I've also been doing some research in this direction. This is very helpful, and the comments so far all add valuable context. Brilliant, thanks for the video! 😀
Timely video for me, just added a comment on your previous video regarding choosing an EV charger. My EO mini pro installed two years ago has stopped working and I am getting the run around from EO customer care. Will certainly have a look at the Evdance.
I'd like this in Oz. That functionality is a $2k (1k pounds) here plus installation. But I'm grateful that my solar system was only $9k that generates 18MWh per year.
Installing a commando socket at home in order to use this under UK wiring regs would be at least £200-300 + Anything more than 13A that is designed for EV charging needs to have a Pen-Fault detection device, important to avoid a risk that the earth could be different between the ground and the car. By that point there isn't much cost difference to an installed EV charger, that could be more convenient to schedule. Most sockets at work are intended for using with machinery that's indoors, so there is assumed to be a common ground. Using a lead to extend it outdoors does bring in this risk. Some people do argue this risk is low, but it's in our regs to protect us, lots of measures we take are against pretty low risks.
@@smc812 You don't actually need pen fault detection. You just have to mitigate the risk. So you could fit an earth rod by doing it yourself at the weekend if money is the issue, which by buying this device it likely is. Then your electrician can install your new circuit (part P) with the relevant RCBO and test the installation (including your ground electrode) Obviously a commando socket will be useful with an adapter for many other garden based tools where a dedicated EV charger instal wouldn't allow. But if you are using a charger every night then you will definitely get the value of a dedicated wall box install. This maybe more suited if you use it less often or maybe you live away in the week and need it portable to use at home at the weekend. So having two dedicated ones might be prohibitively expensive. Maybe you can't have a wall box on the front of the house due to heritage planning issues but you can hide away a small commando socket. So there may be situations where this is a better solution even if fitting pen fault isolation device or an earth rod.
@ I was under the impression that IET 01:2024 now makes pen fault mandatory. Logically yes an earth rod positioned near the vehicle would also work but the regs changed.
@ Argos have a proper charger with built in pen fault for £344, just needs wiring into the consumer unit. That’s at least the same price as this and comes with a programming app.
I have a similar 8-32amp charge in car for backup, and a 32-16amp CEE adaptor, very useful for overnight at camp sites with power. In NZ we have a MEN's system, with a Neutral/Earth link in every consumer board.
That's very tempting. Genuinely conflicted now as I was considering and Evec home charger with Solar diversion to the car. However, its about 80% of the cost of a Zappi. With one of these I can have the speed, just fill up overnight easily at 5p a KWh on economy 7 and just flog the export for whatever I can get for it. I will miss out on the smug factor of completely green and free charging though. Head vs heart time 😀😀
If I was still a regular camper, I'd definitely go for this, as plenty of sites have electrical hookup now (although I'd maybe set it to not pull the full 32A, as I imagine that might cause an issue!) - good find indeed, thanks for the video. How hot does the unit get on the full 32A?
@@justinjoanknecht3475 I didn't notice any heat during my testing. Definitely not as warm as my OE granny charger gets. I will check it with my thermal imaging camera 👍
I can see people making a pigs breakfast of this with a non qualified electrical install and burning out the wire from the consumer unit or worse. Might be useful if you go to campsites often, then it would work as a Super Granny charger.
I bought a Tesla UMC1 with a 32a Commando adapter (as well as UK and Schuko) and had a 32a socket fitted and used it at home for a couple of years. This looks handy now we have 2 EVs, a Zappi and Octopus Intelligent Go as the timer setting could be used to start after 11:30 and charge on the low rate. 🤔
Sounds ideal for you. Snap it up whilst on offer. Use my amazon affiliate link if you think I deserve a couple of pennies from bringing this to your attention. amzn.to/40QJfxc
It's a 32A granny. Interesting. If there's a commando SKT at a destination then it's brilliant but they are rare, as you say campers may find it useful. As an alternative to a wallbox at home, we'll you've still got to run the same 32A circuit so why not put a conventional wallbox in - dumb ones mid £300s less the price of the commando outlet you would have fitted. The timer is a bit clunky and imprecise. If you did have a time of day tariff, you'd need to use the car timer to use the whole period and not loose upto an hour from it. With access to the correct power outlet, this is a 32A granny cum wallbox, so why wouldn't you have one. But I never travel anywhere commando 😮 An interesting review, thanks for taking the time to put this together, keep it up.
