Need to get Commando Socket installed but having trouble to find the right guy

Sam_Hammersmith · Jun 23, 2025

Hello,
I am looking for some advice please. I want to get a commando socket installed in my front garden to plug in an EV car charging device where the amps is adjustable from 9A,10,,16 and 32A. (https://www.amazon.co.uk/EVDANCE-Charger-Waterproof-Electric-Commando-Black/dp/B0D2QDNWR6?th=1)

I want to keep the connection separate from my main household circuit. I inquired with one of the electrician and he saw the pictures and videos of the house. First, he said that not to have a separate unit for the commando socket and then he said that it should be done in the same unit as house. The house unit is old, so he said that the whole thing will need a replacement and it would cost £1700, which is 3 times higher than my budget. I was told to get a commando socket from a dedicated unit. Can anyone possibly put me in the correct direction here ?

westward10 · Jun 23, 2025

32A "commando" sockets are not shuttered and are not suitable for dwellings as per BS7671.
32A "commando" sockets are only suitable for non-domestic installations as per CoP (Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installations 5th Ed).
Either way you should not be fitting one of these to charge an EV at a dwelling.

Sam_Hammersmith · Jun 23, 2025

westward10 said:
32A "commando" sockets are not shuttered and are not suitable for dwellings as per BS7671.
32A "commando" sockets are only suitable for non-domestic installations as per CoP (Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installations 5th Ed).
Either way you should not be fitting one of these to charge an EV at a dwelling.

@westward10 - Many thanks. I am going to return this and will be getting a 3-pin Granny charger.

newfutile · Jun 24, 2025

A granny charger is not ideal for permanent charging,more of an emergency system.
Why don't you get a proper ev charger (evse)

Sam_Hammersmith · Jun 24, 2025

newfutile said:
A granny charger is not ideal for permanent charging,more of an emergency system.
Why don't you get a proper ev charger (evse)

Energy company refused as not allowed by law, I got 1.5foot public pavement between house and parking. Council refused to give me a planning permit :-(

newfutile · Jun 24, 2025

Anyway you charge it at home will still have a cable across the pavement.
I don't think it's the charger there refusing,more likely the trip hazard from the cable.

Sam_Hammersmith · Jun 24, 2025

newfutile said:
Anyway you charge it at home will still have a cable across the pavement.
I don't think it's the charger there refusing,more likely the trip hazard from the cable.

No, by Highway standard law or one of their stupid law, as long as it is covered by black and yellow sturdy cover with certain height width, allowed easy passing of wheelchairs and buggy then one can have any cable underneath that. So, that is the only option I have now.

brianmoooore · Jun 25, 2025

westward10 said:
32A "commando" sockets are not shuttered and are not suitable for dwellings as per BS7671.

Fully agree with the EV related comments on this thread, but there are other reasons why a 'commando' socket might be needed in a domestic property. Would you still consider a socket with an interlocked switch to be unsuitable? It's effectively a shutter on the live pins.

westward10 · Jun 25, 2025

It isn't a shuttered socket .

littlespark · Jun 25, 2025

I mentioned this on the other domestic/ commando thread….. but what about those adaptor leads for plugging a caravan in at home?
13A plug to 16A (in shuttered) socket.

Are they not actually allowed to be used in a domestic setting?

In fact…. The leads for plugging into EVs aren’t shuttered either.

Not stirring. Just opening discussions

Avo Mk8 · Jun 25, 2025

So I'll be tedious - here's the verbiage from BS 7671:2018+A2:2022:

Part 2 Definitions, defines 4 Modes of vehicle charging, Mode 1 using 'standardised socket-outlets not exceeding 16A', and Mode 2 using ' standardised socket-outlets not exceeding 32A'. I'll skip the other modes.
Then Section 722 'Electric Vehicle Charging Installations', has section 722.55.101 saying what the 'standardised socket-outlets' shall be.

Para 722.55.101.0.201.1 gives 6 alternative options, in summary:

(i) A BS1363-2 socket outlet marked "EV" (!)
or
(ii) A socket outlet to BS EN 60309-2 which is interlocked and classified to clause 6.1.5 of BS EN 60309-1 to prevent socket contacts being live when accessible.
or
(iii) A socket outlet complying with BS EN 60309-2 which is part of an interlocked self-contained product complying with BS EN 60309-4 (and classified to clauses 6.1.101 and 6.1.102), to prevent socket contacts being live when accessible
or
(iv) A Type 1 vehicle connector complying with BS EN 62196-2 for Mode 3 charging only
or
(v) A Type 2 socket-outlet or vehicle connector complying with BS EN 62196-2 for Mode 3 charging only.
or
(vi) A Type 3 socket-outlet or vehicle connector complying with BS EN 62196-2 for Mode 3 charging only.

Thus apparently specifying "commando" outlets with an interlock mechanism, or 62196 EV connectors.
Edit: I'm taking this to mean plugging a 'smart charger' into the commando socket, not plugging the car directly into it !!

'Flying lead' with a commando socket not permitted, but tethered lead fitted with vehicle connector is.

brianmoooore · Jun 25, 2025

I'm sitting in the sun in France about 5 miles from the Swiss border and have just had dinner accompanied by half a bottle of red, so don't mind a bit of stirring.
The object of the reg is to prevent accidental or even deliberate contact with live terminals, but what does the reg actually say?

westward10 · Jun 25, 2025

Avo Mk8 said:
So I'll be tedious - here's the verbiage from BS 7671:2018+A2:2022:

Part 2 Definitions, defines 4 Modes of vehicle charging, Mode 1 using 'standardised socket-outlets not exceeding 16A', and Mode 2 using ' standardised socket-outlets not exceeding 32A'. I'll skip the other modes.
Then Section 722 'Electric Vehicle Charging Installations', has section 722.55.101 saying what the 'standardised socket-outlets' shall be.

