When shopping for a wallbox, what should you keep in mind when it comes to standards, labels and certifications?

It can feel like a jungle out there, with all those various requirements and labels. But it's just like any other tech product. The more testing it has undergone, the safer it is for you to use. We'll explain the various label below and why GARO Entity is the safest wallbox on the market.

What are the different standards and certifications?

There are various safety requirements that products sold on the European markets must comply with.

The product must:

have an EU declaration
be CE marked
be labelled with a type designation or model identifier (identification of the product)
be marked with the current and voltage for which it is intended (rated data)
bear the name and mailing address of the manufacturer
be marked with the importer's name and mailing address (if the manufacturer is not located in the EU/EEA)

In addition to this, the product may also be tested by a third party to ensure that the above is correct, which is the case with both GARO Entity Pro and GARO Entity Compact. The third-party certification means that as a user, you can feel completely confident that the wallbox is safe and will neither cause injury to yourself nor damage to your home or car.

EU declaration

All products covered by a product directive must have a valid EU declaration of conformity. The EU declaration of conformity is the document in which the manufacturer declares that the product conforms with all relevant legislative requirements. By drawing up and signing an EU declaration of conformity, the manufacturer thereby assumes responsibility for the conformity of the product and that the proper conformity assessment procedure has been carried out. Information from Sweden’s National Electrical Safety Board.

CE marking

An electrical product you buy in Europe must be CE marked. It is the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets all regulations and safety requirements imposed on it based on EU directives. Products imported from outside the EEA must also be CE marked. Information from Sweden’s National Electrical Safety Board.

Third-party certification

To increase the credibility of the product's declared safety, the manufacturer can choose third-party certification, as a complement to its CE marking. This means that an independent (third) party certifies that the product complies with the testing that has been carried out. Certifications and other credentials can be issued in different contexts; their meaning and significance are stated in the certifications. Certifications cannot replace the EU declaration of conformity. Information from Sweden’s National Electrical Safety Board.

Third-party-testing

The basis for third-party certification is third-party testing. Third-party testing entails that an independent test lab conducts testing of the product according to relevant product standards. Conducting third-party testing is not required, but it is a reliable way of ensuring that the product meets product standards and thus the required product directives.

Third-party certification

Read the certificate

GARO Entity is third-party certified, approved with its unique safety solution

Both GARO Entity Pro and GARO Entity Compact have been third-party tested and certified (CB certificate) as compliant with the international charging standard*, by the reputable German certification firm TÜV SÜD. The CB certification is based on tests conducted and approved by a testing body according to relevant product standards. For a wallbox, it is primarily the product standard EN 61851-1 that applies.

The approval embraces several underlying standards, each imposin high demands on the product. This entails, for example, that testing has been carried out under rigorous climatic conditions for several months. Extensive EMC testing has also been conducted, which aims to ensure that the product neither interferes with nor disrupts other electronic equipment. In addition to this, the wallbox has safety features that exceed what the standard requires. In addition to our product being third-party certified, we have features that exceed the requirements of the standard. GARO Entity monitors the output voltage on the Type 2 connector or plug and if anything is faulty, such as a burnt relay or defective circuit board, the automatic shunt trip function will activate the integrated all-pole switch to protect against personal injury as well as damage to the on-board charger in the car. In other words, it serves as a double fuse in case of problems. We also have integrated surge protection that protects the charger and vehicle against possible overvoltage in the form of lightning, which even detects overvoltages or undervoltages on the grid to ensure that the car only charges when the voltage from the grid is correct. This entails that GARO Entity has an approved and unique solution regarding electrical safety for its wallboxes. End-users, customers and installers can thus feel confident that the product keeps what it promises.

All in all, third-party certification provides confirmation that we have developed a solution that meets the charging standard. This enables installation without an external residual current device. Each charging socket must have individual protection, so that a fault in one socket does not affect the others. Since GARO Entity has all relevant safeguards integrated, installation can be carried out with “daisy-chaining” chargers, i.e. allowing several chargers to share the same supply cable.

