable suitable for 32A and one phase from the consumer unit to your garage, although if you're looking at a 3 berth garage, it might not be the worst idea ever to run cable that's capable of at least 3 phases at 32A, leaving you with a relatively straightforward upgrade path to a 32A charger for each of the 3 bays in your garage. If there's the chance to scale this up a bit (e.g. cable good for 3ph and 40A per phase, say), no harm in making sure there's some headroom.
If you are just "protecting" then why not get a 32A single phase socket installed on a suitable wall with a dedicated spur from the CU? Then you can just plug any Level2 EVSE straight into that socket: ie
It also means the actual EVSE is no longer a "fixed" installation, so you can buy a cheap one, and "install it" yourself (ie screw it to the wall!)
I run an OpenEVSE ( https://www.openevse.com/ ) in such a fashion.
It also means the actual EVSE is no longer a "fixed" installation, so you can buy a cheap one, and "install it" yourself (ie screw it to the wall!)
I run an OpenEVSE ( https://www.openevse.com/ ) in such a fashion.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff