If the RCD or RCBO trips as soon as the car connects, or halfway through the night, something is wrong with the circuit, the charger, the lead or the car. Resetting it repeatedly is not a cure. Moisture in an outdoor socket, a damaged tether, the wrong RCD type, a neutral shared incorrectly, or a fault in the vehicle inlet are all real causes. A competent person should test, not a group chat.
Check eV charger keeps tripping the RCD before you accept a price
Stop using a lead that is cut, crushed or warm. Do not open the charger. Photograph any error light and the device that tripped.
The price effect of eV charger keeps tripping the RCD
A warranty visit is reasonable when the install is new and the trip started immediately. A crushed lead you drove over is not the installer's materials bill. Agree the call-out rule before you need it.
A miss that shows up later: eV charger keeps tripping the RCD
The mistake is swapping the RCD for a bigger one, or bridging it, so the car will charge. That removes the protection. Another mistake is blaming the tariff app when the protective device has opened.
Write eV charger keeps tripping the RCD into the quote
Ask the installer for a test of the RCD, the charger and the lead, and a written result. If the car is at fault they should say how they reached that, so you can talk to the dealer with evidence.
EV charger keeps tripping the RCD
Note whether it trips with the car unplugged, only when plugged, only in the rain, or only on one car if you have two. That pattern saves a visit.
- Do not keep resetting a tripping RCD
- Note rain, which car and whether it is plugged
- Never uprate or bypass the device
- A new install that trips immediately goes back to the installer
Frequently asked questions
Is rain a normal cause?
Water in a damaged gland or socket can trip protection. A wet night is a clue, not a reason to live with it.
Could the car be faulty?
Yes. The pattern, a second lead and the installer's tests separate a vehicle fault from a circuit fault.
What if only the off-peak schedule trips?
Then look at load management, a shared RCD with night storage or a heat pump, and the schedule itself. Still do not bypass the RCD.
Is a Type B the automatic upgrade?
Only if the design requires it. Swapping types at random can mask nothing and trip more.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local EV Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.