18/09/2021
A question we get asked every day from wholesalers or contractors installing EV charge points on commercial properties with 3 phase supplies is , why can’t we install the single-phase device as we are only installing a single-phase chargers?
The simple reason is because they don’t offer 100% protection against all faults.
The following text is taken from the IET Code of Practice, Electric Vehicle Charging Point Installation 4th Edition which confirms this.
A device described in Regulation 722.411.4.1 (iv) detects most conditions that arise when there is a break in the PEN conductor in the distribution network. However, where the installation is supplied from a three-phase PME distribution network, which is usually the case, there are a small number of conditions in which the line to neutral voltage appears to be within the normal utilization range, but the voltage on the PME earthing system has risen above 70V rms.
As an option is available for three-phase installations that does not have these limitations (see section 5.3.5.2), BS 7671 DOES NOT permit a protective device as described in indent (iv) of Regulation 722.411.4.1 to be used to protect single-phase charging equipment in three-phase installations. Equally, BS 7671 DOES NOT permit charging equipment containing equivalent functionality to that described in indent (iv) of Regulation 722.411.4.1 to be installed in installations with three-phase supplies.
So if you are installing single-phase charge points with PEN fault protection, or standalone PEN fault protection devices, make sure they are suitable for the installation and facilitate compliance with Regulation 722.411.4.1 (iii) or if (v) ensure that they do not offer any less degree of safety.
Please visit our website for further information on our matt:e EV Connection centres with O-PEN technology, designed to facilitate compliance on 3 phase installations.
Electric Vehicle connection units with O-PEN technology are designed to give compliant protection against the dangers of an open PEN conductor on Single and Three-Phase TN-C-S (PME) supplies