Home Electric Car Charging Point Outdoors: An EV Home Charger That Lasts
Plenty of Canterbury cars park on the driveway, not in a garage. An outdoor charging point needs the right rating, the right fittings and a little thought about salt, frost and sun.
The New Brighton Charger That Lasted Eighteen Months
A New Brighton owner called us about a charger mounted on the seaward side of the house. It was a cheap unit with an indoor-grade case, and after a year and a half of salty wind the screws had rusted, the seal had cracked and the display had fogged. It still charged, until one wet morning it did not.
We moved the replacement to the sheltered side of the house, chose a unit rated for outdoor use, fitted stainless fixings and ran the cable in sealed conduit. A charging point outside is completely normal. It just has to be built for where it lives.
What the IP Rating on a Charger Means
| Rating | Protects against | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| IP54 | Dust and splashing water | Under a carport or a deep eave |
| IP55 | Dust and water jets | Exposed outside walls, and the minimum we like near the coast |
| IP65 | Dust-tight and water jets | Fully exposed walls and pedestals on open driveways |
| IK08 to IK10 | Knocks and impacts | Driveways where a car door or a bike might hit it |
Most of the chargers we fit are rated IP54 or better. We tell you which one suits your spot before you choose.
Outdoor Charging Point Checklist
- A charger rated IP55 or better on an exposed wall
- Cable in UV-stable conduit, sealed where it enters the house
- Stainless or galvanised fixings near the sea
- A cable hook or holster so the plug never sits in a puddle
- App locking, so passers-by cannot use your power
Outdoor Mistakes That Shorten a Charger's Life
- Facing the charger into the prevailing wind on the coast
- Leaving the tethered cable lying across the driveway
- Mounting it where a reversing car can clip it
Keeping an Outdoor Charging Point Yours
A charging point near the street is easy to see, so lock it. Most smart chargers can be locked in the app or set to charge only on a schedule, and a socket-type charger lets you take the cable inside at night. For insurance, the Certificate of Compliance matters as much outside as it does in the garage.
If the charger has to stand away from the house, a pedestal is the usual answer, and the charging point placement guide covers when that makes sense.
Price an Outdoor Charging Point
Four photos are all we need: your switchboard with the door open, the spot where the charger will go, the path between them and your meter board. One written number comes back, usually the same day.
Coastal and Street-Facing Charging Points
Near the Sea
A home electric charging point by the coast needs fixings that do not rust and a unit that shrugs off salt air. Sumner and New Brighton homes get IP55 or better and stainless hardware as standard.
Facing the Street
An electric home charging point on a street-facing wall should be locked. Most smart chargers lock from the app, so nobody can top up from your supply while you are away.