While the ‘straight’ (or almost) charging connector is OK for front connection to the car, or on one’s driveway, I think there is (or will be) a need for an almost right angled car connector for those who charge at the roadside. That would avoid the obvious ‘stick-out’ of connector and lead which can be considerable if the car is parked close to the pavement,
Thanks. I see on the technical specification on the website that there is a reference to the "communication method" being WIFI and Bluetooth. Do you know what this functionality is? Does it have an app? I thought it was just a "dumb" plug and play charger. BTW this also has a use case for people like me without off street parking, but who are looking to get a charging gully installed so we can charge at home. Turns out that under the planning rules, permitted development rights for EV chargers don't only apply if you have off street parking. So if you don't have off street parking you'd need planning permission to get an EV charger installer (arghh ££££). Happily no permission is required to install a 32A commando socket, so I guess people in my situation will be going down that route and buying something like this.
Great point on the second bit. On the first bit I'll have to go and try it. I didn't check for any Bluetooth or WiFi access I have to admit. I don't recall that being on the box?
I'm pretty sure electricians wont install a 32 amp ceeform connector in a domestic setting. Little kids fingers can get in the holes as they have no safety covers. That's why you don't see 16amp ceeforms outside in domestic settings also.
I was under the impression that as long as it had a cover and/or a lockout switch, preferably both, that installation would be fine. Happy to be corrected if someone knows for sure. Both of the sockets I showed in the video cannot be turned on until a plug is fully inserted.
@@nicksimmons7234 I think the regs were changing when he did it and he told me that in the future he wasn't meant to do them for car chargers.....🤔 Or something like that?
Interlocked sockets are fine, but unless you have a TT installation (uncommon), you'll need additional PEN fault protection, which will probably knock out most/all of the savings.
Without a CT clamp fitted, you risk tripping your main house fuse. You are still going to have a dedicated 32a supply which doesn’t come for free. Not something that I would consider
@VinoVeritas_ not everyone has a 100A fuse. Mine was 60A, got uprated to 80A. Depends entirely on the nature of the supply. This charge is without current clamp though, so I would personally go for a fixed charger.
@@UpsideDownFork What's somebody going to use if for anyway, sending you free stuff! 😂 It's not like it would be hard to find your address if people wanted to. There are plenty of videos of the area you live and pics of outside your house.
Wire a 64A WiFi Tuya switch into the supply. You can set up charge times for Octopus GO using the app. I haven't got this model though so I'm assuming it will charge once power is connected without intervention.
I had the same question but was not joking. I currently use an early Ohme 32kW charger that uses the blue “caravan” socket it was £199 back in the day and is compatible with octopus! I need a second one for my daughter and always aware that after something like 5 years mine could pack up at any time. Oh and it has an app too!
I've also been doing some research in this direction. This is very helpful, and the comments so far all add valuable context. Brilliant, thanks for the video! 😀
Glad it was helpful!
I like this. Simple, no need for yet another app or wifi connection and with the time delay you could still use cheap rate electricity.
@@BarryHeaven thanks for commenting 👍
Timely video for me, just added a comment on your previous video regarding choosing an EV charger. My EO mini pro installed two years ago has stopped working and I am getting the run around from EO customer care. Will certainly have a look at the Evdance.
@@mauriceegan8476 thanks for commenting 👍
It's good to finally see a reasonably priced 7kW EV charger.
Thanks for commenting.
I'd like this in Oz. That functionality is a $2k (1k pounds) here plus installation.
But I'm grateful that my solar system was only $9k that generates 18MWh per year.
