Why install a home charger?
A dedicated home charge point is faster, safer and cheaper to run than charging from a standard socket. Most owners charge overnight on a night-rate tariff, waking up to a full battery for a fraction of public-charger prices.
A home charger must be installed and certified by a registered electrician — it's not a DIY job. Done properly, it's a tidy, safe install with a certificate of compliance for your records and insurer.
Charger types explained
7kW vs 22kW
A 7kW single-phase unit charges most EVs fully overnight and suits the vast majority of homes. 22kW needs a three-phase supply — uncommon in Irish homes.
Tethered vs untethered
Tethered has a fixed cable (grab and plug in); untethered has a socket you use your own cable with — tidier and future-proof for different connectors.
Smart features
Smart chargers schedule charging for cheap night rates, balance household load, and track usage in an app. Most new units are smart by default.
What a home install involves
Site assessment
Your electrician checks your fuse board, supply capacity and the best cable route from the board to your parking spot.
Installation
The charge point is mounted, wired back to the board on its own protected circuit, and any load-management set up. Most installs take 2–4 hours.
Certification & grant
You get a certificate of compliance and the documentation needed to claim the SEAI home charger grant where eligible.
Indicative installation costs
Installed prices before any SEAI grant. Final cost depends on cable length, board upgrades and charger model.
Look for Safe Electric registration
Home EV chargers must be fitted by a registered electrician. Every electrician on TradesHero is vetted for Safe Electric registration, insurance and tax clearance before they can quote.