EV charger installation is one of the fastest-growing areas of domestic electrical work. This guide covers everything an electrician needs to know — charger types, cable sizing, earthing requirements, RCD selection, IET Code of Practice compliance, grants, DNO notification, and realistic costs.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
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Electric vehicle chargers are categorised by their power output and the type of electrical supply they require. For domestic and small commercial installations in the UK, there are three main options.
Draws 16A from a single-phase supply. Adds approximately 10-15 miles of range per hour of charging. Suitable for overnight charging where the vehicle is parked for 8-12 hours. Less common for dedicated wallbox installations but sometimes used where the supply capacity is limited and load management is not possible. Cable sizing is simpler due to the lower current demand.
The standard for domestic installations. Draws 32A from a single-phase supply. Adds approximately 20-30 miles of range per hour. Fully charges most EVs overnight in 6-8 hours. This is the charger type covered by the OZEV grant scheme and the IET Code of Practice. Requires a dedicated 32A circuit with no diversity, appropriate cable sizing, and RCD protection.
Requires a three-phase supply, which most domestic properties do not have. Adds approximately 60-80 miles of range per hour. Primarily used in commercial settings — workplaces, car parks, fleet depots. The vehicle must also support three-phase AC charging (many do not — they have a single-phase onboard charger regardless of the supply). Installation is significantly more complex and expensive.
For the vast majority of domestic installations, the 7 kW single-phase charger is the correct choice. It provides a practical charging rate for overnight use and is compatible with the standard single-phase supply available to almost every UK property. The rest of this guide focuses primarily on 7 kW single-phase installations.
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Installing an EV charger is not simply mounting a wallbox and running a cable. BS 7671 Section 722 sets out specific requirements for EV charging circuits, and the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation provides detailed guidance. The key requirements are:
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The earthing arrangement is one of the most critical — and most commonly misunderstood — aspects of EV charger installation. The majority of UK domestic properties have a TN-C-S (PME) earthing system, which creates a specific safety concern for EV charging.
On a PME supply, the neutral and earth are combined in the supply cable as a single PEN conductor. If this PEN conductor breaks (an "open PEN" fault), the voltage on the PME earth terminal can rise to a dangerous level — potentially up to 230V. Because an EV charging cable provides a direct metallic connection between the installation earth and the vehicle chassis (which a person may be touching), this creates a risk of fatal electric shock.
BS 7671 Regulation 722.411.4.1 addresses this by requiring that, on PME supplies, the EV charging circuit must use a separate TT earth electrode — a copper-clad earth rod driven into the ground — rather than the PME earth. This ensures the vehicle earth is completely independent of the PME system. The EV circuit is then protected by a 30 mA RCD, which will trip if the earth electrode resistance and the fault current produce a touch voltage exceeding 50V.
The TT earth electrode conductor must be run separately from the consumer unit to the earth rod — it must not be connected to the PME earth bar. The RCD protecting the EV circuit must only protect TT-earthed circuits, not any PME-earthed circuits. Getting this wrong defeats the purpose of the separate earth and leaves the installation non-compliant.
For properties with an existing TN-S earthing system (earth provided by the cable sheath) or TT system (existing earth electrode), the separate earth rod may not be required — but the 30 mA RCD protection is still mandatory. Always check the earthing arrangement before specifying the installation design.
The circuit protection for an EV charger must address both overcurrent and earth fault conditions. The standard protective device arrangement for a domestic 7 kW charger is:
32A Type A RCBO (30 mA) — where the charger has built-in 6 mA DC residual current detection. Most modern domestic chargers (Zappi, Ohme, Pod Point, Easee, Wallbox) include this DC detection, allowing the use of a Type A device rather than the more expensive Type B.
The charger monitors for DC residual currents internally and disconnects if the DC component exceeds 6 mA. The Type A RCBO in the consumer unit then provides protection against AC and pulsating DC fault currents.
32A Type B RCD + MCB (or Type B RCBO) — where the charger does not have built-in DC detection. A Type B RCD detects smooth DC fault currents that a Type A cannot. This is more expensive (Type B RCDs cost £150-£300 compared to £30-£50 for a Type A RCBO) but is essential where the fault current may have a DC component.
Always check the charger manufacturer's installation manual for the specific RCD type required.
The circuit breaker rating should be 32A for a standard 7 kW single-phase charger. A Type C characteristic is typically specified (rather than Type B) because the charger may draw brief inrush currents on start-up that could nuisance trip a Type B device. Again, check the manufacturer's specification.
The IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation is the definitive guidance document for EV charger installations in the UK. It supplements BS 7671 Section 722 with detailed, practical guidance on every aspect of the installation. While the Code of Practice is not a regulation in itself, it is widely regarded as the industry standard and is referenced by competent person schemes, manufacturers, and grant bodies.
The Code of Practice covers:
Elec-Mate has a dedicated EV Charger Certificate form that follows the IET Code of Practice structure.
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Start free trialThe total cost of a domestic EV charger installation depends on the charger unit chosen, the complexity of the cable run, whether an earth rod is needed, and any upgrades required to the existing electrical installation.
Ohme, Zappi, Pod Point, Easee, etc.
Including cable, protective device, testing, EIC
Copper-clad rod, connections, testing
Additional way, new board if full
Standard domestic installation
The wide range reflects the variability of installations. A simple job — charger next to the consumer unit, short cable run, existing spare way in the board — can be at the lower end. A complex job — charger in a detached garage requiring a long SWA cable run, earth rod, consumer unit upgrade, and load management — will be at the higher end or potentially above it.
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Try it free for 7 daysThe Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) — formerly the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) — has offered various grant schemes to support domestic EV charger installations. The most well-known is the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which provided up to £350 towards installation costs.
As of 2026, the availability and specific terms of government grants change regularly. The EVHS has been through several iterations, with eligibility criteria shifting over time. Currently, the grant is primarily available for:
To claim any OZEV grant, the installer must be OZEV-approved and registered with a competent person scheme. The installation must comply with BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice. Comprehensive documentation is required — including the EV charger certificate, photographs, and DNO notification evidence. Incomplete documentation is the most common reason for grant rejection.
EV charger installation involves two separate notification requirements: the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and Building Regulations Part P.
Under the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) 2002, the DNO must be notified before connecting any significant new load. A 7 kW EV charger drawing 32A is a significant addition to a domestic supply. Most DNOs require notification through their online portal.
The DNO notification serves two purposes: it allows the DNO to check that the local network can handle the additional load, and it helps with network planning as EV uptake grows. In some cases, the DNO may require a supply upgrade (e.g., from 60A to 100A fuse) before the charger can be connected.
Installing a new circuit for an EV charger is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. The work must be either self-certified through a competent person scheme or notified to building control.
A full Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is required for the new circuit. The EIC must include all the Section 722 specific requirements — PME assessment, earthing details, load management documentation, and complete test results. A Minor Works Certificate is not appropriate.
The maximum demand of the property — including the new EV charger — must be assessed before installation. Elec-Mate includes a maximum demand calculator that factors in the EV charger load and checks it against the supply fuse rating.
Visit the property and assess the existing electrical installation. Record the earthing arrangement (TN-C-S, TN-S, or TT), supply fuse rating, and current maximum demand. Determine the cable route from the consumer unit to the charger location. Identify whether an earth rod is needed (PME supply), whether the consumer unit has a spare way, and whether the supply capacity is adequate for the additional 32A load.
Submit the DNO notification through their online portal before starting work. Check whether the customer qualifies for the OZEV grant and, if so, submit the grant application. Confirm the charger specification with the customer — charger make and model, tethered vs untethered cable, smart charging features, and colour options.
Drive a copper-clad earth rod into the ground near the charger location. Connect the earth electrode conductor and run it back to the consumer unit separately from the PME earthing system. Measure the earth electrode resistance (Ra) using the appropriate test method. The combined product of Ra and the RCD operating current must not exceed 50V.
Install the cable from the consumer unit to the charger location using the correct installation method. For internal runs, use twin-and-earth cable (6mm² minimum for short runs, 10mm² for longer runs). For external underground runs, use SWA cable buried at minimum 500mm depth with cable covers and route marker tape. Install the 32A Type A RCBO (or Type B if required) in the consumer unit.
Mount the wallbox at the correct height (manufacturer specification, typically 1-1.5m from ground to centre). Connect the supply cable to the charger following the manufacturer installation instructions. Install a local isolator adjacent to the charger if not built into the unit. Commission the charger — connect to Wi-Fi, set up the smart charging schedule, and configure load management if a CT clamp is fitted.
Carry out the full testing sequence: continuity of protective conductors, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance, prospective fault current, and RCD operating time. Complete the Electrical Installation Certificate with all Section 722 specific documentation. Submit Part P notification through your competent person scheme. Issue the certificate to the customer and retain your copy.
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