Frequently asked questions.
If your question isn't answered below, please ask our friendly chat AI as this has access to our entire knowledge base and will be able to provide an answer for you
Will I need to make any electrical upgrades to my property?
It depends on your existing setup. A qualified installer will assess your consumer unit and electrical capacity during the survey. If upgrades are needed (such as a new consumer unit to meet safety regulations) costs are typically around £85 and can be included in your installation quote. Emma from Beaumont House recommends: "Check your electrics first. We have 3-phase, meaning we could install as many chargers as we wanted within our budget. We opted for two 22kW chargers initially but made the underground pipework suitable for further cables as I hope to install more in the future."
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Can I use my own installer?
Yes. Any qualified electrician can install Simpson & Partners products. If you have your own trusted electrician it's a good idea to share installer guides with them ahead of time.
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Willhaving an EV charger help me get more bookings?
Tethered mode is a feature you can activate from your mobile app that locks the charging cable into your Simpson & Partners charger. This is handy for preventing cable theft when you're not using the charger, or simply for added convenience – keeping your cable securely stored and ready to use.
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Will Octopus still work if connected via my charge point?
Yes — connection via our charger is fully supported and will work as expected. Octopus can still start and stop charging, but it cannot automatically stop at your set battery limit because it doesn’t read the real-time charge level.
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How quickly will it pay for itself?
Typically within 12 months through guest charging revenue, often sooner with just a few extra bookings. After that, it's pure profit a permanent feature that keeps generating income stay after stay, year after year. You're not just covering costs; you're creating a revenue stream while future-proofing your property.
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Can I arrange my own installer and will this affect the Warranty?
Absolutely! You're welcome to use your own qualified electrician to install your Simpson & Partners Home Series charger. We recommend sharing our installer guides with your electrician beforehand – they'll find our chargers straightforward to install Good news about your warranty: Using your own installer won't affect your warranty at all, as long as the installation is completed by a qualified professional.
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Does your 3 phase charger work with Octopus Go
Our 22kw charger is compatible with octopus go and is available to purchase online. It is worth ensuring that you have a compatible car with a 22kW On board battery (OBC) and that your house has 3 phase power.
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What is the difference between single-phase and three-phase power?
Single-phase power is the standard electricity supply for most UK homes — around 85% of domestic properties use it. It delivers electricity through one live wire and is protected by a single fuse (typically rated at 60, 80, or 100 amps). With single-phase, the maximum charging rate for an EV charger is usually 7.3kW, which is ideal for overnight charging and suits most households. Three-phase power, on the other hand, is more common in commercial buildings or larger homes. It uses three live wires, allowing electricity to flow more efficiently and at higher capacity. If your property has a three-phase supply, you can install a charger capable of delivering up to 22kW —useful for larger battery EVs or homes with multiple electric vehicles needing faster turnaround. In short: • Single-phase = up to 7.3kW charging, standard for most homes • Three-phase = up to 22kW charging, suited for high-demand setups, commercial car parks, multi-dwelling residences.
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What are your warranties?
We offer a 10-year enclosure and 5-year electronics warranty, supported by our UK team. Many competitors provide shorter warranties or rely on overseas support.
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Is the cable hidden or wrapped around a holder?
Our tethered EV charging cables can be neatly wrapped around the charging unit itself, keeping your driveway or garage tidy.For added convenience, we also offer a colour-matched cable hook (£49) as an optional extra at checkout. This provides a nice way to keep your cable tidy and it's by default colour matched to the chargers front.
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How Easy Is It to Upgrade to 3-Phase Power?
The short answer is it’s not that simple (or cheap) to upgrade your property to 3-phase power supply. But here are the steps on how to upgrade to 3-phase: You’ll need to reach out to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). If you don’t know who your DNO is, contact your electricity provider or search “who is my DNO”. Your DNO are responsible for the infrastructure that supplies electricity to your home or business. Assessment: The DNO will assess whether a 3-phase upgrade is feasible for your property. The feasibility study outcome depends on your location, existing supply and how close you are to a 3-phase network. Costs can vary widely, from a few hundred to several thousand pounds. It really depends on the complexity of the work. How long does it take? It may take several weeks or months to complete, especially if roadworks or new cabling are required. You will bear the full cost of this work as there are no grants available.
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How do I reset or troubleshoot my charger?
For dedicated support, visit simpson-partners.com/support You can also ask the bot for guidance. The site includes step-by-step instructions for resets, firmware updates, and troubleshooting.
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What’s the difference between the Home 7 and Home 22?
The Home 7 and Home 7 Plus are both single-phase AC chargers and will deliver up to 7.3kW (32 amps) to your car. The Home 22 is a three-phase charger and can deliver up to 22kW—three times the power. Just keep in mind, you’ll need a three-phase power supply to get the full 22kW.
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How do our chargers combine style, reliability, and smart tech?
David Simpson leads our hardware and software engineering teams and mechanical engineering team to ensure each charger can be physically built for durability and consistent performance. Both David and Mandy Simpson designed the chargers from scratch to have a signature look that they felt looks timeless, modern and discreet. Home Series Plus models feature premium lids in wood or metal, optional Wireless Energy Managers for 'no-mess' load balancing and ethernet connectivity option for ultimate connection. Home Series Freestanding are the worlds first fully integrated pedestal charger. The overall ethos of the business is to create upgradable and repairable chargers and ev chargers that won't end up in landfill.
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Do Simpson & Partners chargers require an internet connection?
