Car charger glossary of electrical and EV terms
15 Irish domestic electrical, EV charging and SEAI grant terms explained in plain English.
Free, no obligation. One registered electrician prices it, not five.
- 15terms defined A to Z
- €300SEAI grant
- 7.4 kW32A single-phase
- IS 10101Irish wiring rules
Key EV charger and electrical terms explained
32A Type A RCBO & 6mA DC Protection
A dedicated combined residual-current and overcurrent circuit breaker fitted for the EV charger that trips on AC earth faults, paired with 6mA DC leakage detection so the charger cannot blind upstream house RCDs.
7.4kW Single-Phase vs 22kW Three-Phase
Irish domestic homes have a single-phase 230V ESB supply supporting up to 7.4kW (32A) home charging, which adds roughly 40 to 50 km of range per hour; three-phase 400V farms and commercial premises can support 11kW or 22kW.
Continuous Dynamic Load Management (CT Clamp)
A current-transformer sensor clipped onto the incoming ESB meter tails and wired to the charger via Cat5/RS485 cable so the charger automatically dials down its current whenever the electric shower or heat pump turns on.
Earth Rod & Main Protective Bonding
Upgrading the main 10mm² green-and-yellow protective bonding conductors to incoming water, gas or oil pipes and verifying earth loop impedance in line with IS 10101 before energising a new EV circuit.
ESB Networks NC6 Low-Carbon Notification
The standard ESB Networks notification form describing a domestic EV charge point connection on the home's single-phase supply.
ik10 Impact & IP54/IP65 Weather Rating
Outdoor enclosure ratings confirming the wallbox casing resists driving Irish rain and coastal spray (IP54 to IP65) as well as mechanical knocks in a driveway (IK10).
IS 10101:2020 National Rules for Electrical Installations
The Irish statutory electrical safety standard (specifically Section 722 for Electric Vehicle Conductive Charging) that governs cable sizing, earthing, RCD protection and load management.
MIC (Maximum Import Capacity)
The contracted kVA limit of your domestic ESB Networks connection (typically 12 kVA standard or 16 kVA enhanced on a single-phase Irish house), which dynamic load management protects from overload.
OCPP 1.6J / 2.0.1 Smart Protocol
Open Charge Point Protocol software support built into smart EV chargers allowing app scheduling, night-rate tariff timers, lockable RFID access and SEAI grant eligibility.
PEN Fault (Open-Neutral) Protection
Built-in voltage monitoring inside the EV charger that disconnects all live, neutral and earth conductors within seconds if a fault occurs on the street PME neutral conductor.
Safe Electric Ireland REC
A Registered Electrical Contractor authorised by Safe Electric under CRU oversight to install, test and issue a statutory Completion Certificate for domestic electrical work.
SEAI €300 Home Charger Grant
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant paying up to €300 toward the purchase and installation of a Triple-E listed smart home charger once your REC submits the Completion Certificate and Test Record.
Solar PV Excess Divert (Eco Mode)
Using a CT clamp on the solar generation/export path so chargers such as the myenergi Zappi, Ohme or Wallbox Pulsar Max feed surplus rooftop solar power (from 1.4kW upward) into the car battery before exporting to the grid.
SWA (Steel Wire Armoured) & EV-Ultra Cable
Heavy-duty external cable combining three 6mm² or 10mm² power cores and a screened data pair inside a single armored or tough double-sheathed jacket for underground or external wall runs.
Tethered vs Untethered (Type 2 Socket) Unit
A tethered charger has a 5m to 7.5m Type 2 cable permanently attached ready to plug straight into the car; an untethered unit has a weatherproof shuttered Type 2 socket where you plug in your own cable.
Match a charger to your car and your house
Four quick taps. Your plan builds up as you go: the charger that suits your car, the price range for your house, the grant and the time on site. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want a fixed price.
A fully electric car, a charger on the house wall a few metres from a newer fuse board: €1,000 to €1,500 fitted, €700 to €1,200 after the €300 SEAI grant, including VAT.
How this is worked out
We start from what a 7 kW smart charger costs fitted in Ireland, including VAT, with a standard fit: the charger, its own circuit from the fuse board and up to 5 metres of cable. A solar-aware charger costs more. Then we add what installers charge for a longer cable run, a trench to a garage or post, and fuse board work on an older board. The SEAI home charger grant comes off the charger and fitting, never off the board or earthing work. It is an estimate to plan with, never a quote: the electrician prices your house after looking at it.
Home Car Charger Installation guides & price breakdowns
Straight answers to what people ask most: itemised costs, specifications, planning or grants, and what to check before you book.
More guides & resources: The certificate and paperwork for a home charger · All guides & calculator hub · Technical & trade glossary · Frequently asked questions
Questions people ask
Can I apply for the €300 SEAI home charger grant before I actually own an electric car?
Yes. Under current SEAI Home Electric Vehicle Charger Grant rules, you do not need to own or list an electric vehicle to qualify. As long as the property has a valid 11-digit MPRN, has not claimed the EV grant previously, and was not required to have a charger under post-2022 new-build planning conditions, you can apply and receive the Letter of Offer before installation.
Will running a 7.4kW car charger trip my fuseboard if the electric shower is turned on?
Not when installed with a hard-wired dynamic load management CT clamp on the ESB meter tails. The moment an 8.5kW or 9.5kW electric shower, immersion heater or heat pump draws heavy current, the CT clamp signals the EV charger to reduce charging speed for those few minutes and restores full 32A charging as soon as the shower switches off.
How long do I have after receiving my SEAI Letter of Offer to get the charger installed?
Once SEAI emails your Letter of Offer, your six-month clock starts. Your Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor must complete the installation, hand you the Completion Certificate and EV Test Record, and you must upload the photos, invoice and forms within 6 months.
Home Car Charger Installation across all 26 counties
Requests from all 26 counties go to one vetted local specialist who covers your county — from Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick to Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Waterford and Donegal. Pick your county below for local prices, specifications and advice.
Get a fixed price for your charger
Match it in under a minute, see the price and the grant, and one Safe Electric registered electrician who covers your county rings you.