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
Are your chargers compatible with all types of EVs?
Absolutely. Simpson & Partners chargers are engineered to support all EV models and PHEV. Tethered (Built-in Cable): Comes with a fixed Type 2 cable. Untethered (Socket): Features a universal socket, allowing you to use your own Type 1 or Type 2 charging cable, supporting older Type 1 vehicles as well as newer Type 2 cars.
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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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Can I get a bespoke colour for my EV charger?
Yes, we offer bespoke colour-matching in exceptional cases – this is more common for businesses wanting to match their brand than for home installations. Our standard collection: We have 132 carefully curated colours and finishes. Our creative director, Mandy Simpson, personally selects each one to harmonise beautifully with walls, brickwork, and gardens. Important note: Our standard powder coating comes with a 10-year guarantee. Custom colours may not carry the same guarantee. Interested in a bespoke colour? Contact sales@simpson-partners.com (POA) and our production team will assess your request.
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Can you help me compare different brands of home EV chargers based on durability and design?
We have created a page highlighting the benefits and differences of many market leading chargers https://simpson-partners.com/charger-comparison Design and appearance is obviously subjective. David and Mandy Simpson have spent a long time designing S&P chargers to be discreet, understated. Quiet luxury. Every curve, radius and angle has been considered.
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Can your charger work smarter with my energy and solar setup?
Yes! Our Home Series Plus chargers are designed to work seamlessly with solar panels, intelligently using any surplus energy your system produces. Every charger comes with a Wired Energy Manager as standard, and you can also choose a Wireless Energy Manager if that suits your setup better. Together, they automatically balance power between your home and your EV, helping you make the most of renewable energy, charge efficiently and keep your energy bills down.‍
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can-i-monitor-charging-usage
Yes. Usage can be monitored via the Simpson & Partners app, which works independently of internet connectivity or Octopus integration. You can track energy consumption and charging sessions directly through the app.
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What’s the difference between a Wired vs Wireless Energy Manager?
A Wired Energy Manager is a hard-wired kit that monitors your home’s power draw, so your charger knows when to throttle EV charging to avoid overloading your main supply. A wireless Energy Manager gives you the same load-balancing benefits, but communicates over wireless — handy if you want cleaner install and simpler cabling. Both options protect your home electrical system while optimising charging.
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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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Will the colour fade if my charger is outdoors?
No. Our paint finishes are designed to withstand UK weather, rain, UV sun and frost. Metal and wood lids on all models are treated for durability, so your charger will stay looking great for years. We make our wood lids our of sustainable Accoya. Dimensionally stable, Accoya wood is a modified pine that undergoes an acetylation process. The result is real wood that doesn’t rot. It doesn’t warp, swell or shrink becuase the small water molecules inside the wood are effectively replaced by acetic acid. ie it's 'pickled'. Wooden lids will in say 10 years begin to change colour if they are exposed to UV light. The change will be very slight becuase we use specialist transluscent paint coats that protect from UV light. The metal fronts are power coated. Their colour will stay the same for many years.
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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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Will having an EV charger help me get more bookings?
Yes. EV drivers actively filter their search for properties with on-site charging, and this segment is growing rapidly. Without a charger, you're invisible to these guests. Properties with charging see increased bookings year-round, improved competitiveness, and future-proof appeal as EV ownership continues to rise. Emma from Beaumont House Hotel in Cheltenham explains: "It makes the hotel appear higher up in the ranking on online travel agents such as Booking.com and Expedia as guests can tick hotels with EV chargers, we pop up immediately. I estimate 10% of business is repeat business by guests owning electric cars throughout the year." Simon from Coillemore House in the Scottish Highlands adds: "We were keen to offer EV charging as a value add and as a differentiator to other homes in the area. We were surprised to have multiple guests from the south east and London driving up in electric vehicles. There's more demand than we initially believed."
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How much does it cost to install an EV charger?
Standard installations start at £425 including VAT, with upfront costs typically offset within 12 months through guest usage. This covers a 7kW (single phase) installation, up to 4 hours on-site, and up to 15 meters of cable run. Costs increase if you need additional work such as drilling through multiple walls, trenching, working at height, or three-phase installations.
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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 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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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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Is installing an EV charger a good long-term investment?
Absolutely. EV chargers are considered fixed appliances that increase your property's value and future-proof it for the growing EV market. Our data shows a single-socket charger pays for itself in approximately 12 months through guest charging revenue. After that, it's a permanent income stream with minimal ongoing effort required from you. Simon from Coillemore House addresses remote locations: "The nearest public charging station is about 40 minutes drive away, so it's not really practical for guests to use. It adds time to their day trips. It's much preferable for them to be able to plug in whilst back at the house relaxing in the hot tub or preparing dinner. Before we had the charger, guests with EVs just had to plug into a socket through a window. It wasn't ideal as we couldn't charge them easily and couldn't offer fast or efficient charging." Emma from Beaumont House adds: "Guests often think charging points are more essential than a breakfast service. If you need to charge, you need to charge!"
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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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How easy are Simpson & Partners EV chargers to install?
Our chargers are easy to install and require no earth rods. Installers enjoy putting our product into homes. 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 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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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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What is a Wireless Energy Manager?
This clever small device load balances the electrical load between your car and home. It works as an alternative to the Wired energy 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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Are your chargers made in the UK?
Yes. You are welcome to have a factory tour and see your charger being made. Please ring us before hand! All our chargers are designed and built our Cotswolds HQ, maintaining strict British quality standards. Every charger, whether it's a 7kW Home Series socket or a multi-storey installation requiring multiple sockets meets the same high reliability and build quality. We regularly hold installer events and can accommodate individual factory visits.
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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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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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