The technical  problem is we have no idea how most legacy split load CUs  with RCD sockets either RCD or just MCBs for the  lights will perform with any particular car or charger.  The RCDs may well pre-date the testing against unsmoothed DC, - i.e. are what would now be called a type 'AC', and may or may not be blinded by any amount of DC in the N-CPC loop.

Let's not fool ourselves that all the installations in the UK are shiny and new and to any particular version of the regs. We are not a country where most houses are new build, and in some ways that is not a bad thing either, but the wiring does reflect this.

The political problem is that if we want electric cars to catch on among those who are not in the market for a brand new car and employing an expensively specialist installer, (and there is a similar problem with solar power by the way), then the level of supervision and inspection will have to fall, and the tolerance for an increase in other risks will have to rise to match the reality that this is the only way to make it happen.

Is the chance of an occasional  blinded RCD a realistic worry, and what fraction of RCDs never save anyone anyway in their entire operating lifespan from installation to replacement ? (Consider that it is not that long ago that they were only needed on TT and then only outside sockets after all.)

Is it any more serious than the environmental threat to us all if we do not go all-electric in the next 50 years or so ?

Now I have no idea of the answers or even who does, but that is the way the questions need to be framed, as bigger societal ones, not just looking at the minutiae of the electrics in isolation.

Consider that the risk of mobile phones to health, directly in terms of battery fires, slowly in terms of EM radiation, and now mental health all seems to have been accepted as preferable to missing out on the chance to watch cat videos at the bus stop. Folk are generally not logical, dispassionate creatures, even the ones who actually would like to be.

Mike.

I personally think EV charge points have been used as a good way to force in a fair bit of improvement in terms of replacing, repairing existing domestic electrical supply equipment. 

when I look at the process to follow in terms of DNO notifications, we’re obliged to provide photos of the metering equipment, cut out and consumer unit… at the very least they’re collecting useful data that may or may not be used to do some upgrades. Where you’ve got an unknown DNO cut out size, where maximum demand may exceed 60A or any concerns about the supply equipment such as deterioration or looped supply, it needs to be notified to the DNO 10 days prior to installation of an EVCP and in training we’re heavily encouraged to have 60A supplies upgraded to 100A as diversity and maximum demand calculations guides are cautious to say the least. Initial inspections can reveal all sorts of issues from looped supplies to undersized tails or DIY TNS. So in short lots and lots of installations should (if you’ve got decent installers) be getting a visit from the DNO, who where I am, if asked, will generally take the opportunity to replace the old biscuit tin and if possible put in a new 100A fuse head and connect to PME or remove the EC15 pipe clamp and install TNS properly ect. Obviously I’m checking and improving things like bonding and giving advice regarding full RCD/RCBO protection along side all of this. All in all driving forwards a lot of improvement in terms of upgrading antiquated domestic supply arrangements and earthing arrangements.

Sadly many installers (especially those larger organisations who do so called fixed price installations without ever doing a pre quote site survey) don’t seem to care. Thankfully it’s more likely that the additional load is going to blow the DNO fuse than cause a fire, so we get them soon enough. I’ve seen some impressively bad EVCP installations, I made a video on this one as the installation company wanted “evidence” before agreeing to even look at it! youtu.be/NGPu7SP_bdc

Given the opportunity I’d also make it compulsory for suppliers to install a suppliers isolator switch to facilitate the installation of any LCT or consumer unit. The cost of which should either be free of charge or fixed at a reasonable affordable price. And they should be obliged to do this within a relatively short time frame, say two weeks. Again this practice would drive forward improvements such as replacing older fuse heads, tails upgrades ect.

This is all good fun but in reality the lithium shortage will start reducing the number of electric vehicles long before we have solved most of the other associated problems. Tata motors are investing in air powered vehicles, one possible future.

I personally think EV charge points have been used as a good way to force in a fair bit of improvement in terms of replacing, repairing existing domestic electrical supply equipment. 

when I look at the process to follow in terms of DNO notifications, we’re obliged to provide photos of the metering equipment, cut out and consumer unit… at the very least they’re collecting useful data that may or may not be used to do some upgrades. Where you’ve got an unknown DNO cut out size, where maximum demand may exceed 60A or any concerns about the supply equipment such as deterioration or looped supply, it needs to be notified to the DNO 10 days prior to installation of an EVCP and in training we’re heavily encouraged to have 60A supplies upgraded to 100A as diversity and maximum demand calculations guides are cautious to say the least. Initial inspections can reveal all sorts of issues from looped supplies to undersized tails or DIY TNS. So in short lots and lots of installations should (if you’ve got decent installers) be getting a visit from the DNO, who where I am, if asked, will generally take the opportunity to replace the old biscuit tin and if possible put in a new 100A fuse head and connect to PME or remove the EC15 pipe clamp and install TNS properly ect. Obviously I’m checking and improving things like bonding and giving advice regarding full RCD/RCBO protection along side all of this. All in all driving forwards a lot of improvement in terms of upgrading antiquated domestic supply arrangements and earthing arrangements.

Sadly many installers (especially those larger organisations who do so called fixed price installations without ever doing a pre quote site survey) don’t seem to care. Thankfully it’s more likely that the additional load is going to blow the DNO fuse than cause a fire, so we get them soon enough. I’ve seen some impressively bad EVCP installations, I made a video on this one as the installation company wanted “evidence” before agreeing to even look at it! youtu.be/NGPu7SP_bdc

Given the opportunity I’d also make it compulsory for suppliers to install a suppliers isolator switch to facilitate the installation of any LCT or consumer unit. The cost of which should either be free of charge or fixed at a reasonable affordable price. And they should be obliged to do this within a relatively short time frame, say two weeks. Again this practice would drive forward improvements such as replacing older fuse heads, tails upgrades ect.

This is all good fun but in reality the lithium shortage will start reducing the number of electric vehicles long before we have solved most of the other associated problems. Tata motors are investing in air powered vehicles, one possible future.

IronFreely said:

I made a video on this one as the installation company wanted “evidence” before agreeing to even look at it! youtu.be/NGPu7SP_bdc

It's a bit rough, but at least the polarity is correct. ;-)

The naked busbar is not nice, but is it non-compliant inside the wee DB? Presumably it should have a cover made from those lengths of plastic which stationers sell for binding like these.

Be careful with these videos - you have nearly revealed the location!