Hi folks, thanks for the useful advice on this thread and elsewhere on the forum. I’m also having BP Pulse charger installation trouble. I’ve ordered a VW ID.3 and about a week later got the text Garry posted above. Wary of the BP Pulse given the terrible feedback, but it seems like we don’t have a choice with Motability? Have since been on for about a week trying to figure out how to answer the questions in the online survey, scouring Google and watching YouTube videos. It is far too complicated for a “layman”! To be honest, it’s made me slightly regret ordering an electric car… The main questions I’m struggling with are:
1. Tethered or untethered? – While tethered looks more convenient, I think I’ll need to go for untethered because the tethered 4.5m long cable won’t quite be long enough. (It’s usually more convenient to drive forward onto our drive rather than reverse, so the car’s charging point will be further away from the charger.) I reckon I’ll need a 7m long cable. Any recommendations?
2. Do you have electrical surge protection for your property? – The house is about 12 years old. My current fusebox has RCD protection but not surge protection. BP asks “Would you like us to provide a risk assessment and quotation for the installation of the surge protection device?” Is it worth getting them to do this? Do you need a surge protection device, and might it be better to get a local electrician to do it? I reckon this might cost around £300-£500.
3. Photos of your protective earth connections for water and gas. – Found the earth connection for the gas in the meter box. Water is the problem. There is no earth connection near the stopcock on the incoming water supply (under kitchen sink). It seems strange that this wouldn’t have been done in a relatively new property if it was required. Is it required? Do I need to get an earth connection fitted here?
4. Will we source the supply from the electric mains supply or the property’s fuseboard? – I have no idea! Assuming mains supply means the meter box, that is next to where I want the EV charger installed, so presumably I say “electric mains supply”?
Judging from the feedback, this is only the beginning of the problems! Not sure I’ve got the energy for it, to be honest. Is it worth persevering or might it be better just to arrange my own charger installation? (And how much might that cost?!)
Any advice cheerfully accepted!