EV Charging Point Installation – what happens on the day
So you’re getting a charging point installed at home before your shiny, new electric vehicle arrives.
But how will the EV charging point actually be installed? What will the electrician do on the day and what should you do to prepare?
The Installation Process in 6 Steps
A home electric vehicle charging point is basically a glorified electric socket. But because it’s often installed outside, there are special electrical regulations that need to be followed to ensure safe charging.
Here is a typical EV charging point installation process – it normally takes 3-4 hours from start to finish:
#1 Electrician arrives
An electrician will arrive in a van at the designated time. Sometimes there will be two electricians.
They’ll knock on your door, introduce themselves, and the process begins.
#2 Charger location
The first thing to work out is the location of the charging point itself. Do you want it:
- On an external wall? Which one?
- Inside your garage?
- On your driveway?
- Somewhere else?
You need to consider which way around you’ll park your new electric car and where the car’s charging socket is located. You should ensure the distance between the car’s socket and the charger itself is less than 5m, as most charging cables are about 5m long.
The charging point must also be positioned such that a car cannot hit it by mistake.
You may already have sent the installation company pictures of where you want the charger to go, so this step can often be quite quick. Make sure you clear away any moveable obstructions close to the charger location, so the electrician has room to work.
Some EV chargers still require the installation of an earth rod, though this is now less common. If your model does need an earth rod, the electrician will find a suitable place near the charger where the earth rod can be installed into the ground. There are alternatives to earth rods and the electrician may explain other options to you.
#3 Cable run
Another factor influencing where the charger goes is the ‘cable run’. This is the distance and route the electrical cable takes to connect your charger to your fuse box (your fuse box is generally near your electricity meter).
The cable run distance needs to be 15m or less in order for the installation to be deemed as ‘standard’ with our installation partner, Rightcharge. A standard installation does not incur any additional installation costs. If the distance is greater than 15m, the electrician will tell you what any extra costs would be. There are other factors as well that affect whether an installation is standard or not – Rightcharge will give you the full list.
The cable will be fairly thick and black. The electrician will discuss with you the possible routes the cable can take to reach your fuse box. Cables cannot always be hidden and you need to be prepared to accept a cable run that is visible on the outside of your house. Sometimes there is no alternative.
#4 Fuse box
While considering the cable run, the electrician will also inspect your fuse box. Please clear the area around the fuse box in advance to allow easy access.
There will sometimes be a ‘spare way’ on your fuse box where the electrician can install the trip switch/RCBO that connects to your charger.
If there is no spare way, the electrician will need to install a small, separate fuse box – often referred to as a ‘garage board’ – that will house the charger trip switch/RCBO.
#5 Drilling and clipping
Once everyone is happy with the charger location, cable run, and how to connect to the fuse box, the electrician will get tools out and begin work.
The order of events can vary, but these are the steps that need to be completed:
- The electrician drills into the wall where the charger goes. In the first instance, this is to attach the charger to the wall. But it can also be to create a hole through which the thick black cable goes.
- The thick electrical cable then needs to be clipped along the cable run, so that it’s securely positioned and won’t move around. Sometimes another wall needs to be drilled though in order to reach the fuse box. This can incur extra costs, but the electrician will let you know in advance and you can always decide if you want to go ahead or not.
- When the charger and cable are in place, the electrician will install the dedicated trip switch/RCBO for the charger in your fuse box (or a separate fuse box). To do this, he will need to turn off the power in your home for 15-30 minutes typically. Once it has been installed, the power goes back on again.
#6 Testing and setting up the installation
Once all of the above is complete, the electrician will test and configure the system.
Modern EV charging points need to connect to the internet for full functionality. So the electrician will either configure the charger’s SIM card (if it has one) or connect it to your home’s broadband router, either wirelessly or by wired ethernet. Write down your router password on a piece of paper before the electrician arrives, so you’re not scrambling around for it at the last minute.
Once the electrician is satisfied the installation has passed all of the necessary electrical checks and that it is working according to the manufacturer’s requirements, he/she will then help you download and configure the charger’s smartphone app. The app will allow you to see and change charger settings, as well as set up charging times, for example to coincide with a cheap, off-peak tariff.
After the installation
EV charging point installations are usually quite straightforward and everything normally ‘just works’ as you charge up your electric car, week after week.
However, if something were to go wrong or if you have any questions, you should either contact the local company that installed your charger, or Rightcharge on their dedicated hotline.
Questions?
Phone our dedicated EV team now on
0118 3048 688
or email us at
enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk
