EV charging point

Grumpy_chap

I'm reading this thread with interest as I am getting some electrical works done and want to get a cable out to the front to support a future EV charger.  It will be just the cable, not connected at the fuse board and not connected outside - I just want to do this now before decorating.

It looks like I need an armoured cable rated for 32A (single phase 240V).  

Is that correct?

Jenni_D

Armoured, or run it through ducting/conduit. A quick search indicates that minimum 6 mm2 cable is needed for a 32A circuit. (6 mm2 relating to the cross-sectional area of each of the Live and Neutral cores in the cable, not the overall dimension of the cable).  

Grumpy_chap

Thanks Jenni.
I'll get armoured as there is no existing ducting

Jenni_D

You can of course buy appropriate ducting/conduit and use standard cable - if that may work out cheaper than armoured cable.  

DB1904

Grumpy_chap said:

Thanks Jenni.
I'll get armoured as there is no existing ducting

Is it going to be visible? Cleated armoured cable isn't the most attractive thing.

When you talk about redecorating it's sounds like it may be run inside.

Grumpy_chap

DB1904 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Thanks Jenni.
I'll get armoured as there is no existing ducting

Is it going to be visible? Cleated armoured cable isn't the most attractive thing.

When you talk about redecorating it's sounds like it may be run inside.

Well, the cable will be inside from the fuse board until it goes outside when it will be outside as I can't park a car inside.

The reason for getting the cable outside is there is a boarded off void above the fuseboard, so I can get the cable run in that void and then replace the board before decorating.  It is a short distance and I'll leave a few m coiled up and capped outside until the future point when an EV arrives from the new car fairies.

I'm quite happy with the look of armoured cable outside and inside will be all concealed assuming done before I decorate.

Keep_pedalling

Running a EV charge point from the existing consumer unit may not be the best option. Many installers now fit a separate unit on a separate tail. A mini CU can often be fitted in an external meter housing which will avoid the need to run internal cables, and the possible upgrade of the Main CU to meet the latest regs.

Jenni_D

My quote for a new charge point includes a 32A MCB plus a 30mA RCD ... I don't know if they're planning to fit a mini CU or rejig the layout in the CU to allow both devices to fit.

Grumpy_chap

Keep_pedalling said:

Running a EV charge point from the existing consumer unit may not be the best option. Many installers now fit a separate unit on a separate tail. A mini CU can often be fitted in an external meter housing which will avoid the need to run internal cables, and the possible upgrade of the Main CU to meet the latest regs.

This would still need a cable from the meter / CU area to the external mini-CU.

Keep_pedalling

Grumpy_chap said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Running a EV charge point from the existing consumer unit may not be the best option. Many installers now fit a separate unit on a separate tail. A mini CU can often be fitted in an external meter housing which will avoid the need to run internal cables, and the possible upgrade of the Main CU to meet the latest regs.

This would still need a cable from the meter / CU area to the external mini-CU.

True but probably not co located with the existing CU, so running a cable for future use to the existing CU may be a wasted effort and expense. If there is room for a mini CU in the meter housing then that is the obvious place to locate the mini CU.