A tethered EV charger has a cable permanently attached to the unit. An untethered, or socketed, charger takes a separate cable that you connect when needed. Choose around how you park, where you will store the cable and the vehicle you need to charge.
The cable style alone does not decide charging speed, price or grant eligibility. Those depend on the actual equipment, vehicle, installation and current scheme. Here is how to compare the options without losing sight of daily use.
Tethered or untethered: the practical differences
| Decision | Tethered | Untethered / socketed |
|---|---|---|
| Starting a session | Take the attached connector to the car. | Connect a separate cable to the charger and car. |
| When not charging | The cable stays at the unit and needs suitable storage. | You can remove the cable and store it elsewhere. |
| Reach | Choose the right factory cable length before buying. | Choose a compatible cable of suitable length and rating. |
| Cable included? | The attached cable is part of the unit. | Check the package: do not assume a separate cable is included. |
| Changing the cable | An attached cable is not a routine user-swappable accessory. | A suitable separate cable can be changed without opening the charger. |
| Appearance | Allow space for the stored cable as well as the charger. | The wall can be clear of a cable when it is removed. |
Choose tethered if you want a cable ready at the wall and the available length suits your parking. Choose socketed if removing the cable matters to you or you need a compatible separate lead for your vehicle. Neither preference is a technical shortcut around checking the property and product.
Measure the route before choosing the length
Park as you normally would and identify the charging port. Consider the route from the proposed charger around the car, including room to open doors and pass safely. Check the second parking position too if another car will use it.
A straight-line measurement is not enough when the port is on the far side of the car. Equally, more cable is not automatically better if it has nowhere to be stored. Show the route during the property assessment rather than relying on a product photograph.
Do not plan to solve a short tethered cable with an extension or assume an adapter is acceptable. For example, myenergi advises against adapters for zappi. Confirm the exact connector and cable arrangement before ordering, especially for an older or imported vehicle.
Which options are in the Volt Éire catalogue?
These are the catalogue configurations checked on 29 September 2026. Follow each product link for the current installed package, selected variant and price.
| Charger | Cable choices listed | Useful comparison |
|---|---|---|
| BENY 7 kW Smart Charger | Tethered, 5 m Type 2 cable | Check whether the fixed cable reaches your usual parking position. |
| Ohme Home Pro | Tethered, 5 m or 8 m Type 2 cable | Compare the two lengths for the actual cable route. |
| Ohme ePod | Untethered, Type 2 socket | Our listed package requires your own compatible charging cable. |
| Zappi GLO | Tethered 6.5 m Type 2 cable or untethered socket | Compare cable style within the same product family. |
| Wallbox Pulsar Max | Tethered 5 m Type 2 cable or untethered socket | Check the selected package and any separate cable supplied. |
Manufacturer references: BENY BCP-series manual, Ohme Irish model specifications, Zappi GLO specifications and the Pulsar Max tethered/socket datasheet. A manufacturer's wider range may include variants outside our current catalogue.
What the cable style does not tell you
Charging speed: compare the charger rating, the car's AC charging limit, the cable rating and the assessed installation limit. A socketed unit is not inherently faster, and a higher-rated cable does not increase what the car or supply can accept.
Smart features: scheduling, connectivity, solar charging and load management depend on the model and its setup. For example, Ohme's Irish Home Pro and ePod models use mobile connectivity. Switching between a tethered and socketed product does not, by itself, tell you whether home Wi-Fi is required.
Price: compare the complete installed package, including any separate charging cable and required work. See current package prices and Standard Installation scope rather than assuming both styles cost the same.
Grant eligibility: check the exact charger variant on the current register and the applicant/property conditions. Neither cable style alone guarantees approval. Our SEAI grant eligibility guide explains the next checks.
Questions worth asking before you choose
Can I leave a separate cable plugged into a socketed charger?
Check the model's instructions, cable-lock settings and storage arrangement. Do not assume every unit locks the cable in the same way or that a lock removes the need to store it safely.
Is an untethered charger better for two cars?
It depends on connector compatibility and where the cars park. One unit charges one vehicle at a time. Compare each car's required energy and available hours as well as cable reach; the household supply still needs assessment.
Does a separate cable also work at public chargers?
Only where the public charge point and your vehicle accept that cable and rating. Check the connector requirements rather than assuming any home cable works everywhere.
What if I am still choosing my first EV?
Share the intended model, charging-port position and parking arrangement before choosing the unit. A shortlist gives us more useful information than a blanket preference for the fastest charger.
Compare all available home chargers, then start an installation assessment for your preferred unit and property.