EV Owners Thread
- Thread starter icowden
- Start date
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Proto
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Devon/West Dorset
EV charger. What have you got?
Sorted out a cheap night tariff so need to make the most of it, so will get a charging point installed. A million options, brand, Wifi, 4G, RFID., tethered/untethered etc. etc. Stayed with EDF in the end. Can always change. Not an 'intelligent' supply, simple change of tariff for set hours of the 00.00 to 05.00 am. Unlikely to change to Octopus or OVO as supplier.
So what advice can you offer me? Looking for a cheap and simple set-up, don't think we'll be in this house too long, and had thought I could live without a 7kW charger (just use a granny) and I could buy a lot of electricity to top up when needed at public charging points for a £800 - £1k, which is what it's likely to cost me.
We use about 2500 kWh p.a. for the house. Car will be 2000 kWh ish. Don't have any solar panels, won't be getting any. Only electricity used in the house is lighting, fridges (x3), dishwasher, washing machine, microwave. Our heating, hot water and cooking (AGA) are all oil. So, appliances can use cheap electricity at night. Rough guess will be 2000kWh on day tariff and 2500 kWh (car + appliances) night tariff.
Would be a very simple installation for an electrician, mounted very close to the consumer unit, just drill through wall for cable entry. Mount box 1-2m away. Decent WiFi so no need for 4G (I think), 5m tethered 'just' long enough if I reverse the car to charge but I think 7m would make life easier. Would need 10m if I drove in forwards. Regarding brand, they all work, I assume, but some from £400, all the way up to £1200.
So, what do I ask the electrician to install. All advice welcome!
Sorted out a cheap night tariff so need to make the most of it, so will get a charging point installed. A million options, brand, Wifi, 4G, RFID., tethered/untethered etc. etc. Stayed with EDF in the end. Can always change. Not an 'intelligent' supply, simple change of tariff for set hours of the 00.00 to 05.00 am. Unlikely to change to Octopus or OVO as supplier.
So what advice can you offer me? Looking for a cheap and simple set-up, don't think we'll be in this house too long, and had thought I could live without a 7kW charger (just use a granny) and I could buy a lot of electricity to top up when needed at public charging points for a £800 - £1k, which is what it's likely to cost me.
We use about 2500 kWh p.a. for the house. Car will be 2000 kWh ish. Don't have any solar panels, won't be getting any. Only electricity used in the house is lighting, fridges (x3), dishwasher, washing machine, microwave. Our heating, hot water and cooking (AGA) are all oil. So, appliances can use cheap electricity at night. Rough guess will be 2000kWh on day tariff and 2500 kWh (car + appliances) night tariff.
Would be a very simple installation for an electrician, mounted very close to the consumer unit, just drill through wall for cable entry. Mount box 1-2m away. Decent WiFi so no need for 4G (I think), 5m tethered 'just' long enough if I reverse the car to charge but I think 7m would make life easier. Would need 10m if I drove in forwards. Regarding brand, they all work, I assume, but some from £400, all the way up to £1200.
So, what do I ask the electrician to install. All advice welcome!
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If you aren't interested in intelligent charging, you may just be able to ask your sparky to install a 32amp RCD with an appropriate cable and EV socket on the other end if it. You won't be able to set any timer so would need to get up at 5am to unplug if you don't want to risk paying the higher rate.
If you want the ability to set a timer or control with your phone, you'll need a proper charger - the cheapest is the Evec by the look of it. £319 without a cable, £400 with.
We have a MyEnergi Zappi-2, a nice British-made one, but partly to work nicely with solar, so irrelevant for you. Has been trouble-free for over 5 years though, which is a nice to have 👍
My only recommendation, therefore, is that you chose a tethered one.
Untethered is just madness: the faff of getting your own cable out in the possibly cold & wet makes no sense when you can have one that is uncoiled and plugged in within 10-15 seconds.
Not sure how 'secure' your location is. We could password protect ours, but frankly it is not visible from the street, so we don't bother.
Also - we have scheduled charging on the Zappi-2 so we only fill up during our cheap overnight hours, which is useful.
We can press a button (on the device or app) if we needed to boost during the day, but very, very rarely need that.
My only recommendation, therefore, is that you chose a tethered one.
Untethered is just madness: the faff of getting your own cable out in the possibly cold & wet makes no sense when you can have one that is uncoiled and plugged in within 10-15 seconds.
Not sure how 'secure' your location is. We could password protect ours, but frankly it is not visible from the street, so we don't bother.
Also - we have scheduled charging on the Zappi-2 so we only fill up during our cheap overnight hours, which is useful.
We can press a button (on the device or app) if we needed to boost during the day, but very, very rarely need that.
DRM
Guru
- Location
- West Yorks
After Elons fun & games at President Trumps inauguration event, the upcoming new Tesla models are to be renamed "Swasti-Kar" 
Proto
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Devon/West Dorset
I think I can control the timing of charging from the car. I need to investigate.
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cougie uk
Guru
Definitely go for the tether if you're charging a lot. We charge almost every day and appreciate just plugging in and out each day.
We have the podpoint charger and that's been great for the last 4.5 years.
If someone is spending £100k and some, they will have probably spoken to some import specialists. I did for my F150 raptor.
The likes of Yanni, he's generating content which is probably making as much as the vehicle he bought
That's true - yes many EVs you can set the charging time in the car- in which case - you can just install a socket attached to an appropriate RCD.
It will obviously not *look* that attractive though unless you build some sort of box for it.
Wallbox Pulsar Max on EON EV tariff, 6.7p between 12.00am and 7.00am. No intelligent charging, I’ve just set the box to charge between 12 and 7.
Legs
usually riding on Zwift...
- Location
- Staffordshire
Another Zappi here. Only used it a few times since getting EV in September cos I get free charging at work! But considering getting a PHEV for Mrs Legs so that would require charging every other night.
After Elons fun & games at President Trumps inauguration event, the upcoming new Tesla models are to be renamed "Swasti-Kar"
Apparently he’s Führious about it 🤣
I remain amazed at those who can detach any feelings about Musk from their purchase. Maybe they view his as a great inventor & fine man. The man who spoke glowingly at a German meeting of the AfD, a political group who are further right than Farage 👀
Worth spending some time having a listen to this episode of The Rest is Politics…
Or not, of course: each to their own 🫣
FishFright
More wheels than sense
AKA Elon Ratner
