An EV charger that turns on and charges the car isn’t necessarily installed correctly — especially if it’s a myenergi Zappi and it isn’t set up to talk to your solar system. Saunders Electrical Group recently helped a Toongabbie customer whose Zappi wasn’t integrating with his solar system, after he’d gone with a cheaper quote for the installation a few weeks earlier.
What happened
We’d originally quoted this customer for his Zappi installation. He came to us as a certified myenergi Zappi partner installer, through a lead from myenergi’s own installer network. Our quote came in a couple of hundred dollars higher than another electrician’s, and he went with the cheaper option.
A few weeks later he called us back. The charger was charging his car, but it wasn’t working with his solar system, and he wanted it done properly. After talking him through what had actually been installed, three things stood out:
- The circuit was wired with 4mm² cable protected by a 32A circuit breaker. Myenergi’s own installation guidance specifies a minimum 6mm² cable for a standard 32A domestic Zappi installation. A 4mm² cable on a 32A circuit falls short of that.
- No CT (current transformer) metering clamps were installed. This was the actual cause of the Zappi not working with the solar system: a Zappi uses CT clamps to measure how much power the solar system is exporting, so it can divert that excess solar into EV charging instead of importing power from the grid. Without them, the Zappi can charge the car, but it has no way to see the solar system at all, let alone divert from it.
- The customer was told this was fine, and to download the myenergi app and configure the system himself.
Why this matters more than the price difference
The whole reason to choose a Zappi over a basic EV charger is the solar integration — charging the car from excess solar generation instead of drawing from the grid at full price. A Zappi installed without CT clamps still charges the car, so from the customer’s point of view it can look like the job’s been done. But it’s not doing the one thing that made the Zappi worth buying over a cheaper charger in the first place.
This is the pattern behind most “cheapest quote” EV charger jobs we get called back to fix. The install isn’t necessarily unsafe or non-functional in an obvious way — it’s incomplete in ways that don’t show up until the customer actually tries to use the feature they bought the product for.
What we’re doing to fix it
We’re booked in to fix this Toongabbie installation properly over the coming weeks: installing correctly sized cable to meet myenergi’s specification, fitting the CT metering clamps, checking every other aspect of the original installation against the standard, and configuring the Zappi so it’s properly integrated with the customer’s solar system — load balancing, solar diversion, and the app set up correctly, rather than left for the customer to figure out.
Saunders Electrical Group is a certified myenergi Zappi installer across the Hills District and Hawkesbury. Every EV charger installation includes correct circuit sizing verification, full solar integration setup where applicable, and a Certificate of Compliance. Call 1300 993 560 for a fixed-price quote.
Related: EV Charger Installation — Hills District & Hawkesbury · EV Charger Installation Requirements · EV Charger Installation Guide · Myenergi Zappi Charging Modes Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a Zappi EV charger not integrate with my solar system?
The most common cause is missing CT (current transformer) metering clamps. A Zappi needs these to measure solar export and manage load balancing. Without them installed, the charger will still charge a vehicle, but it cannot see or respond to solar generation at all.
If my EV charger is charging my car, does that mean it was installed correctly?
Not necessarily. A charger can charge a vehicle while still using undersized cable for the circuit protection rating, or while missing components needed for features like solar diversion. Myenergi specifies a minimum 6mm² cable for a standard 32A domestic Zappi installation — charging successfully and being correctly installed to that specification aren’t the same thing.
Should I set up my myenergi Zappi’s app configuration myself?
Configuration and commissioning should be completed by the installing electrician as part of the job, particularly where the Zappi needs to integrate with solar. Correct setup typically requires confirming the CT clamps are fitted and configured, not just downloading the app.
Why do EV charger installation quotes vary in price?
Quotes can differ because of what’s included — correct circuit and cable verification, CT metering for solar integration, and full commissioning and configuration all add time and cost compared to a basic charger connection. A lower quote may not include all of these.
Is Saunders Electrical Group a certified myenergi Zappi installer?
Yes. Saunders Electrical Group is a certified myenergi Zappi installer across the Hills District and Hawkesbury. NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 344815C. Every EV charger installation includes correct circuit sizing verification, full solar integration setup where applicable, and a Certificate of Compliance. Call 1300 993 560 for a fixed-price quote.