Volkswagen ID.3 Forum

HeidiFlowerpt Driver wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:26 pm If you're anywhere near @digital (postings in this thread) his installer sounds great...

I'm in Yorkshire: the other (right!) side of the Pennines so it may not be economic for my installer to travel.

@digital I am in Richmond N Yorks and wondering if your installer covers up
Here?
I have a 63 amp single phase supply, and the online chap at Octopus is saying I will need to get my supply increased to 100 amp before they can install - does this sound right?

RM1 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 7:04 pm @digital I am in Richmond N Yorks and wondering if your installer covers up
Here?
I have a 63 amp single phase supply, and the online chap at Octopus is saying I will need to get my supply increased to 100 amp before they can install - does this sound right?

If your home has a limit due to a 60 A fuse it's normal to recommend this is upgraded to either an 80 A or 100 A fuse. Our DNO does this for free and it's the job of the installer to request that the DNO do it - in fact it's not even possible to request such an upgrade as a private individual where I live. Some of this does vary around the country though.
It's not actually true that you need a higher rated supply, but if you don't have one then you'll probably need a charger with load balancing capability. If you've chosen a charger already and it doesn't have load balancing then it makes sense that Octupus would mention the fuse.

The home charger will take 32 amps of your 63 amps. Thats ok providing you dont have any other unusual loads like AC or Electrical heating rather than gas. If you chose a home charger with a load monitor (CT) that will reduce charging power to the car to protect your incoming 63 amp from overloading.
I would ask Octopus to explain why 63 amps is not sufficient. Would an increase need a cable upgrade (expensive) or is it a fuse change?

RM1 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 7:04 pm @digital I am in Richmond N Yorks and wondering if your installer covers up
Here?
I have a 63 amp single phase supply, and the online chap at Octopus is saying I will need to get my supply increased to 100 amp before they can install - does this sound right?

My main fuse isn’t labelled but it’s almost certainly 100A due to the age of the house. The installer had to notify the DNO (who apparently is a private provider). My installer said they might come out and change the fuse… they haven’t yet.

I asked why they had to be told and he said it’s so they know what’s happening in the area to manage distribution. “Imagine if everyone got a charger installed, they need to know because it’s new load that wasn’t originally thought of”. That’s not the only consideration though.

If you have a 60A main fuse then you would probably be okay with a 7kW charger but if have an induction hob and an electric shower then try to charge your car you could blow your main fuse. Blowing the main fuse is a pretty big deal as in you could be without power for several hours and someone will have to come out and replace it. That’s going to be expensive and why octopus won’t fit the charger.