Home Charger 2022

[Infiniteey]

Any concensous on the "best" budget home charger at the current time?

I'm usually quite good at doing my own research on all things technology and cars, but it seems like a minefield as new ones are coming out all the time with new tech and specs, etc.

Looking for a cheapish one under £550 with install, and taking into account the OZEV grant which ends early next year.

Current got my eye the Ohme Home Pro £550 as it's got a cool screen that does something.

 

[Infiniteey]

Got a quote back for the Ohme from a local installer. Does this seems a bit high?

Ohme say "From £550 (fully installed with OZEV grant)" and I think it should be an easy install too

 

[Infiniteey]

Not exact measurements but should be within 0.5m. Charger is going to be inside a double garage on the middle pillar between two garage doors. House is a new build only 6 months old. So I think it should be a straight forward install.

 

[Infiniteey]

Did you get a choice on load management? Seems expensive for the cable if a standard sub 10m install.

Seems some places do the charger for much less aswell so theres some fat there. £660 for the charger to start with.

Load management wasn't discussed.
Yeah definitely bit of fat there. See if I can get a revised quote.

 

[Infiniteey]

Just asked a work colleague and he’s getting a Home Pro for £550 all in. Going over 1.8M can be a “non standard” install. Is that direct from Ohme?

Hmmm can I ask what location and which company?

I made the query through Ohme on their website and they just send your details to a local installer. And this was the quote they gave me.

What's a standard/non-standard install? Have I put the charger too far from the electric meter? I am generally a bit flexible where it goes atm

 

[Infiniteey]

Is the consumer unit inside the garage and is the existing consumer unit full?

Looking at the quote it seems they are looking to install a new sub main and mini consumer unit to house the breakers for the charge point. If that is the case it doesn't look too over the top.

A 'standard' installation basically consists of mounting the charge point on an exterior wall, surface clipping a short run of cable, drilling one hole and wiring it into a spare way in the consumer unit. Anything more than that is normally at an extra cost which is most I'd expect.

Having just googled consumer unit I've realised I've been calling it a fuse box. The thing with all the circuit breakers is in the garage in the diagram. It appears to have 4 slots empty that don't have circuit breakers.

Would it be possible for the cable to be run inside the wall and if so do you think this would count as extra?

I've also messaged a few other places and will update you guys on what I get.

 

[Infiniteey]

The cable can be ran internally and would be preferable in that set up. In fact as it is entirely internal, cheaper cable should be able to be used as it doesn't need to be armoured. There may be a reason why they can't come off the main consumer unit, you could all them and ask.

A lot of installers like to just split the meter tails and install a new mini consumer unit so they don't have to touch the existing installation, based on the quote, I think that is there plan for you.

Are you planning on parking your cars inside the garage or do you just want the equipment out of sight?

I have mine on the middle pillar of my double garage but its on the outside. We never park cars in the garage so opening it up to plug in each time would be hassle I couldn't be doing with.

For reference my Hypervolt install was £880 but it was on a detached garage. It was about a 20m run (about 1.5m underground) and the installer split the existing meter tails and installed a new mini consumer unit under my meter cabinet which is down the side of my house.

Equipment out of sight. I too have a double garage and plan to have the charger on the middle pillar between the two doors. However my garage is part of the house with an internal door and in fact is the most further forward part of the house. I have likely gone in and out of the house more times through the garage than the actual front door so it wouldn't be a problem for me.

 

[Infiniteey]

Well I'm happy to report that I had a Wallbox fitted today for £529 (inc grant). Cheapest EV charger I could find installed. Very tidy job. If anyone is interested give a PM as I believed they have a few slots left in March before grant ends. I'm based in the NW.