A home EV charger needs a suitable parking and cable route, an electrical installation that can safely support the added load, and the right setup for the chosen charger. A 7.4 kW or 32 A rating is a maximum capability, not a requirement that every house must deliver continuously.
This guide explains what an installer assesses before adding a charger in Ireland. For the photographs and practical preparation you can do yourself, use our installation preparation checklist.
What needs to be checked?
| Area | Why it matters | What you can provide |
|---|---|---|
| Parking and cable route | The unit and cable must suit the actual parking position and access. | Photos, vehicle charging-port position and any shared-space constraints |
| Electricity supply and household demand | The charger must work within the available capacity alongside other equipment. | Details of an electric shower, heat pump, battery, solar panels or second charger |
| Fuseboard, protection and supply cables | The new circuit and existing installation must be suitable for the work. | Safe external photos and any existing inspection records |
| Earthing and bonding | The installer checks the arrangement and any work needed before connection. | Known locations; “not found” where you are unsure |
| Charger and connectivity | Vehicle compatibility, controls and communication vary by model. | Vehicle model, cable preference and known Wi-Fi or mobile-coverage issues |
Supply capacity: why full 32 A charging is not automatic
Your home supplies more than the car. The relevant question is the combined demand and how charging will be controlled, not whether the charger has “7 kW” on its box.
ESB Networks' domestic EV guidance says a connection upgrade is not required for a charger up to 7 kW where it will not cause the home to exceed its standard 12 kVA Maximum Import Capacity. That condition needs assessment; it is not a blanket approval for every property.
The installer may specify load management, an appropriate charging limit or further supply work. Load management adjusts charging around other demand, so the car may charge below its maximum at times. It does not make an unsafe installation safe. Ask whether the assessed charging arrangement can meet your usual overnight energy need; our night-rate guide explains how charging power and available hours relate.
If you already know that your property has a looped or shared incoming service, flag this at the assessment. The installer can establish whether ESB Networks needs to be involved. Do not try to identify or alter the service yourself.
Fuseboard, meter tails, earthing and bonding
A photograph helps identify questions, but it cannot establish that an installation passes electrical tests. Safe Electric's guidance on work to existing installations includes reviewing meter tails, earthing, bonding and the wider installation.
The installer checks the size, condition and capacity of the existing supply cables and the protection needed for the new circuit. A spare space in a fuseboard alone does not establish suitability. Equally, an older-looking board does not, by itself, tell you what must be replaced.
For earthing and bonding, distinguish an unanswered question from a confirmed defect. Tell us if you cannot find the earthing point. Do not dig, remove covers or touch conductors. The installer verifies the arrangement on site. Required bonding that is missing or inadequate must be addressed; satisfactory existing bonding is not automatically replaced because a charger is being added.
The electrical design must follow the current Irish National Rules for Electrical Installations, I.S. 10101, as amended, together with the exact manufacturer's instructions. A product feature or UK installation example does not establish what your Irish property needs.
For more detail on the questions an assessment may raise, read our fuseboard upgrade guide. Avoid ordering remedial work solely from a generic checklist.
Parking, permissions and the agreed scope
Show the route from the proposed unit to the parked car, including gates and walkways. Discuss any public or shared space and obtain the relevant permissions before agreeing the location. For rented homes or managed parking, establish who can authorise the work.
Standard Installation defines the included work and commercial scope. It does not mean a different safety standard. Where assessment identifies additional work, the scope and cost should be explained and agreed. An unresolved safety issue affecting the charger must be addressed before it is connected.
Photos support that assessment; the installer still needs to inspect, test and certify the completed work. See Safe Electric's completion-certificate guidance.
Does a smart charger require home Wi-Fi?
Not every model does. The Irish Ohme Home Pro and ePod models in our catalogue use a mobile SIM; Ohme lists their connectivity. Mobile coverage at the proposed location therefore matters.
Other chargers use home Wi-Fi. Check the exact unit before deciding whether the location needs better coverage. Internet access and a load-management sensor connection are separate requirements; a sensor cable is not automatically an Ethernet connection to your router.
Compare the charger options and cable styles together. Tell us about solar panels or a home battery so that the chosen model and installation can be assessed for the features you want.
Grant eligibility is a separate check
Electrical suitability does not guarantee grant approval. Check the property, applicant and exact charger against the current scheme, and obtain the Letter of Offer before expenditure. Use our SEAI eligibility guide and claim process before proceeding.
Use a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor. Do not confuse the contractor's registration with the SEAI Smart Charger Register, which lists eligible charger equipment.
Questions before you book
Can the property be approved from photographs alone?
Photos can support a scope assessment, but they do not replace electrical inspection and testing. Some questions remain subject to the installer's checks on site.
Does every home need a new fuseboard or supply upgrade?
No universal answer follows from the charger rating. The installer assesses the existing equipment, available capacity and proposed design, then explains any necessary work.
What should I do during a renovation?
Have the proposed charger position and route reviewed before walls, driveways or landscaping are finished. Let the electrician specify the cabling rather than choosing a size from an online checklist.
Compare current installed packages, then start a property assessment with your vehicle and parking details.