Para 722.55.101.0.201.1 gives 6 alternative options, in summary:

(i) A BS1363-2 socket outlet marked "EV" (!)
or
(ii) A socket outlet to BS EN 60309-2 which is interlocked and classified to clause 6.1.5 of BS EN 60309-1 to prevent socket contacts being live when accessible.
or
(iii) A socket outlet complying with BS EN 60309-2 which is part of an interlocked self-contained product complying with BS EN 60309-4 (and classified to clauses 6.1.101 and 6.1.102), to prevent socket contacts being live when accessible
or
(iv) A Type 1 vehicle connector complying with BS EN 62196-2 for Mode 3 charging only
or
(v) A Type 2 socket-outlet or vehicle connector complying with BS EN 62196-2 for Mode 3 charging only.
or
(vi) A Type 3 socket-outlet or vehicle connector complying with BS EN 62196-2 for Mode 3 charging only.

Thus apparently specifying "commando" outlets with an interlock mechanism, or 62196 EV connectors.
Edit: I'm taking this to mean plugging a 'smart charger' into the commando socket, not plugging the car directly into it !!

'Flying lead' with a commando socket not permitted, but tethered lead fitted with vehicle connector is.

The CoP states EN 60309-2 socket outlets can be used in non-domestic commercial or industrial situations.

Avo Mk8 · Jun 25, 2025

brianmoooore said:
I'm sitting in the sun in France about 5 miles from the Swiss border and have just had dinner accompanied by half a bottle of red, so don't mind a bit of stirring.
The object of the reg is to prevent accidental or even deliberate contact with live terminals, but what does the reg actually say?

722.1 Scope is "this section applies to circuits intended to supply electric vehicles for charging purposes." Does not apply to inductive charging or mobility scooters and similar vehicles of 10A or less.

722.55.101.0.201.1 is "Each AC charging point shall incorporate" and then the list in my previous post pretty well verbatim.
It's not under the 'protection' section 722.53, it's a subsequent section "Other equipment - Socket-outlets and connectors" with apparently the purpose of specifying what socket-outlets/ connectors are acceptable.

Surely reading this drivel is not the best use of your time

Avo Mk8 · Jun 25, 2025

westward10 said:
The CoP states EN 60309-2 socket outlets can be used in non-domestic commercial or industrial situations.

I know.
There seems an incompatibility until someone explains what I'm misunderstanding.

brianmoooore · Jun 25, 2025

Next question is what's the demarcation between domestic and commercial? I have six blue sockets around the place. Two 32 A for 5 kW tumble driers, two 16 A for a welder ( same welder, but in two different places, a 32A for the ancient arc welder and a 16 A for the caravan I'm in now, when it's parked up at home.

evstruggler · Jun 29, 2025

brianmoooore said:
Next question is what's the demarcation between domestic and commercial? I have six blue sockets around the place. Two 32 A for 5 kW tumble driers, two 16 A for a welder ( same welder, but in two different places, a 32A for the ancient arc welder and a 16 A for the caravan I'm in now, when it's parked up at home.

Many on here will say that compliant = safe. But this explains exactly why that is faulty logic.

If I designate a garage connected to the house as a domestic setting then I am not allowed an interlocked commando. However, if I put a workbench in the garage and designate it commercial now I can. In this situation the location and thus the risk are identical. Surely the spirit of the regulations should be what matter i.e. common sense.

brianmoooore · Jun 29, 2025

evstruggler said:
Many on here will say that compliant = safe. But this explains exactly why that is faulty logic.

If I designate a garage connected to the house as a domestic setting then I am not allowed an interlocked commando. However, if I put a workbench in the garage and designate it commercial now I can. In this situation the location and thus the risk are identical. Surely the spirit of the regulations should be what matter i.e. common sense.

Agree, but the common sense needs to be backed up by the knowledge and experience to fully appreciate and understand those risks.

evstruggler · Jun 29, 2025

brianmoooore said:
Agree, but the common sense needs to be backed up by the knowledge and experience to fully appreciate and understand those risks.

Well of course but on this forum the prevailing view is that non compliant always means unsafe.

The previous poster doesn’t have a choice of a wall box so his options are the 13A or the commando. He is going to use one or the other anyway because the last option is to use the expensive and horribly inconvenient public chargers.

The 13A is not designed for continuous draw and having used 13A charging myself the pins heat up a lot. The commando on the other hand is designed for continuous draw.

You need to fit a mini cu with type b RCBO and pen fault protection when installing a commando. If you call an electrician and just tell him to fit an outside socket then nothing like that would need to be installed. All in all between the 13A and the commando the commando is a far better choice.

littlespark · Jun 29, 2025

evstruggler said:
Many on here will say that compliant = safe. But this explains exactly why that is faulty logic.

If I designate a garage connected to the house as a domestic setting then I am not allowed an interlocked commando. However, if I put a workbench in the garage and designate it commercial now I can. In this situation the location and thus the risk are identical. Surely the spirit of the regulations should be what matter i.e. common sense.

"YOU" don't designate any part of a house as domestic or commercial.

That's decided by the local council planning dept.
You may run a business from your house, or have a workshop in the garage... but its still deemed a domestic property

Of course we say "compliant = safe"... that's the whole reason regulations were brought in.

I think what you were trying to say was "compliant = safe, but non-compliant doesn't necessarily mean unsafe"

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