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EverythingNeedsAUserName
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December 20, 2019
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Is it possible to fit an EV charger in my garage if it's away from the house?

  • December 20, 2019
  • 27 replies
  • 29048 views

The garage where our cars are parked is about 4 metres from the house and Distribution Board. There is a standard 13 amp socket in the garage on a spur from the house.

The garage is hardly larger than the cars, a golf estate and a polo.  The estate has to go nose in, the polo tail in, so as to be able to exit the cars in the small space between ever-widening car dimensions.

We have solar panels on the house, which feed surplus into the grid, and an economy 7 tariff.

Is it possible to fit one - and in future 2 - chargers in the garage?

How much space is required around the cars to be able to connect to them - or is that a “how long is a piece of string?” question that depends on the specific model?

Does the system allow for daytime charging using surplus from the panels, but otherwise only the night-time electricity?

Best answer by Ash_OVO

Updated on 29/04/26 by Ben_OVO

 

When an installation takes place in a garage that isn’t connected to the main building where the consumer unit is located, there would usually be groundworks involved. This usually consists of digging up a small trench between the main property and the garage, and laying ducting down in place for the wiring run (power and ethernet).

 

This sort of work isn’t included in a standard installation, however some installers may charge for this work to be completed. You’d also be welcome to get third-party quotes of your own to complete the work.  A standard 7kWh Smart Charger is around 32 amps, and requires the correct cable to be laid between the main building and garage. 

 

Check out exclusive OVO offers on Smart EV chargers here. There’s more advice on the possible placing of a home charging unit from our community members below.

27 replies

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BPLightlog
Super User
BPLightlogSuper User
Super User
January 22, 2025

Depending on your intended set up (EV and charger), with Charge Anytime, you would need to ensure it is compatible with solar panels .. not all are. 

 

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
    K
    Newcomer
    Kazadilly
    Newcomer
    January 22, 2025

    OK thanks. I’ve just had a long chat with OVO and the bottom line is that their charges have to be connected direct to the meter. Also, they do not provide groundwork services, so I would need to arrange that myself. 

      BPLightlog
      Super User
      BPLightlogSuper User
      Super User
      January 22, 2025

      Ok - perhaps you have an answer then. 
      I am still slightly confused as no device is connected ‘directly to the meter’ as they all need to be wired via an isolator and a fused path (or CU)
       

      Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
      M
      Rank 7
      mikes01666
      Rank 7
      January 25, 2025

      Just had solar and battery fitted by OVO to our remote garage.

      They needed to run a separate feed back to the meter box and isolators/fuse protection.

      Remember to ask them to install cat5 cable alongside the electrical wiring which will connect the garage to your house router.

      Hard wiring your EV charger, solar and battery to the house router is the most reliable connection and negates weather conditions that 4g will be susceptible to.

      Spec. it at the design stage as cat5 cable costs almost nothing.

        Peter E
        Super User
        Peter ESuper User
        Super User
        January 25, 2025

        If you have a 40A limit on the supply to the garage then your charge point will necessarily be limited to 3.5kW max (16A) which means the charge time will be twice as long. This is not a show stopper though as most people just use the CP to top the battery up at regular intervals. I use a 2.1kW CP and still do 12,000 miles a year. The usage in the garage would have to be down downgraded to 20A to compensate. Probably not the best option.

         

        If you want to charge at 7kW though you will need to run extra cabling from the consumer unit with a 40A MCB plus the necessary OpenPEN protection unit (for any CP that is installed). You don't have to have the CP fitted by OVO, although they will ensure that a unit compatible with your setup is installed including being compatible with Charge Anytime if you are controlling the charge from the CP.

         

        This subject gets complicated very quickly depending upon what you have already and compatibility with the CP or car with Charge Anytime.

         

        Peter

         

        Reducing my yearly fossil fuel usage with an EV (-900 litres petrol), A2AHP (-8,700 kWh gas) and Timed Immersion heater (-1,500 kWh gas)
          Blastoise186
          Super User
          Blastoise186Super User
          Super User
          January 25, 2025

          Just had solar and battery fitted by OVO to our remote garage.

          They needed to run a separate feed back to the meter box and isolators/fuse protection.

          Remember to ask them to install cat5 cable alongside the electrical wiring which will connect the garage to your house router.

          Hard wiring your EV charger, solar and battery to the house router is the most reliable connection and negates weather conditions that 4g will be susceptible to.

          Spec. it at the design stage as cat5 cable costs almost nothing.

          You could also run CAT6 if you want, for that extra burst of speed - still pretty cheap cables!

          Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
            M
            Rank 7
            mikes01666
            Rank 7
            January 25, 2025

            You could, but for almost no benefit. The bandwidth required by a solar inverter, battery and EV is dwarfed by the capacity of Cat 5 (100 Mbps), Cat 5e (1000 Mbps). Cat 6 will accommodate several Gbps.

            By all means go for it but it's not needed. The essential factor is to hardwire not rely on WiFi or mobile connection.

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