Running a cable under a driveway

[Munroast]

What are the rules, wife is going to get an EV and I would like to put the charge on the side of the driveway away from the house (i need to get my van next to the garage) and I don't a cable trailing over where we walk

So what are the rules I need to follow ?

xDriveway.jpg

drive.google.com

 

[pete01]

Just bury it deep enough that it won't be damaged obviously.

Use a duct and pull an armoured cable through it when you need it.

Buried conduits and ducts

The use of unarmoured cables, such as HO7RN-F rubber flexible cables or unarmoured XLPE cables buried in the ground, is becoming more popular, especially for DC string wiring of photovoltaic (PV) systems and for certain interconnections in electric vehicle (EV) charging installations.

electrical.theiet.org

 

[Tigercubrider]

You do realise that it doesn’t need to be plugged in all the time?

 

[Munroast]

You do realise that it doesn’t need to be plugged in all the time?

I thought they came with a very long extension lead (hence the short range)

 

[Munroast]

Just bury it deep enough that it won't be damaged obviously.

Use a duct and pull an armoured cable through it when you need it.

Buried conduits and ducts

The use of unarmoured cables, such as HO7RN-F rubber flexible cables or unarmoured XLPE cables buried in the ground, is becoming more popular, especially for DC string wiring of photovoltaic (PV) systems and for certain interconnections in electric vehicle (EV) charging installations.

electrical.theiet.org

So if i put the main box on the right hand trellis and have it wired to the mains then it wuld have to be a proper job, 0.5m deep trench etc - would be too big of a job i'm thinking.

If the main box goes on the left hand trellis I'm hoping its armoured cable can just run along the bottom of the fence. but could I put the cable that goes between box and car through its own little tunnel under the walkway if it could be argued as 'not permanent "
I could easily put some conduit a foot down that I could push the cable through and leave as semi perminant

 

[flameport]

If the main box goes on the left hand trellis

You can't attach an EVSE / wallbox to a flimsy trellis, they need to be wall mounted or fixed to a pedestal.

If you must have it at the right side away from the building then a suitable cable will have to be installed underground from the building to that location. This will add a substantial cost and a big pile of disruption to the installation.

The more usual option there would be to attach it to the wall of the garage. Most have a 5m or more tethered flex attached, which will easily reach to either of the parking spaces for when charging is required.

I put the cable that goes between box and car through its own little tunnel under the walkway

No. The cable between the car and the EVSE is only there when the vehicle is plugged in. It's stored on the EVSE the rest of the time.

This is a typical example:

When charging is required you unwind as much cable as needed and plug into the car.
When the car is not there or does not need charging the cable is coiled away.

 

[Munroast]

I am trying to avoid the "TRIP HAZARD" of a cable regularly lying across the walkway - the van (which is also an EV) needs to be next to the garage - i do know that it is not permanently attached to the cable ffs

your image of the cable that is coiled away, can I thread that through a conduit buried under the walkway - as the plug is quite large I would need to detach the plug, slide the cable through the conduit then reattach the plug, so basically it would be through the conduit permanently and coiled up when not in use on the right hand trellis

 

[flameport]

can I thread that through a conduit buried under the walkway

No, as it's not suitable for concealing underground.

I would need to detach the plug,

That won't be happening, as the wires are permanently crimped into the plug contacts.

on the right hand trellis

You cannot attach electrical equipment to a trellis.


There are two options.
Either put the EVSE on the garage wall and extend the cable to the car when needed
Or spend a vast amount of extra time, money and effort digging a trench across the drive, installing the armoured power and data cabling underground, and then install a pedestal and fix the EVSE to it.

 

[mikehammer69]

Why does the van need to be next to garage

 

[Munroast]

No, as it's not suitable for concealing underground.

will it be concealed, all of the cable could be inspected at any time

 

[Munroast]

Why does the van need to be next to garage

because I load stuff in and out of it every day from the garage, and as I charge that from a 3 pin plug its plugged in every night

if we're going to have an EV car I don't want cables lying across where we walk, apart from the trip hazard it would look a mess. life was much simpler when you spent 5 minutes filling up at a garage once a fortnight - progress my arse

 

[Koolpc]

Tell your wife to buy a proper car!

 

[pete01]

So if i put the main box on the right hand trellis and have it wired to the mains then it wuld have to be a proper job, 0.5m deep trench etc - would be too big of a job i'm thinking.

If the main box goes on the left hand trellis I'm hoping its armoured cable can just run along the bottom of the fence. but could I put the cable that goes between box and car through its own little tunnel under the walkway if it could be argued as 'not permanent "
I could easily put some conduit a foot down that I could push the cable through and leave as semi perminant

I would but don't tell anyone.

Just fit a decent post for it to go on.