EV Charger Installation in Hayle

Making the switch to an electric vehicle brings plenty of benefits, but having a reliable home charging solution is what makes day-to-day ownership practical. For this property in Hayle, we installed a 7.4kW Ohme ePod charging point that allows the homeowner to charge their vehicle overnight without putting unnecessary strain on the existing electrical system.

The charging point itself is an untethered model, which means it doesn’t come with a permanently attached cable. Instead, the driver uses their own charging lead, connecting it between the vehicle and the wall-mounted unit when needed. This approach offers flexibility – the cable can be stored in the car’s boot rather than hanging from the wall – and it means the charging point takes up less space on the exterior of the property. The unit was mounted on the front wall where it’s easily accessible from the driveway, positioned at a comfortable height for plugging in without having to bend down or stretch.

Getting power to the charge point required more than simply running a cable from the existing consumer unit. Electric vehicles draw a significant amount of current when charging, and older properties weren’t designed with this kind of load in mind. That’s why we installed a dedicated consumer unit specifically for the EV charger. This separate unit sits in an IP-rated meter box next to the main supply, creating an independent circuit that’s properly protected and won’t interfere with the rest of the property’s electrical installation.

The incoming supply was split using connector blocks, allowing us to feed the new consumer unit without disrupting the existing setup. Inside this dedicated unit, we installed a 40A circuit breaker to protect the charging circuit, along with surge protection. Power surges from the grid can damage sensitive electronics, and modern EV chargers contain circuit boards and smart technology that need protection from voltage spikes. The surge protective device acts as a safeguard, diverting excess voltage away from the equipment if there’s a surge on the grid.

One of the more interesting aspects of this installation was fitting a load monitoring device. This piece of equipment continuously measures how much power the property is using across all circuits. When demand is high – perhaps because the oven, heating, and various appliances are all running simultaneously – the load monitor automatically reduces the power going to the EV charger. When household demand drops, charging speeds back up again. This intelligent load management prevents the property from exceeding its supply capacity, which could otherwise trip the main breaker and cut power to the entire house.

The system works seamlessly in the background. From the homeowner’s perspective, they simply plug in the car when they get home, and it charges overnight. The load monitoring takes care of power distribution automatically, balancing the vehicle’s charging needs against everything else happening in the house. During the night when most appliances are switched off, the car charges at full speed. If someone puts the kettle on or switches on a high-power appliance, charging slows down momentarily before ramping back up once demand drops.

Running the supply cable from the new consumer unit to the charge point involved routing 6mm EV-rated cable through the exterior wall. This heavier gauge cable is necessary to safely carry the current required for EV charging over distance. The cable was secured with cleats along its route and terminated in weatherproof glands at both ends, protecting the connections from moisture and preventing water ingress. Everything was done to meet the specific requirements for EV installations, which have stricter standards than standard socket circuits due to the sustained high loads involved.

After completing the physical installation, we carried out full electrical testing on the new circuit. This testing verifies that all connections are sound, the circuit breaker will operate correctly under fault conditions, and the earthing system provides adequate protection. The results of these tests were documented in an Electrical Installation Certificate, which is a legal requirement for this type of work. We also submitted Building Control Notification, which is necessary for any new electrical circuits installed in domestic properties.

The Ohme charge point includes smart functionality, connecting to the home’s Wi-Fi network so it can be controlled through a mobile app. The homeowner can set charging schedules, monitor energy usage, and take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity tariffs. Before leaving the job, we tested the Wi-Fi signal strength at the charge point location to make sure it was adequate for reliable operation. In cases where the signal is weak, we can install a Wi-Fi range extender, but the signal here was strong enough that this wasn’t needed.

The untethered design of this particular unit gives the homeowner the option to use different charging cables if needed. Some EV owners carry multiple cables – perhaps a Type 1 and Type 2 connector – or they might want a longer cable for certain situations. With a tethered unit, you’re locked into whatever cable length and connector type came fitted at installation. The untethered approach offers more flexibility, even if it means remembering to bring the cable in and out of the car.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the black Ohme unit sits neatly against the property’s exterior cladding. The cable routing was kept tidy, and the new meter box housing the dedicated consumer unit was positioned logically next to the existing electrical supply. Everything was finished to a high standard, with proper seals around cable entries and weatherproof connections throughout.

Having a home charging point transforms how people use their electric vehicles. Rather than relying on public charge points or workplace facilities, overnight charging at home becomes the default. The vehicle is fully charged each morning without any special effort, ready for the day ahead. Combined with off-peak electricity tariffs, home charging is significantly cheaper than using public rapid chargers, and there’s no waiting around for a charging bay to become available.

The installation was completed with full certification and notification, meaning the work complies with building regulations and electrical safety standards. The dedicated consumer unit and load monitoring system provide protection for both the property’s electrical installation and the EV charging equipment itself, whilst the smart functionality built into the Ohme unit gives the homeowner control over when and how their vehicle charges.