Technically yes, with a three-pin trickle cable you can, but it's a stopgap rather than a real solution. A standard household socket delivers around 2.3kW, so a full charge can take the best part of a day, and ordinary sockets and their circuits were never designed for hours of continuous near-maximum load. That sustained heat can loosen connections over time, and on an older or heavily loaded ring circuit it's a genuine fire risk. A dedicated home charger runs at around 7kW on its own circuit built for the job, so it charges roughly three times faster and far more safely.
We fit home chargers for drivers right across Bristol and the surrounding towns, sited where they suit you and run on a dedicated, properly protected circuit. As an OZEV approved installer we check your incoming supply and fuse box can take the load before we quote, then install, test and certify the charger and show you how to use it before we leave. We're a NAPIT-registered team based in Bedminster Down, so the person fitting your charger is properly qualified, vetted and local.
Its own protected circuit
A home charger runs on a dedicated circuit built for continuous load, not a socket borrowed from the house.
Around three times faster
A 7kW charger fills the battery far quicker than a 2.3kW three-pin trickle lead ever will.
Supply checked first
We check your incoming supply and fuse box can take a charger safely before we quote a penny.
Your questions, answered
Is it safe to use a three-pin socket occasionally?
As an occasional stopgap on a sound modern circuit it's usually fine at low power, but it isn't meant for everyday use. The socket and circuit weren't designed for hours of heavy load, so a dedicated charger is the safe long-term answer.
How much faster is a proper charger?
A dedicated home charger runs at around 7kW against roughly 2.3kW from a three-pin socket, so about three times faster. For most drivers that's the difference between an overnight top-up and a charge that drags on all day.
Will my home supply cope with a 7kW charger?
Most homes are fine, but we always check your incoming supply and fuse box first. If anything needs upgrading you'll know up front, in one clear fixed price, before you commit to anything.
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