Well that was a complete waste of time.
Advised at 21:35hrs last night of the ProEV engineers arrival. I opened the door to him at 13:05hrs and he'd gone by 13:35hrs.
No install, FFS.
Turned up with nothing in the van despite the surveys , exchanges , Ohme confirmation blah blah blah (he had none of it , zip , so he advised but for "its custom I think". Courteously looked over the house consumer boards, garage cable run - the stuff you picture and video 6 weeks earlier. Made a couple of calls and advised he was leaving.
Keeping it bottled I asked for written explanation...
Quote
Hello sir, xxxxx from pro.EV. The works cannot be carried out today as none of the existing consumer units present have an SPD, nor A type RCDs as well as this all the consumer units are non fire rated plastic moulded. Therefore an upgrade in the existing consumer unit feeding the Garage consumer unit must be updated to latest regulations in order to ensure the further use of the charger is both safe & compliant.
End Quote
We've been all over this and obvs, everything had been pictured and videoed at least twice. I queried the doubling up of the standard belt and braces approach with electrickery if the Ohme has it all built-in?
Disappointing.
Made a complaint to Ohme.
Day off wasted.
Ohme Home Pro Install
You cant add an EV charger to a DB protected by Type AC RCD's, because the potential DC noise can "blind" the RCD and stop it working, rendering its protection ineffective. Type A's are not susceptible to this issue.
Employ your own electrician to:
A) Move the supply to the garage onto its own switchfuse, fed directly from the main tails. 50 or 60A should be ideal if its a 16mm^2 cable as stated earlier.
B) Replace the garage DB with a suitable modern unit made from steel.
That way you have control over whats actually being done. Letting an EV charger installer do that work is only likely to result in overcharging for substandard work.
Ohme can then install the EV charger into the new CU.
Employ your own electrician to:
A) Move the supply to the garage onto its own switchfuse, fed directly from the main tails. 50 or 60A should be ideal if its a 16mm^2 cable as stated earlier.
B) Replace the garage DB with a suitable modern unit made from steel.
That way you have control over whats actually being done. Letting an EV charger installer do that work is only likely to result in overcharging for substandard work.
Ohme can then install the EV charger into the new CU.
'21 Enyaq 60 Ecosuite
Thanks.
Nothing back from Ohme or ProEV.
Bloody frustrating.
Its looking like we'll be going that way and employing our own installer. Although the Mrs is adamant we bin the lot off and continue with the 16A granny charger! Need to review the tariff options again.
The Ohme unit has the Type A protection already , why is more of the same needed? Surely that'll pop first. Can you reset an Ohme Pro as its all sealed if it does trigger?
Nothing back from Ohme or ProEV.
Bloody frustrating.
Its looking like we'll be going that way and employing our own installer. Although the Mrs is adamant we bin the lot off and continue with the 16A granny charger! Need to review the tariff options again.
The Ohme unit has the Type A protection already , why is more of the same needed? Surely that'll pop first. Can you reset an Ohme Pro as its all sealed if it does trigger?
New Owner -
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
Its not that you need more than Type A, its that other devices upstream protected by a Type AC can become no longer protected.
So your main consumer unit has a type AC RCD covering say 8 circuits, including the garage supply. The car, when charging, can introduce particular "interference" onto the mains which causes that type AC RCD to stop functioning correctly. Your car is fine, as you rightly point out the ohme covers that aspect. However, you then drop a toaster in the bath and get electrocuted because the RCD doesnt trip, due to being blinded by the EV.
In reality, modern installations really should have all their Type AC RCD's replaced, as they dont always mix well with switchmode powersupplies and our houses are full of those these days. Unfortunately folks in the UK dont seem to bother maintaining their electrical systems. It gets installed, and then ignored for 50 years.
So your main consumer unit has a type AC RCD covering say 8 circuits, including the garage supply. The car, when charging, can introduce particular "interference" onto the mains which causes that type AC RCD to stop functioning correctly. Your car is fine, as you rightly point out the ohme covers that aspect. However, you then drop a toaster in the bath and get electrocuted because the RCD doesnt trip, due to being blinded by the EV.
In reality, modern installations really should have all their Type AC RCD's replaced, as they dont always mix well with switchmode powersupplies and our houses are full of those these days. Unfortunately folks in the UK dont seem to bother maintaining their electrical systems. It gets installed, and then ignored for 50 years.
'21 Enyaq 60 Ecosuite
Thanks @ Aragorn, really appreciated.
So further to your earlier suggestions, should the advised and upgraded garage metal CU, supply the Home Pro unit with an additional 32A (?) Type A RCD too if its now fed from a 60A switch fuse?
And the surge protection on the new garage CU?
So further to your earlier suggestions, should the advised and upgraded garage metal CU, supply the Home Pro unit with an additional 32A (?) Type A RCD too if its now fed from a 60A switch fuse?
And the surge protection on the new garage CU?
New Owner -
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
My garage board has no RCD's. Instead each circuit has its own RCBO if needed. The two EV chargers just have normal MCB's, as they have RCD's built in. Sockets and lights have RCBO's.
I dont have surge protection, that seems to be optional but some are pushing hard on its inclusion. But yes should be easy enough to add surge protection to the new garage board.
