UK domestic socket charging

[Muffler]

I've just gone over to a split tariff with existing provider (British Gas) to get 5hrs overnight rate of 7.9p, with peak of 25.9p (was 23p before cap increase) and daily standing charge of 62p. However, I'm expecting to do £12k+ miles a year from mostly home charging. So, for sake of argument, say 4,000 kWh at saving of 18p/kWh = £720 annual saving over peak tariff. Any marginal increase on daytime usage is more than swallowed-up by the savings, plus will time-shift things like washer/dryer/dishwasher etc to benefit from the cheaper rate wherever possible.

Was tempted by Octopus offering but would have had to pay for a new smart meter to be installed when I already had a 7.4kW Chargemaster wall unit from a PHEV I had up until a couple of years ago. The Chargemaster is no longer supported for obtaining usage data (uses obsolete 2G sim) so is basically a 'dumb' charger but is serviceable and allows for sufficient charge within my 5hr nighttime slot to meet my needs (max 60% charge every other day). May reconsider this if end up as a 2-EV household, but for now a slightly higher rate vs cost of new equipment isn't worth it for me.

 

[salty]

Can you install an EV wall charger without a wifi connection? ?

 

[CharlesCarmichael]

Not sure about the rest but my OHME home pro comes with a mobile sim built in, it's free for 3 years then there is a small monthly charge. You can not connect my OHME charger to WiFi sadly.

 

[HazardLights]

Can you install an EV wall charger without a wifi connection? ?

As CharlesCarmichael wrote.. Ohme Home Pro=4G mobile connection alternatively Zappi is Wifi. There are others including some cheaper options. I went with the Ohme Home Pro as it looked to give me access to more tariff options, if they decide to offer 4G connectivity to dumb mode smart meters in the future. This is currently being piloted as a replacement for the 3G used in southern Englandshire.

 

[salty]

So if you haven't got Wi-Fi and a poor phone connection at home, your screwed then? It's a pity Dumb chargers are banned. So basically I want to back up to the wall charger in my drive, get out, plug in, and hey presto it starts charging. No fannying about with anything else. Is that possible. Not counting the Granny charger. ??

 

[mikgle]

Can you install an EV wall charger without a wifi connection? ?

You can.. it doesn't have to be connected to tinters just be capable of it.

So if you haven't got Wi-Fi and a poor phone connection at home, your screwed then? It's a pity Dumb chargers are banned. So basically I want to back up to the wall charger in my drive, get out, plug in, and hey presto it starts charging. No fannying about with anything else. Is that possible. Not counting the Granny charger. ??

You could use a mode 2 charger.. these are like a souped up granny charger. I fitted one from (third rock energy) to an industrial 16A blue socket, like what caravan hook up uses. You can choose a range of charging power between 8A and 16A. They are not smart but also have a delay function. I got one to charge my wife's Zoe, I use a zappi. You can also get a 32A version I think. I got a 10 metre long lead on mine, about £195 if I remember.. the sockets are about £16.

 

[Muffler]

Back in the day (late 2017) if you bought a hybrid, the manufacturer gave you a free charger - I had the choice of a standard 'dumb' 3.7kW unit or could pay £95 for the 'premium' 7.4kW version with built-in 2G sim (about as smart as things got) and 3 years support, in which uploaded data from the device could be accessed via an online account. This service could be continued via annual subscription once the initial 3yr period expired. However, 1) the 2G sim became obsolete and 2) Chargemaster were subsequently taken over by BP Pulse who have now discontinued their service (and support) to domestic users. Upshoot is that I now have a ‘completely stupid’ charger with no means of any data collection, that's simply fed from a 32A MCB directly from the main consumer unit.

Seems there's now several chargers with 4G and/or wifi connectively and which are promoted by various providers respectively, on the basis that they can capture live data/be remotely switched as part of a flexible tariff. This includes BG which offer a year’s free EV charging if you pay £739+ for their smart Hive charger - small print limits maximum usage as 'free' to 2,290kWh and then pay standard rate for anything over which doesn't stack-up for someone like me that will be using significantly more electrons.

