UK Consumer Unit spare way

[justeez81]

Hi all. I am due to get an EV wallbox fitted so I will be running a new 6mm SWA from under my stairs to the termination point outside. My issue is I have no spare ways for a 32A breaker in my consumer unit for the installer. Is there any recommendations on shifting some load to free up a way for a new mccb?

Consumer layout

Main Switch/RCD/16A cooker/32A upstairs sockets/32A kitchen +outdoor sockets/10A boiler +loft/6A downstairs lights/RCD/6A kitchen lights/6A upstairs lights/6A smoke alarms/20A utility room sockets/32A living room sockets.

 

[driverman]

Might not need it, depending on the EV..

I was just thinking ease of getting a good earth connection in these modern day plastic boxes instead of relying solely on the SWA glands and banjo connections

 

[Spoon]

Was you meant to put a reply to my post that you copied in your post above, or was it copied by accident?

 

[Spoon]

I was just thinking ease of getting a good earth connection in these modern day plastic boxes instead of relying solely on the SWA glands and banjo connections

The EV might need to be TT arrangement, depending of EV of course.

 

[driverman]

The EV might need to be TT arrangement, depending of EV of course.

Good point, I was just assuming attached to house.

 

[justeez81]

Good point, I was just assuming attached to house.

It will require an earth rod which they will install and the EV Box will be TT. Would they still require a Type A RCD at the consumer unit side or just a 32A Mccb

 

[driverman]

Was you meant to put a reply to my post that you copied in your post above, or was it copied by accident?

Sorry Spoon, have I done something that I shouldn’t of? I’m using my phone for this for the first time.

 

[pc1966]

It all depend on the EV charger. Some only need the supply basic protection, so if SWA cable then a MCB is fine, others demand at least a type A RCD/RCBO or possibly the eye-wateringly expensive type B.

For now I would put in big enough and smooth bend duct so you can pull through whatever is needed later. You won't save much (if anything) on the cable cost, what you can save over the installer doing everything is the donkey work of duct or cable burial.

With duct you can also run network cable along side SWA if it is a smart charger that regulated household use versus charge rate if you get close to the incoming supply limit.

 

[Spoon]

Good point, I was just assuming attached to house.

Even if the EV is attached to the house it still might need to be TT. Some require it that way.

Sorry Spoon, have I done something that I shouldn’t of? I’m using my phone for this for the first time.

That was directed at @justeez81 post #15 mate, not you.

 

[Spoon]

With duct you can also run network cable along side SWA if it is a smart charger that regulated household use versus charge rate if you get close to the incoming supply limit.

Doncaster Cables do one that is power and data combined.

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Doncaster Cables is the largest British owned general wiring manufacturer in the UK. We have been manufacturing cables since 1984 and among our current staff alone we have over 1000 years direct cable manufacturing experience. Throughout this time we have continued to develop in to an...

www.doncastercables.com

 

[Risteard]

No I am getting a new driveway installed and will pre install the SWA before the EV box is installed. I also intend on doing the cable run as that keeps installer costs down as well

Personally I charge extra if someone has done that, as it always adds to the work I need to do to correct it.

 

[Risteard]

I doubt the RCD in the existing CU's are that type

Even if it was, each and every EVSE must have its own dedicated RCD.

 

[justeez81]

Personally I charge extra if someone has done that, as it always adds to the work I need to do to correct it.

Thats why I want a curled up SWA ready for thr installer to connect the ev, earth rod and consumer unit

 

[Spoon]

Thats why I want a curled up SWA ready for thr installer to connect the ev, earth rod and consumer unit

How does the installer know that the cable running under the new driveway isn't damaged or installed correctly, if he cant see it?
Again, what EV are you getting?

Why not just do what @driverman suggests in post #9 and just lay in some ducting?