MyEnergi Zappi EV Charger Installation in Bude Studio Property

This particular installation involved fitting a 7.4kW MyEnergi Zappi charge point at a studio property, complete with intelligent load management technology and necessary electrical upgrades.

The project centred around installing a tethered MyEnergi Zappi unit on the exterior wall of the studio building. Tethered charge points come with a permanently attached charging cable, which means vehicle owners don’t need to carry their own cable or worry about potential theft. The fixed cable design makes the charging process more convenient and secure for daily use.

One of the key challenges with this installation was managing the electrical load effectively. The studio property operates on a sub-main consumer unit fed by a 6mm supply cable from the main property. This configuration required careful consideration of the total electrical demand to prevent overloading the system. The existing 32A circuit breaker supplying the studio’s consumer unit needed upgrading to a 40A breaker to accommodate the new EV charger’s power requirements.

To address potential load management issues, we installed a MyEnergi Harvi load monitoring device. This intelligent system continuously monitors the property’s electrical consumption and automatically adjusts the EV charger’s power output to prevent overloading. The Harvi system communicates wirelessly with the Zappi charger, reducing charging power when the property’s overall electrical demand increases, then ramping back up when other appliances are switched off.

The electrical installation required running 6mm steel wire armoured cable from the studio’s consumer unit to the external mounting position. This heavy-duty cable provides the necessary current-carrying capacity for the 7.4kW charging rate whilst offering excellent protection against physical damage. The cable route was carefully planned to maintain a neat installation whilst meeting all safety requirements.

Within the consumer unit, we fitted a 40A bi-directional RCBO (Residual Current Breaker with Overcurrent protection) to protect the EV charging circuit. Bi-directional RCBOs are specifically designed for EV charging applications, providing protection against both AC and DC residual currents. This type of protection device is particularly important for electric vehicle charging as some EVs can introduce DC current into the supply, which standard AC RCDs cannot detect effectively.

The MyEnergi Zappi charger itself offers several charging modes to suit different requirements. ECO mode uses only excess solar generation when renewable energy systems are present, while ECO+ mode combines solar generation with grid electricity to maintain a minimum charging rate. FAST mode provides maximum charging speed regardless of solar generation. This versatility makes the Zappi particularly attractive to homeowners considering future renewable energy installations.

Communication between the Zappi charger and Harvi load monitor uses a wireless signal, eliminating the need for additional control cables between devices. However, we did install CAT5 external grade cable to provide data connectivity for the system’s smart features, including remote monitoring and control via the MyEnergi app.

The load monitoring aspect of this installation demonstrates the importance of proper electrical system assessment before EV charger installation. Many older properties, particularly those with sub-main distributions like this studio, can struggle with the additional electrical demand of EV charging. Without proper load management, homeowners might experience nuisance tripping of main breakers, especially when charging coincides with high household electrical usage.

Building Control notification was completed following installation, along with comprehensive electrical testing to produce the required Electrical Installation Certificate. This documentation proves compliance with current wiring regulations and provides important safety verification for insurance and legal purposes.

The installation methodology followed best practices for external electrical equipment, with appropriate weatherproofing and cable protection. The mounting height and location were selected to provide easy access for daily use whilst maintaining security and weather protection for the charging equipment.

Load balancing technology like the Harvi system represents a significant advancement in residential EV charging. Rather than requiring expensive electrical supply upgrades, intelligent load management allows homeowners to install EV chargers within their existing electrical capacity. The system learns household usage patterns and optimises charging accordingly, often scheduling higher-rate charging during periods of lower domestic electrical demand.

For properties in coastal locations like Bude, the choice of materials and installation methods requires consideration of the marine environment. The MyEnergi Zappi charger features appropriate weatherproofing for external installation, whilst the steel wire armoured cable provides excellent protection against corrosion and physical damage from salt air exposure.

This type of installation highlights the growing sophistication of domestic EV charging solutions. Modern systems like the MyEnergi Zappi go far beyond simple power delivery, incorporating smart features that integrate with household energy management, renewable generation, and grid demand response programmes. The wireless communication between system components reduces installation complexity whilst providing comprehensive monitoring and control capabilities.

The project demonstrates how proper electrical assessment and intelligent load management can enable EV charging installation even in challenging electrical supply situations. By upgrading key components and installing appropriate monitoring systems, homeowners can enjoy reliable EV charging without compromising their property’s electrical safety or performance.