Cutout fuse size

[Lower]

We've just acquired a hybrid car and i'm interested in whether we can get an EV charger fitted to reduce the charging time.

Our incoming supply isn't looped, we have 2 spare ways in our consumer unit and based on the markings on our cutout, i think we may have a 100amp fuse in the incoming supply. However, do the markings tell me the fuse size or is that just the max capacity of the cutout itself?

If not, as it looks like the seals have been removed, is there a cover i can remove to look at the fuse and see what size it is, or will removing the cover also pull the fuse (in which case i won't touch it!)

 

[Murdochcat]

How can you be sure you’re not looped? You could be the last connection

Your CU may have spare ways but an EV needs a dedicated RCD or RCBO

The 100A is typically the maximum it can be, not what it is

Can you post a photo showing your CU

 

[AndyPRK]

100 is the max capacity of the cutout itself

No you can't remove a cover to see the actual fuse.

If you haven't got an electric shower, the supplier is likely to be ok.

Are you charging by 13A at present ?

 

[Lower]

Our house is the first house built on the road back in 1925 and the rest of the houses were built over the next 40 years. There's only one cable, not a return, so that and the fact that our house was the first one built is what makes me think its not looped in.

Will post a picture of the consumer unit when i get home later.

 

[Lower]

100 is the max capacity of the cutout itself

No you can't remove a cover to see the actual fuse.

If you haven't got an electric shower, the supplier is likely to be ok.

Are you charging by 13A at present ?

Yes, charging via a standard 3 pin plug and no electric shower. We have an electric oven and back up immersion heater but other than that, no significant electrical devices.

If there's no cover to remove, i won't be pulling any non-isolated fuses!

 

[morqthana]

Don't PHEVs typically have very small batteries, for which 13A charging is fine?

 

[Rodders53]

As above - what PHEV make and model is it?
You may not benefit from a 7.4 kW evse point install as the vehicle on board charger will limit what can be put into the battery and current taken from a 240V (nominal 230) supply.
What does the vehicle handbook/spec say?

"Future-proofing" by over-installing now may not be all that wise as evse support changes.

 

[Lower]

Its range rover evoque with a 15kw battery. It takes 6 hours to charge off a 3 pin plug which is fine when we leave it on overnight, but less so if we want to charge it at other times.

Good point about the charging rate. I have no idea how quickly it will charge off a bigger charger.

 

[Vicario]

So anyone who has an electric shower and a 100A fuse can't get a charger fitted? I don't think that's correct, is it?

 

[EFLImpudence]

So anyone who has an electric shower and a 100A fuse can't get a charger fitted? I don't think that's correct, is it?

No that is not correct. That is not what was said.

 

[Vicario]

Sorry if I got it wrong. Do you mean that the supplier (DNO) would assume that providing there was no electric shower, it wouldn't matter if the fuse was 60A or 80A even though labelled 100A?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Do you mean that the supplier (DNO) would assume that providing there was no electric shower, it wouldn't matter if the fuse was 60A or 80A even though labelled 100A?

The 100A label is just the maximum fuse allowed; the actual fuse might be 60A.

You are looking at it the wrong way round.

With a low supply - say 60A - and a high demand - electric showers etc. - the DNO might not allow the charger.

 

[ericmark]

15 kWh / 2 kW = 7.5 hours, but I know across the road from me, his Kango Van could only charge at 3 kW what ever charge it was plugged into, so step one is read the manual.

 

[flameport]

Do you mean that the supplier (DNO) would assume

The DNO won't assume anything.
They will require the max load of the proposed installation from whoever is installing it.
Then they will determine if that is appropriate or not, and whether additional works are required before such a load can be connected.

The energy supplier is unrelated.

 

[Vicario]

Thanks, I get it now. When I had a new CU the electrician (at my request) set it up so that I could have a charger sometime in the future if I wanted one. He said that the DNO might insist on an upgrade from my 60A fuse though, as I also had an electric shower; I called UKPN and they did an upgrade to 100A and the engineer said that I would be OK to run a charger alongside my shower (9KW Mira) with the new setup. I haven't got a charger or BEV yet but the new incentive scheme might make me think again.