With more households in Leicester and Leicestershire switching to electric vehicles, installing a home EV charger has become one of the most requested services at D3C Electrical. A dedicated wallbox charger is faster, safer, and more convenient than relying on a standard three-pin socket.
Why You Need a Dedicated EV Charger
Charging an EV from a standard 13-amp socket is possible, but it is slow, drawing just 2.3kW. A typical 60kWh battery would take over 26 hours to charge from empty. More importantly, prolonged heavy loads on a domestic socket can cause overheating and increase fire risk. A dedicated 7kW wallbox reduces that same charge to under nine hours, and every unit we install includes built-in earth protection and smart load management.
Choosing the Right Charger
Most UK homes are limited to a single-phase 7kW charger because of their domestic supply. However, if your property has a three-phase connection, 11kW or 22kW chargers are an option. For the vast majority of Leicester homeowners, 7kW is perfectly adequate for overnight charging.
- Tethered vs untethered: Tethered units have a fixed cable attached. Untethered units use your own cable, which is useful if you have multiple EVs with different connectors.
- Smart features: Look for chargers with app control, scheduled charging, and solar integration. These features help you charge during off-peak hours and reduce running costs.
- OCPP compatibility: If you plan to monetise a workplace charger, ensure it supports the Open Charge Point Protocol.
- IP rating: Outdoor chargers should be at least IP54 rated for weather resistance.
Load Calculations and Supply Capacity
Before any EV charger is installed, a qualified electrician must carry out a load assessment to check that your existing supply can handle the additional demand. Your electricity supplier may need to be notified, and in some cases a DNO application is required if the total load approaches the supply fuse rating. At D3C Electrical, we handle all DNO notifications as part of our installation service.
Expert Tip
If your home has a 60-amp main fuse and already runs an electric shower, oven, and heating, you may need a fuse upgrade to 80 or 100 amps before an EV charger can be safely added.
The Installation Process
A standard domestic installation takes four to six hours. We mount the charger on an exterior wall near your parking space, run a dedicated circuit from your consumer unit using SWA cable, install an isolator switch, and test everything thoroughly. The unit is commissioned, connected to your Wi-Fi if it is a smart model, and you are shown how to use it.
All our EV installations are covered by building control notification through NICEIC, and we provide a full electrical installation certificate and Part P compliance certificate on completion.