Can I Charge an EV From a Normal Socket?
Technically yes, using the granny cable most cars come with, but it isn't a good long-term answer. A standard 3-pin socket delivers charge very slowly, often taking most of a day or a full night to add a meaningful amount, and just as importantly a normal socket and the household circuit behind it were never designed to carry a high load continuously for hours at a time. Do it night after night and the socket, plug and wiring can overheat, which is why an occasional top-up in a pinch is one thing but daily charging that way is another. A dedicated home charger runs on its own protected circuit with the correct earthing, charges far faster and is built for exactly this job.
We install home chargers across the North East, from the driveway-rich streets of Gosforth in Newcastle and the New Town estates of Washington to homes around South Shields and Sunderland. We survey your incoming supply, consumer unit and parking first, then fit the charger on its own dedicated circuit and set it up so you can schedule cheaper off-peak charging from your phone. We're NAPIT registered, City & Guilds qualified and DBS checked, every install is fully tested and certified, and you get a free survey and one fixed written price before any work starts.
Fine now and then, not daily
A 3-pin socket is slow and not built for hours of continuous load night after night, so it's a stopgap rather than a real solution.
A dedicated circuit is safer
A proper charger runs on its own protected circuit with the correct earthing, charges far faster and leaves your other sockets unaffected.
Free survey first
We check your supply, fuse box and parking before quoting, so the price you get is the price you pay.
Your questions, answered
Is charging from a normal socket actually dangerous?
An occasional top-up is usually fine, but daily charging draws a high current for hours and a standard socket and its circuit aren't designed for that. Warmth at the plug or socket is a warning sign to stop. A dedicated charger removes the risk entirely.
Why is a proper charger so much faster?
A home charger typically delivers around three times the power of a 3-pin socket and does it safely, so an overnight charge adds far more range. It's the difference between a trickle and a proper fill.
Can my home's supply handle a dedicated charger?
Most can, but we always check your incoming supply and fuse box first as part of a free survey. If anything needs upgrading you'll know up front, in one clear fixed price.
Ready for electrics done properly?
Free fixed quotes across South Shields and Tyne and Wear. Certified work, an immaculate finish and a price that doesn't move.