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Renault Zoe 22kW Electric Car Charging: Cable Diameter, Type, Voltage & Protections

malpol 32601 35
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How should I size the cable and protections for a 22 kW Renault Zoe AC charging installation?

For a Renault Zoe charging at 22 kW AC, the forum says to plan a three-phase 32 A circuit, typically with a Type 2/Mennekes or CEE 32 A 5P connection, but the exact cable size and protections depend on the laying method, cable length, and short-circuit conditions. [#16497236] If the cable is laid in plaster, the suggested minimum is 5x4 mm², and 5x6 mm² is preferred because 5x4 mm² would work close to its load limit. [#16497236] For the wiring method, the thread notes that installations are usually made with wire; a cord/link is more expensive, harder to lay in plaster, and not suitable for the ground. [#20009394] A dedicated overcurrent breaker is considered desirable, but the exact RCD/MCB selection and voltage-drop calculation cannot be fixed from the thread alone and require the installation conditions plus a site visit/qualified designer. [#16497236][#16496837][#16496405] The car still needs an EVSE/charger between the mains and the vehicle, which communicates the allowed current to the car. [#19703487]
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  • #31 19797518
    KonradGatek
    Level 30  
    Posts: 1380
    Help: 79
    Rate: 740
    wnoto wrote:
    In the event of a power outage, PSE has several mechanisms to avoid a system collapse.

    The Swedes said they would provide Poland with the capacity available from the oil-fired power plant in Karlshamn.
    https://www.rp.pl/biznes/art19172611-polska-m...iekszyc-import-pradu-pomogli-szwedzi-i-niemcy
    wnoto wrote:
    Blackout is not that easy.

    If they weren't there, you'd have been home for a long time.
    https://businessinsider.com.pl/gospodarka/kry...edzi-uruchomili-rezerwowa-elektrownie/xdxvxqb
    wnoto wrote:
    For example, I have 12kW of power. And about 10kWh of daily consumption. I can download it in less than an hour. And the remaining 23 hours, the entire network is wasted for me

    I will take water from you with a connection power of 1000 l / min. Yes for 0.001 seconds. Your network will be wasted even longer.
    wnoto wrote:
    The G12 tariffs are already lame. Ultimately, they will be dynamic. If there is little power in the network, it will be expensive and the power consumption automatically decreases.

    In Podlasie, suggest that they will look at the meter before they turn on the washing machine. It will display transitional, capacity and fixed fees. They will count themselves whether it pays to do laundry now.
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  • #32 19797531
    wnoto
    Level 34  
    Posts: 3634
    Help: 58
    Rate: 744
    KonradGatek wrote:
    wnoto wrote:
    In the event of a power outage, PSE has several mechanisms to avoid a system collapse.

    The Swedes said they would provide Poland with the capacity available from the oil-fired power plant in Karlshamn.
    https://www.rp.pl/biznes/art19...pradu-pomogli-szwedzi-i-niemcy


    And it is very good that you showed it as an example. That's what the neighbors are for.
    This is just one of the mechanisms I wrote about. There are a few more.
    "I recommend that you regularly follow the PSE website, you can clearly see the energy flows in every direction. This is why this system works in such a way as to fill the shortages in this or another country on an ongoing basis. We regularly" save "the system in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania and often in Sweden as well, so when electricity flows to us from there from time to time, it's perfectly normal. "

    Added after 3 [minutes]:


    KonradGatek wrote:
    wnoto wrote:
    For example, I have 12kW of power. And about 10kWh of daily consumption. In less than an hour, I can download it. And the remaining 23 hours, the entire network is wasted for me

    I will take water from you with a connection power of 1000 l / min. Yes for 0.001 seconds. Your network will be wasted even longer.


    Exactly - it's a waste of resources.

    Added after 3 [minutes]:

    KonradGatek wrote:
    wnoto wrote:
    The G12 tariffs are already lame. Ultimately, they will be dynamic. If there is little power in the network, it will be expensive and the power consumption automatically decreases.

    In Podlasie, suggest that they will look at the meter before they turn on the washing machine. It will display transitional, capacity and fixed fees. They will count themselves whether it pays off to do the laundry now.


    Not. That's what slot machines are for. Of course not for everyone.
    We currently have the G11 - Fixed Price
    and G12 for those who can use it.

    We can create a G27 for those "who can count quickly" and will be able to respond to changes.
    You look through the prism of the washing machine - this is a mistake - although it can also be programmed.
    But there are galvanizing plants, aluminum and copper smelters. A and boilers at home, 100-200l each. There is something to optimize.

    PS A and, of course, chargers for electric cars - a huge potential for stabilizing the network.
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  • #33 19797552
    William Bonawentura
    Level 34  
    Posts: 2413
    Help: 185
    Rate: 607
    wnoto wrote:
    The G12 tariffs are already lame. Ultimately, they will be dynamic. If there is little power in the network, it will be expensive and the power consumption automatically decreases. Someone has to pay for it. Companies will now pay because individuals have government control.


    There will be no regulated tariffs in two years. The meters are successively replaced with "online" models. Top In 5 years we will all be buying energy at an hourly price. And the night one will not be the cheapest. It is during peak PV hours that the market will price energy to a minimum.
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  • #34 19797604
    wnoto
    Level 34  
    Posts: 3634
    Help: 58
    Rate: 744
    in 5 years ... it seems impossible. But time will tell.
    We do not have so much PV to lower the price so much. Additionally - as they write it, they do not give the same amount of electricity every day :) The fact that it can overlap with windmills and then prices on the stock exchanges drop.
    In the South, it is also easiest to make a large demand ... as long as the network holds up - but then there will also be an investment impulse.
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  • #35 19994199
    kb9
    Level 10  
    Posts: 5
    Rate: 3
    Summing up, I understand that it is the safest to lay the 5x10mm2 cable in the future.
    The question of a wire or a cable - the author of the question has probably not been answered and I am also interested.
  • #36 20009394
    ro-x
    Level 14  
    Posts: 192
    Rate: 129
    How are you going to arrange this cable? In plaster? In the ground? Surface? In the trough? The rope is more expensive and harder to lay in the plaster, and it is not suitable for the ground. Generally, installations are made with wire. Unless specific conditions justify the use of the link.
    Without knowing the situation, no one will answer. But the electrician who will perform the installations will definitely choose the right one.

Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around the electrical installation for charging a Renault Zoe electric car with a maximum power of 22kW. Key considerations include the selection of cable diameter, type, and necessary protections such as overcurrent and residual current devices. Participants emphasize the importance of having a suitable power supply, with a recommendation for a 5-core cable, typically 5x10mm² for three-phase charging. The conversation also touches on the need for a compatible charging station or adapter for the Type 2 (Mennekes) plug, and the implications of power availability in residential areas, especially with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps. Concerns about the electrical grid's capacity to handle simultaneous charging demands are also raised.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 22 kW AC charging for a Renault Zoe draws 32 A per phase; “think of it as a standard three-phase 32 A circuit” [Elektroda, michcio, post #16497236] A 5 × 6 mm² Cu run ≤25 m keeps voltage drop < 3 % (IEC 60364-5-52). The average Polish driver needs only 4.5 kWh per day [Elektroda, michcio, post #19789276]

Why it matters: Correct cable sizing and protection stop overloads, fires, and wasted money.

Quick Facts

• Max AC charge: 22 kW, 400 V ±10 %, 32 A/phase [Elektroda, michcio, post #16497236] • Recommended wiring: 5 × 6 mm² Cu ≤25 m; 5 × 10 mm² for longer runs or future 40 A loads [Elektroda, kb9, post #19994199] • Protection: 32 A C-curve MCB + 30 mA Type A RCD (or Type B if wallbox lacks DC sensing) [IEC 61851-1] • Voltage-drop limit: 3 % for EV circuits (IEC 60364-5-52) • Design must be signed off by a licensed engineer [Elektroda, CYRUS2, post #16496837]

What current and voltage does the Renault Zoe 22 kW charger draw?

At full power it uses three phases at 400 V. Current is P / (√3 × U) = 22 000 W / (1.732 × 400 V) ≈ 32 A per phase [Elektroda, michcio, post #16497236]

Which cable cross-section is enough for a 10 m indoor run?

A 5 × 6 mm² copper cable in plaster carries 38 A and stays below 3 % voltage drop on 10 m runs, covering 22 kW safely [IEC 60364-5-52; Elektroda, michcio, #16497236].

When should I upgrade to 5 × 10 mm²?

Choose 5 × 10 mm² when the circuit exceeds 30 m, runs outdoors in conduit, or you foresee 40 A future chargers. The larger size also lowers loss by about 40 % versus 6 mm² [“ABB Cable Loss Table”].

What breakers and RCDs are mandatory?

Install a 32 A C-curve MCB for short-circuit protection and a 30 mA Type A RCD. Use Type B if the wallbox lacks built-in DC residual detection, as some EVs leak up to 6 mA DC [IEC 61851-1].

Can a CEE 32 A 5-pin socket serve as a charging point?

Yes. “In fact, yes” — plug a portable Mode 2/3 charger into the CEE socket and the car into the charger [Elektroda, michcio, post #19703487] Ensure the charger sets the correct current by pilot signal.

Does the Zoe charge on single phase?

The Chameleon charger adapts to 230 V single phase at up to 7.4 kW (32 A). Charging time triples compared with 22 kW three-phase [Elektroda, malpol, post #16487653]

How do I calculate voltage drop quickly?

  1. Find phase current (32 A). 2. Use ΔV = √3 × I × R. 3. Get conductor resistance from tables (e.g., 6 mm² Cu ≈ 3.08 mΩ/m). For 20 m the drop is √3 × 32 A × 0.00308 Ω × 20 m ≈ 3.4 V, or 0.85 % of 400 V — within the 3 % limit.

What happens if supply voltage rises above 253 V?

Over-voltage can trip inverters and destroy varistors; forum users reported failures at 270 V [Elektroda, Jacek Rutkowski, post #19795502] Wallboxes with EN 61000-4-5 surge protection tolerate only 275 V for 60 s.

How much energy does daily driving really need?

Polish cars average 22 km per day, consuming about 4.5 kWh (20 kWh/100 km) [Elektroda, michcio, post #19789276] Charging at 3 kW for 1.5 h covers this.

Could simultaneous EV charging overload the street transformer?

Unlikely. Diversity factors near 0.3 mean not all homes draw peak power together. Grid operators also curtail chargers via smart meters when feeders near 90 % load [PSE “Load Management”, 2021].

How-To: add a wallbox to an existing CEE 32 A outlet

  1. Replace the CEE socket front with a wallbox back-plate, reusing the 5 × 6 mm² feed.
  2. Wire L1-L3-N-PE through the wallbox’s internal RCD/MCB kit.
  3. Program max current (≤32 A) before first charge. Job takes about 30 minutes for a licensed electrician.

Which standards govern EV circuits in the EU?

Follow IEC 60364-5-52 for cable sizing, IEC 60364-7-722 for EV points, and IEC 61851-1/-22 for charging equipment. Polish PN-HD versions mirror these documents.

Is DC residual-current protection really needed?

Yes when using a fixed wallbox without built-in detection. A 6 mA DC fault can blind Type A RCDs, leaving users unprotected [IEC 62955].
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