Guides
EV charging
guides.
Straight answers on connectors, charging speeds and what actually fits your car. No jargon, no filler.
Reviews
Best EV Charging Cable Locks 2026: Stop Cable Theft
The best all-round EV cable lock for most drivers is the EVify Type 2 Connector Lock, a cheap, visible deterrent that stops the plug being pulled mid-charge. Most cable theft is opportunistic, so a visible lock does most of the work Choose between plug locks, lockable holsters and full connection protectors Confirm a standard Type 2 fit and pick a weather-resistant build for outdoors
Guide
EV Charging Problems: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Match your symptom to the most likely cause, rule out the easy fixes, then follow the deep guide for your exact issue. Covers won't charge, slow charging, stopped overnight, stuck plug, and safety faults Includes a symptom to cause to guide quick-reference table Safety first: hot or burning means stop and unplug, repeated RCD trips mean call an electrician
Guide
EV Charger Installation: The Complete UK Guide
Home EV charger installation is notifiable work done by a qualified, OZEV-approved installer who wires it, tests it and notifies your network operator. DIY is almost never allowed, so budget for a professional install Costs run to the low-to-mid hundreds, so get two or three quotes and check grants This hub links every deep guide, from siting and cable runs to flats and three-phase
Home charging
Where Should You Put an EV Charger?
Mount your EV charger near where you park, on the side your car's charging port is on, at a comfortable height, and somewhere the lead reaches the inlet without strain or crossing a path. Match the charger to the car's port side to keep the lead short Keep the supply run to the consumer unit short where practical to help with cost Let the lead-to-inlet distance set the charging cable length you buy
Home charging
What Do You Need to Install an EV Charger at Home?
To install a home EV charger you need off-street parking, a suitable electricity supply, a wall or post to mount it, wifi or signal for smart features, and a qualified installer, plus your own Type 2 lead for untethered units. Off-street parking with a fixed space, as trailing a cable over a pavement is generally not allowed A supply with spare capacity, or load management and a CT clamp if it is tight An OZEV-approved installer who wires the dedicated circuit and notifies the DNO
Home charging
How Much Does It Cost to Install an EV Charger?
A straightforward home EV charger installation is typically in the low-to-mid hundreds of pounds, with the charger unit a separate cost, and the real figure depends on your property. The charger unit and the installation labour are two separate costs. Long cable runs, groundworks, consumer unit or earthing upgrades and working at height all add cost. Get two or three quotes, check gov.uk for grants, and budget for a Type 2 lead if your charger is untethered.
Home charging
How Long Does It Take to Install an EV Charger?
The install itself usually takes around half a day to a day on site, while enquiry to installed is often one to three weeks. On-site fitting typically takes around half a day to a day. From enquiry to working charger is often one to three weeks. Higher-power or three-phase jobs needing DNO approval can add weeks.
Home charging
How Far Can an EV Charger Be From the Fuse Box?
There is no single legal maximum distance, but a longer supply cable run needs a larger conductor to keep voltage drop within BS 7671 limits, and your electrician sizes it for your run. No fixed legal maximum: the practical limit is cost and cable size, not a number in a regulation. A longer run means a bigger, pricier supply cable, so keep the run as short as practical. The fixed supply cable (mm2, fitted by an electrician) is not the same as the Type 2 charging lead (metres, chosen by you).
Home charging
Can You Install Your Own EV Charger?
Realistically no: EV charge-point wiring is notifiable work under Part P, so it needs a qualified or OZEV-approved installer, not DIY. DIY is only legal if fully BS 7671 compliant and notified or inspected, and is strongly discouraged for EV circuits. You can still choose the charger, pick the mounting spot, and buy your own Type 2 charging lead. Grant-funded work must use an OZEV-approved installer.
Home charging
Why Is My EV Charging Slowly? Common Causes
Slow charging is usually set by the slowest link in the chain, most often the car's own onboard AC charger limit. Check the car's onboard limit, the charge point's power and the cable's rating first. A cold or nearly full battery, a smart schedule or load management can all slow things. A bigger or longer cable never beats the car's onboard limit.
