Should My Next MFT have EV capability?
There are many reasons why electricians should consider a multifunction installation tester with electric vehicle (EV) testing capability. David Sweetman, Group Marketing and Business Development Director at Di-LOG Group has compiled a few facts that will help electricians when they consider investing in new test equipment.
According to the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) will be one of the most important actions to achieve the UK’s Net Zero target. Today’s EV market is estimated to be around 400,000, this includes all fully electric and plug-in hybrid models and equates to 1% of all UK vehicles. By 2032, this number is expected to accelerate to 23.2 million, 55% of all UK vehicles and by 2050, this number is expected to reach 49 million, 100%.
Currently, there are approximately 33,000 public charging points for around 400,000 plug-in electric vans and passenger vehicles. In order to grow the UK’s EV fleet to 23.2 million EVs by 2032, the CCC estimates 325,000 public charging points will be needed. These numbers do not include the EV chargers that are installed at homes and workplaces.
So will you be installing EV charge points in the future?
Yes, there is every possibility that you will be installing EV chargers in the future if you are not doing so already.
So, in answer to my title question?
Should your next Installation Tester have the functionality to check the effectiveness of DC leakage protection installed within the EV charger? I believe the answer is yes in accordance with BS7671:2018:AM2 – Chapter 64 section 3 (643) titled “Testing”. Subsection 643.10 “functional testing”, states that “protective devices shall be submitted to a test of their function, as necessary, to check that they are properly installed and adjusted”.
The NEW second-generation MFTs from Di-LOG
Di-LOG’s new DL9100 series MFT incorporates the DL9120 and DL9130EV with both products boasting DC capability, paving the way for a host of tests specific to the EV and PV sectors, mainly the ability to conduct a Type B (Pure DC) RCD test.
Although the new MFTs both have the ability to test Type B RCDs, the DL9130EV has a full 6mA RDC-DD test to indicate the DC safety protection is working on all modern EV chargers. Excessive DC current on the RCD that is protecting the AC supply could result in the failure to trip when an AC fault occurs. The DL9130EV can be switched to full Auto EV mode for full EV verification. The EV Auto Sequence performs a cycle of full RCD tests checking the EV chargers DC leakage protection along with the Type A RCD. All results are then recalled simply at the press of a button utilising the RGB colour-changing screen with a green background to indicate passes and a red background to indicate areas that may require further investigation.
The DL9130EV is the flagship model in the range specifically designed for the EV Installer, with the introduction of the Auto EV RCD sequence, the addition of Zmax and the NEW Rmax feature.
The DLEV1 Adaptor Kit will simulate an Electric Vehicle (EV) Proximity Pilot (PP) and Control Pilot (CP) States. The EV Adaptor is essentially required to energise a free-standing or wall-mounted EV charge station.
DL9130EVKIT
The Di-LOG DL9130EVKIT has been explicitly designed for service engineers that offer EV charger installation as part of their testing portfolio. The DL9130EVKIT kit includes Di-LOG’s latest Electric Vehicle DL9130EV Multifunction Tester, along with the DLEV1 EVSE Charging Station Adaptor.
Click here to find out moreFeature Packed
Di-LOG has not just focused on additional EV features, the new DL9120 and DL9130EV MFT are our most intelligent testers to date with a fully auto-sensing high current Loop/PSCC test. The instrument will automatically detect if the user is conducting either a 2-wire or 3-wire test without the need to select a specific setting.
Fitted with a new high-contrast RGB colour screen with a full secondary display, results are held on the screen with the added benefit of colour-changing screen alarms when specific triggers or warnings are met. Full flexibility whilst on-site is paramount, and with a variable RCD test, the user can dial in any specific value required to safely conduct the test.
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