Run an EV charger 7kw from a CEE wall socket?

I have no connection to above company and I cannot recommend them one way or another but at least they list prices. You also get 300 off this price with seai grant. The actual title price could vary depending on cable length etc.

In terms of using a big blue plug, no electrician should install this for a home charger. Multiple reasons. There are regulations electricians must meet and they are quite stringent for EV chargers. For an example an isolator switch needs to be installed nearby (not required anywhere else in the world). They need to check your ESB meter, the thickness of the wires between ESB meter and fuse board. They need to check fuse board and fit specific breakers that I think are more expensive with extra features.

Often they need to install a load sensor at the fuse board. This is important in case lots of heavy loads all come on at same time. E g. Triton instant shower (9kW), car charger (7kW), washing machine 2kW, dryer (2kW), dishwasher, hot water immersion, heat pump (7+kW) etc. All coming on at once is more common as many EVs take many hours to fill up and special low cost night rate plans give very cheap electricity from say 4am-6am so everything is timed to come on at once. If charger has load sending it can prevent overall overload and blowing of main ESB fuse. This can easily happen with above items. With a basic blue socket you don't have that feature which is really needed.

Car charger installers like to install brands they know and can support for next 5-10 years. Often these cheaper units are not even waterproof. (I dried my cheap granny charger out with a hair dryer and now it is kept covered with a second box to keep the rain off. )

To avail of seai grant the charger needs to be "smart". Having app control can be handy as you can start charging car from bed or check it has charged etc. Some chargers work with solar panels to fill car with free sunshine.

If you consider you may have your charger for 10-20 years, probably longer than your EV then it's not a big cost. You can haggle with installers but often these jobs can take multiple visits, and they may need to help you set up the app, teach you how to use it etc. Sure some guys overcharge and under deliver, but get a few quotes over the phone and try get a guy local to you who can pop back if you have trouble. I would get electrician to source the charger as they get discounts. A zappi is 600 euro delivered on eBay Ireland from an Irish seller. Installers must get it for less.

Just get a proper install

That's just for the cable. The point on the side of the house will require a spark to install

You can buy the cable (mobile connector) from the below link for €200 but you will also need the "blue adapter" which is €48 also on this link. And yes, despite the tesla branding it will work with any car that takes the type 2 plug, which an Audi EV should have

https://shop.tesla.com/en_ie/category/charging

I use a morec one occasionally that I'm very happy with. I was going to get a tesla one but it doesn't as far as i can see have a readout on the electricity consumed which the morec has as well as selecting the max allowable current. I guess that info and functionality is available on the dash in a tesla.

I have a 32a plug at a second property and didn't fancy installing another charger there. Additionally having the cee charger means I can also plug into plugs at family who have yet to go ev when I'm there. Having the readout on the charger let's me tell the person how much power I've consumed so they have comfort that I've covered the cost.

A proper fixed charger is best obviously but the portable has its place too.

https://www.morec-ev.com/collections/best-seller/products/morec-typ2-ev-charger-16a-24a-32a-cee-plug

The UMC comes with a 16a adapter, the 32a was optional. Luckily it's only a few quid on the tesla shop. Much cheaper than a dedicated EVSE wallbox if you don't need it.
https://shop.tesla.com/en_ie/product/blue-adapter---16a_32a-

The UMC comes with a 16a adapter, the 32a was optional.

I presume this is a new thing as my UMC only came with a 3-pin last year. Or is it if you purchase the UMC from the tesla store as opposed to getting it with the car?

Can be bought separately for €200, or added on before checkout if you want to add VRT to it. Anecdotal evidence from facebook that some cars are still coming with it

yup

I saw a recent Fokearn install - nice tidy job. Power taken from the meter, isolator, couple of RCDs (not sure what type) in a new small consumer unit right next to the meter box, the EV charger itself, and then a new earth right underneath the charger (drilling thru the paving blocks). I am not sure if there were any CT / load monitoring things installed, I think the house has power showers. Overall it's all very good and tidy - but slightly off-putting overall looks-wise, that's just my personal taste though.

This has me rethinking wiring Tesla / another charger back to the consumer unit (up along the exterior of the wall, into the attic, across and down into consumer unit). I am planning on getting solar panels as well, so probably not too hard to pull another cable from CU to attic etc while solar guys have everything open.

Wondering what is needed at CU side in this scenario, just a regular RCD for the charger? Or is there any additional PEN fault protection requirements, or more expensive yokes (B type RCD?). Or is that only for commando socket? Also if installing a new earth rod, does it connect to the commando plug / charger, or does it have to go all the way back to the consumer unit?

Sorry about so many questions! I appreciate why electricians are on decent rates!!

That's looks a great value option compared to a replacement zappi. My 6yo version 1 zappi keeps tripping out when unplugged from car so I'm assuming I'll need to start planning to replace sooner rather than later.

Is there any reason not to go for one of these over a more expensive zappi 2?

Thanks, can't find an earth rod anywhere - house built in 1996. Probably concreted over under the pavement somewhere, none of the houses in the estate have an inspectable earth rod.

Does that mean I will have to put a new one in, even if I go with a Tesla charger? And if so, can it be a new one wired to the charger, or does it have to go all the way back to the CU?

Just a message from local electrician. I am not saying where but compared to 1000+ euro for a home charger that's good. I would not recommend regularly using these as they are not as safe as a proper charger.

Just to clarify, the discussion here was about a 32A CEE socket. This will charge at the same rate as a Zappi or any other dedicated charger but as you say will lack the extras such as load balancing and solar integration.