Check the installation manual for the Ohme to see if they want an upstream RCD/RCBO of any sort.
Sometimes other factors may require RCD/RCBO for the supply cable (both to the garage and to the charger) depending how and where its installed.
I dont have surge protection, that seems to be optional but some are pushing hard on its inclusion. But yes should be easy enough to add surge protection to the new garage board.
Check the installation manual for the Ohme to see if they want an upstream RCD/RCBO of any sort.
Sometimes other factors may require RCD/RCBO for the supply cable (both to the garage and to the charger) depending how and where its installed.
'21 Enyaq 60 Ecosuite
Ohme Connection InformationAragorn wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 10:33 am My garage board has no RCD's. Instead each circuit has its own RCBO if needed. The two EV chargers just have normal MCB's, as they have RCD's built in. Sockets and lights have RCBO's.
I dont have surge protection, that seems to be optional but some are pushing hard on its inclusion. But yes should be easy enough to add surge protection to the new garage board.
Check the installation manual for the Ohme to see if they want an upstream RCD/RCBO of any sort.
Sometimes other factors may require RCD/RCBO for the supply cable (both to the garage and to the charger) depending how and where its installed.
All is now clear.
Thanks again @Aragorn
New Owner -
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
Received a new quote from Ohme this morning.
Yippee ...
This time it's for well over £2000 , the contents contradicting their installers original advice and statements made a week ago to me in writing and ignoring our free install offer.
I've engaged a local sparky to quote too but still chasing them down.
I've started to collect the parts required myself just in case this continues to drag on....
Yippee ...
This time it's for well over £2000 , the contents contradicting their installers original advice and statements made a week ago to me in writing and ignoring our free install offer.
I've engaged a local sparky to quote too but still chasing them down.
I've started to collect the parts required myself just in case this continues to drag on....
New Owner -
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
Nothing came back from Ohme about my complaint todate instead they restarted the survey process for the 3rd time.
As suggested I've had 3 electricians out to survey, all quoting well over £2k, one £3k+. A lot of the money is on testing two new Consumer Units, and a third upgraded metal CU in the garage! The really expensive quote includes a new direct swa supply cable!
All three quotes differ, all three electricians could start immediately.
As any real savings rely on having a smart meter fitted Octopus cannot advise when they can install as their initial 5 week window has long passed. Neighbours apparently have been waiting 2 years and still heard nothing, poor transmission/reception was the excuse offered. (Mobile coverage is good here!)
Rather than paying out for house upgrades I'm now thinking about a PV install instead. We're South facing have a ton of roof space on the garage, extensions and house itself.
What's the basics required to run and charge an EV? Budget needed etc?
I've got a full sized Compaq data cabinet in the garage, is that space enough?
TIA
As suggested I've had 3 electricians out to survey, all quoting well over £2k, one £3k+. A lot of the money is on testing two new Consumer Units, and a third upgraded metal CU in the garage! The really expensive quote includes a new direct swa supply cable!
All three quotes differ, all three electricians could start immediately.
As any real savings rely on having a smart meter fitted Octopus cannot advise when they can install as their initial 5 week window has long passed. Neighbours apparently have been waiting 2 years and still heard nothing, poor transmission/reception was the excuse offered. (Mobile coverage is good here!)
Rather than paying out for house upgrades I'm now thinking about a PV install instead. We're South facing have a ton of roof space on the garage, extensions and house itself.
What's the basics required to run and charge an EV? Budget needed etc?
I've got a full sized Compaq data cabinet in the garage, is that space enough?
TIA
New Owner -
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
'24 White Coupe 85X Sportline+ 20" Taurus
Flexible Octopus, Ohme Home Pro on order.
Software : 4.1
Running an EV from solar sounds good but i suspect thats about it.
We have solar and batteries.
For half the year your solar system will barely generate enough power to run the house, never mind charge the car. The other half, well it only works when the suns out, during the day, which is probably when your away using the car...
To get the most from a solar system you want export tariffs, and those need a smart meter, so if thats a sticking point your back to square one...
Typically its far better for people to export the power and charge overnight.
Given a substantial part of the cost seems to be messing with your existing CU's why not just bypass them altogether? Split the tails into a switch fuse and feed the garage directly from there. If it needs a new SWA run, run the cable in yourself, paying a sparky their day rate for basic labour doesnt add up.
Or you could view the £2k into modernising the electrics as a worthwhile investment into your property as a whole, its likely adding things like Solar are also going to raise questions about the condition of the existing electrical panels.
We have solar and batteries.
For half the year your solar system will barely generate enough power to run the house, never mind charge the car. The other half, well it only works when the suns out, during the day, which is probably when your away using the car...
To get the most from a solar system you want export tariffs, and those need a smart meter, so if thats a sticking point your back to square one...
Typically its far better for people to export the power and charge overnight.
Given a substantial part of the cost seems to be messing with your existing CU's why not just bypass them altogether? Split the tails into a switch fuse and feed the garage directly from there. If it needs a new SWA run, run the cable in yourself, paying a sparky their day rate for basic labour doesnt add up.
Or you could view the £2k into modernising the electrics as a worthwhile investment into your property as a whole, its likely adding things like Solar are also going to raise questions about the condition of the existing electrical panels.
'21 Enyaq 60 Ecosuite
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