Untethered chargepoint sockets

Socketed chargepoints, detachable cable selection, locking and shared-use considerations.

An untethered, or socketed, chargepoint has a vehicle outlet rather than a permanently attached lead. The driver connects a separate cable to the chargepoint and the vehicle for each session. In IEC 61851 terminology this detachable arrangement is Case B.

For a UK AC chargepoint the equipment-side outlet is normally Type 2. The cable can then be Type 2 to Type 2 for a current vehicle or Type 2 to Type 1 for a compatible older vehicle.

The cable becomes a separate specification

A socketed unit cannot be assessed from the wallbox rating alone. The detachable lead must match:

connector at the vehicle end
current rating
single-phase or three-phase operation
required length and safe route
environmental and mechanical conditions
vehicle and chargepoint instructions

The charging system should limit itself to the cable’s coded capability, but selecting the right cable avoids needless restriction and uncertainty. A lower-rated or single-phase lead may charge safely at a lower rate while preventing the system reaching the output expected by the owner.

Use one complete approved lead. Do not join cables, add a loose adaptor or use a domestic extension to obtain more reach.

What happens at the socket

The chargepoint detects the plug and should lock it during an active session so the power contacts cannot be separated under load. Products differ in shutter design, drainage, idle ingress protection and how the lock behaves during a power or communications failure.

Check:

whether the outlet is shuttered when unused
how the plug is retained and manually released after a fault
whether a cable can be locked while idle, if that is wanted
the environmental rating with the cover closed and with a cable connected
whether dirt or water can collect because of the mounting angle

Do not force a plug into an obstructed socket or defeat a failed lock. Damage to the socket is part of the fixed chargepoint and needs an approved repair.

Day-to-day trade-offs

The main advantage is flexibility. A damaged lead can be replaced without opening the chargepoint, and a different length or vehicle-end connector can be selected later. Removing the cable can also leave a tidy wall unit and keep the lead away from weather or public access.

The cost is extra handling. The lead must be fetched, connected at both ends, disconnected and stored. A wet or dirty cable taken into a vehicle needs a suitable bag or compartment. Users with limited grip, reach or mobility may find two connectors and a heavy cable more difficult than a well-positioned tethered unit.

There is no universal best choice. Try the cable weight and connection sequence, survey the parking layout and decide whether daily convenience or future interchangeability matters more.

Home and public use

A correctly rated detachable lead may also work at compatible socketed public AC chargepoints. Public DC rapid charging is different: its CCS cable is attached to the station and the driver’s Type 2 lead is not used.

Do not assume every public Type 2 socket has the same output or access method. Vehicle capability, cable rating, station limits and operator authorisation still apply.

Shared parking and authorisation

A socket does not by itself make a chargepoint suitable for shared use. A communal or workplace installation may also need:

user identification and permission
fair allocation of available power
session metering and cost allocation
a cable policy and safe storage
accessible bay and equipment layout
a process for abandoned or locked cables
local operation during network failure

OCPP may help connect the unit to a management platform, but both the protocol functions and the commercial service need to be specified.

Protection and commissioning

Section 722 requirements apply at the EV charging point whether the cable is fixed or detachable. RCD selection, DC residual-current protection, earthing and open-PEN measures depend on the equipment and installation design, not on the word untethered.

Commissioning should test connection states, socket locking, RCD and other prescribed protection, load control and release after loss of supply. Handover should show the required cable rating and the safe manual-release procedure.

Smart-chargepoint duties

For a private chargepoint sold within the scope of the Great Britain smart-charge-point regulations, the wall unit carries the smart functions and measuring obligations. A passive detachable lead is not what makes the socketed chargepoint smart.

The seller’s statement of compliance, owner account, communications fallback and software support should be handed over in the same way as for a tethered unit.

Applies to

EV charging

Last reviewed

22 Jul 2026