What is an earth rod for an EV charger?
EV chargers that don’t have built-in earthing require an external earth rod. An earth rod is a copper rod that is inserted into the ground and connected to the charger, creating an earthing system for the charger. Earthing is necessary to stop the car body from becoming live. If no earthing is present, this is […]
Is a smart charger necessary for an EV?
Smart chargers are connected EV home chargers that let you create schedules and set kWh price caps to unlock the cheapest possible charging rates. In contrast, dumb chargers are glorified power sockets that are on or off. However, you can still control charging via your vehicle or vehicle’s OEM app. The question of whether a […]
How does a solar inverter work on a house? What does it do?
A solar inverter is the central component of a solar energy system. It is responsible for taking the direct current (DC) electricity produced by the solar panels and converting it into alternating current (AC) that can be used by the home’s electrical appliances and fed back into the grid. It plays a critical role in […]
Solar PV to EV charging – how does it work?
Solar PV to EV charging works by utilising solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity. The electricity generated is then used to charge an electric vehicle (EV). The electricity generated by the PV panels is converted into alternating current (AC), which is then converted into direct current (DC) by an inverter. The DC current is […]
What factors can slow down EV charging speeds at home?
When charging at home you might experience slower charging speeds than advertised. For example, your 7kWh home charger might only achieve 5kW in the morning. Generally, slow charger speed is caused by the vehicle receiving low voltage from the charger due to inadequate power supply that cannot support the speed. However, there are several other […]
Smart home charger vs socket for EV charging
A smart home charger is a device that can be used to charge an electric vehicle (EV) at home at significantly higher speeds than a standard socket thanks to in-built RCD protection and bolstered circuits that regulate the power flow. The charger is connected directly to your home energy supply and can be customized to […]
How EV charger installation works
Installing an electric car charging point requires a professional electrician to ensure that your property can house one and to plan out where it’ll go. This stage is usually free. The installer will then set up the physical charger – often in a garage or on a driveway – and run up to 10 meters […]
A quick guide to the SolarEdge EV charging single phase inverter
If you want to charge your electric vehicle with solar panels, you need a single phase inverter to facilitate the transfer of power. Homeowners can benefit from SolarEdge’s single phase inverter for electric vehicle charging which offers a much faster way to charge up to six times the rate of a standard Level 1 charger. […]
The advantages of solar energy for homes
Solar energy is a highly renewable source of energy, capable of taking you off-grid entirely. Continuing advances in technology, such as the SolarEdge single phase inverter, are allowing us to harness this energy in simpler, more cost-efficient and more accessible ways, making solar energy the fastest growing form of renewable energy. The installation of solar […]
What is smart charging?
You may have noticed that most EV home chargers are labelled ‘smart chargers’. A smart charger is a charger that can take advantage of scheduled times and kWh price caps for greater charging control. Smart chargers are also connected to your smartphone, sometimes syncing directly with your electric car and relaying the vehicle’s charging information […]