Check the links in the description to see if this is available down under 👍
Installing a commando socket at home in order to use this under UK wiring regs would be at least £200-300 + Anything more than 13A that is designed for EV charging needs to have a Pen-Fault detection device, important to avoid a risk that the earth could be different between the ground and the car. By that point there isn't much cost difference to an installed EV charger, that could be more convenient to schedule.
Most sockets at work are intended for using with machinery that's indoors, so there is assumed to be a common ground. Using a lead to extend it outdoors does bring in this risk.
Some people do argue this risk is low, but it's in our regs to protect us, lots of measures we take are against pretty low risks.
Good point.
@@smc812 You don't actually need pen fault detection. You just have to mitigate the risk.
So you could fit an earth rod by doing it yourself at the weekend if money is the issue, which by buying this device it likely is. Then your electrician can install your new circuit (part P) with the relevant RCBO and test the installation (including your ground electrode)
Obviously a commando socket will be useful with an adapter for many other garden based tools where a dedicated EV charger instal wouldn't allow.
But if you are using a charger every night then you will definitely get the value of a dedicated wall box install. This maybe more suited if you use it less often or maybe you live away in the week and need it portable to use at home at the weekend. So having two dedicated ones might be prohibitively expensive. Maybe you can't have a wall box on the front of the house due to heritage planning issues but you can hide away a small commando socket. So there may be situations where this is a better solution even if fitting pen fault isolation device or an earth rod.
@ I was under the impression that IET 01:2024 now makes pen fault mandatory. Logically yes an earth rod positioned near the vehicle would also work but the regs changed.
£200-300 for install and £150 for the charger so £350-400. That is still a LOT cheaper than a 'proper' charger which is more like £1,000.
@ Argos have a proper charger with built in pen fault for £344, just needs wiring into the consumer unit. That’s at least the same price as this and comes with a programming app.
I have a similar 8-32amp charge in car for backup, and a 32-16amp CEE adaptor, very useful for overnight at camp sites with power. In NZ we have a MEN's system, with a Neutral/Earth link in every consumer board.
@@peterengland6153 nice 👍
That's very tempting. Genuinely conflicted now as I was considering and Evec home charger with Solar diversion to the car. However, its about 80% of the cost of a Zappi. With one of these I can have the speed, just fill up overnight easily at 5p a KWh on economy 7 and just flog the export for whatever I can get for it. I will miss out on the smug factor of completely green and free charging though. Head vs heart time 😀😀
@@adrianflower3230 sorry to give you a dilemma.
I've one of these. Simply brilliant and a no brainer ROI.
Thanks for commenting!
If I was still a regular camper, I'd definitely go for this, as plenty of sites have electrical hookup now (although I'd maybe set it to not pull the full 32A, as I imagine that might cause an issue!) - good find indeed, thanks for the video. How hot does the unit get on the full 32A?
@@justinjoanknecht3475 I didn't notice any heat during my testing.
Definitely not as warm as my OE granny charger gets.
I will check it with my thermal imaging camera 👍
@@UpsideDownFork Cool (some pun intended), let me know!
@justinjoanknecht3475 😂
I can see people making a pigs breakfast of this with a non qualified electrical install and burning out the wire from the consumer unit or worse.
Might be useful if you go to campsites often, then it would work as a Super Granny charger.
That's a possibility.
I bought a Tesla UMC1 with a 32a Commando adapter (as well as UK and Schuko) and had a 32a socket fitted and used it at home for a couple of years.
This looks handy now we have 2 EVs, a Zappi and Octopus Intelligent Go as the timer setting could be used to start after 11:30 and charge on the low rate. 🤔
Sounds ideal for you. Snap it up whilst on offer.
Use my amazon affiliate link if you think I deserve a couple of pennies from bringing this to your attention.
amzn.to/40QJfxc
my granny charger is 6-13amp and 1-12hr delay
Nice!
It's a 32A granny. Interesting. If there's a commando SKT at a destination then it's brilliant but they are rare, as you say campers may find it useful.
As an alternative to a wallbox at home, we'll you've still got to run the same 32A circuit so why not put a conventional wallbox in - dumb ones mid £300s less the price of the commando outlet you would have fitted.
