Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 34 subscribers
  • Views 795 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

SPD for charge point

lyledunn
I have just had it confirmed from the manufacturer that the EVSE we are installing does not need overvoltage protection. The installation does need such protection on the basis of the risk assessment method. If I elect to install a SPD, for what reason would I be doing so?
  • 0
    To protect all the electronic equipment in the installation apart from the EV charger? So the LED lamps, the computer, TV, boiler, thermostat, router, USB sockets and all the other myraid of delicate stuff that wouldn't have been around 20 years ago?
  • 0
    The EVSE may not need overvoltage protection ... but does the vehicle, or perhaps any vehicle that might use the charge point?


    In general, it depends on the type of installation, whether the installation has LPS (see sections 6.15 and 8.8  of IET CoP 4th Ed) and whether you've converted the whole installation to TT (see section 5.3.3 of the CoP 4th Ed).

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    lyledunn:

    The installation does need such protection on the basis of the risk assessment method. If I elect to install a SPD, for what reason would I be doing so?


    Hi Lyle, not sure what you mean by this, if you have risk assessed it and it does need it then the reason would be you have deemed it necessary for compliance and certification in accordance with BS7671?


     


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Weirdbeard:
    wallywombat:

    To protect all the electronic equipment in the installation apart from the EV charger? So the LED lamps, the computer, TV, boiler, thermostat, router, USB sockets and all the other myraid of delicate stuff that wouldn't have been around 20 years ago?


    Hi Wally, wouldn’t those types of equipment need local surge protection to protect them?  I was under the impression that a surge protector covering the whole installation protects only the installation itself, such as electronic RCBOs etc.  



  • 0
    Sorry Wally, the question was really rhetorical in nature, I was trying to make a point. In my attempt to be succinct, I lost the necessary clarity. Best if the EVSE circuit is considered as the only installation in the building. No LPS. Not TT. However, the CRL is just below 1000 so SPDs are required.  I assume BS7671 requires SPDs in order to protect electrical equipment. The only electrical equipment in this installation is the charge point. The manufacturer of the charge point has declared that SPD is not required. So do I spend client’s money on a SPD just to blindly and unnecessarily comply with BS7671? That was my point! 

    It looks like GK has torpedoed that point, however. I didn’t consider the car being plugged in! Doh!
  • 0
    Weirdbeard:

    Hi Wally, wouldn’t those types of equipment need local surge protection to protect them?  I was under the impression that a surge protector covering the whole installation protects only the installation itself, such as electronic RCBOs etc.  




    The point of a type 2 SPD at the origin or DB is to reduce a 4kV transient in the installation down to a 1.5kV spike. The individual bits of electronic equipment like LEDs are then supposed to be able to cope with a 1.5kV spike - or if not, then a type 3 SPD should be installed next to them.


  • 0
    I would suggest you offer it to your client and let them decide. If they decline get it in writing. That way if the clients £100K Tesla gets spiked then you are protected against any claim. Don't offer it and you and you will get, if only you told me I would have had it fitted, you are negligent and you owe me £ shed loads of cash. 

  • 0
    John Peckham:

    I would suggest you offer it to your client and let them decide. If they decline get it in writing. That way if the clients £100K Tesla gets spiked then you are protected against any claim. Don't offer it and you and you will get, if only you told me I would have had it fitted, you are negligent and you owe me £ shed loads of cash. 

     


    Your point is well taken JP but as a general principle, I don’t think it is reasonable to shift responsibility for issues of safety compliance on to clients. One might argue that this particular situation does not involve safety but one could also speculate on circumstances where injury might occur that would not otherwise have occurred had SPDs been in place. 

    To permit client choice in the erection of an electrical installation, we would have to carefully separate those aspects that relate to safety from those that don’t.

    By the way, my original post was nothing other than a thought for discussion. I had always intended to fit the SPD. In any event I could hardly abdicate that decision to the clients who are a couple in their eighties! They tell me that they can’t wait for the delivery of their new electric Mini! 


Community Rules & Guidelines