Frequently asked questions.
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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 improvements are being made over the coming months?
We’re continuing to invest in support throughout 2026, building on the reliability gains delivered with our V3 hardware. This platform is also being extended to our 22 kW chargers, bringing the same stability across the full range.On the software side, we’re releasing updates that prevent issues before they appear, along with a full app redesign featuring guided, step‑by‑step diagnostics so you can resolve most problems instantly. And if you do need us, we’re expanding our phone, email and live chat availability for faster access to the team.Our approach is simple: the best support works quietly in the background with continuous firmware improvements, automatic fixes and regular updates that make your charger more reliable over time and more real people to answer your calls.
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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 type of EV charger is best for my holiday let?
Look for a reliable, durable charger with minimal downtime that complements your property's aesthetic. It should include MID meters for accurate billing and OFGEM compliance with UK government requirements. Simpson & Partners Holiday Series offers both wall-mounted and freestanding models, built from metal (not plastic) with 132 colour combinations to enhance your property. Simon from Coillemore House chose carefully: "I chose the Home 7 Plus so I could get the right colour combination. Neptune blue with a mid oak lid to fit in with the stone walls of our Georgian property. We love how it looks, it's super durable so it can stand up to all the weather Scotland can throw at it, and it's discreet so it doesn't look out of place."
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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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How durable are your chargers?
Our EV chargers are built to last. We provide industry-leading protection and peace of mind with: 5-year warranty on all hardware components 10-year warranty on the enclosure and lid Our chargers use robust, weather-resistant materials designed to withstand outdoor conditions and frequent daily use, ensuring reliable performance for years to come.
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How long does it take to charge my EV?
For most UK homes and electric vehicles, a full charge takes 6-8 hours overnight using a 7kW home charger. The exact time depends on your car's battery size and how much charge is left. For example, a typical 60kWh EV battery charging from empty to full at 7kW takes around 8-9 hours. Smart charging tip: Use our smart chargers with tariffs like Octopus Intelligent to automatically schedule charging during off-peak hours, saving money while your car charges overnight.
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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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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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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 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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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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How can I ensure the charger blends in with my property's aesthetics?
Simpson & Partners chargers come in 132 colour combinations, allowing you to match your property's style perfectly. Unlike bland plastic chargers, ours enhance your property's visual appeal and create a positive first impression for guests — important for instant "judgement" scores when they arrive. Nuthatch Retreat chose Holiday Series specifically for design: "We'd witnessed the frankly ugly and cumbersome chargers on the market and wanted something refined, thoughtful and beautiful that would tie in with the aesthetic of the building."
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What smart features set Simpson & Partners chargers apart from competitors?
Every S&P charger comes with smart app control, load management, and over-the-air updates. That means you can schedule charging, monitor usage, and future-proof your setup. Some competitors may have app control, but few combine this with advanced energy management and OTA updates in one reliable package.
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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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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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What is the Locking Function?
The locking function (from your mobile) secures your charging cable in the charger socket, protecting against cable theft. How it works: The cable automatically locks into the charger when you're charging your car For untethered chargers, it also locks your cable in place when you're not charging, preventing theft if you leave it plugged in
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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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Do Simpson & Partners offer electric vehicle chargers with integrated management software?
Yes. All Simpson & Partners EV chargers come with powerful management software built-in, designed for both home and commercial use.For home use – Our Home Series chargers seamlessly integrate with intelligent octopus go, the plus models allow you to use excess solar energy and the app allows you to lock your charger, set charging schedules and track energy usage. Good for those who need to submit energy usage to their employers for reimbursement. For businesses – Our Commercial Series chargers are modular and include user-management tools, secure access control (like RFID), MID-certified metering for accurate billing, and OCPP 1.6J support for managing multiple chargers across your site. We also integrate with third-party specialist apps like Tap Electric, Wevo and Fuuse so you can manage and monetise your charging infrastructure.
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Why Choose Holiday Series EV Chargers over other Ev chargers?
Most holiday let chargers are cheap plastic units that look awful and break down. Holiday Series chargers are British-engineered from metal for superior durability and come in 132 colour combinations to match your property. We've been offering Business and Home EV chargers for years and started out making EV chargers in 2018. Crucially, they include OFGEM-compliant MID meters as standard. If you're charging guests for electricity, MID meters are a legal requirement in the UK. They're certified meters that provide accurate, auditable readings of exactly how much energy each guest uses protecting you from disputes and ensuring you charge fairly and legally. Purpose-built for holiday lets, Holiday Series chargers are reliable, beautiful, easy for guests to use and designed to generate revenue with minimal hassle.
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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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Do your chargers work with all EV models?
Yes! Our EV chargers are compatible with all EV brands, including those from VW Group, Tesla, BMW, Nissan and more. Charge point connections are fully supported and work as expected with all EVs.
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How does guest payment work?
You have two options. Use Tap Electric (free for hosts) where guests scan a QR code on the charger, pay automatically, and the money goes straight to your bank account. Or check the Simpson & Partners app to see exactly how much energy was used and collect payment before guests leave. Either way, you set your own kWh rate and guests understand they need to pay, just like they would at any public charging point.
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My charger is out of Warranty, are you able to help?
Our V3 hardware now comes with an industry-leading 5-year hardware warranty. But support doesn’t stop there; whether you’re an existing customer or someone with a charger from the previous company, we’re committed to supporting you long into the future. For chargers that are out of warranty, we aim to provide ongoing help along with replacement hardware at cost where needed. We’re also launching a full catalogue of replacement parts, allowing you (or your installer) to repair your charger easily. This will include everything from front panels and lids to PCBs, sockets and even the small fixings. We’re also introducing a V3 Upgrade Programme, giving you the option to update your charger’s internal hardware to the V3 platform and benefit from the latest features and reliability improvements. So even if your warranty is coming to an end, there’s no need to worry we’ll continue to support you and ensure your charger stays reliable for the long term.
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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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