FAQ
Should I get a tethered or untethered (socket) EV charger?
A tethered charger, with a built-in 5 to 7 metre cable, is handier at home: you arrive, unhook it and plug in. One with a Type 2 socket is more versatile in communal garages, businesses and hotels, because each user brings their own cable and the space stays clear. Charging speed depends on the unit's power, not the format.
Tethered or untethered charger: the differences
Choosing between a tethered charger (with its own cable) and an untethered one (with a socket) is one of the first decisions when buying a wallbox. Both charge in mode 3 with the Type 2 connector, the European standard, and the speed depends on the unit’s power, not the format.
| Tethered (built-in cable) | Untethered (Type 2 socket) | |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | Maximum: unhook and plug in | You take the cable out of the boot (trunk) |
| Length | Fixed, usually 5 to 7 m | That of each user’s cable |
| Shared use | Worse: one cable for everyone | Better: each user has their own |
| Look of the space | Cable coiled on its holder | Tidier space |
When to choose a tethered charger
- At home or in your own private garage space.
- If you always park in the same position.
- If you want maximum day to day convenience.
Check that the length reaches your car’s charging port the way you usually park, and think about a possible change of car too.
When to choose a socket
- In communal garages with shared chargers or in common areas.
- In businesses, hotels and shops, where different cars charge.
- If you would rather not leave a cable exposed in a garage people walk through.
In these cases it is usually combined with RFID card or app identification, so you know who is charging and can split the cost.
Other things to check
- Power: 7.4 kW single-phase is the domestic standard.
- Dynamic load balancing, so you do not exceed your contracted power.
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, to schedule charging in the off-peak period.
- Built-in DC leak detection (6 mA RDC-DD), which simplifies the protection needed in the fuse board.
- OCPP, if it is for a business or shared use.
Reference prices
Home chargers from the most commonly installed brands, such as Wallbox, V2C, Circutor or Tesla, have a guide price of about 535 to 850 euros for the unit, VAT included, depending on model and features. Installation is extra and depends on the distance and the protective devices.
When to call an electrician
Call before buying the unit, to choose the format that fits your space and your installation. In Seville, Spain, we fit the main brands through home EV charger installation for houses and handle shared garages through EV charger installation in communal garages.
Related services
EV charger brands we install
Choosing between EV charger brands in Spain is easier with an installer who is not selling one. In Seville we install the wallbox you choose, or the one that best suits your case: Wallbox, V2C, Circutor, Simon, Schneider, Tesla and other makes. We help you decide on technical grounds, not commercial ones: power, phases, load balancing, solar charging and management.
EV charger in a communal garage
An EV charger in a communal garage in Spain only requires you to notify the comunidad (the homeowners' association): no vote, no permission. We run the line from your meter to your parking space in Seville, install the charger with its protection devices and register the boletín.
Related questions
Can I charge my electric car from a normal socket in Spain?
How much does it cost to install a home EV charger in Spain?
How much does it cost to install an EV charger in a communal garage in Spain?
Can the comunidad stop me installing an EV charger in Spain?
How do I tell the comunidad that I am installing an EV charger?
Who pays for the installation and electricity of an EV charger in a communal garage?
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.