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

TitianGerm

I was just getting my paperwork together for the SEAI grant and I was looking at the two sheets the electrician gave me.

He installed a RCBO 40 and the max value per his sheet is 30mA.

What does this mean? Is it if the total power usage is over 30mA then the car will charge slower?

meercat

TitianGerm wrote: »

I was just getting my paperwork together for the SEAI grant and I was looking at the two sheets the electrician gave me. G6

He installed a RCBO 40 and the max value per his sheet is 30mA.

What does this mean? Is it if the total power usage is over 30mA then the car will charge slower?

The rcbo is rated for 40 amp
The earth leakage trip current is 30mA

This is the standard rcbo which should be installed so no worries

TitianGerm

meercat wrote: »

The rcbo is rated for 40 amp
The earth leakage trip current is 30mA

This is the standard rcbo which should be installed so no worries

Thanks for that Meercat. Just like to try understand what's going on in the background

TitianGerm

meercat wrote: »

The rcbo is rated for 40 amp
The earth leakage trip current is 30mA

This is the standard rcbo which should be installed so no worries

Thanks for that Meercat. Just like to try understand what's going on in the background

Redlim

Somehow my Electric Ireland/KN Group installation in September didn't include an isolation switch.

When the KN guy was finishing up I asked what the story was with the regulations for them and he said they were no longer a requirement.

He even gave an example of one lady getting a charge point installed the day the requirement was removed and they received notice while on the job so she was able to avoid having the isolation switch installed.

I've no idea if this change in regs is true or not but was happy take his word for it for my own installation!

Ionised

Redlim wrote: »

Somehow my Electric Ireland/KN Group installation in September didn't include an isolation switch.

When the KN guy was finishing up I asked what the story was with the regulations for them and he said they were no longer a requirement.

He even gave an example of one lady getting a charge point installed the day the requirement was removed and they received notice while on the job so she was able to avoid having the isolation switch installed.

I've no idea if this change in regs is true or not but was happy take his word for it for my own installation!

Same for me. My EO Mini was installed without an isolation switch. I wasn't sure if it was that it was very close to the consumer unit though.

Redlim

Ionised wrote: »

Same for me. My EO Mini was installed without an isolation switch. I wasn't sure if it was that it was very close to the consumer unit though.

I doubt it's due to being close to the consumer unit though as that's inside the house. If the house door is locked there would be no access to manually flick the trip switch.

slave1

Redlim wrote: »

Somehow my Electric Ireland/KN Group installation in September didn't include an isolation switch.

When the KN guy was finishing up I asked what the story was with the regulations for them and he said they were no longer a requirement.

He even gave an example of one lady getting a charge point installed the day the requirement was removed and they received notice while on the job so she was able to avoid having the isolation switch installed.

I've no idea if this change in regs is true or not but was happy take his word for it for my own installation!

Was that an untethered charge point?

Redlim

slave1 wrote: »

Was that an untethered charge point?

It was a tethered EO Mini.

slave1

I’d love if someone could point out these updated regs...

KCross

slave1 wrote: »

I’d love if someone could point out these updated regs...

I dont belive there is a specific reg that says that its mandatory to fit an isolator to a charge point. It is mandatory to fit an isolator to an "appliance" though.

There have been some differing interpretations of whether a charge point is an "appliance" or not and so some electricians fit isolators and some dont. Like a few others here, I didnt have an isolator fitted either this year and got a cert provided so its down to the electrician you get.

A thread was opened on it in the electrical forum and you can see some differing opinions there
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058057675


The last few posts above are interesting though with the inference that SafeElectric have now clarified it and one of the big electrical outfits in the country are now not fitting them. Thats a welcome development, if true.

Conba

Forgive the clueless question but is an isolator the same as a Priority Device? Just got a quote yesterday for an ABL charger along with Priority Device and want to be sure I'm not getting something I don't need.

KCross

Conba wrote: »

Forgive the clueless question but is an isolator the same as a Priority Device? Just got a quote yesterday for an ABL charger along with Priority Device and want to be sure I'm not getting something I don't need.

Different things.

An isolator is a "big red switch" that gets mounted on the wall alongside the charge point that allows you to cut the power to the charge point in an emergency.

A priority device is a device that cuts the power automatically to the charge point when some other high power device comes on (usually an electric shower) so that you dont overload your main fuse and when the shower goes off the charge point comes back on.... i.e. the shower has priority, hence "priority device".

Cona

Would K&N advise you if you need a priority switch or do you specifically need to request one?

I’m awaiting the SEAI approval before I can arrange with K&N but I would like to know if I need to request an isolator switch or even better if they will supply an EO mini with load sensing capabilities?

KCross

Cona wrote: »

Would K&N advise you if you need an isolator switch or do you specifically need to request one?

I’m awaiting the SEAI approval before I can arrange with K&N but I would like to know if I need to request an isolator switch or even better if they will supply an EO mini with load sensing capabilities?

The electrician will advise. They have to provide a cert that says it meets regulations to allow you claim the grant so it’s up to the electrician what gets done/fitted.

You just decide what charge point you want and where you want it.

Cyrus

Cona wrote: »

Would K&N advise you if you need an isolator switch or do you specifically need to request one?

I’m awaiting the SEAI approval before I can arrange with K&N but I would like to know if I need to request an isolator switch or even better if they will supply an EO mini with load sensing capabilities?

You are mixing up isolator switch with priority switch / load balancing I think .

yop

Whats the thoughts versus the zappi?

https://charging-energy.elli.eco/ie-en/IDcharger#product_comparison

rx8

yop wrote: »

Whats the thoughts versus the zappi?

https://charging-energy.elli.eco/ie-en/IDcharger#product_comparison

I was planning on getting the VW one, but was told by support that it wasn't compatible with Solar, so I went with the zappi.

yop

rx8 wrote: »

I was planning on getting the VW one, but was told by support that it wasn't compatible with Solar, so I went with the zappi.

It reads like you need to put in a separate ( Additional hardware required ("current transformer"), available from specialist dealers or can be added via installation partners)
https://www.plumbtrades.co.uk/product/project-ev-current-transformer-ct-clamp-for-electric-car-chargers/

So its an additional cost of around 35 euro.

KCross

yop wrote: »

It reads like you need to put in a separate ( Additional hardware required ("current transformer"), available from specialist dealers or can be added via installation partners)
https://www.plumbtrades.co.uk/product/project-ev-current-transformer-ct-clamp-for-electric-car-chargers/

So its an additional cost of around 35 euro.

I think its that optional extra but more importantly it also requires a software update... i.e. its not yet ready for SolarPV even if you get that extra CT Clamp yet.... not sure but I think VW said Summer 2021 for SolarPV support.

quenching

Someone more competent than me might be able to help me here. I have a 3.3kw charging Leaf and an Outlander, both charge overnight from one of these Rolec wallpods. The Leaf uses the tethered type 1 cable while the Outlander uses the 13amp domestic socket and a granny cable. Charging is scheduled for night rates. All works well.

There isn't a priority switch installed. There is an instant electric shower but I don't recall it ever being used during night rate hours.

I'm changing the Leaf to a 28kw Ioniq which I believe charges at 6.6kw.

How will the existing Rolec wallpod handle charging the 6.6kw Ioniq and the Outander at the same time? And will this mean I need to have a priority switch installed?

Kramer

quenching wrote: »

How will the existing Rolec wallpod handle charging the 6.6kw Ioniq and the Outander at the same time? And will this mean I need to have a priority switch installed?

Our Ioniq (2019) took 7kW. Assuming your Outlander pulls just 2kW, you'd be up to 40 amps combined. You'd need to be certain the cable fitted it 6mm2 & check on the RCD too. It wouldn't be great IMO running an RCD at its rated max power for long periods. It's there to protect the cable really.

You could reduce the Ioniq's charge speed in the menu & given its 28kWh capacity, it would still fully charge on night rate over the 9 hours.

This is assuming your Rolec is 32a capable.

If it's near your consumer unit & not too much hassle, I'd look at updating the install & possibly Rolec too. I'd fit a separate 16a outdoor blue socket for the outlander, connected directly back to the consumer unit, on its own circuit. Sharing the circuit of the Ioniq, if anything tripped the Outlander charging, your Ioniq would stop too.

KCross

quenching wrote: »

Someone more competent than me might be able to help me here. I have a 3.3kw charging Leaf and an Outlander, both charge overnight from one of these Rolec wallpods. The Leaf uses the tethered type 1 cable while the Outlander uses the 13amp domestic socket and a granny cable. Charging is scheduled for night rates. All works well.

There isn't a priority switch installed. There is an instant electric shower but I don't recall it ever being used during night rate hours.

I'm changing the Leaf to a 28kw Ioniq which I believe charges at 6.6kw.

How will the existing Rolec wallpod handle charging the 6.6kw Ioniq and the Outander at the same time? And will this mean I need to have a priority switch installed?

Your first problem is that the Leaf is a Type 1 and the Ioniq is a type 2 so the tethered type 1 cable you have on that Rolec wont fit/charge the Ioniq!

Unless you change the cable or the charge point you will need to charge the Outlander on the tethered cable and the Ioniq on its granny cable.

quenching

I didn’t realize you can reduce the Ioniq’s charge speed, I’ll just do that then for the nights. I can increase it again for the odd time I need to. That’s great news.

I believe there’s a handy adapter to change the Type 1 plug to a Type 2 plug for about €100. The Outlander will be charged much more often (sometimes several times a day) so I’ll leave it as a Type 1 plug.

Thanks for the helpful advice folks, it always pays to ask!

slave1

So posted off my completed form and attachments today for the home chargepoint grant.
Tick tock, let's see how long it takes....

rx8

slave1 wrote: »

So posted off my completed form and attachments today for the home chargepoint grant.
Tick tock, let's see how long it takes....

Race ya!
Mine is going in the post this evening.
Don't you just know that one of us will be told that it's incomplete in some way or other.
Best of luck us!

TitianGerm

slave1 wrote: »

So posted off my completed form and attachments today for the home chargepoint grant.
Tick tock, let's see how long it takes....

I sent mine Monday and got the letter back on Thursday to say I didn't include my Tax Book. I thought that was only needed for second hand cars or imports so didn't include it originally.

AndyBoBandy

TitianGerm wrote: »

I thought that was only needed for second hand cars or imports so didn't include it originally.

It's required if you dont provide your car SEAI application number with the initial Home Charger Grant application.

TitianGerm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

It's required if you dont provide your car SEAI application number with the initial Home Charger Grant application.

Ah that explains it. Thank you for that.

eagerv

slave1 wrote: »

So posted off my completed form and attachments today for the home chargepoint grant.
Tick tock, let's see how long it takes....

rx8 wrote: »

Race ya!
Mine is going in the post this evening.
Don't you just know that one of us will be told that it's incomplete in some way or other.
Best of luck us!

Good luck, anything less than 10 weeks think of it as a bonus:)