Case Study: Myenergi Zappi EV Charger Installation, North Richmond
Saunders Electrical Group installed a Myenergi Zappi multiphase EV charger in a detached garage in North Richmond — routing a dedicated 32A single-phase circuit through a double cavity wall and along a surface-mounted conduit run, after site conditions ruled out both underground trenching and overhead catenary wire. Contractor Licence 344815C.
The Brief
The client wanted an EV charger installed in a detached garage, separate from the house. The straightforward option — trenching a cable run directly to the garage — wasn’t available: multiple retaining walls and established trees across the backyard made trenching impractical without significant excavation and risk to the landscaping. The client also ruled out an overhead catenary wire and conduit run, not wanting visible cabling strung across the yard.
The Solution: Surface-Mounted Conduit Along the Fence Line
With trenching and overhead catenary both off the table, the cable run was installed via surface-mounted conduit fixed to posts and timber boards inside the fence line — keeping the run low-profile and out of the main yard space while avoiding the excavation risk around the retaining walls and tree roots. The cable was then run accurately through a double cavity wall to reach the switchboard at the front of the house.
Circuit and Cable Specification
- Charger: Myenergi Zappi multiphase EV charger
- Circuit: Dedicated 32A single-phase circuit
- Protection: Clipsal RCBO
- Cable: 10mm² 2-core and earth orange circular cable
The cable run to the detached garage was long enough that standard TPS sizing would have introduced unacceptable voltage drop over the distance. 10mm² 2-core and earth orange circular cable was specified to keep voltage drop within tolerance over the full run — a heavier cable than a shorter, in-house EV charger circuit would typically need, and a decision driven directly by the garage’s distance from the switchboard rather than a default spec.
Commissioning and Client Handover
The Zappi charger and its companion mobile app were configured and commissioned on site by Saunders Electrical Group’s certified Zappi installer electricians, who also walked the client through how to use and navigate the charger and app before finishing the job — leaving the client able to operate the system confidently from day one, not just with a working charger.
Why the Client Chose Saunders Electrical Group
Saunders Electrical Group’s quote for this job was higher than competing quotes. The client selected Saunders Electrical Group anyway, based on the business’s certified Zappi installer status, its track record on EV charger installations, and its 5-star reputation across the Hills District and Hawkesbury region. On a job like this — where the straightforward cable route wasn’t available and the solution had to be worked out on site — the value of an experienced, certified installer becomes the deciding factor over price alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an EV charger be installed in a detached garage away from the house?
Yes. A dedicated circuit can be run from the switchboard to a detached garage, though the cable route needs to account for distance, obstacles such as retaining walls or trees, and voltage drop over the length of the run.
What if trenching isn’t possible for an EV charger cable run?
Where trenching is ruled out by retaining walls, tree roots, or other landscaping, a surface-mounted conduit run, fixed along a fence line or similar structure, is an alternative that avoids excavation while still protecting the cable.
Why would an EV charger need thicker cable than a standard circuit?
Longer cable runs to a detached garage or outbuilding cause greater voltage drop over distance. A heavier cable, such as 10mm² 2-core and earth, is specified to keep voltage drop within acceptable limits over that longer run, which a standard-gauge cable would not handle over the same distance.
Does a Myenergi Zappi charger need a certified installer?
Myenergi recommends installation and commissioning by a certified Zappi installer to ensure the charger and its companion app are correctly configured. Saunders Electrical Group’s electricians are certified Zappi installers.
Book Your EV Charger Installation
Saunders Electrical Group (Contractor Licence 344815C) are certified Myenergi Zappi installers servicing North Richmond and the wider Hills District and Hawkesbury region, including detached garage and outbuilding EV charger installations where the cable route needs custom planning. See our EV charger installation guide for more on how the process works, or contact us to discuss your EV charger installation.