Home EV charger and electrical glossary
Plain-English definitions of the 15 electrical, battery, on-board charger and SEAI grant terms you will see when fitting a home EV charger.
Free, no obligation. One registered electrician prices it, not five.
- 15terms defined A to Z
- 7.4 kW32 A single-phase
- €300SEAI grant
- I.S. 10101Irish wiring rules
A to Z of home EV charging and electrical terms
11 kW Three-Phase Charger
An AC charge point operating across three 400 V phases at 16 amps per phase, available only on rural or larger homes with a three-phase ESB supply and adding up to 75 km of range per hour.
12 kVA vs 16 kVA MIC
Maximum Import Capacity on a domestic ESB Networks connection. Most suburban homes have a 12 kVA (63 A) supply, which handles a 7.4 kW EV charger comfortably when paired with a dynamic load management CT clamp.
20% to 80% Daily Charge Window
The everyday battery state-of-charge band recommended for NMC lithium-ion packs, easily replenished inside a single 3- to 4-hour overnight EV tariff window on a 7.4 kW home unit.
6 mA DC Leakage Protection
Built-in residual direct-current monitoring inside a smart wallbox that allows the unit to work safely alongside a standard Type A RCD at the consumer unit without needing an expensive Type B RCD.
7.4 kW Single-Phase Charger
The standard residential AC charge point in Ireland, running at 32 amps on a 230 V single-phase ESB Networks supply and adding roughly 38 to 50 km of driving range per hour of charging.
Dynamic Load Balancing (CT Clamp)
A current-transformer sensor clipped onto the main ESB meter tails that monitors live household electricity draw (electric shower, heat pump, oven) and automatically throttles EV charging so the main fuse never trips.
I.S. 10101 Wiring Rules
The National Rules for Electrical Installations in Ireland requiring every domestic EV charger to have its own dedicated radial circuit, miniature circuit breaker, RCD protection, and open-PEN fault protection.
On-Board Charger (OBC)
The AC-to-DC rectifier built inside the electric car itself. Even if a wallbox can supply 7.4 kW or 22 kW, the car charges at whichever rating is lower—its own on-board charger limit or the wallbox output.
Open-PEN Fault Device
Internal protection built into modern Irish EV chargers that immediately disconnects live, neutral, and earth conductors if a broken supply neutral voltage anomaly is detected on the street network.
Safe Electric Certificate No. 3
The official electrical completion certificate issued by a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) after testing a new home charger circuit; mandatory for the €300 SEAI grant claim.
SEAI Smart Charger Register
The official list of OCPP-compliant, Wi-Fi/cellular-connected home charge points approved by SEAI as eligible for the €300 Home Charger Grant.
Solar PV Excess Divert
A smart charger mode that reads surplus generation exported by rooftop solar panels via a CT clamp and feeds anything above 1.4 kW (6 amps) directly into the parked car.
Tethered vs Untethered Unit
A tethered charger has a 5 m or 7.5 m Type 2 cable permanently attached for rapid plug-in; an untethered (socket-only) unit has a weatherproof shuttered Type 2 outlet where you plug in your own cable.
Type 2 Connector (IEC 62196)
The universal seven-pin European AC charging plug used on every new electric and plug-in hybrid car sold in Ireland.
Usable Battery Capacity (kWh)
The net energy available for driving and charging inside an EV battery pack after the manufacturer reserves a top and bottom buffer to protect long-term cell health.
How long will your car take at home?
Four quick taps. You see the hours a night on a 3-pin plug and on a 7 kW charger, and whether the cheap hours are enough. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want a price.
A Tesla Model Y doing up to 60 km a day: 1h 35m a night on a 7 kW charger, 4h 55m on a 3-pin plug.
How this is worked out
Each car's figures are its usable battery, its on-board charger and its real-world energy use, with its time from empty to full on a 3-pin plug (2.3 kW), on a 7 kW home charger (7.4 kW on a single-phase supply) and at 11 kW. The hours a night are your daily km divided by the km each hour of charging adds. Cold weather and short trips use more. It's a guide, not a promise.
EV Home Chargers 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: Charging a Kia EV3 at home · Charging a Hyundai Kona Electric at home · Charging a Renault 5 at home · Charging a Nissan Leaf at home · All guides & calculator hub · Technical & trade glossary · Frequently asked questions · What charging costs · EV tariffs · Installers by county · Claiming the grant · No driveway?
Questions people ask
Do I need to own an electric car already to apply for the €300 SEAI charger grant?
No. Following the SEAI scheme rule update, any homeowner or long-term resident with dedicated off-street parking at a home with an MPRN can claim the €300 Home Charger Grant whether or not they currently own or lease an EV.
Why does my car only charge at 7 kW at home when public chargers are 50 kW or 150 kW?
Public rapid chargers use high-voltage Direct Current (DC) that bypasses the car's internal converter, whereas a residential single-phase Irish supply provides 230 V Alternating Current (AC) capped at 32 amps (7.4 kW). Because the car sits parked overnight for 8 to 10 hours, 7.4 kW easily delivers 250 to 400 km of range by morning.
Can I install an EV charger if I have an electric shower and an air-to-water heat pump?
Yes. Your Safe Electric electrician fits a small CT clamp sensor onto your main meter tails to enable dynamic load balancing. Whenever the electric shower or heat pump ramps up, the charger automatically reduces its current for a few minutes so your main ESB fuse is never overloaded.
EV Home Chargers 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.
How long will yours take?
Four taps to the hours a night on a plug and on a charger. Then, if you want, one registered electrician who fits home chargers in your county rings with a price.