Frequently asked questions.
How easy are Simpson & Partners EV chargers to install?
Our chargers are easy to install and require no earth rods. Install templates are on the packaging. We’ve got easy to use Bluetooth set up and electrician friendly details such as screw rib bars which hold screws in, eliminating the chance of losing them on the ground.
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What is the Locking Function?
This function will lock the plug into the EV charger socket whilst a charge is taking place, the plug will be released at the end of a charge or when the charging is halted by the user.
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What is tethered mode?
Tethered mode allows the user to permanently lock the plug into the S&P charger unless disabled, you may use this mode to prevent cable theft or just for added convenience.
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Should I Upgrade to 3-phase power supply?
It’s up to you, but it’s not a widespread practice by any means. A 3-phase supply allows for faster EV charging (up to 22kW). It’s also useful if you have two EV’s (they can share the load) or if you have high-demand appliances like heat pumps, hot tubs, an indoor swimming pool or multiple ovens. Many commercial premises such as warehouses, farms, factories, shops and restaurants have three phase power. The residential buildings that might have three phase power could include new build large homes, barn conversions (which used to be/ still are working farms that power machinery), homes in tower blocks (there could be a lift). Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason as to why some building have three-phase or single phase. There's notihng stopping you from exploring upgrading to 3-phase, but just know that it can be time consuming and expensive.
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Will a 3-phase charger work on a single-phase supply?
Yes, the installer will just need to connect to one phase within the charger.
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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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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 is Three-Phase Supply?
Three-phase power is more commonly found in commercial buildings or larger homes. It uses three live wires, allowing electricity to be delivered more efficiently and at a higher capacity. If your property has a three-phase supply, this means that it supports up to 22kW charging. So if you install a 22kW charger, you’ll be able to send up to 22kW to your vehicle. Which can you useful for larger battery vehicles or busy households with 2 or more EVs.
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What does Single-Phase mean?
Single-phase is the phrase given to describe the electrical power supply that comes from the national grid into your property. Single-phase power supply is the most common type of electricity supply in UK homes, about 85% of domestic properties use it. It means electricity flows through one live wire, protected by a single fuse (usually rated at 60, 80, or 100 amps). With a single-phase power supply, the maximum charging rate for an EV charger is typically 7.3kW, which is perfect for most home charging needs.
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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 chargers and will deliver up to 7kW (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 fast can I charge my car?
The speed you can charge your car at home depends on three things: your home’s electricity supply, the charger you install (7kW or 22kW) and your car’s onboard charging capability. Most UK homes have a single-phase supply, which supports up to 7kW charging. If you have a three-phase supply, you can install a 22kW charger for much faster charging. The third but crucial element is your car’s onboard battery. Sometimes referred to as an OBC, the onboard battery is fixed and inside your car. Some hybrid plug in cars have 3.7kW on board battery, the majority of cars have 7kW, some have 11kW and a few have 22kW. The fastest you can charge your car at home is always going to be limited by the smallest number: Let’s see this in action: Example 1: If your home power supply is single phase and you choose a 7kW charger and plug in a Tesla with an onboard battery of 22kw, then the fastest you can charge will be 7kW. This is because the maximum available of power at your home is 7kW. If you have a 22kW charger, then the maximum rate you can charge is still 7kW. Example 2: You have three phase power supply and a 22kW eV charger, your car is a lovely brand-new car that has an on-board charger of 3.7kW. The fastest you’d be able to charge is 3.7kW.
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How does Simpson & Partners protect my data differently from other brands?
We combine privacy-first design with banking-grade security. Unlike others, we don’t collect personal details, and all data is anonymized. Plus, we use encrypted connections and UK-based secure servers to keep your information safe, just like your online banking.
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Is the connection between my charger and home network secure?
Absolutely. All data flowing between your charger and the internet is encrypted—including your network and Bluetooth settings. We secure the connection to your home Wi-Fi, so your network remains protected at all times.
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Where is my charging data stored? Is it safe?
Yes. Your charge history is kept on high-security AWS servers, all located within the UK. We’ve applied the same rigorous standards used in internet banking to ensure your data is protected. If you're comparing us to other EV charger brands, it's worth asking them where your data goes.
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Do I need to share my personal details to use the EV charger?
