EV Charging and Lamp Posts

Both the lights and the chargers should be fine with a 5% voltage drop. But a lesser voltage drop would be better from the energy saving point of view.

Remember that the often quoted 3% "limit" on voltage drop for lighting is in fact a suggested or "deemed to comply" figure for domestic and similar applications when the type of light to be used is unknown and/or liable to be changed.

The actual regulatory requirement is that the voltage drop should "not prevent the proper functioning of the connected equipment"

But I say again, consider the energy cost of voltage drop.

The installation does sound rather inadequate, but as the O/P says it is not his design. The landlords 200 amp 3 phase supply sounds ample for more or faster chargers if desired. Do of course double check what the existing loads are.

Again thanks for all your replies and assistance.

This is the tail end of a five year project, that I've only just got involved in.

All the specs have been done by others, so that really is out of my hands.

The two main issues are that they are trying to utilise ducts that were originally installed for just lamp post lighting, and they have a budget to stick to. It will go over budget, but I need to show the consultant that I've tried my best and can justify the overspend.

Each block has two lifts and a 3 ph water pump, along with small power and lighting. I've carried out loading calculations and there's plenty of room for the current EV plan.

There are some stand alone lighting bollards and columns, so I will check whether these can be added to with the EV columns. That would be the ideal solution, but will add to our costs. The site consultant will have to do something for his money in this instance.

What is annoying is that when you see pictures illustrating how EV charging equipment can be installed in lamp posts these columns are shown next to the kerb, rather than at the rear of the footway.

This is not actually true and is misleading because in the real world lamp posts are at the rear of the footway, so charging leads will be lay across the footway.

On Monday I was watching a lady walking up the footway towards our house whilst I was talking to someone on my phone leaning against my wife’s car, the lady walking up the path was using a white cane with a ball on the end of it, I know she knew I was present because I was talking on my phone, as she got by our house I congratulated her and said I was impressed, because she correctly turned right to go along a path at the side of our house onto a playing field. We had a brief friendly conversation before I returned to the phone call, explaining what had just happened to the guy I was talking to on the phone.

I know I’m getting old and grumpy, but if there were cars parked on the footway or charging leads lay across it simply walking along the footway would become more dangerous for people like that lady.

As an aside, in amongst other things when I came home last night there was a speed trap on the main road, the guy had a motorcycle parked on the footway with a tripod set up, a couple of years ago I actually stopped and asked him if it was legal as he was setting up, he said he works for the the police, I said “So?”. Two years on it might be time for a letter to the Chief Constable asking the question again.

There is a housing estate in Hereford built in the 1980’s where I was responsible for positioning all the street lights, a story in itself, I definitely did not position them with the thought in mind that one day some of them might have retrofitted EVSE.

Sparkingchip said:

What is annoying is that when you see pictures illustrating how EV charging equipment can be installed in lamp posts these columns are shown next to the kerb, rather than at the rear of the footway.

This is not actually true and is misleading because in the real world lamp posts are at the rear of the footway, so charging leads will be lay across the footway.

I had never thought about that, but around here where there are grass verges, the lamp posts are mostly in the verges nearer to the footway (or foot/bicycleway). Some are set at the back of the foot/bicycleway. Where there is no footway, they are in the grass verge save for one which is in the carriageway, there being no verge at that point.

Concerning the police activity, if the motorbike is ridden into position on the footway, it would appear to be an offence under s.72 of the Highway Act 1935: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4/5-6/50/section/72 (Why the police no longer enforce this in respect of pedal cyclists is a mystery to me.)

It isn't just visually impaired people who may be inconvenienced, but also wheelchair users.

There is a road locally where the lighting columns were at the back of the kerb and I saw some guys from the council marking out to move them.

We had a conversation in which it was being made clear what they were doing was none of my business, anyway after a couple of minutes they said they were going to move the columns, because they were dangerous being immediately behind the kerb as a car, van or lorry might hit them resulting in injuries to the people in the vehicle. 

Then I pointed out that the reason they were behind the kerb is there's an oil pipeline in the verge and it is a no-dig zone. 

Things are usually done for a reason. 

A bit remiss of you there Sparkingchip 

It amazes me that (outside London) folk often park on the kerb/pavement in total disregard and no comeback (ok on some roads there`s not much alternative so at least you can understand that and sympathise a bit but most roads no. It`s and offence to drive on the pavement but not, in itself, to park there (barring obstruction) . So if they park here how do they get here by not driving. I suppose if it went to court you`d have to prove it was not actually dropped in by helicopter 

Oddly street lights are often placed on junctions and other places where pedestrians cross roads and cars should not park.

Strange,  but true. 

Sparkingchip said:

This is not actually true and is misleading because in the real world lamp posts are at the rear of the footway, so charging leads will be lay across the footway.

Not everywhere. Evidence my own eyes. Agree not an acceptable solution if leads are trailing over the footway.