This is a quick post about electric vehicle charging points and what to expect when getting them installed.

Now, there are some large companies bashing these jobs out using sub contractors for half the price of other local electricians, and this is ok. The problem you may face is quality of workmanship, these contractors are tasked with “just get it in” and that’s exactly what they do. They will pick the easiest, most convenient route FOR THEM. They don’t care what the customer wants or needs because return custom and future relationships are not on their radar. I’m not saying this to try and up-sell car charging units – believe me when I say, these can result in some of the least enjoyable jobs. The satisfaction generally comes from the results when the customer is satisfied with the effort and workmanship at the end of the day.

Things to ask.

• What certification do I receive?
• Is my main fuse big enough?
• What protection do I get against electric shock?
• If my main fuse isn’t big enough, what happens?
• Do I have to contact my supplier?

The answers you want to hear.

• You will get a new installation certificate.
• We will do calculations and submit them to UKPN on your behalf.
• The charge unit will be protected by a surge protection device and a Type A RCD which will minimise the risk of electric shock.
• After submitting our data to UKPN they will either be satisfied your main fuse is adequate or they will come and upgrade the fuse to a larger one.
• You should not have to contact your supplier, the electrician would have already submitted their paperwork to them for this.

Charge points are fast becoming very popular, and it is good to know what to excpect when having a charge point installed.

Sometimes, if you do not have capacity on your current consumer unit (fuse board), a new one will have to be installed alongside your charging unit.