No, you don’t. When you connect to your Simpson & Partners EV charger, we don’t ask for any personal information. All data collected is fully anonymized, meaning it can’t be linked back to you. This approach sets us apart from other manufacturers and puts your privacy first.
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What maintenance or aftercare is needed for a home EV charger?
What maintenance or aftercare is needed for a home EV charger? Minimal! All Simpson & Partners EV chargers are built to last and weatherproof. We recommend: • Occasional visual checks for wear or damage • Keeping the cable clean and safely stored • Software updates (done automatically via Wi-Fi) • Do not use harsh chemicals (eg bleach) • Never jet wash your EV charger And if you need support, our UK-Cotswolds based team is here to help.
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How fast will my car charge with a home ev charger compared to a regular socket?
Here’s a quick comparison: So with a home charger, you’ll get up to three or four times faster charging than a regular socket it is perfect for overnight top-ups or full charges in a single day.
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Do I really need a home charger, or can I just use a standard 3-pin plug?
Technically, yes — you can use a standard 3-pin plug to charge your EV. But it’s not ideal. It’s slow (typically 2.3kW), not built for sustained high-power use and lacks the smart features that make EV ownership seamless. A dedicated home charger is faster, safer and smarter. With Simpson & Partners chargers you get three levels of control to suit your lifestyle. Choose from basic plug-and-go charging, Bluetooth-enabled scheduling and local access, or full remote control via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, including integration with smart energy tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go.
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What is load balancing?
Load balancing is a safety feature which automatically balances the power consumption between your house and the charger, to avoid overloading your fuse. For example, if your home has a 60A fuse and you turn on the electric ovens, electric showers and other high draw appliances and try and charge your vehicle same time, there may not be enough load available for the charger to charge at the maximum rate (which is 32A). When this happens, the charger automatically lowers the charge rate to avoid overloading your supply. To enable load balancing, connect the wired Energy Manager included with Home Series products, or purchase the optional wireless Energy Manager.
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What is a Wireless Energy Manager?
This clever small device load balances the electrical load between your car and home. It works as an alterntive to the Wired energyg Manager and works wirelessly, giving you a no-mess finish and it’s quick to install (so no messy wires or bashing through walls). Load balancing enables you to avoid nuisance trips and ensures your car gets the maximum amount of charge available. The Wireless EM uses LoRa (Radio) technology to communicate with the charger. The Wireless EM has 2 modes – 1. In Standard Mode the Wireless EM has a range of up to approximately 65m. 2. The range in Long Range Mode is up to approximately 120m. Long Range mode is only supported when using an external USB-C power supply. If you're an electrician, you can watch Adam from Sota electrical installing one here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMWyaKCNOno
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Do I need a Wired Energy Manager?
A Wired Energy Manager is included with every charger. We include one for a 7kW model and three for a 22kW model.
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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 prioritse 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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What is the difference between the Home Basic and Home Plus?
The Basic comes with a plastic lid and the Home Plus has eco wood or metal lid options. The Plus comes with more front colours, options of wireless energy management and ethernet connection (rather than only wired energy management and wifi only), courtesy lights and the Charge Doctor. The Charge Doctor is a clever device that automatically detects faults and instantaneously fixes them without you even knowing about them.
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Why is standard installation from £425 excluding vat?
Every installation is different and every installation cost varies. We've been in the charging industry for years and there are too many variables to stick to a one price fits all. Having said that, we have given a 'from' price for standard installation for transparency and to give our customers a rough indication of what to expect to pay for. We believe this is a very fair cost. All Trusted Partners are local independent electricians that we have known for years, selected for their commitment to great workmanship and high levels of customer service.
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What information do I need to provide in the survey?
Installers typically ask for photos of where you want to put your charger (it could be in two places if you can't decide), a clear close up photo of your consumer unit with the lid open so they can see the switches and numbers on it), a photo of your fuse box (so they can see what power supply you have) and a rough distance in metres between the consumer unit and where you want to put your charger. Lastly they will want to know the model of charger - is it a wall mount 7kW or 22kW or a freestanding pedestal etc... A good electrician will help you decide whether you need wireless energy manager and provide advice on where best to install your charger.
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Can I get an installation quote before ordering?
If you wish to get an accurate quote, the answer is yes. Just select a local installer and enter your details to begin the survey process.
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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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