Protecting an EV charger against theft starts with a practical question: do you need to prevent access to the unit, strengthen its mounting or stop unauthorised people from using it? These goals call for different measures. An enclosure can add a physical barrier around a wallbox, but it must respect the way the charger is installed and operates.
Validate three things together: a solid mounting surface, an enclosure compatible with the charger and access management that works day to day. Protecting the outdoor cable remains a separate matter.
Charger theft, tampering and unauthorised charging
Theft of the unit concerns the equipment itself and how it is attached to its support. Vandalism, on the other hand, can leave the charger in place while damaging its front panel, socket or controls. Someone else using your electricity is yet another issue: it depends on the identification and authorisation functions built into the charger. We explain this in detail in our article how to stop people using your EV charger in a shared car park.
So do not choose a solution on the assumption that it covers all these scenarios. An access card does not mechanically strengthen the mounting. An enclosure does not guarantee that the outdoor cable will resist cutting. A parking barrier can manage access to a space without protecting the unit against an attempt to tear it off.
Draw up a short list of the risks you can observe on your site: direct access from the street, a charger isolated from the building, cables left outside, shared parking or signs of tampering already noticed. This list helps you prioritise spending without claiming to calculate a probability of theft from a few signs.
Mounting suited to the support
Before adding an enclosure, have the existing mounting checked. The type of wall, the condition of the support, the charger’s requirements and the total load all matter. A well-locked enclosure does not make up for unsuitable mounting. On a pedestal, the whole installation must be examined, not just the visible screws around the unit.
Leave the choice of anchors and any modifications to your installer. Do not drill near electrical feeds without identifying them first. Work on a charger is not simply a locksmith’s job: it must preserve the connections, the intended weatherproofing and access for maintenance.
The sensible approach is to keep the equipment references, manuals and installation details in a file accessible to the owner and the maintenance provider. When the user or service provider changes, this information makes it possible to check what is installed before changing the protection.
What a lockable enclosure provides
An enclosure adds a closed housing around the charger. It limits direct access to the parts it covers and can make opportunistic tampering less easy. A window lets you see certain elements of the unit without opening the door. Choosing a combination lock can simplify access management where a physical key would be impractical.
The Proctelec Vault enclosure comes in two external sizes: 60 × 40 × 20 cm and 70 × 50 × 25 cm, given as height, width and depth. It has a metal structure, a transparent door and a mechanical combination lock. The charger, cable, pedestal and installation are not included.
No certified burglary-resistance rating is claimed for this enclosure. It should not be presented as tamper-proof. Its value must be assessed in light of the equipment to be covered, the context and the installation constraints.
Measurements to take before buying
| Measurement or point to note | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Height, width and depth of the unit | Compare its footprint with the space actually available. |
| Plugged-in connector and cable outlet | Avoid a squeezed connector or a cable bent too tightly. |
| Clearances required by the manual | Maintain the intended installation conditions. |
| Door swing | Allow access and maintenance without obstruction. |
| Access to the controls and safety shut-off | Avoid complicating a necessary intervention. |
An enclosure’s external dimensions are not its usable internal dimensions. The door, its reinforcements and the locking parts take up some of the volume. A charger that seems to fit “to the millimetre” on a dimensions table is therefore not validated compatibility.
Send your installer the enclosure’s product sheet and the charger manual. A front photo alone does not always show how far a connector protrudes or where the cables come in. Add a side view and the distances to nearby obstacles. To see how your model compares, check our EV charger dimensions chart.
Ventilation, heat and maintenance
A charger must remain within the conditions specified by its manufacturer. Adding a housing can change its environment. Ventilation slots on an enclosure do not prove that it will suit every power rating, temperature or location. Have the integration validated before use.
Protection against weather, impacts and break-ins serves different purposes. A rating stated for an enclosure must not be automatically extended to the complete installation after modification. For installation and protection principles, ENGIE’s advice on protecting a charging point (in French) is a starting point; the manual of the installed equipment remains decisive.
Plan who can open the enclosure for inspection, cleaning or repair. Restricted access must not become an obstacle for the professional in charge of an intervention. Keep the code out of public view and update it when authorisations change.
Add measures to suit the car park layout
If vehicles occupy the space without charging, a reservation device such as the Park manual parking barrier addresses an organisational need. It does not replace crash protection sized for a site. Its position must preserve users’ movements and not get in the way of the cable.
If the connector is left loose after charging, look at suitable storage. If the cable itself is exposed to cutting, see our guide on cut-resistant sleeves and EV cable protection. The aim is to treat each area with a consistent measure.
For several charging points, bring these choices together in a common method: where protection goes, maintenance access and the reporting procedure. Our article on preventing vandalism in an EV charging car park offers a framework for organising this work.
Questions to ask before ordering
- What specific risk should the protection reduce?
- Does the charger manufacturer allow this configuration?
- Are the internal dimensions and clearances sufficient?
- Have the mounting and ventilation been validated?
- Do the cable, door and controls remain easy to use?
- Who manages the code and interventions?
If any of these points remains unclear, asking for advice helps define the project before you buy. This avoids choosing an enclosure that is too small or a protection that addresses a different risk from the one you face on site.
