There’s no denying charging your EV at home is the most convenient way to charge your electric car. Just park up, plug in, and head into the comfort of your own home to recharge yourself. But did you know having a dedicated EV charger is also the safest way to charge your EV at home?
A standard 3-pin plug can be used to charge your EV in an emergency, but they are not designed to support the load needed to charge a car—especially for the length of time required. Home EV chargers are made just for this, and although they have safety features built in, we at PJC Electrical ensure they are installed correctly to protect you, your home, and your electric car.
To do this, we’ll ask you some quick questions as part of your pre-installation checks. Here’s what we’re looking for to ensure a safe installation.
Why do you need photos of my water & gas supplies?
These photos help us determine whether your gas and water pipes are metal or plastic (non-extraneous). If they’re metal, ‘bonding’ is required to protect you from electric shock in the event of a fault. If your pipes are metal, we need to see if a bonding clamp with a green & yellow cable is already connected. These cables should return to your consumer unit or your electricity supply and connect to the main earthing terminal (MET).
If your pipes are metal and bonding isn’t visible in your photos, further checks will be needed. If bonding is absent, it must be installed before your EV charger can be fitted in line with Wiring Regulations.
You may have your own electrician carry out this bonding, provided you can share photos of the new bonding in place.
What is bonding?
Bonding—technically called Main Protective Bonding—provides protection against electric shock during a fault. It links metallic pipework (gas/water) to your property’s Main Earthing Terminal (MET), often located inside your consumer unit or near the meter. These connections use green and yellow conductors and clamps, positioned within 60cm after the water stopcock or on the customer side of the gas meter. The clamps are labeled “Safety Electrical Connection – Do Not Remove.”
Older installations might use green-only, undersized cables. These would need to be upgraded to meet current Wiring Regulations.
What do you mean by non-extraneous?
In electrical terms, extraneous refers to metal (conductive) pipes that could carry a fault current. Non-extraneous pipes (plastic/insulated) don’t pose this risk. We check this to determine whether bonding is required.
Why can’t you install the charger from my fuse board?
If we’ve said your EV charger can’t be installed from your consumer unit, it’s likely due to one of these reasons:
- The unit doesn’t comply with current fire safety regulations. Since 2017, consumer units must be metal and non-combustible.
- The unit may be fitted with Type AC RCDs, which are obsolete. EV chargers require Type A RCDs.
- There are no spare circuit slots (ways) available.
- The existing installation may be in poor or unsafe condition.
Why do I need a Main Switch installed?
If we can’t install from your consumer unit, we must install from the electricity supply position. This requires isolating the supply for safe working, which is why a main switch is necessary.
I already have a main switch—why another?
Your consumer unit’s main switch only isolates the circuits it feeds, not the entire property. We may need to install a switch at the incoming supply position to safely isolate the entire system.
I need groundworks for my EV charger installation—can I do these myself?
Yes, but you’ll need to follow our guidelines. Buried ducts should be approx. 300mm deep. The supply cable isn’t armoured, so it must be inside a 50mm duct with a draw rope for cable pulling. Avoid sharp bends and seal the duct ends.
Can my EV charger be installed on my fence?
No. The charger must be installed on a solid masonry wall.
What is a looped supply?
This is when your electricity supply is shared with a neighbor. It may require the electricity network to upgrade the supply due to increased demand. This isn’t dangerous, and you don’t share electricity bills.
What is trunking?
Trunking is white PVC casing used to conceal cables inside your property. It’s typically 40x25mm for straight runs and 50x50mm for bends. You can paint it after installation.
What is a comms cable?
A comms cable (like CAT5) runs from the charger to the meter. It lets the charger monitor your household demand and adjust the charging rate to avoid overloading your supply.
Can my charger be installed in a garage or detached building?
Sometimes, but only if the existing cabling is sufficient. Most cases require a new cable run from the meter. Contact PJC Electrical for advice before placing an order.
I have an old charger—can I reuse the cable?
That depends on the cable type, installation method, and supply origin. Our Quality Team will assess it.
Why do I need a main switch when my solar panels were installed without one?
We can’t speak to how previous work was done. If we’ve asked for a main switch, it means no other safe isolation method exists for us to work on your supply.
How big is the EV charger supply cable?
The cable’s outer diameter is around 15mm.
What is an RCD/RCBO?
These are safety devices that trip within 40 milliseconds if current leaks to earth, protecting you from electric shock. All home EV chargers must be protected by them.
Why do you need a floorplan of my home?
Your floorplan helps us assess installation viability. Please show:
- Meter / cut-out position
- Consumer unit
- Preferred charger location
- Suggested cable route
More detail helps us deliver a smoother installation process.
Is there a minimum or maximum charger height?
Yes—the charger socket should be installed between 0.75m and 1.2m from ground level.
I have external wall insulation (EWI). Can I still have an EV charger?
Unfortunately, no. We can’t install onto external wall insulation due to mounting and safety issues.
Can I have more than one EV charger installed?
Yes, but we need to understand how you plan to use them. A DNO application may be required to upgrade your supply fuse, which can delay installation.
What is a DNO application?
It’s a request to the Distribution Network Operator (electricity company) to assess or upgrade your supply. This might be needed for:
- Looped supplies
- Outdated or unsafe equipment
- Supply fuse upgrades
We’ll submit this application for you. Any DNO work is typically free, though it may delay the installation.
What is an EIC / EICR?
- EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate): Includes bonding and test results for a new circuit.
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report): Reports on the condition of an existing installation.
We accept these as confirmation of bonding if photos aren’t sufficient. You’ll receive an EIC for your EV charger installation.
What is an Earth Rod?
Some properties lack a reliable earth connection from the electricity supplier. In these cases, a 1.2m earth rod is driven into the ground and connected with a green/yellow cable to your consumer unit or MET. We’ll request a photo if this applies.
What is Maximum Demand (MD)?
This is the calculated peak current draw of your home, gathered through a few simple questions (e.g. Do you use an electric cooker?). If your MD is high, we’ll apply for a fuse upgrade to support your EV charger.
For any further questions about installing your EV charger with PJC Electrical, just get in touch—our team is here to help.