What Cable Do You Need for an Ohme Charger?

The Ohme home chargers are commonly sold tethered, meaning the charging cable is permanently attached and you plug the built-in end straight into your car. If yours is tethered, you do not need to buy a separate lead. If you have an untethered Ohme unit with a socket instead, you supply your own Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable rated to match the box. So the first step is to check which version you have. If you do need a lead, the Type 2 charging cables range covers the common lengths and power ratings, and the cable finder confirms what your specific car needs.

At a glance: Ohme cable needs

Does an Ohme charger come with a cable?

Ohme units are often supplied tethered, with the cable already fixed to the charger, so most owners plug the attached connector straight into the car with nothing else to buy. Some setups are untethered, using a socket rather than a fixed cable, in which case you provide your own lead. Check your unit: a permanently attached cable means tethered, while a bare socket on the front means untethered. That single check tells you whether you need to buy anything at all.

Do I need a cable for a tethered Ohme?

No. A tethered Ohme has its charging cable built in, so there is nothing extra to buy for everyday charging. You simply lift the attached connector and plug it into your car. The only lead a tethered-charger owner might want is a spare Type 2 to Type 2 cable to keep in the boot for untethered public chargers, which have a socket rather than an attached cable. For more, see do you need a cable for a tethered charger.

What cable does an untethered Ohme need?

An untethered Ohme needs a standard Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable, the same universal AC lead used at most untethered public chargers. Both ends are Type 2: one plugs into the Ohme's socket, the other into your car's charge port. This is an ordinary home charging cable, not a rapid DC lead and not a granny charger. Pick the power rating and length to suit your home, and it will work with the Ohme just as it does at any Type 2 point.

What power rating should I choose?

For most UK homes, a 7.4kW Type 2 cable is the sensible choice, since the majority of homes are single phase and 7.4kW is the single-phase ceiling. A 22kW-rated cable only delivers 22kW if you have a three-phase supply and a car that accepts three-phase AC, which is a minority of setups. On a single-phase home a 22kW cable still charges at 7.4kW, just heavier and dearer. To decide, read 7kW vs 22kW and do I need a 22kW cable.

What about cable length and the car end?

Choose 5m for most driveways, or 7m to 10m if your charge port sits awkwardly or you park at an angle. The car end must match your car's inlet, which for almost every EV sold since 2018 is Type 2, so a Type 2 to Type 2 lead is correct. A few older cars use Type 1 and need a Type 1 to Type 2 cable instead. The Ohme end is always Type 2.

• 5m: standard driveways with the box near the parking spot.
• 7m to 10m: awkward inlet, angled parking, or reaching past a car.
• Check your inlet with Type 1 vs Type 2 if unsure.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Ohme charger include a cable?

Ohme units are commonly tethered, meaning the cable is already attached and included. Some are untethered with a socket instead, in which case you supply your own Type 2 to Type 2 lead. Check your unit: a fixed cable means tethered and nothing extra to buy, while a bare socket means untethered and needs your own cable.

Do I need to buy a cable for a tethered Ohme?

No. A tethered Ohme has the cable built in, so you plug the attached connector straight into your car with nothing else needed. The only lead you might want is a spare Type 2 to Type 2 cable for untethered public chargers, which have a socket rather than an attached cable. For home charging the tethered unit is self-contained.

What cable does an untethered Ohme need?

A standard Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable, rated to match your setup. Both ends are Type 2 connectors, one for the Ohme socket and one for your car. For most UK homes a 7.4kW lead is plenty, since single-phase supplies cap at that rate. Choose a length that reaches your charge port comfortably.

Will a 22kW cable charge my car faster on an Ohme?

Not on a single-phase home. A cable only delivers what the weakest link allows, so a 22kW-rated lead on a single-phase supply still charges at 7.4kW. Faster AC charging needs a three-phase supply and a car that accepts three-phase power. For most homes a 7.4kW cable is the practical, cheaper option.

Can I use a public charging cable with an untethered Ohme?

Yes. The Type 2 to Type 2 lead you use at untethered public chargers is exactly what an untethered Ohme needs. One cable covers both your home unit and most public AC points, which is a handy advantage of the untethered setup. Just check its power rating suits both.

What if my car has a Type 1 inlet?

Then you need a Type 1 to Type 2 cable, and this only applies to an untethered Ohme, since a tethered one has a fixed cable already. Type 1 inlets are found on some older cars sold before 2018. The charger end is always Type 2. If you are unsure which inlet you have, check your car or use the cable finder.

In short, a tethered Ohme has everything you need built in, while an untethered Ohme takes your own Type 2 to Type 2 lead sized to your supply and driveway. If you need a cable, the Type 2 charging cables range lists the common options, and to understand the two charger styles read tethered vs untethered wallbox alongside do you need a cable for a tethered charger.