Good (and cheaper) alternative to a wall charger is installing a 32A commando socket for which you can buy something that doesn’t look too dissimilar to the granny charger (aside from the commando plug in lieu of 3-pin) and will deliver 7.4 kW safely but without any data recording/remote control capability. https://amzn.eu/d/6viQ5Nt

 

[mikgle]

Sorry, technically a "granny charger" is in fact a mode 2 charger. There are 3 modes, 1-4 .. the latter being d.c. chargers.
Oh dear, its a bit late in the evening! Modes 1-4 make FOUR modes if my maths is correct, not 3. dohh!

Back in the day (late 2017) if you bought a hybrid, the manufacturer gave you a free charger - I had the choice of a standard 'dumb' 3.7kW unit or could pay £95 for the 'premium' 7.4kW version with built-in 2G sim (about as smart as things got) and 3 years support, in which uploaded data from the device could be accessed via an online account. This service could be continued via annual subscription once the initial 3yr period expired. However, 1) the 2G sim became obsolete and 2) Chargemaster were subsequently taken over by BP Pulse who have now discontinued their service (and support) to domestic users. Upshoot is that I now have a ‘completely stupid’ charger with no means of any data collection, that's simply fed from a 32A MCB directly from the main consumer unit.

Seems there's now several chargers with 4G and/or wifi connectively and which are promoted by various providers respectively, on the basis that they can capture live data/be remotely switched as part of a flexible tariff. This includes BG which offer a year’s free EV charging if you pay £739+ for their smart Hive charger - small print limits maximum usage as 'free' to 2,290kWh and then pay standard rate for anything over which doesn't stack-up for someone like me that will be using significantly more electrons.

Good (and cheaper) alternative to a wall charger is installing a 32A commando socket for which you can buy something that doesn’t look too dissimilar to the granny charger (aside from the commando plug in lieu of 3-pin) and will deliver 7.4 kW safely but without any data recording/remote control capability. https://amzn.eu/d/6viQ5Nt

Yep.. that's what I'm talking about..

£90.. coo That's cheap!

 

[salty]

Good (and cheaper) alternative to a wall charger is installing a 32A commando socket for which you can buy something that doesn’t look too dissimilar to the granny charger (aside from the commando plug in lieu of 3-pin) and will deliver 7.4 kW safely but without any data recording/remote control capability. https://amzn.eu/d/6viQ5Nt

Ooo, that looks very interesting. Thanks. ??
So in theory I could by a 32amp commando socket and that charger and get it, permanently, professionally fitted outside. And then literally back into the drive, get out, plug in, job done. And it would deliver 7.4w the same as a wall charger does. Sounds pretty good to me. ??

 

[NickHeynes]

There is a lot of discussion on various youtube sites (eg efixx) ref ev charging using a 3 pin granny lead i.e.should you do it? is it dangerous? etc. I wonder how many of you use this method, either occasionally or even all the time? I am an electrician and can see both sides of the argument.

For information, you can buy (eg Halfords) an ev charging socket for the purpose, price £49.95 Is anybody using one of these? I would be interested in how they find it.. Many thanks.

Up until a week ago I almost exclusively used a granny charger since buying my car 2 years ago.
I have a 54 mile round commute and found the granny to be fine charging overnight a couple of times a week using my low rate tariff, then a longer charge at the weekend and occasionally using the Tesla chargers at lakeside .With British gas offering 6 months 0% and free charging, and me deciding never to return to a petrol car, it's made sense to buy a wall charger for home.
But I certainly wouldn't say don't use a granny if it works for you.

 

[DixieTGS]

Ooo, that looks very interesting. Thanks. ??
So in theory I could by a 32amp commando socket and that charger and get it, permanently, professionally fitted outside. And then literally back into the drive, get out, plug in, job done. And it would deliver 7.4w the same as a wall charger does. Sounds pretty good to me. ??

