Introduction
Want to charge your electric car at home? Then it helps to know how the electrical installation in your meter cupboard works. Most households in the Netherlands have a 1-phase or 3-phase connection. Here you can read what that means and what it means for charging your car.
What is a phase?
A phase is a wire that brings alternating current (AC) into your home. In the Netherlands, the mains voltage is 230 volts per phase.
A 1-phase connection (1 x 35A)
In this example you have a 1-phase connection of 35A. You can see whether you have a 1-phase connection in your meter cupboard (see the image) or ask your grid operator. With a 1-phase connection, one phase wire (brown) brings in the alternating current, along with a blue wire (neutral) and a green-yellow earth wire.
Your car's onboard charger always determines how fast you charge. That is why it helps to know what your car can handle: then you know what power your meter cupboard has to supply. Look it up by car make.
With a 1-phase 35A connection, most cars charge with an onboard charger of 3.7 kW (1 phase 16A). Your meter cupboard usually gets a separate 16A circuit for it. Does your car charge at 7.4 kW (1 phase 32A)? Then you almost always need dynamic load balancing. It keeps an eye on the power used in your home, so the total stays within the limit of your connection.
Does your car have an onboard charger of 11 kW (3 phase 16A) or 22 kW (3 phase 32A)? Then you could consider upgrading your connection so you charge faster. For 11 kW that is a 3 x 25A connection, for 22 kW a 3 x 35A connection. You request an upgrade from your grid operator.
A 3-phase connection (3 x 25A)
In this example you have a 3-phase connection of 25A. Again, you can see it in your meter cupboard or ask your grid operator. With a 3-phase connection, three phase wires (brown, black and grey) bring in the alternating current, along with a blue wire (neutral) and a green-yellow earth wire.
With a 3-phase 25A connection, most cars charge with an onboard charger of 11 kW (3 phase 16A) or less. Your meter cupboard gets separate 16A circuits for it. If you choose a charging station, a 16A, 3-phase, 11 kW station suits this situation.
With some charging stations, dynamic load balancing lets you charge above 16A, up to 25A when little else is using power. That way you make better use of your connection's capacity. You do need a charging station that can do more than 16A, 3-phase, 11 kW, for example a 32A, 3-phase, 22 kW station with load balancing.
Does your car have a 22 kW onboard charger? Then you could consider upgrading your connection. Contact your grid operator about it.
A 3-phase connection (3 x 35A)
A 3-phase 35A connection is not standard. You request it from your grid operator. It is used for large appliances, heavier machinery and also charging stations for electric cars. Your meter cupboard then has three phase wires (brown, black and grey), a blue wire (neutral) and a green-yellow earth wire.
With a 3-phase 35A connection, most cars charge with an onboard charger of 22 kW (3 phase 32A) or less. Your meter cupboard gets separate 32A circuits per phase. If you choose a charging station, a 32A, 3-phase, 22 kW station suits this situation. Bear in mind that you almost always need load balancing in your meter cupboard in this case.
Which charging station suits your meter cupboard?
Start with your car: its onboard charger determines how fast you charge. Then choose a charging station that matches and check whether your meter cupboard needs adjusting. Not sure whether you need load balancing or a heavier connection? Ask us on WhatsApp or browse our charging stations.