EV charger installation
Home and workplace EV chargers on a dedicated circuit, installed by a qualified installer.
In short
A home EV charger is a dedicated circuit run from the consumer unit to a wall-mounted charge point, typically 7kW on a single-phase domestic supply, which puts back roughly 25 to 30 miles of range an hour. It is not a socket on an existing circuit. BS 7671 Section 722 sets specific requirements for EV installations, particularly around the earthing arrangement, because most UK homes use a PME supply and an open PEN conductor fault could make the car body live. That is handled either by a charge point with built-in PEN fault detection or by a separate earth electrode.
The charger itself is the easy part. What decides whether an installation is straightforward is everything behind it: whether the incoming supply and the main fuse can take the extra load, whether the consumer unit has a spare way, what the earthing arrangement is, and how far the cable has to travel to get from the board to where you park.
What gets checked before installation
- The main fuse rating and whether the supply can take the additional load
- Whether the consumer unit has a spare way and suitable protection
- The earthing arrangement, and how PEN fault protection will be provided
- The cable route from the board to the parking space, and its length
- Where the car actually parks, and which side its charging port is on
- Whether load curtailment is needed so the charger backs off under heavy household load
What the job involves
Every property is different, but the shape of the work is usually the same. Here is how a typical ev charger installation job runs.
Survey the supply
The incoming supply, main fuse, earthing arrangement and consumer unit are all checked before a charger is recommended, because they decide what can actually be installed.
Agree the position
Charger position and cable route are agreed with you, taking account of where you park, which side the port is on, and how the cable will look on the wall rather than just where it is quickest to run.
Install the circuit
A dedicated circuit is run from the board with the correct cable size and protection for the load and the route, including the RCD type an EV circuit requires.
Mount, connect and configure
The unit is fitted, connected and set up, including the app or account side and any load management if the supply calls for it.
Test, certify and show you
The circuit is tested and certificated, and you are shown how to use it, including scheduled charging on an off-peak tariff, which is where most of the running cost saving actually comes from.
Want someone to take a look?
Call 07557 448945 or send a photo on WhatsApp and you will get a straight answer on what it needs.
EV charger installation near you
S. Sparham Electrical covers Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Pick your area for local detail, or call 07557 448945 if you are not sure whether you are in range.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an EV charger installation take?
Most straightforward domestic installations are half a day to a day. Longer cable runs, a consumer unit with no spare capacity, or an earthing arrangement that needs an electrode adding will push it out.
Can I just charge from a normal socket instead?
A three-pin granny cable works but is slow, typically around 2.3kW, so a full charge takes most of a day or longer. It also puts a socket and its circuit under a continuous heavy load for hours at a time, which they were never really designed for. It is fine occasionally and a poor idea as the everyday method.
Do I need a 7kW charger or a 22kW one?
On a standard single-phase domestic supply, 7kW is the practical maximum and it is plenty: overnight it fills almost any car from most starting points. 22kW needs a three-phase supply, which very few UK homes have and which is expensive to bring in.
What is a PEN fault and why does it matter?
Most UK homes have a PME earthing arrangement where the earth comes from the supply neutral. If that combined conductor fails out in the street, exposed metalwork including a car body can rise to a dangerous voltage. BS 7671 therefore requires EV installations either to use a charge point with built-in PEN fault detection or to have a separate earth electrode installed.
Can you install a charger I have already bought?
Usually yes, provided it meets current requirements and the supply suits it. It is worth asking before you buy, because some units expect a particular earthing arrangement or need an extra device to work safely on a PME supply.
Do I need permission from anyone?
A domestic charge point installation is notifiable under Part P, so it is either self-certified by a registered installer or notified to building control. Your Distribution Network Operator also has to be told about the installation, which the installer normally handles.
Who is doing the work
Before anyone works on your electrics it is worth knowing what they are trained to do. This is what Stephen Sparham holds.