Home charge points (purchase/problems/questions) (See mod note post#1)

Daveq · 17-09-2023 8:12pm

I had a similar issue and similar cost. House was built approx 1970 and to get safe cert the tails had to be upgraded to 16sq. New earth rod, earth to earth rod, earth in the hot press and kitchen sink all upgraded to 10sq.

crl84 · 17-09-2023 9:29pm

Same as above for me.

Charger was installed for 1200, then 600 back with the grant. They left it running 16a until upgrades were done to the house, charged at 3.5KW/h for a few months.

1800 to an electrician for upgrades to mains connection for 16sq, earth rod installed, earthing of hot water cylinder and sinks, metal switches to lights replaced, testing of sockets and certification etc.

Also 165 to ESB to come out and upgrade from the mains/meter into the junction box thing the electrician left.

Garzard · 17-09-2023 10:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058314213/home-ev-chargers

In much the same boat in that a few weeks back I was quoted €3,500, later €1,600 when I approached another company. Was due the install on Friday, but the electrician had to walk away when he pointed out that there's nowhere along the side of the house suitable to fit the Zappi because of the external insulation - also because the fuse board is located in the back of the kitchen, linking it to a charger (and where to place the cabling) complicates things further again. Even though it's an A-Rated new build, it wasn't pre-wired. Because he was expecting a simpler install, they're going to have to send someone else out to assess it in more detail but I was assured it'll be sorted. Though it could be back to square one again with a high quote with all the apparent work needed.

As was already said, I'd keep looking for quotes. The granny cable is fine on occasion, but extremely slow and I wouldn't be using it for a full charge.

Beta Ray Bill · 18-09-2023 1:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058314213/home-ev-chargers

Unless Electricity prices come down soon, yes, it's a completely pointless and a waste of money

I defo need to change the car in the next few year and was/am considering EV an PHEV

Problem is that electricity is nearly as expensive as fuel at the moment.

The cheapest Day rate I could find as of the 13th of Sept 2023 was 44.51c per kWh (I get there are better bundle deals and night rates)

based on my calculations:

2020 Nissan Leaf 62kWh

€30 to charge it from a Domestic Charger - 239 miles

1 mile = €0.12 per mile

2008 Mazda 6 Diesel (Current Car)

€117 to fill it - 770 mile range

1 mile = €0.15 per mile

VW Polo Petrol 1.0

€71 to fill it - 497 mile range

1 mile = €0.14

The cost incentive is basically gone at this stage. If charging from a fast charger expect to pay more.

https://www.moneyguideireland.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-charge-an-electric-car-in-ireland.html

Night Rate is grand if ya fancy plugging in the the car at 23:00 and have DR/NR meter

liamog · 18-09-2023 2:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

Generally you rely on timers either on the car or the charge point to use time of use tariffs such as a night rate. You don't have to plug in at 11pm.

trant · 18-09-2023 2:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121126365#Comment_121126365

This is exactly what I'm doing and it works perfectly.

Beta Ray Bill · 18-09-2023 3:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

The cost incentive is basically gone at this stage. If charging from a fast charger expect to pay more.

Just to be clear on this.... fueling costs are roughly the same but the prices of the vehicles themselves are also approaching parity. (particularly EV's) So things are beginning to level out.

PHEV's are still quite dear

kanuseeme · 18-09-2023 3:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121126423#Comment_121126423

Not all, take the niro k3, hybrid 38k, plug in 40k and the EV 44 k, its worse again for the k4, 7000 between the phev and ev.

In my use case the plug in for 40k would be better value, it would still take 2 years or so to recover the extra 2000 euro over the 38 k hybrid.

It was the case for the ID4 and tiguan phev, 4000 euro cheaper for the phev, but that has now reversed, I don't know what price the diesel version is,

Any way phev on a timer and night rate, night rate also means other things could be put on timers, washing machines, dish washers.

crl84 · 18-09-2023 5:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

If you use standard day rates then sure.

Most people will use night rate or special EV rates though.

I have the Electric Ireland free weekend day, I've done over 2200kms in my EV and spent less than €25 on electricity for the car.

Core6 · 18-09-2023 5:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

I agree that charging an EV using standard rates like you have shown above isn't financially advisable.

However, if you have an EV charger installed at home, have an enabled smart meter and a smart meter rate that offers low EV charging prices then you can charge an EV for around 0.07c to 0.10c per kW.

For me with a Tesla Model 3 RWD, that works out at about €1.33 per 100km.

ted1 · 18-09-2023 5:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121123448#Comment_121123448

Get another quote I’d recommend https://www.goelectrical.ie/

Delboy5 · 20-09-2023 11:47am

Hi,

Has anyone bought a Zappi charger from ebay and then got an electrician to install it?

I see you can get the charger for about £500 on ebay uk.

