Home charger recommendations

[Indyfras]

Hi, we're planning on ordering a Zappi, because we installed solar panels years ago. Also, we don't have (and can't get) a smart meter.

[Splash-Man]

Cheers for all of the replies so far.
There was mention about changing to a smart meter, I guess this is only required if you want to a system to look for a specific price tarriff rather than just using the standard E7.
So surely more like a 'would like' rather than a 'must have'.

[Leccy]

Yes, a smart meter isn’t a requirement unless you want your charger to use smart tariffs

[Splash-Man]

Anyone here have an Indra Smart Pro Tech charger ?
They are being offered by OVO, my current provider.

[Splitty]

Things to consider before ordering:

Do you have a strong mobile signal where your charger will be located? If not you will likely have problems with chargers that rely mobile signals to set up scheduled charging and management (mobile Apps etc) for example Pod Point and Ohme.

Is there a decent WiFi signal? Again if not you need to steer clear of chargers that use WiFi to connect.

Zappi has an add on box that allows you to locate it in the house and connect to your WiFi network so should be good, but again some people have has issues with Zappi scheduled charging.

You might want to check out this forum as well https://www.speakev.com/forums/home-cha ... views.388/

[Daveion]

Cheers for all of the replies so far.
There was mention about changing to a smart meter, I guess this is only required if you want to a system to look for a specific price tarriff rather than just using the standard E7.
So surely more like a 'would like' rather than a 'must have'.

I cant recall this for sure but is the grant available without a smart meter? Quotes I had all reqd me to have a smart meter.

[IDontknow]

We don't have a smart meter but had a Hypervolt charger installed and we qualified for the grant.

[daesimpso]

You don’t need a smart meter, but you do need a smart charger to qualify for the grant.

[Daveion]

Yes, I remember now Octopus said I needed the smart meter for Octopus Go tarrif and their Wallbox charger.

[Gordiek]

how many Solar panels you think you would need for a Zappi to work from Solar? Anyone? Wondering if it might be an option

[Splitty]

how many Solar panels you think you would need for a Zappi to work from Solar? Anyone? Wondering if it might be an option

Zappi needs 1.2Kwh to start charging from solar. A typical panel would give about 350W on a summer's day. So you would need an array of at least 4 panels to get the zappi to start. Most arrays are 8 -10 panels so May-Sept would be good months to get a decent charge. Some panels give more than 350W some less. We are on 18 panels, so 6.6Kwh on a good day so not far short of a standard 7Kwh single phase charger.

[Maybach]

I too have Pod Point. I bought the only ID. 3 available in August and needed a charger installed within two weeks. The dealer recommended PodPoint so I used them. They needed chasing once, and cancelled one installation appointment, but I nonetheless got the charger installed in time. The installation was excellent and I have charged the car many times with no problems. I like the app. The charger is quite large but fits discretely in the garage.
Hope it goes well for you.
Simon

[G43FAN]

how many Solar panels you think you would need for a Zappi to work from Solar? Anyone? Wondering if it might be an option

Zappi needs 1.2Kwh to start charging from solar. A typical panel would give about 350W on a summer's day. So you would need an array of at least 4 panels to get the zappi to start. Most arrays are 8 -10 panels so May-Sept would be good months to get a decent charge. Some panels give more than 350W some less. We are on 18 panels, so 6.6Kwh on a good day so not far short of a standard 7Kwh single phase charger.

The Zappi needs 1.4kW because that is the minimum charge within the BEV Standards, but you can adjust what percentage of that charge comes from the Solar v the Grid so that you can use almost any surplus but you'll be topping up to 1.4kWh with full price electric. Since March this year I have added just over 2000kWh of charge with 300kWh of that coming from Solar. At this time of year I can run my house on solar for most of the daylight hours but I am only charging on the Octopus overnight, there's not enough spare solar generation to be bothering.

Out of curiosity is that 6.6kWh grid connected? What inverter are you using for that, I hit a bit of a financial wall with getting anything over 3.6KW past the DNO so gave up.

[Splitty]

Yes grid connected and Solis inverter (6kw) as the roof is East/West split so won't output 6.6Kwh all at once, Sorry post was a bit misleading.

[durhamlad]

The dealer salesman told us that he is supposed to recommend Pod Point but has had lots of negative feedback from some customers.

How do you research other options other than simply using Google?

[Deleted User 192]

The dealer salesman told us that he is supposed to recommend Pod Point but has had lots of negative feedback from some customers.

13 months in, mine just works.

[Splash-Man]

At the moment I think the Hypervolt is top of my list. However, this list is very fluid and changes by the hour !
It will be a shame to get the charger installed and then have to wait another XX months until the car arrives

[Daveion]

I think Pod Point is a good product but the install side seems overwhelmed. My install for tomorrow bas been rescheduled for the 16th.
Slow to deal with, one of the neatest tethered units in my book, 7.5M cable, same app for home and public charging, partnered with VW and Tesco, now owned by EDF. Think that's all correct.

[daesimpso]

My faulty Pod Point was finally replaced yesterday. It was a bit of a farce as the first replacement was also faulty, but in a different way

However, I can’t use scheduling yet as they’ve not yet changed over which unit is linked to my account and aren’t responding to any attempt to get hold of them.

[Daveion]

Sounds about right.
Emails go into a black hole.
A review I made on TRUSTPILOT grabbed their attention for me. Found they responded there with messages back and forth and uncorked my install problem/routing. Simply too stretched.