No, the technical term is a Mode-3 Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). amina S provides power from the electrical installation to the vehicle. The actual battery charger is located within the vehicle. Maximum charging capacity is typically limited by this on-board charger, and will differ between car models ranging from 3.7kW to 22kW.
An Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is a smart switch that communicates with the connected vehicle and controls the charging session. Based on available power and other settings, the EVSE tells the vehicle when it is allowed to charge its battery and the maximum current it may utilize. EVSEs also typically include a number of additional safety mechanisms and useful functionality.
Yes, amina S is designed and tested according to standards fulfilling the safety levels required by European regulations when used for its intended purpose, or under conditions of use which can reasonably be foreseen.
Authorities in European countries do not approve CE-marked products, like amina S. The manufacturers themselves are responsible to prove compliance with applicable regulations. Typically, this is done by having accredited test laboratories test the product towards so called harmonized European standards.
An accredited test laboratory is a private test institution that has procedures and approvals in place to meet regulations and knowledge level applicable to specific standards. An accredited test laboratory can issue test reports which authorities are obliged to respect, e.g. in case of a market surveillance.
Harmonized European standard is approved by CENELEC to cover a specific European regulation (e.g. RED / LVD / EMC etc). Compliance with such harmonized standard gives a so called “presumption of conformity” towards the listed regulation. That means that the manufacturer can claim compliance with the respective EU directive if the product is tested according to a harmonized standard listed as valid for that directive.
amina S has been tested and found to be compliant with the standards listed in the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC). The DoC lists the standards applied to fulfil the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which is the legal framework for CE-marking of amina S. TUV SUD has tested amina S towards these standards and issued test-reports proving compliance. Conditions, specified in the manual apply.
amina S is also tested by TUV SUD towards IEC 62955. This standard is not specifically required by any EU-directive. It covers RDC-DDs, which provides protection in case of DC-residual currents exceeding 6mA. amina S pass all tests specified in IEC 62955, including strict requirements for short-circuit capabilities and EMC-immunity.
amina S complies with ratings and functionality specified in IEC 62955 and has passed all tests listed in the standard. When installed in a three-phase installation, amina S deviates slightly from clause 8.1.2 in the standard by providing electrically coupled switches instead of mechanically coupled. All poles still make and break substantially together as required by the standard. This is documented through extensive testing showing consistent repeatability with microsecond accuracy. It is worth noting that IEC 62955 is not required for CE-marking and when installed in a single-phase installation amina S complies with every letter of IEC 62955.
The RDC-DD standard says that the moving contacts of all poles of multipole RDC-DDs shall be mechanically coupled so that all poles make and break substantially together.
amina S includes switches to control power to the connected vehicle. Two switches are used to select between single- or three-phase charging, depending on available power, connected vehicle model and any integration with solar panels. Each of these switches includes two mechanically coupled poles, as specified in the standard. For single-phase, only one switch is closed, while both are closed for three-phase. When both switches are closed, the coupling between (but not inside) the two switches is electrical.
Tests performed show that the switching accuracy in amina S is significantly more precise than what is achieved with typical four-pole mechanically linked switches. Given the described functional benefits and improved switching precision, amina has chosen o deviate slightly from the standard at this point, particularly because this standard is not required for CE-marking.
Harmonized standards are extensive and cover a range of requirements describing construction, functionality, marking and safety of the equipment. The standards also specify in detail how each requirement shall be tested.
Electrical and mechanical safety is usually the most extensive part of the testing. Electrical safety includes sufficient insulation of conductive parts, automatic disconnection of power in case of faults and sufficient withstand against overvoltage and overcurrent scenarios.
Other tests may verify correct radio spectrum usage and compliance with immunity towards electromagnetic noise and permitted EMC emission
National authorities may perform market surveillance, like ESV did in Sweden. amina has prepared a technical file, as required by the EU directives, in case such a surveillance is performed on amina S. The technical file is an extensive collection of documents, including third party test reports, to prove compliance with Directives and standards listed on the DoC. amina is confident that this technical file would pass any future market survey. It is however important to understand that even during a market survey, a product and its documentation is never approved. Authorities will only highlight shortcomings, and at best conclude that no shortcomings were found.
amina S shall always be installed by an authorized electrician according to local regulations and the provided installation guide.