Any issues with claiming the grant by going this route?

allinthehead · 20-09-2023 1:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121133387#Comment_121133387

No issues with the grant so long as you can provide a receipt for the charge point and an invoice from the rec.

ted1 · 21-09-2023 11:42am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125778#Comment_121125778

charge at night. Plug in the car at 6pm and sets a timer in the car or charger to automatically charge at night.

You don’t need to plug in at 23:00. And you don’t need a day night meter , a smart meter will do too

WiseOldOwl · 21-09-2023 12:36pm

Hey guys, As my fusebox needs upgrading does anyone know if it would be safe to use the granny cable in the meantime until I get upgrades done??

thanks

allinthehead · 21-09-2023 9:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121137887#Comment_121137887

Honestly, nobody here can answer that without seeing your electrics. It should be fine, If the house wiring is good and it's just the board that needs attention. I wouldn't leave it in for 8, 9, 10 hours continously if I had reservations about the wiring, certainly not at night. You could try it for a few hours and check for heat.

donalh087 · 21-09-2023 9:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121127035#Comment_121127035

Jaysus - I just filled in their online quote questionnaire and on the last page they say they don't work outside the 6 or 7 counties around Dublin.

Smoggy · 23-09-2023 9:18am

Slightly off topic. As I don't have an EV and don't see myself having one for a few years.

But could I use the grant to install an EV charge point, whilst still getting any short term gains from it, like having the fuse board upgraded to run two electric showers?

CoBo55 · 23-09-2023 10:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145923#Comment_121145923

When I got my cp installed I had to send pictures of the installed CP with my car in the picture with its number plate clearly visible. I'm assuming you want to get the grant. Is there any domestic installation that allows 2 showers to run simultaneously? I didn't think there was tbh, if you can get it installed I'd imagine 600 euro would make very little impact on the total cost.

graememk · 23-09-2023 10:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146076#Comment_121146076

Rules have changed, you don't need a car anymore to get the grant

Smoggy · 23-09-2023 6:37pm

Two showers was an example (I know close to nothing about electrics) but wanted to see if there was a short term advantage I can use now, whilst using the EV Charger in the future.

If there isn't I will sit tight until I need a charger, if there is I would consider getting it done now and have X years of whatever this advantage is.

So the question is, is there any short term benefits that can be gained?

allinthehead · 23-09-2023 7:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121147562#Comment_121147562

Only advantage is to get the grant while it's still in place.

KCross · 23-09-2023 7:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145923#Comment_121145923

The grant is relatively small. It will be swallowed up by the charge point. Any upgrades required to the fuse board etc will be extra on top that you will have to stump up for, so not much to be gained unless you are factoring in that the grant will disappear in future in which case the potential gain is the €600 the grant gives you today. That’s it.

eagerv · 24-09-2023 10:58am

I see a type 2 charging cable in Lidl next Thurs. Seems good value for a 5M cable..

https://www.lidl.ie/p/electric-car-charging-cable/p10011623?pageId=10029881&tabCode=Next_Sales_Week

Risteard81 · 24-09-2023 11:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121147562#Comment_121147562

The only benefit to an EVSE is to facilitate charging of electric vehicles.

traco · 24-09-2023 12:01pm

Hi all. New Tesla Model Y arrival due very very soon.

I know I should have charging all sorted before buying however she has free charging in work and usually in two days a week although they are back to back. Hoping that leaving thursday to come home she will be fully charged and its 50km back along the M50.

Anyway - my electrical situation involved and early 70's semi-d.

We are still on the prehistoric spinning ESB meter with what looks to me like 10sq cables to the fuse board so they need upgrading.

The fuse box is more or less directly behind and above the meter box on the external wall and I think I'd like the charger on the dividing wall with the neighbor. This would be be beack out, down, accross the side access up the wall and out about a meter. Total run I'd guss is maybe 6m with all the turns etc.

So I need to get the cables from the meter to the fuse box upgraded from 10sq to 16sq -and a new meter installed? What meter should I get? Newest latest smartest or something between the smartest and my current dumbest? BTW we did have an electric shower but that has been replaced with a power shower so while cable and breaker is there its not used. I don't know if it will ever be again but I think I'd like to keep that option available just in case. Kitchen has been upgraded so new electric cookers and an induction hob gone in and new cables run for those to meet latest regs.

Next chargers - no solar at the moment but a definte possiblility down the line but could be a while. Is zappi the best for smart charging / load balancing use etc or is there another option?

Given that this a blank install what would be the best most optimum future proofed instalation I should go for particulalry as I'm coming from basically nothing being goood enough?

Thanks

joe1303l · 24-09-2023 5:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149927#Comment_121149927

Lidl Cable looks fine but Tesla were selling a similar Mennekes branded one for €99 a few months back. Can’t see it on their site now but it was recommended here several times