Car charging question .

The owner of a local  plant hire firm has asked me about ...in his words ...a 400V  supply to a car charger   ( On the phone I thought he was talking about an electric fork truck)  can use  one of the welder sockets  ?  etc   .  

I see many articles which seem to out lining reams of difficulties we need to jump through , including taking one of the many courses available , last one  £400 for the day  .  

Am I being silly by thinking  we install a 30A   X 400V   X 2  or 3 phase supply  to the charger supplied  , nail it to the wall in the bloke's parking space  and switch on .?    Apparently we  are supposed to notify the DNO   for their records.  

I've read about earth rods .

Clamping the vehicle to earth .

Fitting special RCDs  that detect harmonica playing  DC currents from travelling back into network  etc etc  .     Surely all protection is within the charger .       

Vague, mist, cloak & dagger, slight-of-hand...  all spring to mind....

from my (limited) understanding.....

There are some grants / subsidies / return payments...  available to bods using EV chargers...

BUT..  the installer must be a member of another scheme + one of those courses you mention....

Then do some more paperwork so Mr/Mrs electric vehicle owner can claim back their cash entitlement to buy more beer!

But if the grant/Claim back Dosh bit is not important....

Then just follow manufactures instructions for the supply to the charger..

I put in a new circuit before Christmas for a customer who had bought a Tesla rapid charger...

He wasn't bothered about any available grants etc...  Just wanted the unit he had purchased connected to a suitable rated supply at the fuse box......

So I read the Tesla bumf, then connected it up to a 32A rated supply...………..

Basic rule to me has always been:-

Read manufactures supply characteristics requirements..

Install kit in accordance with Manufacturer and supply details, And wiring regs!

No Idea about 400v though???

:C

Evans Electric said:

The owner of a local  plant hire firm has asked me about ...in his words ...a 400V  supply to a car charger   ( On the phone I thought he was talking about an electric fork truck)  can use  one of the welder sockets  ?  etc   .  

I see many articles which seem to out lining reams of difficulties we need to jump through , including taking one of the many courses available , last one  £400 for the day  .  

Am I being silly by thinking  we install a 30A   X 400V   X 2  or 3 phase supply  to the charger supplied  , nail it to the wall in the bloke's parking space  and switch on .?    Apparently we  are supposed to notify the DNO   for their records.  

I've read about earth rods .

Clamping the vehicle to earth .

Fitting special RCDs  that detect harmonica playing  DC currents from travelling back into network  etc etc  .     Surely all protection is within the charger .       

Click to expand...

You'd have thought !

And don't forget, if somebody wants an IP rated 13A socket for a granny charger, you have to fit a "special" socket as "any" 13A socket isn't suitable ................ which is total madness, because the whole point of a granny charger is to use ANY accessible 13A socket.

some are 400v. except for the DC fast chargers, they are usually just a basic DOL starter circuit inside - once the car is plugged in, the controller communicates between the 2 then switches on the contactor, allowing power to the car. most charger leads are designed for 63a 3 phase regardless of whats its connected to. (the controller in the charger tells the car what power it can take)

you can get some box thing that is fitted on a TNCS system that monitors for lost neutral. dont know much about them, just installed a section board for the EV company to connect to and thats what they fitted to get around the TNCS thing

It is all very well asking for a 400v supply but these EV chargers can run at anything from 10 - 20A up to 300A for the latest super fast chargers

UNG said:

It is all very well asking for a 400v supply but these EV chargers can run at anything from 10 - 20A up to 300A for the latest super fast chargers

Click to expand...

its the boss of this company who is talking about  400V    , I was told he plugs it in at home to a 13A  socket   but wants  this quick charge business at the depot .    

Andy™ said:

you can get some box thing that is fitted on a TNCS system that monitors for lost neutral. dont know much about them, just installed a section board for the EV company to connect to and thats what they fitted to get around the TNCS thing

Click to expand...

What is the TNCS thing ,  not the " exported Earth "  is it ?    Or do we have to bond the car with a 10mm  ? 

Evans Electric said:

its the boss of this company who is talking about  400V    , I was told he plugs it in at home to a 13A  socket   but wants  this quick charge business at the depot .    

What is the TNCS thing ,  not the " exported Earth "  is it ?    Or do we have to bond the car with a 10mm  ? 

Click to expand...

something to do with it monitors the voltages between phases, neutral & earth and if it detects a neutral failure then it shuts off power. its fitted inside the building next to the DB. basically, just fit that, connect your chargers to it and use the TNCS earth

Thanks  I'll keep that in mind .   Just thinking , this place is  TNS  IIRC