There is no single cable or breaker figure to copy for this installation, and any page that gives you one without seeing your property is guessing. What is fixed is the load: the EV-ACT3204PE is specified at 32 A per phase on a 380–400 V three-phase supply, about 22 kW. The cable cross-section and the breaker rating are chosen by your installer for that load, the length and route of the run, and your local wiring rules. This guide explains what drives those two choices.
Key Takeaways
- The fixed figures are the load: 32 A per phase on a 380–400 V three-phase supply, about 22 kW, continuous for hours.
- Cable size follows the current, the run’s length, route and environment, and local rules — it is a calculation, not a catalogue number.
- The breaker protects the cable and is specified with it; a bigger breaker is not a safer one.
- Ask each installer what they chose and what drove it — the answers are the real content of the quote.
The Numbers That Are Fixed
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Charger input | 32 A per phase | The unit’s specification — the starting point for both choices |
| Supply | 380–400 V, three-phase | The unit’s specification; see our single-phase vs three-phase guide |
| Power | About 22 kW | Arithmetic: 32 A across three phases at 400 V |
| Load character | Continuous — hours at full current | Why nothing on this circuit is sized as if the load were brief |
Everything after this table is site-specific: two houses with the same wallbox can end up with different specifications, because the cable run is part of the calculation.
What the Installer Weighs When Sizing the Cable
A charging cable is sized for the worst hour of its life, not the average one. The factors your installer weighs are:
- The current: 32 A per phase, sustained for hours — the charger’s stated input.
- The length of the run: voltage drop grows with distance, so a long run to a detached garage points to a heavier cable than a short run through one wall.
- How the cable is installed: clipped to a surface, run in conduit, buried, or bundled with other cables all change how well it sheds heat.
- The environment: hot roof spaces and grouped circuits derate a cable; cool, open runs do not.
- Local wiring rules: the regulation in your country sets the method and the minimums the installer must work to.
Because these factors combine, a cross-section quoted without them is meaningless — the same 32 A load can need different cable in different buildings. The honest answer is a calculation, and it belongs to the installer who will certify the work.
What the Breaker Has to Do
The breaker’s job is to protect the cable, not the charger. It must carry the continuous charging current without nuisance tripping, and it must trip before the cable it protects can overheat. Both are matched to the specified cable and the supply’s own protection, and a bigger breaker is not a safer one: oversizing the breaker silently removes the cable’s protection. Which protective devices the circuit needs alongside the breaker is likewise the installer’s call under local rules. Our wallbox installation guide walks through the whole installation sequence these decisions sit inside.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
- What cable specification have you chosen for this run, and what drove it — length, route, or environment?
- What breaker rating protects that cable, and how does it coordinate with the main supply protection?
- Is the circuit dedicated to the charger, as a 32 A continuous load should expect?
- What certification and paperwork do I receive for the installation?
Get installers quoting for the same unit — the EV-ACT3204PE, a 22 kW three-phase wallbox with RFID and app control — and the differences between quotes usually explain themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won’t EVDANCE or this guide just state the cable size?
Because the safe size depends on the run — its length, route and environment — as well as the current. A single figure printed for every house would be wrong for some of them. The unit’s manual and your installer, working to local rules, are the right sources.
Is a bigger breaker safer for a 32 A charger?
No. The breaker exists to protect the cable. One rated far above the cable’s capacity lets the cable overheat before anything trips.
Can the charger share a circuit with other loads?
A 32 A per phase continuous load is normally given its own dedicated circuit — that is the arrangement installers plan around, and what our installation guide assumes. Anything else is a design decision for your installer, not a shortcut.
Related Reading
- Single-Phase vs Three-Phase EV Charging: 7kW, 11kW and 22kW Explained
- Wallbox Home Charger Installation Guide 2026: Costs, Amperage, and What Determines Charging Speed
- CEE Plugs Explained: Choosing 16 A or 32 A for a Three-Phase Portable EV Charger
- Portable EV Charger Types Explained: 10A, 16A, 32A and Three-Phase Models
