Cable Routing Options - EV Charger

[Matt_85]

This is where I was surprised with the process.

Before even visiting the site to inspect the installation they "require" me to provide photographs and written evidence of all CUs, MCB part numbers and manufacturers, required cable route, photographic evidence of earth bonding and meter details. If I cannot provide the required evidence that I should "employ an electrical contractor" to verify and gather evidence or the installation may not go ahead/be delayed.

I said if I gather all that myself you may aswell just mail the charger and I'll install it myself lol

I'm not a sparky but understand all the things they are asking for fortunately but I cant help but feel other folk like my missus who's a nurse wouldnt have a clue about any of it.

I deliberately left the desired cable route question blank and wrote "require advice from podpoint" to illustrate the point you make. I dont want to tell a sparky how to run cables

 

[sparkwright]

'Craftsmen' as Eric put it, are getting fewer and fewer - and so there is a danger they will do it the easiest way, and even if you did suggest a neater yet harder way, chances are they will say 'no', 'not allowed', 'too much effort', 'can't be done', 'no time for all that' etc, etc, etc.

Today's craftsmen love sticking self adhesive trunking all over the place.

I seem to recall Eric specified how he wanted his mother's place done, only for them to do exactly what he didn't want done.

No harm in specifying or making suggestions - it's your house, and you have to live with it.

You could of course get a draw wire put in first over the hall ceiling, to save them time, and to save any time wasting on the day.

Removing the kitchen plinths and anything in the way will also help the electrician, and encourage him to do it your suggested way.

 

[Matt_85]

Yea I'll happily discuss the requirements with the guy when he comes.

As you say though, I just hope hes of the few craftsman left who take pride in their work.

Cheers for the help guys

 

[bsr]

Lol at the thought of EV installers being "Craftsmen"!

Now the smart meter rollout has hit peak, many companies are now re-training meter installers to do EV charger installation as the next big thing.

So if you're going with an installer from Mitie, Lowrie Beck etc (who Pod Point, Zappi etc all subcontract to) then you're probably getting someone who did a six week meter swapping training course and then a week long EV installation course. Not exactly time served!

It should all be safe of course, that's why they want photos of consumer unit etc for a sparky to check at base in advance, and why they are using chargers with type A RCD and PEN breakage detection for all installs . But many of these installers are contracted for two installs a day and have never used a set of cable rods before. You have to set your expectations accordingly.

 

[sparkwright]

Well said, you just don't know what you're going to get.

 

[ericmark]

Some information can only be found out by enquiry, the head for TN-S and TN-C-S can look the same, the combined bit does not need to end at you property. So "PEN breakage detection for all installs" seems a good idea for all TN supplies, although not really for TT.

I seem to recall Eric specified how he wanted his mother's place done, only for them to do exactly what he didn't want done.

That is correct, I said all sockets to be on a ring final so I could extend latter, two sockets were not on a ring final, likely fitted on last day when the house was flooded with labour to finish on time. They were going to supply the kitchen from a RCD until I stopped them, it had a mini consumer unit with 4 RCBO's supplied with SWA so clearly should be supplied from MCB only.

But

If I cannot provide the required evidence that I should "employ an electrical contractor"

What are they then, if your going to employ an electrical contractor why would you need some one else to come along and fit the EV charge point, the electrical contractor would do that.

It reminds me of some of the large electrical stores when they have a standard fee for fitting an oven, I worked for one, a as it was then Corgi guy and electrician worked as a pair fitting both gas and electric cookers, mainly gas, I lasted about a week and thought that was not what I wanted to do, around ½ gas installs was suck through teeth shake head and jobs worth comment. Cupboard ½ inch too close and he walked away, I have learnt since then when fitting a gas appliance he should check at meter for leaks, that was never done.

I do worry about EV points, and how safe they are, mother had a firm specialising in fitting central heating fit a new system, they left the job in an illegal state, with a power shower still installed sucking water from the main.

They had one craftsman for around 10 gangs, same with new house wiring, one inspector looks after 5 or 6 sites trying to ensure the semi-skilled guys make no errors. The idea of having an electrical contractor before and after to tell them how and check done right seems wrong.

 

[Matt_85]

But What are they then, if your going to employ an electrical contractor why would you need some one else to come along and fit the EV charge point, the electrical contractor would do that.

I have learnt since then when fitting a gas appliance he should check at meter for leaks, that was never done.

This was my thoughts also, it seems absurd to employ an electrician to ensure the other can do his job.

Re the gas leaks, its defo worth doing. After living in a new build with an outdoor gas meter, we discovered the outlet had been fitted with no seal, just a nice amount of over tightening. This resulted in a leak for 8 months and Ofgem finding fault with EON who installed and supplied it.

 

[joe384]

'Craftsmen' as Eric put it, are getting fewer and fewer - and so there is a danger they will do it the easiest way, and even if you did suggest a neater yet harder way, chances are they will say 'no', 'not allowed', 'too much effort', 'can't be done', 'no time for all that' etc, etc, etc.

Today's craftsmen love sticking self adhesive trunking all over the place.

I seem to recall Eric specified how he wanted his mother's place done, only for them to do exactly what he didn't want done.

So true Openreach engineer made a mess of my line install, refused to drill a wall because the boiler condensate pipe was on the same wall - Even though it was obvious where the pipe ran and there was plenty of space.
Ended up making a huge hole near my front door and cable snaking round the front of the house!

Aerial guy was just as bad, couldn't be bothered to use his ladder to look for the aerial cable and wanted the snake coax halfway around the house which would have been an eyesore.