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Rank 1
David P J
Rank 1
March 8, 2023
Solved

Smart meters and EV chargers - no CT clamp with fitted

  • March 8, 2023
  • 37 replies
  • 9940 views

Hi 

has anyone had trouble after a smart meter was fitted with their charger ? I have as the meter was fitted correctly but a clamp that must be in place for the charger to work was omitted. Ovo refused to come out and help in spite of many requests and denied anything was wrong. Most irritating. Now fixes BT replacing clamp

Best answer by M.isterW

Updated on 30/01/26 by Ben_OVO

We would always recommend seeking professional advice from an electrician for anything related to your home’s electrics. 

 

I assume you are talking about the CT clamp that would have been put round the "live" meter tail when the charger was installed? Just clamp it back round the new meter tail. You don't need an electrician to do it. It should have an arrow on it to show which way it goes. Make sure this points towards the load (i.e. the consumer unit).

A CT clamp is a current transformer that clamps round a cable. They use the current flowing in the cable to generate a small current that is sent to whatever device they're connected to (car charger, solar battery etc). The device uses the current to determine how many amps are flowing in the cable. A car charger will use this measurement to make sure it isn't drawing too much current.

 

We would always recommend seeking professional advice from an electrician for anything related to your home’s electrics. 

 

 

37 replies

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BPLightlog
Super User
BPLightlogSuper User
Super User
March 23, 2023

I think that’s the problem @nigel dermott there are very few who understand all of the interconnected pieces. 
Do you have 30 min readings or are you still waiting for this to connect? It would give another view of what’s happening to compare with what you can presumably see on your solar monitor. 
You mention iboost after dark - forgive me, I’m not that familiar with the system but doesn’t it just divert excess generation? If so there wouldn’t be any after dark unless you also have battery storage .. or is it the timing and therefore the switch at that point that’s the problem?

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
    N
    Newcomer
    nigel dermott
    Newcomer
    March 23, 2023

    Hi @nigel dermott

    I am definitely no expert on these setups. 

    If you are at all concerned the smart meter installation caused the issues, then i would suggest putting in a complaint along with anything else you do with an independent engineer once you find one. It may just be a coincidence of course. 

    All the details on the complaint process is here. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to ask OVO to send someone to look at the meter install in the circumstances even if ultimately turns out to be unconnected, but that is obviously just my personal opinion. 

    https://www.ovoenergy.com/feedback

    OVO then have 8 weeks to resolve or issue a deadlock letter. Then the Energy Ombudsman can get involved.

     

    Thank you jeffus

    If it comes to a complaint then this will be useful ;)

    N
    Newcomer
    nigel dermott
    Newcomer
    March 23, 2023

    I think that’s the problem @nigel dermott there are very few who understand all of the interconnected pieces. 
    Do you have 30 min readings or are you still waiting for this to connect? It would give another view of what’s happening to compare with what you can presumably see on your solar monitor. 
    You mention iboost after dark - forgive me, I’m not that familiar with the system but doesn’t it just divert excess generation? If so there wouldn’t be any after dark unless you also have battery storage .. or is it the timing and therefore the switch at that point that’s the problem?

    I’m mystified and dont believe in coincidence. All was working well in the morning and since the new meters have been installed its gone pete tong.

    I’m getting 30 min readings and a display of costs as its running (nothing for gas?)

    You are correct in that iboost diverts energy created first to the hot water tank before sending residual to the grid. We dont have battery storage. The mystery then is that the hot water tank is now heated in the night as would an immersion heater if left on constant. But the iboost shows that the power is from the solar - which could not be the case at night? Its almost as if the immersion is on constant and being powered by the solar in the day when available and from the grid at night? 

      Jeffus
      Rank 20
      Jeffus
      Rank 20
      March 23, 2023

      Do you have one or two immersion heaters in your tank? 

      N
      Newcomer
      nigel dermott
      Newcomer
      March 23, 2023

      Just the single tank

        N
        Newcomer
        nigel dermott
        Newcomer
        March 23, 2023

        Sorry , just one immersion in the top of the tank

          BPLightlog
          Super User
          BPLightlogSuper User
          Super User
          March 23, 2023

          There is a useful guide here from Marlec - they include a bit on heating when no excess solar. 
          https://www.marlec.co.uk/troubleshootmysolariboost/  

          might be worth a check .. just in case

           

          Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
            Jeffus
            Rank 20
            Jeffus
            Rank 20
            March 23, 2023

            Sorry , just one immersion in the top of the tank

            A few random thoughts in no particular order. 

            1. Have you checked the Timed Boost function is turned off completely? 

            2. Am not sure if the iboost reverts to any factory settings regarding timed boost or anything else when it would have been turned off to fit the meter.

            3. Am not sure if it is worth reversing the CT clamp for a short period when it is dark and see what happens.

            4. You could try turning down the tank thermostat and monitoring what effect that has. 

            Jeffus
            Rank 20
            Jeffus
            Rank 20
            March 23, 2023

            well thanks for that and I thought you had cracked it but the CT clamp looks properly connected with the arrow pointing toward the new meter (consumer unit).

            I’ve been in touch with OVO who suggest that its down to me to find a private engineer. I find this a bit outrageous as everything was working fine before they messed with it (and OVO kept pressuring me for a Smart meter - not me)

            So if I cant resolve where should I start looking to find and engineer who knows all about solar, iboosts and domestic electric supplies? I seem to only find ‘experts’ on solar or ‘experts’ on domestic and not a person capable of working across the two.

            I accept that meters may take 5 - 6 weeks to communicate properly and thats not my main problem but being charged for electric water heating water heating at night when it says its working on solar doesnt take and expert to work out that that cant be correct lol  

            So is there one arrow on the CT clamp? 

            Does it have any wording next to the arrow on the clamp?

            I say that as you mention "new meter (consumer unit)"

            But the consumer unit and meter are not the same thing. The consumer unit is where your trip switches are?

            Am assuming the clamp is on a cable between the smart meter and the consumer unit?

            Post a photo or 2 if you think it might help one of us have a look. 

            A
            Newcomer
            AndrewV
            Newcomer
            July 25, 2023

            Has anyone had any problems with switching to a Smart-meter and finding that this disables your EV Charger?  Thanks, 

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