Getting an EV charger fitted: what happens on the day

How long does it take to install an EV charger?

A straightforward home EV charger installation usually takes around half a day, and most are done within a day. That covers mounting the charger, running the cable from your consumer unit, fitting the protection it needs, testing and setting up the app. It takes longer if the cable run is long, has to go underground or through several walls, or if your fuse board needs upgrading first. Harry tells you how long your job will take when he prices it.

What gets checked before the day

Most of the problems with EV installs are found before anything is fitted. Harry checks:

• Off-street parking. A home charger needs a drive or space on your own land. You cannot run a cable across the pavement to a car on the road.
• Your main fuse and supply. A 7kW charger draws a lot of power for hours. The supply has to cope with that on top of the house, which may mean load management (the charger slows down when the house is busy).
• Your consumer unit. Whether there is space for a new circuit and suitable protection. An old board may need replacing first.
• Earthing. Chargers need protection against a PEN fault on the supply. Most modern chargers have this built in. If not, an earth rod or extra device may be needed.
• The cable route. Where the charger goes, how far it is from the board and what is in the way.

Photos of your board, your meter and where you want the charger let Harry spot most of this before he visits.

It also helps to decide on the charger before the day. A tethered charger has the cable fixed to it, so you just plug in the car. An untethered one has a socket, and you use your own cable, which looks tidier on the wall but means getting the cable out each time. If you are not sure which suits you, Harry can talk you through the options.

What happens on the day

1. Harry checks the plan with you and confirms where the charger goes.
2. The charger is mounted on the wall, at a height that suits your cable and car.
3. The cable is run from the board to the charger, through walls, along the outside or underground as agreed.
4. The new circuit is connected at the board with its own protection. The power is off for this part.
5. Everything is tested, and the results are recorded.
6. The charger is connected to your Wi-Fi or mobile signal, the app is set up, and you do a test charge with your car if it is there.

You need the charger's app on your phone and your Wi-Fi password to hand.

Smart chargers and the rules

Under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021, chargers sold for home use in Great Britain must be smart. That means they can connect to the internet, be scheduled, and by default are set to avoid charging at peak times. You can change the schedule in the app. Smart charging also lets you use cheaper overnight tariffs if your supplier offers one.

Your local network operator (in Liverpool that is SP Energy Networks) must be told about the charger. Where the supply is fine this is a notification after the install, and Harry handles it. If the supply needs upgrading, the network operator has to be asked first, which can add time.

What you get at the end

• A working charger on its own protected circuit.
• An Electrical Installation Certificate for the new circuit.
• Building control notified under Part P where it applies.
• The network operator notified.
• The app set up and a quick walk through of how to use it.

EV charger prices in Liverpool

As a guide, an EV charger fitted by Harry starts from £850. That is a guide price only. The charger you pick, the length of the cable run, groundworks, and whether the board or earthing needs work all change it. Harry fixes the price once he has seen the photos or the property.

Harry Radford is a NAPIT approved electrician based in Halewood, covering Liverpool and the surrounding towns. Send him a photo of your board and where you park on WhatsApp at 07788 861536 to get started.