Frequently Asked Questions
Our mission is to take all the fuss and hard work out of getting plugged in at home by providing simple information about which EV charge point best suits our customers needs.
This depends on your charge point choice and your responses to a few questions. With our experience at Charge Wizard, we have set a standard installation price. We understand that not all homes and preferences are the same. This is why we ask you to answer a few questions.
This depends on your electricity tariff and the cost you are paying per kwh. Here are 2 examples based on a 70kw battery
If you pay £0.08p per kwh, it would cost around £5.60 to fill the battery. You would find this typically on a off peak 2 rate tariff
If you pay £0.39p per kwh, it would cost around £27.30 to fill the battery. You would find this typically on a peak 2 rate tariff
Prices above, verified as of July 2022
There are a few factors that affect how fast an electric car charges, including the size of the car battery, how much charge is currently in the battery and the speed/KW rating of the charge point. Depending on these factors, it can range from 30 minutes to 12 hours to fully charge the battery. A 7kw charge point would charge a 70kw battery within roughly 10 hours.
Most charge points are compatible with all makes and models. Currently there are 2 types of EV chargers when considering cable connectors, Type 1 and Type2. The Type 2 connector is the latest variation and is currently set as the EU standard. Although we would recommend that you check the specifications of your charge point and the vehicle your are considering, there are items available for purchase such as the Type 1 to Type 2 Converter Cable.
Yes. When you go through Get a Quote, you can select a date and time slot that suits you for your installation. Please be mindful that sometimes the DNO needs to visit your property before any new circuits can be added, this may affect the date you originally select.
There is not enough research to suggest either way. Research that has already been conducted is very simplistic, comparing sale prices against area averages. More research is necessary before truly answering this question. However, regulations require new build developments to be equipped with a means to charge an electric vehicle. Adding a charge point to your home will keep your house competitive in the future.
Generally it is preferable to have a 100A supply coming in to your property. However, you are still able to have a charge point installed if you have less than a 100A main fuse. Depending on the demand on the property, you may need to apply for your fuse to be upgraded by the local DNO.
Yes, your engineer will go through a full handover process of how your charge point works and make sure you are completely happy before leaving your premises.
It is absolutely safe to charge an electric vehicle in the rain. Charging plugs and stations have protective layers and covering shields to prevent any kind of issues.
Yes. This is generally how most people charge their electric vehicles. Your car's in-built system will know when the battery is full or that the charge has reached the set charge limit and will automatically stop charging. Some cars and chargers even have a timer, so that you can actually schedule to charge overnight when electricity demand is lower and prices can be cheaper depending on your electricity tariff.
As long as it is your land, or your landlords land, the choice is yours. We recommend that you have the charge point installed as close as possible to your parking location. There are things to keep in mind such as, the cable distance from the charge point to your vehicle, which side the vehicle inlet sits and any potential trip hazards.
We recommend allowing up to 4 hours for the installation to take place and for the charge point to be commissioned and configured. This will also include the time our installer will spend with you to discuss how to use your charge point.
You need to make sure you know where you want your charge point to be installed and have a clear working area of 3 metres around the installation site. You will also need to know where your electricity meter and fuse box is located and have a clear working area around it. If there is anything else, we'll be in contact.
Standard Installation:
1. Up to 10m of standard installation cable** clipped to the wall between your meter/fuse board and your charger
2. Fixing of charger to a wall or suitable permanent structure at a height between 750mm to 1200mm (next to the parking without creating a trip hazard).
3. Routing of cable through a single wall of up to half a metre thick
4. Connecting to your electrical supply (electricity meter or fuse box)
5. Installation of protective devices suitable for the installation and EV charger such as RCBO and PEN fault devices as required by BS7671.
**Cable type - tuff sheath
Do you want to take advantage of cheaper charging at home? If you are already doing this by using a 3 pin plug, here is why we recommend a dedicated charge point.
All of our charge points output a charge speed of 7kw or more, this is roughly 3 times faster than a 3 pin plug charger. Depending on the size of your car battery, a 3 pin plug could take up to 40 hours to fully charge. Unless you decide to walk everywhere for the weekend, this is both inconvenient and most importantly a safety risk. Sending a constant supply of power to any plug for such prolonged times can increase the risk of over heating and subsequently fires.
Unless you are a qualified electrician, complying to the latest standards and have experience with installing charging equipment, our recommendation is no. Why not try Charge Wizard, our installers are experienced and qualified professionals who are trained to handle and set up the equipment accordingly to manufacturer requirements.
Our installers will require you to be home throughout the installation or at least someone over the age of 18, they will need to sign on your behalf. Most importantly, if our installer needed urgent attention, someone would be there to contact the relevant services.
For the majority of the installation, you will have power to your home. However, please allow for roughly 30 minutes without power if our installer needs to connect directly to your incoming supply.
We aim to leave your installation as tidy as possible. Our installers have many years experience and know when and how to drill through walls. Depending on the route of the cable will depend on how much disruption there would be to your property. For full details of this, please refer to our terms and conditions.
Yes. Once you have purchased your charge point, it belongs to you. Just remember to have the charge point disconnected safely and arrange for the charge point to be connected to your new home.