The timer is a bit clunky and imprecise. If you did have a time of day tariff, you'd need to use the car timer to use the whole period and not loose upto an hour from it.
With access to the correct power outlet, this is a 32A granny cum wallbox, so why wouldn't you have one. But I never travel anywhere commando 😮
An interesting review, thanks for taking the time to put this together, keep it up.
Good points.
While the ‘straight’ (or almost) charging connector is OK for front connection to the car, or on one’s driveway, I think there is (or will be) a need for an almost right angled car connector for those who charge at the roadside. That would avoid the obvious ‘stick-out’ of connector and lead which can be considerable if the car is parked close to the pavement,
I'd like to see that adopted more widely too!
Thanks. I see on the technical specification on the website that there is a reference to the "communication method" being WIFI and Bluetooth. Do you know what this functionality is? Does it have an app? I thought it was just a "dumb" plug and play charger.
BTW this also has a use case for people like me without off street parking, but who are looking to get a charging gully installed so we can charge at home. Turns out that under the planning rules, permitted development rights for EV chargers don't only apply if you have off street parking. So if you don't have off street parking you'd need planning permission to get an EV charger installer (arghh ££££). Happily no permission is required to install a 32A commando socket, so I guess people in my situation will be going down that route and buying something like this.
Great point on the second bit.
On the first bit I'll have to go and try it. I didn't check for any Bluetooth or WiFi access I have to admit.
I don't recall that being on the box?
I'm pretty sure electricians wont install a 32 amp ceeform connector in a domestic setting. Little kids fingers can get in the holes as they have no safety covers.
That's why you don't see 16amp ceeforms outside in domestic settings also.
I had an MK one fitted no problem 3 years ago. It has a protective cover and a lockout switch.
@@FFVoyager I maybe wrong but I'm pretty sure a domestic spark isn't meant to install them if they are following regs.
I was under the impression that as long as it had a cover and/or a lockout switch, preferably both, that installation would be fine. Happy to be corrected if someone knows for sure.
Both of the sockets I showed in the video cannot be turned on until a plug is fully inserted.
@@nicksimmons7234 I think the regs were changing when he did it and he told me that in the future he wasn't meant to do them for car chargers.....🤔 Or something like that?
Interlocked sockets are fine, but unless you have a TT installation (uncommon), you'll need additional PEN fault protection, which will probably knock out most/all of the savings.
Without a CT clamp fitted, you risk tripping your main house fuse. You are still going to have a dedicated 32a supply which doesn’t come for free. Not something that I would consider
A 7.4kW EVSE isn't going to trip a 100A fuse.
Thanks for commenting.
@VinoVeritas_ not everyone has a 100A fuse. Mine was 60A, got uprated to 80A. Depends entirely on the nature of the supply.
This charge is without current clamp though, so I would personally go for a fixed charger.
I had a 32A tethered charger fitted in the early days of EVs in a house that had a 60A fuse and there was no CT clamp involved with that!
you might want to blur your postcode on amazon
Thanks, I changed it before capturing the screen, not my postcode!
@@UpsideDownFork What's somebody going to use if for anyway, sending you free stuff! 😂
It's not like it would be hard to find your address if people wanted to. There are plenty of videos of the area you live and pics of outside your house.
@gavjlewis sounds like I'll be meeting you soon 😂
@@UpsideDownFork Too far away mate, I guess I could send you a Xmas card! 😂
@gavjlewis 😂
I like the idea of a time delay for switching on, but there would need to be a delayed off timing device for me to be really interested.
Wire a 64A WiFi Tuya switch into the supply. You can set up charge times for Octopus GO using the app.
I haven't got this model though so I'm assuming it will charge once power is connected without intervention.
Thanks for commenting.
Is it compatible with octopus intelligent. Only joking
@@dama054 😂👍
I had the same question but was not joking. I currently use an early Ohme 32kW charger that uses the blue “caravan” socket it was £199 back in the day and is compatible with octopus! I need a second one for my daughter and always aware that after something like 5 years mine could pack up at any time. Oh and it has an app too!