How should a new EV charger be connected (Ed.)

[xAlex]

Hi all. I’m moving into a new Bellway house. Can a car charger be connected directly to the meter on the outside wall or would it have to be connected to the CU located in the middle of the house? There are many conflicting opinions.

 

[flameport]

It's a new circuit so therefore would connect to the consumer unit just like any other circuit - assuming they have installed something decent and not some obsolete dual RCD malarkey.

Some sling it and wing it types like to fit a grotty little consumer unit on the outside wall and call it done. They are wrong.

 

[xAlex]

….thank you! Do the regs state that’s it needs to be connected back to the CU? The issue to me would be that the CU is in the middle of the house and getting the cable outside would be messy and the cable would be visible in the living room or hallway

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Do the regs state that’s it needs to be connected back to the CU?

No.

 

[flameport]

Do the regs state that’s it needs to be connected back to the CU?

Not in those words, however circuits must be connected to appropriate protective devices such as MCBs, RCDs, RCBOs or whatever - and installing such things outside is only permitted if those devices are suitably rated for such an environment.
Those designed for domestic use in consumer units are not suitable for use outside, and that includes whether they are in some weather resistant enclosure or not.

getting the cable outside would be messy and the cable would be visible in the living room or hallway

Unlikely, there are many routes for cables, most of which do not involve them being visible on the surface of a wall.

 

[Murdochcat]

Some sling it and wing it types like to fit a grotty little consumer unit on the outside wall and call it done. They are wrong.

Not sure I agree with that. There are suitable CUs for outside use - but it all depends on a number of factors

 

[flameport]

There are suitable CUs for outside use

Some manufacturers may claim that the enclosure is suitable for use outside.

The devices inside it most certainly are not suitable for such a location as they will be pollution degree 2.

 

[ericmark]

There are suitable CUs for outside use

I have worked on sites with WMDU (weatherproof main distribution units) many times, and they are a real pain, to work on them in inclement weather you need to erect a tent first. And in essence they are a DB inside a large metal box, so the weather has two enclosures to get through, and they normally have a small heater inside them. Although the current drawn often made them warm anyway.

But the warmth attracted animals, insects etc, and so they needed regular inspection. So you can get a box like this with a heater and small consumer unit inside, but when things go wrong, too easy even in driving rain, to be tempered to have a peek to see if anything has tripped without putting a awning up first, and get the inside wet, with negative results.

Maybe one can get away opening door to read a meter, your not putting ones hands within mm of live parts, but there has been warning after warning given by trade bodies not to mount CU outside.

 

[SUNRAY]

Some manufacturers may claim that the enclosure is suitable for use outside.

The devices inside it most certainly are not suitable for such a location as they will be pollution degree 2.

Are you saying manufacturers lie?