Plan a home charger around when your car is parked, the electricity available and the controls you will use. Zappi GLO offers solar-surplus charging, but installing it does not guarantee a particular equipment lifespan, future compatibility or a saving on every bill.
Will your car be home when solar panels generate?
A car parked at work through the day may receive little direct solar charging. A car parked at home on working days or weekends may have more opportunity. Review actual generation and parking patterns before choosing hardware mainly for solar. A suitable overnight tariff can remain useful in winter or before a long trip.
Compare your import and export terms: using a kWh in the car means it cannot also earn an export payment. Our electricity plan guide explains why the cheapest charging window does not necessarily produce the cheapest household bill.
How does GLO interact with a home battery?
Describe the inverter, battery and existing energy controls during assessment. Two systems responding to the same surplus can affect each other. The installer must review the monitoring arrangement and settings rather than assuming the charger will always leave the home battery untouched.
The GLO mode guide describes Smart Charging, including solar and scheduled behaviour. Schedules or an immediate charge may draw from the grid. Ask the installer to demonstrate how your actual system responds when generation falls and when other household loads start.
What should you specify before installation?
| Decision | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Cable | 6.5 m attached cable or socketed unit; our socketed package includes a separate Type 2 cable. Check the route to both parking positions. |
| Controls | Screenless unit, myenergi app and Access Keys. GLO uses Smart Charging rather than the older ECO/ECO+ interface. |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi at the proposed location for firmware updates; check setup against the manufacturer’s guidance. |
| Power | Our catalogue GLO is 7 kW. Actual output is constrained by the vehicle, installation and load management. |
| Solar and battery | Monitoring, controller interaction, surplus settings and the household’s charging priorities. |
Can one charger prepare you for a second EV or heat pump?
Discuss planned additions now. Load management can help a correctly designed installation share available capacity, but it cannot promise enough energy for every future vehicle and appliance. The contractor checks existing demand and the agreed supply; a second charger may need a coordinated design or further connection work. See ESB Networks’ low-carbon technology checks.
Ask which work in the quote supports later expansion, such as an agreed route or space for additional equipment. Do not treat unused ducting as proof of an adequate future supply.
What evidence should you keep after handover?
Keep the certification, equipment and warranty records, app access and configured charging schedule. Record who maintains the charger and how to contact support. Manufacturer warranty terms describe covered faults; they do not promise an eight- or twelve-year working life.
Compare the current GLO package, owner guidance and installed prices. For a private home, request assessment. For common parking or a business premises, use the business enquiry so permissions and shared infrastructure receive the right review.
Reviewed 30 October 2026 against the linked official guidance and our current catalogue. Product features depend on the exact model and commissioned installation.