No. All Simpson & Partners chargers work without an internet connection. You can still charge your EV safely. You can just plug in a charge. If you also want to see your energy usage and remote control your charger from your mobile (eg locking and scheduling and charging history) then you'll need to have an internet connection.
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What’s the difference between home and business chargers?
Home chargers are perfect for residential use (7kw and 22kW and wall mount and freestanding options) with free mobile app and tethered or untethered options. Business chargers include all this and extra features like RFID authentication, MID metering and built-in RCBOs.
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Can you help me compare different brands of electric vehicle chargers for my business?
Yes — when comparing EV charger brands for business use, consider features like user management, metering, access control, installation flexibility and future‑proofing. For example, the Simpson & Partners Home Series EV Charger Plus and its business counterpart from Simpson & Partners offer commercial‑grade options: MID‑certified metering, RFID access control and OCPP support for workplaces and visitor parking. When comparing other brands, check whether they also provide features such as built‑in RCBOs, dynamic load management and freestanding posts. Simpson & Partners stands out for blending these business features with aesthetic design and UK manufacturing.
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Are Simpson & Partners chargers suitable for listed or historic buildings?
Homeowners that live in listed buildings (grade 1 or 2) or in conservation areas often chose our chargers due to their elegant design, discreet installation finish and customisable finishes. We are happy to help put together plans and image packs to present to your relevant authorities or heritage organisation panels to win their permission and gain approval. Our wall mount chargers are very small and slim. They come in metal (not plastic) with an option for wood lids and a carefully curated colour selection. Our integrated freestanding posts are also very discreet and help the charger blend seamlessly into environments where the final appearance is important.
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What is a Wired Energy Manager?
The Wired Energy Manager is a clever small device that balances the electrical load between your car and home. It constantly measures the amount of energy that your home is using and sends any availiable energy to your car (if it's plugged in). Known as a 'load balancing' device it avoids nuisance trips by prioritising energy to the home. So for example when you use the hob, hot tub, microwave etc, the energy manager will prioritise energy for your home appliances and reduce energy going to your car. As soon as you switch off your home appliances and 'reduce the load' on the house, it sends more to your car. We include a Wired Energy Manager with every Home basic or Home Plus charger.
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Should I Upgrade to 3-phase power supply?
It's up to you, but upgrading to 3-phase isn't common for most homes. When 3-phase makes sense: You have two EVs that could share the charging load You're already planning to install high-demand appliances like heat pumps, hot tubs, or indoor swimming pools You want the fastest possible home charging (up to 22kW) Who typically has 3-phase power? Most commercial premises like warehouses, farms, factories, shops, and restaurants have 3-phase. Some residential properties do too – particularly new-build large homes, barn conversions, or apartments in tower blocks with lifts. The reality: Upgrading to 3-phase can be time-consuming and expensive. For most homeowners with a single EV, standard single-phase power and a 7kW charger provides perfectly adequate overnight charging. How do I explore the option? Contact your district network operator or the national grid .national grid.
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What happens if the charger stops working?
Simpson & Partners chargers are engineered for reliability with close to zero downtime. If you ever need support, our technical team is available Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturdays 9am–12pm at 01285 405 410. We resolve issues quickly to keep your guests happy and your reviews positive. Emma from Beaumont House explains: "I have particularly noticed repeat business from guests with electric cars, they like the reliability of the chargers as they know they always work. We haven't had any negative reviews at all since the Simpson chargers were installed. With our previous chargers, guests often thought they weren't working and gave up, which regularly resulted in negative customer reviews online."
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My Car Keeps Charging Beyond the Limit Set in the Octopus App
If your car is charging beyond the limit set in the Octopus app, it’s because the charge limit is not controlled by the app or the Simpson & Partners charger — it must be managed by your vehicle directly. Why This Happens • The Octopus Intelligent tariff controls when your car charges, not how much it charges. • The Simpson & Partners charger delivers energy during allowed charging times but cannot stop charging at a certain battery percentage. • Only your vehicle can limit the charge level. Neither the Octopus app nor the charger can override this.
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What’s the difference between the Basic and Plus chargers?
The Home Basic charger is our dependable, no‑fuss choice. It features a durable grey plastic cap, four front‑panel colour options, and includes a Wired Energy Manager as standard. The Home Plus charger offers more ways to personalise your setup, with a wider range of colours and the option of premium wood or metal lids. It’s also solar‑compatible and you can choose a Wireless Energy Manager if you prefer it over the wired version. In short, the Plus is ideal if you’re looking for extra style, smarter energy management, or solar integration. The Basic is perfect when you simply want a reliable, straightforward charger that gets the job done.
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Are S&P chargers more compatible with renewable energy than other brands?
Yes. Our chargers are fully solar-compatible, letting you maximise your home energy and reduce costs. Many other chargers claim “green energy support,” but only S&P chargers integrate seamlessly with solar generation and smart tariffs, making your EV charging both efficient and environmentally friendly.
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What’s in the box?
Your charger arrives pre-assembled with the top and front colours you selected. Inside you’ll also find: *Your wired Energy Manager, usually located in the “Important Bits” box inside. *Quick Start Guide, including QR codes to download the Simpson & Partners app. *Serial Number & PIN card keep this safe, as it provides secure access to your charger and is required for setup, support and remote diagnostics.* Mounting template and standard fixings (if applicable). Note: If you ordered cable hooks, these are shipped in a separate box.
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