[Snailspeed41]

I’m really hoping people can help us. Our car is being delivered next week and we are short of a charging cable and a way of connecting it to our metre/board.
Live live in a new build terrace house that had an internal garage where the electricity metre etc was/is. We have since converted the garage into a room and put some floor to ceiling cupboards that conceal and house the board and metre etc.
We have filled out our remote survey form and in initial conversation pod point said they can only clip the cable so it runs along the internal wall and put some trunking over it. Aesthetically we are not that happy to have this. Is it possible to run the cable above the ceiling? It says something about a draw line? What is this, please excuse my severe lack of knowledge. Failing that, can you use a rebated skirting to conceal the cable? Has anyone done this or got any other creative ideas?
Finally (sorry- lots of issues!) - will Podpoint still through the cupboard and clip the wire to it or does it need to be anchored to the wall?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as unless we get a solution we won’t be able to charge the car at home 😩

thanks so much.

 

[dk6780]

I can't speak for PodPoint but guess that they are trying to fit your requirements into a standard install price and are looking at simple solutions. You on the other hand are looking for a more aesthetically pleasing solution. The issue is how to get a thick inflexible cable through a small space.
A draw string is a compromise solution where you (or someone else that you pay) does the job of working out a route for the cable and installs a piece of thin rope along the route that the Podpoint installer can use to pull the cable through.
The cable probably be run in either way that you suggest but it'll take time and care to do - nothing is impossible it just takes time and unless you DIY that costs.
I had a difficult install and chose to supply and install the cable myself, Podpoint were happy to then terminate both ends and fit the charge point.
If you can't DIY install the cable or drawstring yourself I suggest that you employ a Sparky to do it on your behalf.

 

[Jamjsco]

@Snailspeed41 I had similar issues, insofar as the route between my consumer unit (middle of the house) and the charger location (front door) meant Pod Point wanted to run the cable through my hallway, in trunking. I wasn't happy with this and asked the Pod Point project manager about running in beneath the CU in the crawl space. He gave me the technical requirements but said their engineer can't enter the crawl space to fit. So, they sent me the cable (I gave them measurements) and I got my own electrician to drill the holes and run the cable in the crawl space. £30 well spent if you ask me.

 

[Bullterrier]

Just to add that if you do run your own cable make sure you understand safe zones and how to drill joists within regs etc.

Also, unless your installer is happy to break his scheme rules he will need to be able to see the whole cable run to be able to sign the install off as he’s signing to say the route is safe and no installation damage to insulation etc.

 

[Snailspeed41]

Thank you both for these replies, this is really reassuring. I’ll try and speak to an electrician today!

 

[Tandy0]

I think it might be less trouble & expense to get your own electrician to do the whole job.

 

[Chickster]

Have Podpoint actually seen photos and video of proposed cable run? Most installation companies ask this to be able to quote standard or non-standard installations. I was initially advised need to get separate tradesman to do some initial work but wasn't needed after sending in photos/video. My installer was Home Smart Charge. They did a very neat job. From the MCU cable was run under floorboards so avoid clipping and trunking. Drilled hole into downstairs toilet room and ran cable within wooden pipe enclosures then to outside wall. Which area do you live? Worth getting a quote from electrician who specialises in EV charging. Best to get what you want if possible rather than what Podpoint consider easier. Probably have to pay more though.

 

[Snailspeed41]

Have Podpoint actually seen photos and video of proposed cable run? Most installation companies ask this to be able to quote standard or non-standard installations. I was initially advised need to get separate tradesman to do some initial work but wasn't needed after sending in photos/video. My installer was Home Smart Charge. They did a very neat job. From the MCU cable was run under floorboards so avoid clipping and trunking. Drilled hole into downstairs toilet room and ran cable within wooden pipe enclosures then to outside wall. Which area do you live? Worth getting a quote from electrician who specialises in EV charging. Best to get what you want if possible rather than what Podpoint consider easier. Probably have to pay more though.

We live in Bucks - are there registers of people who specialise?

 

[Troon]

I had the opposite experience: my CU is in the garage and the Pod Point is on an outside garage wall. I was quite happy for the installer to clip it around the garage wall before going through, but he insisted on a tidier installation with vertical drops from the garage loft…all within the standard "free" installation.

 

[Chickster]

We live in Bucks - are there registers of people who specialise?

Not sure but SHC website says covers all areas of England. Their survey is remotely done and very easy. Step by step guide using phone photos and short video. Very good customer service so can explain after what you exactly want and they'll advise. Try them and see.
If you go with them tell them you used them after watching EVM YouTube video and you get a £25 discount.

 

[dk6780]

Live live in a new build terrace house that had an internal garage where the electricity metre etc was/is.

Is your meter really inside the house and not outdoors? I can believe that your consumer unit is inside to be convenient but I thought that developers had to install meters externally.

 

[Jrtev]

The first thing to look for is can you get underneath your floor boards? Miles easier with no mess.

If you can draw a quick diagram and I'll run you through your options

 

[Gary Bainbridge]

If it's any help my PodPoint installer happily ran the cable through my loft space (single floor part of he house) to the outside wall. He then had to run the cable exposed outside, but there was no other option. I think the solution is to plan a good cable route and make sure that it's practical and clear of obstacles before they arrive.

 

[DrMagical]

This happened in our new house. New build house, beautiful finish. Fuse box is bang central middle of house in a cupboard. 2 storey house, only way to have it under floor is to lift all the carpets upstairs. No choice other than to have the cabling go along the ceiling corners through the wife's lovely kitchen, through the utility room, through holes in the wall into garage, out of garage to outside wall. Yes the guy put the white plastic trunking over which initially looked awful (walls are never straight and the gap was a variable width black line). Some filler down the edge helped but not sure the wife will ever forgive me for spoiling her new perfect house.

 

[dk6780]

Fuse box is bang central middle of house in a cupboard. 2 storey house

But I ask again, is the meter really in the same place? It makes more sense to run the charge point from that.
Edited to clarify the legal side of course!

 

[Snailspeed41]

Thanks for all your replies, We’ve hopefully got a solution although we await an electrician coming tomorrow. Pod-Point are shipping the cables so hopefully if we pay an electrician they can lay the cable in a hidden way. We gave a concrete floor with Karndean laid so it either needs to go up or round. I’ll let you know the outcome!

 

[mikegs]

her new perfect house.

walls are never straight

You can have one and one only