Electri-Call-Us

How much does it cost to install an electric car charging station at home?

The cost can vary depending on charger used, location of charger, location of car when on charge, proximity to exposed earthed metal work, electric supply type. Any work involving a new circuit or modification to a circuit requires it to comply to BS7671 18th edition, also the type of RCD required can be different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Tesla required a type B RCD, others are type A or F instead of the usual type AC found in most boards other than new boards fitted within last 6 months. If you have to use a safety isolating transformer then the cost goes up again.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an RCBO?

Current regs don’t really allow the use of single RCD boards anymore except for certain installations. The RCD trips if there is an imbalance due to a fault path from live to earth and or neutral to earth. If an rcd trips then everything upstream or connected after it loses powers. RCBO’s work exactly the same but it is only the circuit with the issue that trips. So in event of a say a cut cable whilst cutting the hedge or grass you won’t mind a RCD tripping everything as it’s a safety device, now you have a neutral to earth fault it could be on any circuit connected to that rcd you won’t know where it is unless you have test equipment. Usually neutral to earth faults can’t be found by turning off switches or breakers as these only isolate live conductors. RCBOs will still trip under neutral to earth faults but it will only be the circuit with the fault that will be affected.

Where can LED lights be used in the home?

Led can be used any where in the domestic home with no issues. They have got a lot more robust and can handle temperature ranges better. They don’t like extreme heat which may cause premature failure or require extra heatsink to dissipate heat away faster, this usually applies to commercial kitchens.