Every country in Europe, has their own national standard for low voltage installations. All these are based on and shall be technically equivalent to the European standard HD 60364. Most countries translate it to their own language, while Denmark has decided to apply the original English version as national standard (DS/HD 60364). Other local adaptations include, but are not limited to:
In Norway, the installation standard NEK 400 specify that all charge points shall be protected by an overvoltage protection device, typically located in the installation. In the rest of Europe this is typically only required for connecting points accessible to the public. Please verify with your local installation standard.
Yes, an external overcurrent protection device shall always be installed in front of amina S, typically at the origin of the installation cable.
amina S includes an RDC-DD that disconnects the power in case a DC-leakage current exceeding 6mA is detected. An external RCD is always required for protection against AC-faults.
Charge points shall be protected against both AC and DC leakage currents. amina S provides protection against DC-faults, while an additional external RCD, installed by the electrician, provides protection against AC-faults.
Normally a Type-A RCD in front of amina S is sufficient because protection against DC faults is included in the charging equipment. A Type-F or Type-B can also be used, if preferred, but Type-AC is normally not permitted. Please check your local installation regulations for details.
In European markets, outside Norway, an RCD Type-A in front of amina S is sufficient on both single- and three-phase installations. This is also sufficient on single-phase according to NEK 400. On three-phase installations, the electrician should note that the that the relays are electrically coupled, but otherwise equivalent with IEC 62955.
Charge points shall be protected by an RCD against both AC- and DC leakage currents. Such protection can be located in either the charging equipment or the electrical installation. Different standards and regulations apply to the equipment and the installation. The equipment standard permits 6mA DC-protection that is not necessarily according to IEC 62955. The European installation standard (HD 60364), and variants adapted to individual countries, take this into account and don’t require IEC 62955 if 6mA DC protection is included in the charging equipment. Norway has omitted this option in the Norwegian translation (NEK400) and made IEC 62955 mandatory, unless a Type-B is used. A discussion is ongoing in Norway around the legal aspects of the Norwegian adaptation which should be technically equivalent to HD 60364 according to European standardization regulations.
The Norwegian standardisation committee made a decision in 2017 that RCD Type A is not sufficient to protect an EV-charging point because “in Norway, most installations are supplied by an IT-system without any presence of a neutral conductor, thus all single-phase loads are supplied by two line conductors.”
The above argumentation and resulting technical deviation in the Norwegian installation standard (NEK 400) from the European HD 60364 has caused some controversy lately and is still up for debate.
RCD is an acronym for Residual Current Device. It is a protective device that will detect fault or “leakage” currents from a live conductor to ground. The device is designed to disconnect power in case of such a situation to reduce the risk of electric shock or fire.
RDC-DD is an acronym for Residual Direct Current Detection Device. As the name indicates, it is a device specifically designed to detect and disconnect DC leakage currents, which a traditional Type-A RCD is not able to detect. The IEC 62955 standard specifies an RDC-DD intended for mode 3 charging of electric vehicles. Such a device will disconnect power in case a DC-leakage current exceeding 6mA is detected. Together with a traditional Type-A RCD, the equivalent protection as a Type-B RCD is achieved.
Type-A RCD protects against electric shock by disconnecting power in case of AC leakage currents. A Type-A RCD in conjunction with an RDC-DD is considered to provide equivalent protection against as a Type-B RCD. EN 61008-1 is the standard for Type-A RCDs used in household applications. Devices according to EN 61009-1 combines a Type-A RCD with a circuit breaker in single unit and is usually the preferred choice of protective device to install in front of amina S.
Type-B RCD protects against electric shock by disconnecting power in case of both AC and DC leakage currents. EN 62423 is the standard for Type-B RCDs.