More and more electric vehicle owners are installing charging points at home, but there are still some older electric vehicles that are charged from a regular socket without a special cable. The following guidelines will help you to prevent overload and fire in the electrical system at home.
DSB recommends that all electric car owners who are going to charge at home to charge via a separate charging point that is permanently mounted on the wall. Such charging points are fitted with a connector that is built to withstand high loads over time. The charging cable used on such charging points is also more robust and suitable for daily use. This is therefore the safest option to prevent fire or overloading of the electrical system. From January 2023, all new charging points set up for electric vehicles must be of this type.
Some vehicles have such a large battery capacity that a high charging current is required to charge the battery. It may then be necessary to install a separate 32 A three-phase course up to the charging unit. In that case, you may have to apply to the network company to increase the capacity of your subscription and increase the capacity of the intake protection for the house. The electrician can do this for you.
It is not forbidden to charge an electric vehicle from a wall socket, but it can be difficult to assess for yourself whether your electrical system can withstand this load. Electric vehicles draw a lot of current and often over a long period of time. This can lead to overload and fire in the electrical system. As the owner of the electrical system, you should make sure that the sockets and cables do not show signs of overheating, such as yellow or brown discolouration, a burnt smell or crackling - note that such faults can also occur elsewhere in the house than where the electric vehicle is connected.
If a fire occurs that causes damage to property or people, you as the owner of the electrical system should be able to show that the electrical system has been used in a responsible manner.
Using a special cable
Many electric vehicles are supplied with a special cable for charging from a socket. The special cable has a "bulge" that limits the charging current, so that it does not draw more current than the vehicle and the electrical system can normally withstand. In addition, the cable has components that monitor safety and prevent electric shock. Such a special cable can be used in a normal socket without creating a high load and risk of fire.
It is usually also possible to reduce the charging current manually. This means that you can use such a special cable in a standard wall socket, without it causing an overload and a fire hazard in the electrical system.
Install a metal basket/framework, shelf or other suitable suspension for bearing the weight of the special cable during charging. If the cable and the "bulge" are allowed to hang freely and pull on the socket, the socket may be damaged and overheating and a risk of fire may occur. If charging takes place outdoors, ensure that snow and water do not remain on the charging equipment. This can damage the equipment and increase the risk of fire.
Without a special cable
If you are going to charge an electric vehicle from a standard wall socket and do not have a special cable, use a course that is secured with a maximum of 10 amperes. Also use a separate course that has its own earth fault circuit breaker and that is not used for other electrical appliances at the same time.
Separate regulations were introduced in 2014 for courses designed for charging electric vehicles. If an electrician has installed a normal plug for charging your electric vehicle after 2014, then this is safe to use.
For housing associations and co-owners, it is very important to have the capacity of the electrical system assessed before installing an outlet for charging an electric vehicle. Here you need to contact a registered electrician who can advise on what is needed in terms of capacity and equipment for stable and safe charging in communal garages.
In garages with many charging outlets, there is also equipment for distributing charging power and time. This is necessary if the available power is less than the need - then all the vehicles can be charged without the electrical system being overloaded.
It will also be possible to introduce payment solutions. An electrician can provide sound advice on which solutions may be appropriate in the individual case.