Not used yet but ordered this to be able to lock up my cable;

Master Lock Wall/ Floor Anchor, Hardened Steel Shackle 10 mm and Lock Body Swivels 180 Degree Master Lock Wall/ Floor Anchor, Hardened Steel Shackle 10 mm and Lock Body Swivels 180 Degree: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

 

I have an untethered chargemaster with a lock, it's been on the wall 4 years and no one has tried to charge their car on it.
I use a 10m cable, usual problem 2 cars on drive and need the length. this is left plugged in and anchored to the wall with a Staple and small padlock. Anyone desperate for the copper will cut the cable anyway so the lock is a deterrent,

 

The myth of people stealing electricity seems alive and well. Has it ever happened in this country?
As you identified, the kit is more likely to be stolen in my opinion. PodPoints sell without provenence on eBay for £300 - that's a lot of electricity even at Ionity rates.
You can get cable locks but they are easy to overcome - Google BosnianBill and his YouTube videos testing them - anything he knows the crims know. My suggestion is to keep your unit out of site.

 

I have tall wrought-iron gates halfway down my driveway. I suppose I could install the charger behind that, and bolt the cable to the wall. I just wonder if all I'd achieve is inconveniencing myself!

 

When would you want to take the cable anywhere else? What you suggests sounds sensible as the charge point will be app controlled.

 

If someone didn't want to take the cable with them, then they would order a tethered unit. If a cable doesn't come with the car, then it's needed for destination charging.

 

A friend had the pod point 'lock' fitted and is still in dispute with them. Within two weeks, it had rusted up, then the barrel started rotating which ultimately disabled his charger.

Basically, the 'lock' installation comprised of someone drilling a hole in the side of the unit and fitting a cheap key switch. The problems are firstly that the correct hole for the key switch isn't a round hole, it should have had square sides to prevent rotation. Secondly, it clearly was not an outdoor rated key switch!

I don't think electricity theft is a real problem to be honest... You'd have to have a real brass neck to pull up on someone's drive and plug your car in!

 

Sounds like my best solution is to install the charger behind the gate, and bolt the cable to the wall. It's a long enough cable that it could reach pretty much anywhere, and the main equipment will be safe from casual thieves. Thanks for your advice everyone.

 

The OP has bought a 10m cable which is longer than most want as a destination charge cable. I have a non-tethered unit and have a dedicated cable that lives in it the whole time for convenience and a further "destination" cable in the boot of the car, but it enables me to allow friends with different standard connectors to use the point when visiting if they have their destination cable. It also means that if my cable gets damaged I have a spare and am not marooned awaiting a replacement. Each to their own I guess.

 

Mine will be installed in my garden behind a locked gate. I suppose if it was just on the side or front of my house I might consider some kind of lock.

 

It is always an option to turn off the pod point at the breaker essentially achieving the same thing as the lock, less convenient and tbh I doubt anyone is going to be cheeky enough to steal your electricity. if you think they might set up a camera with a motion sensor and if and when it is a problem worry about it then.

 

I'm get my charger fitted behind my gate and would need a longer cable, where did you purchase the 10m cable if you don't mind me asking?

 

It was direct from PodPoint.

I decided on this so I have a universal connector. I have the car on a lease and it goes back in 2 years. I didn't want to be restricted to a particular connector type in case my next car has a different connector, or so that visitors can charge if they need to. I got a 10m cable so I have flexibility about where I park the car on my drive.

 

Our charger is in full view, but I am not worried about anyone using it. They can steal electricity at ~90p an hour which is a terrible return for them, and assuming they are going to want to remain close by to be able to make a getaway if we come back then they're stuck in pointless suburbia for all that time. I mean they could read a book or go to the playpark down the street for a bit, perhaps...

I suppose your close neighbours could do it, but then they probably know your habits well enough to be able to nick things of far greater value, so if they're that bothered about 90p/hr they are welcome to it...

 

Our charger is in full view...................................

So is mine. The only reported incident was when my daughters' friend asked why her dad had fitted a defibrillator to his house.

 

I'm planning to get one of these.

Hylec Metal Enclosures IP66

A cost effective selection of metal enclosures from Hylec. With an IP66 rated as standard they are manufactured from galvanised steel with a powder coated finish to RAL7035 (light grey). Available in 18 different frame sizes ranging from 250mm to 800mm in height, Hylec metal enclosures have got...

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make a little cut in the bottom to get the cable in and lock the plug away protected from the rain.
Cheaper and more effective than the lock

 

I suspect that there are people who will want to nick the cable. I've had mine unplugged when charging once (pulled out of the Polar post), and the locking mechanisms in the connectors are flakey. I use a padlock with a long shackle, loop the cable round something and then back through the lock.

 

I suspect that there are people who will want to nick the cable

Exactly this, but I don't think it's really much to worry about. If people were seriously after the copper we'd have a spate of tethered cables being copped off too. It's not live unless it's plugged in charging.

One of the reasons I went untethered was that I felt it would be easier to replace if somebody had a go at the cable.

 

I'm don't think that people will want the cable for the copper, but instead to sell on online auction sites. A typical type 2 to type 2 without provenance goes for £90 - £100 and especially long or branded ones even more. Beats nicking a car stereo and no need to brake anything to get it.

I'll stop being boring about this now and get my coat!

 

As much as I was frowned upon for requiring a lockable charger for my install, I am glad I did, as it's very visible to the street and complete with green 'look at me' power indicator.
My concern is not around 'brassed neck' thieves after electrons, but the much lower end of the IQ once EV ownership starts to increase where a driver sees a charger and believes they are 'entitled' to use it.

I'm using a Schneider Wallbox with an NFC reader and I'm very happy. Build quality seems great, it's reliable and not too 'smart' such that preconditioning still works. Mines untethered, which on some rainy days I feel like I wish for a tethered, but don't feel it adds too much time connecting up.

There is also a Project EV charger that supports NFC which might be worth a look?