A recent project in Newquay involved the installation of a tethered 7.4kW MyEnergi Zappi electric vehicle charge point. We fitted a dedicated consumer unit complete with surge protection and a load monitoring device to intelligently manage the property's power consumption, providing a safe and efficient home charging setup.
With the shift towards electric vehicles, having a reliable and safe charging point at home is becoming a priority for many drivers. For one homeowner in Newquay, the goal was to get a convenient charging solution that integrated seamlessly with their property’s existing electrical system without the risk of overloading it. The solution was a 7.4kW tethered MyEnergi Zappi charger, a popular choice for its smart features.
The installation began with establishing a new, dedicated circuit for the charge point. This is a critical step because EV chargers draw a significant amount of power continuously, and they need to be on a circuit that can handle that load safely without affecting the rest of the house. We installed a small, separate consumer unit in the under-stairs cupboard, placing it neatly beside the existing meter box. This new unit houses the necessary protective devices specifically for the charger.
Inside this dedicated unit, we fitted a 40A RCBO, which provides combined overload and fault protection. We also included a Surge Protection Device, or SPD. An SPD is a vital component that protects sensitive electronics from voltage spikes that can occur on the main power grid. It essentially acts as a gatekeeper, shielding both the Zappi charger and, more importantly, the vehicle’s onboard electronics from potential damage during a power surge.
One of the most important features of this installation is the load monitoring device. A common concern for homeowners is whether their main electrical supply can cope with the extra demand of an EV charger, especially when other high-power appliances like an electric shower or oven are in use. This device solves the problem by constantly monitoring the total amount of electricity being used in the property. If it detects that the demand is getting close to the limit of the main fuse, it automatically tells the Zappi to temporarily reduce its charging speed. Once the household’s power usage drops again, the charger returns to its full rate. This dynamic adjustment prevents the main fuse from tripping, avoiding inconvenient power cuts for the entire house.
The charger itself was a tethered model, which means the charging cable is permanently attached to the unit. This offers a great deal of convenience as there’s no need to handle a heavy, and often damp, cable from the car’s boot every time you need to charge. The Zappi was mounted on the exterior brick wall at the front of the property, with the 6mm armoured cable run neatly from the indoor consumer unit to the charger’s location.
Following the physical installation, we carried out a full set of electrical tests on the new circuit to verify that everything was working correctly and safely. An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) was issued, and the installation was registered with building control, confirming that the work meets the current 18th Edition of the wiring regulations.
