Type 2 Tethered Cables
Quick recommendation
A Type 2 tethered cable is not a lead you carry. It is the cable that is wired permanently into a charge point, so it hangs on the wall ready to plug into the car and never goes back in the boot. These are the replacement leads for a wallbox built that way.
We supply them at 32A in two lengths, 5m and 10m. At 32A on a UK single phase supply the ceiling is 7.4 kW, and that is what a home wallbox can deliver whatever cable is fitted to it. Length is therefore the real decision. Measure from where the unit is mounted to where the charging flap sits when the car is parked as you normally leave it, then allow an extra metre of slack. Take 5m if the wallbox is beside the car and 10m if you park further away or need to reach round to the far side.
The convenience is the point. There is nothing to unpack, coil or store, which matters when you plug in every night in the dark. It is also the harder cable to take. Charging cables are actively targeted by thieves in the UK because a loose lead is quick to lift, and one that is bolted into a charge point is a far less inviting prospect. Our blog on protecting your EV charging cable from theft covers the other steps worth taking.
Fitting is not a DIY job. One end terminates inside the charge point and has to be wired in, so this is work for a qualified electrician, ideally the installer who put the unit in.
Once it is fitted, hang the cable on a bracket beside the unit rather than letting it rest on the ground. A lead coiled on wet concrete holds water around the connector, and that is where corrosion starts on a cable you expect to keep for years.
Every Type 2 to Type 2 cable we sell is sealed to IP55 and carries a 2 year manufacturer's warranty. UK orders qualify for same-day dispatch on working-day orders placed before 2pm.
Type 2 Tethered Charging Cable FAQs
What does tethered actually mean?
Tethered means the cable is fixed permanently to the charge point rather than being a separate lead. It stays on the wall between charges. The opposite is an untethered or socketed unit, where the wallbox has a socket and you plug your own portable cable into it at both ends every time you charge.
Which end goes where?
One end is terminated inside the charge point and wired in during installation, so it is never unplugged. The other end is a Type 2 connector that goes into your car's charging inlet. If your car has a Type 2 inlet, this is the right cable. Older cars with a Type 1 inlet need our Type 1 tethered version.
Who can fit a tethered cable?
A qualified electrician. Fitting means opening the charge point and terminating the cable inside it, which is not a job to attempt yourself and can affect the unit's warranty if done badly. The person or company who installed the wallbox is usually the easiest and cheapest option to call.
Does a tethered cable replace my portable one?
Only at home. Public AC posts almost all use sockets, so you plug in your own lead there. A tethered wallbox covers your overnight charging, but keep a portable Type 2 cable in the boot for destination charging at car parks, hotels and workplaces. Most drivers with tethered units still carry one.
Should I buy the 5m or the 10m?
Measure it rather than guess. Run a tape from the wallbox to where your charging flap sits when the car is parked normally, then add a metre so the cable is not stretched tight. Five metres suits a unit next to the bay. Ten metres covers a longer drive or reaching the far side.
Will a 32A cable charge my car faster?
Not on its own. The car draws the lowest of three limits: what the car's onboard charger accepts, what the supply provides, and what the cable is rated for. A UK home is single phase, so 7.4 kW is the ceiling regardless. A 32A cable simply makes sure the cable is not the bottleneck.