Some while back I read an article or thread which said if the electrician was fitting a socket like that, then new regulations meant that they should also fit extra protection to the socket which brought the price up quite a bit.

So what they install (and you pay) may depend on your choice of electrician and what you tell them the socket is for.

I can't find anything on this forum to verify the above. Maybe one of the electricians on here can confirm if it's true.

 

[mikgle]

Ooo, that looks very interesting. Thanks. ??
So in theory I could by a 32amp commando socket and that charger and get it, permanently, professionally fitted outside. And then literally back into the drive, get out, plug in, job done. And it would deliver 7.4w the same as a wall charger does. Sounds pretty good to me. ??

Yeah just make sure the cable fitted can take 32A and is on a 32 or 40A breaker preferably a 40A type A rcd on its own circuit. Not difficult or costly but do get a sparky to do it..

 

[FrancisM]

Can you install an EV wall charger without a wifi connection? ?

My OHME ePOD was installed by Octopus last week and uses a 4G connection.. I'm not aware of a limit on the duration of the connection. I assume it's perpetual.

My granny charger does about 2.88 kW @ 12A but I wouldn't leave it for hour after hour doing that. I have now got an OHME charge point which charges at around 6.6kW. If I'd had the space in my consumer unit then a good quality new 15A circuit and socket installation would have been cheaper if slower than using the OHME.

 

[Martinonline]

According to my ePod manual the free SIM connection is for 3 years. There's no mention of what happens after that but I suspect there will be an annual charge.

 

[CharlesCarmichael]

According to my ePod manual the free SIM connection is for 3 years. There's no mention of what happens after that but I suspect there will be an annual charge.

I didn't know until my OHME installer told me, he said it would be £2 per month after 3 years.

 

[FrancisM]

According to my ePod manual the free SIM connection is for 3 years. There's no mention of what happens after that but I suspect there will be an annual charge.

Installed by Octopus?

 

[Martinonline]

Installed by Octopus?

Yes.

 

[salty]

So, armed with info from this forum. Think I'm going to go for this.

Similar to a Granny charger, but puts out 7.4kw same as a wallbox. As opposed to 2.3kw of a granny. Will get it professionally fitted so it's all neat and tidy, and obviously safe! Should be less than half price of a wallbox. So back me motor into the drive, get out, plug in, job done. Coz to be honest I really can't be arsed with all this Wi-Fi/App/Smart meter
Bollox. ???

 

[mikgle]

So, armed with info from this forum. Think I'm going to go for this.

View attachment 31105

View attachment 31106

View attachment 31107

Similar to a Granny charger, but puts out 7.4kw same as a wallbox. As opposed to 2.3kw of a granny. Will get it professionally fitted so it's all neat and tidy, and obviously safe! Should be less than half price of a wallbox. So back me motor into the drive, get out, plug in, job done. Coz to be honest I really can't be arsed with all this Wi-Fi/App/Smart meter
Bollox. ???

Yeah I know what you mean, its a lot simpler and cheaper to install.. however I do think a qualifying wall charger to get the Intelligent Go rates will over time more than pay for itself. Anyhow I hope it works for you, let us know how its going after a while, thanks for sharing.

 

[Jomarkh]

So, armed with info from this forum. Think I'm going to go for this.

View attachment 31105

View attachment 31106

View attachment 31107

Similar to a Granny charger, but puts out 7.4kw same as a wallbox. As opposed to 2.3kw of a granny. Will get it professionally fitted so it's all neat and tidy, and obviously safe! Should be less than half price of a wallbox. So back me motor into the drive, get out, plug in, job done. Coz to be honest I really can't be arsed with all this Wi-Fi/App/Smart meter
Bollox. ???

Hi, you will need an interlocking 32A commando socket for EV charging and something like a Matte PEN protection device.
You maybe better off with an Ohme with a commando plug to get on IOG.