Is it worth getting a home electric vehicle charger?
Where to install a home eletric vehicle charger?
7th February 2023
In this blog post we’ll explain where the best place to install a home electric vehicle charger is, the regulations and some other factors you should consider when choosing a charging location.
The short answer is the best place to put a charger is somewhere easy & convenient, there are a few minor regulations that mean you can’t put a chargepoint absolutely anywhere. However, the good news is you can have a home vehicle charger installed almost anywhere you consider practical.
Where can’t I choose to have an EV charger installed?
Previously, the BS7671 regulations stated “the EV socket-outlet must be installed within 0.75 to 1.2 metres from Finished Floor Level (FFL), with the top of displays between 1.2 and 1.4 metres from FFL” however this has been removed in Amendment to the 18th Edition of the regulations meaning you can pick almost any location that suits you, your vehicle and your charging needs.
However, the 18th edition also requires domestic electric installations like sockets (in this case your EV chargepoint) to be 400mm off the ground, although it would be inconvenient to install a charger that low anyway.
There is some guidance that means installers should avoid installing electrical fixtures in areas where they’re likely to be damaged by force. So, you should avoid choosing an area where your chargepoint could be hit by a door, or maybe even a vehicle.
Additionally, vehicle chargers and the cables that connect the units to the mains supply shouldn’t be run along fences, or surfaces that are likely to move in the wind or poor weather conditions.
Chargers and their cables should be fixed to a rigid structure made from bricks or blocks to make sure there is minimal vibration that may damage the wiring or the chargepoint itself.
Also, your car charger shouldn’t be fixed to a wall likely to be affected by external factors like paints or sprays – as they could damage the unit or its wiring.
Charger location guide
Here’s a handy graphic that shows where you can place your car charger.
Where is best to install an EV charger?
The best place to install a chargepoint is somewhere that’s easily accessible, secure, convenient, not too far away from the mains power supply & ultimately – somewhere you’re happy with.
Convenience is one of the most important factors. You’ll most likely charge your car at home more than anywhere else. Having space to easily plug your charging cable into both the chargepoint (if untethered) and car is necessary. Typically, electric vehicle charging cables are over 3m long too, having space to avoid the cable being a trip hazard is something you should consider.
It might sound obvious but thinking about where you’ll park your car is an important consideration and which direction you park it in too. You’ll want to have the charging point on the car close to the charger.
Safety – avoid choosing a location where the charger could be bumped into or knocked by doors. It could scratch your car or damage the charger itself; children often swing doors open because they’re not concerned about a brand-new home charger!
Security – EV chargers are an important investment and there’s lots of cable running to and from the units. If possible, you should consider picking a location out of sight like a car port or the side of a porch.
Price – Convenience and usability should be the main things to think about when selecting a location, but we know price is important too. The further we have to run cables from your distribution board, the more expensive the install becomes, as more cable is required, and it takes longer too.
Where do most people choose to have their charger installed?
At Glenfield Vehicle Charging we typically see our customers choose the front of their house to fit a charger to, we run cables as discretely as possible to make sure the install looks neat & tidy.
Other common locations are on garden walls or in a garage/car port near where you’ll park your car most often.
We provide free quotes & site surveys for our customers to make sure the charger location is absolutely spot on. During the quote, our contracts managers photograph the charger locations on their iPads so our engineers know exactly where to install the unit – they’ll double check with you too.
If you’d like to find out more about installing an electric vehicle charger at your home visit our domestic vehicle charger page.
Need help with your EV Charger installation? Contact us today