How-to
Type 2 Plug Stuck in the Car? How to Release It
The car locks the connector while charging and until the session is ended and the car is unlocked, so end the charge and unlock to release it. Stop the charging session in the car or app, then unlock the car If it stays locked, lock and unlock again and wait a few seconds for the latch Use the car's handbook emergency release if needed, and never force the plug
Home charging
Granny Charger Not Working? What to Check
Check the control box lights and reset button, the plug RCD, and that you are using a sound, dedicated 13A socket before assuming the lead has failed. Reset the plug RCD once, but stop if it trips again No extension leads, multi-way adaptors, or shared sockets Stop charging if the socket is hot, discoloured, or smells of burning
Home charging
EV Won't Charge at Home: Fault-Finding Checklist
Most home charging failures are a tripped breaker, a loose cable, a locked car, or a schedule holding the session, not broken hardware. Check power at the point and whether the RCD has tripped (repeated trips mean an electrician) Reseat the cable at both ends, unlock the car, and check for a hidden schedule or smart tariff Swap in a second lead to rule out a faulty cable, and stop at once if anything is hot or smells of burning
Home charging
EV Stopped Charging Overnight: Common Causes
Most overnight stops are not faults: a schedule ended, the charge limit was reached, or the cheap-rate window closed. Check the car's charge limit and current state of charge first Look for schedules in the car, the app and your tariff A hot, discoloured or burning cable means stop and get it checked
Charging basics
EV Charging Glossary: Every Term Explained
A plain-English glossary of EV charging terms, from connectors and cables to speeds, smart tariffs and safety. Connectors and cables: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, tethered and untethered Speeds: AC vs DC, kW vs kWh, and why the car's onboard limit decides the speed Home, smart charging and safety: wallbox, granny charger, RCD, load management and more
Home charging
Is It Normal for an EV Charging Cable to Get Hot?
A mildly warm EV charging cable is normal, but hot, discoloured or burning means stop charging and get it checked. Warm under load is fine, hot or smelling of burning is not Causes include an under-rated lead, damaged pins or a tired 13A socket Never repair a damaged cable, replace it with a correctly rated one
Home charging
Why Does My EV Charger Keep Tripping the RCD?
Repeated RCD tripping is a safety warning, not a nuisance, so do not keep resetting it and get it checked by a qualified electrician or the charger manufacturer. EV points need protection against DC fault current: a Type B RCD, a Type A RCD plus 6mA detection, or a built-in RDC-DD. Nuisance trips can come from a faulty cable, moisture in a connector, a shared circuit, or a wiring fault. Safe owner checks: unplug, inspect for water or damage, and try a known-good lead or a different socket for a granny charger.
How-to
What Size Cable Do I Need for an EV Charger?
For a 7kW home charger, the supply cable is typically 6mm2 on ordinary runs or 10mm2 on longer ones, with the exact size set by a qualified electrician to BS 7671. 7kW is 32A single-phase: 6mm2 common, 10mm2 for longer runs or voltage drop 22kW needs a three-phase supply most UK homes do not have The charging lead is sized by length and connector, not mm2
How-to
What Size Cable for a 7kW EV Charger?
For a 7kW (32A single-phase) charger, installers commonly run 6mm² supply cable, stepping up to 10mm² for longer runs, with the final size set by a qualified electrician to BS 7671. 6mm² is common for ordinary runs; 10mm² for longer runs or voltage drop. SWA for outdoor or buried routes; T&E for protected indoor runs only. Notifiable Part P work: use a registered installer, never DIY.
Comparisons
What Size Cable for a 22kW EV Charger?
A 22kW charger is three-phase, so its supply cable is a multi-core SWA sized by your electrician to BS 7671, but most UK homes are single-phase and only need a 7kW install. 22kW needs a three-phase supply most UK homes do not have The supply cable is a multi-core SWA, size set by your installer The car also needs a three-phase onboard charger to reach 22kW
How-to
How to Run a Cable for an EV Charger
Running the supply cable for an EV charger is notifiable work a qualified installer carries out from the consumer unit to the wallbox, to BS 7671. SWA for outdoor, buried or exposed runs; twin-and-earth only for protected indoor runs Typical 7kW supply cable is 6mm2 or 10mm2, but the size is the electrician's call Part P notifiable: DIY is strongly discouraged for EV circuits
How-to
EV Charger Cable Size: Rules of Thumb and Sizing Table
No web calculator can safely size your EV supply cable: the right mm² depends on your run length and install, confirmed by an electrician to BS 7671. 7kW (32A): 6mm² is typical for shorter runs, 10mm² for longer runs. Real sizing weighs run length, install method, grouping, ambient temperature and voltage drop. If "size" means the charging lead, that means length: 5m suits most driveways.
Comparisons
6mm vs 10mm Cable for an EV Charger
For a 7kW/32A home charger, 6mm2 supply cable is common on ordinary runs and 10mm2 is used on longer runs, with the installer deciding the size to BS 7671. 6mm2 often suits shorter, straightforward runs 10mm2 is favoured for longer runs to control voltage drop This is supply wiring, not the charging lead you plug in
How-to
Camping With an EV: A V2L Power Guide
If your EV supports V2L, you can power a campsite from the car battery through an adapter that gives you a normal socket, typically up to around 3.6kW. Runs a fridge, kettle, lights and device charging, one heavy item at a time Only certain cars support it, such as the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 Light use barely dents range, but heaters drain the battery fast