What size cable do I need for an EV charger – Advice from Electriman, North London Electricians

## What Cable Size Do I Need for an EV Charger at Home?

Choosing the right cable for your EV charger is one of the most important parts of the installation. Using the wrong size can cause overheating, nuisance tripping, or in the worst case, a fire. Here is what you need to know in plain English.

**The Most Common Answer: 6mm² Cable**

For the vast majority of UK homes installing a standard **7kW single-phase home charger** (the most popular type), a **6mm² twin and earth cable** is used, protected by a **32A circuit breaker** in your consumer unit.

**Key factors that affect cable size:**

- **Length of the cable run** — The longer the cable, the more voltage is lost along the way. Runs over 25 metres may need 10mm² cable to stay within the 3% voltage drop limit

- **How the cable is installed** — Cables buried in a wall, clipped to a surface, or buried underground all have different current-carrying capacities. Buried cables can carry more current; cables in thermal insulation carry less

- **Three-phase chargers (22kW)** — These require a completely different circuit, typically 10mm² or larger, with a three-phase supply — not available in most UK homes

- **Other loads on the same supply** — If your incoming supply is already heavily loaded, your electrician may need to install a load management device

**What you can safely check yourself:**

- Check whether your home has a **single-phase or three-phase supply** (look at yo

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Electriman covers Mill Hill, Barnet, Finchley, Edgware, Enfield, Watford and surrounding areas. All work is Part P certified and fully insured.