* The product standard for wallboxes is EN 61851-1. In addition, a number of different standards must be complied with. The most relevant standards include IEC 62955 (residual direct current protective devices), IEC 61439-1 (low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies) and a number of EMC standards. GARO Entity is also integrated with relevant individual protections based on EN61008-1 (RCD) and EN60898-1 (MCB). The product is also HW prepared for communication in accordance with ISO15118. This makes GARO Entity unique in the market.

EMC testing

EMC testing aims to ensure that the product is not interfered with or disrupted by other electronic equipment in our homes and in the community. This is becoming increasingly important as we surround ourselves with more and more electrical products and want to eliminate the risk of interference in communications between different devices.

Climate testing

Strenuous climate testing entails that the product has undergone rigorous climate testing in heat and cold for several months. The standard stipulates that the product must be tested in operation with temperatures in the range of -25 to +40 degrees. GARO Entity has been tested and approved in the -40 to +40 degree range.

Which components must be included when installing a wallbox?

When buying a wallbox, it is important to consider the entire installation. The installation must namely be safe and in compliance with the regulations for electrical installations.

Key elements of an installation

Residual current device

Residual current devices cut the power quickly if a ground fault should occur and disconnect dangerous voltages. A residual current device thus protects both people and property. This is because any electric shocks are limited in time, thus preventing the generation of heat in the wrong place (such as in a cable in your home), which thereby reduces the risk of fire. Residual current devices have been used for many years in several parts of electrical installations. Causes of earth faults in connection with electric car charging can be worn, pinched or chafed cables, broken connectors or faults in the vehicle. In the case of electric car charging with high power in exposed environments and with daily use, it is extremely important that the residual current device always works. Cables are subjected to long-term mechanical wear and electric cars have DC batteries, which entails special requirements for residual current devices. Should a problem occur in a car that causes a fault with only a little direct current, an ordinary residual current device (Type A) can be saturated/jammed. There are thus requirements for additional protection from this occurring when charging electric cars. An earth fault can occur with higher currents. Therefore, it is also important that the circuit breaker itself meets the standard's requirements for both breaking capacity and that all poles are interconnected and thus provide safe disconnection of current and voltage.

Surge protection

Surge protection that protects against high voltages on the power grid, which can be caused by lightning strikes or faults in the plant. A surge protector is a smart way of protecting your home, electrical appliances and electric cars. That is, it is an inexpensive form of insurance. In addition, a formal requirement in some cases.

Safe and cost-effective

Both GARO Entity Pro and GARO Entity Compact always include an approved residual current device function as well as surge protection in the wallbox. Besides eliminating the expense of separately purchasing these products, you don't have to pay electricians for their installation.

If these functions were not included, you would be responsible for them being separately installed by an electrician in a junction box, or in an adjoining box if there is not enough space in the junction box (which is usually the case in all but the newest of homes). This is a requirement for an installation to be considered safe.

As GARO's product manager explains:
“Third-party certification is essential from several perspectives. Our end-users should be able to sleep well at night when their cars are charging, and installers should feel safe both during and after installation. Throughout the development of GARO Entity, we have maintained an uncompromising focus on product safety. It has been our top priority to offer the safest product on the market, both today and tomorrow.

“Certification shows that we take responsibility for our products,” says Johan-Christer Svensson, Commercial Product Manager GARO E-mobility “GARO Entity, which began shipping during the first quarter of 2023, is based on a new technical platform and includes several safety features built into the unit. In this way, we’re taking greater responsibility for safety and the entire installation, since in many other solutions this needs to be purchased and installed separately by an electrician in existing or new junction boxes or between wallboxes when connected in series in larger installations.”

Read more about the GARO Entity’s safety features

Five-year warranty

GARO Entity wallboxes are designed to last for many years to come. As an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle owner, a wallbox from GARO should always offer peace of mind. This is why you always get a five-year warranty when buying a GARO Entity wallbox.