Andersen A3 vs Simpson & Partners Home 7
The Andersen A3 wins on higher rated, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 excels at more affordable, longer warranty, three-phase support.
Quick Stats
Full Specs Comparison
| Specification | Andersen A3 | Simpson & Partners Home 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Power Output | 7.4kW (single-phase only) | 7kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase) |
| Cable Length | 5.5 metres (hidden cable system) | 5 metres (tethered version) |
| Connector | Type 2 (tethered) | Type 2 (tethered or untethered) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions | 388mm × 183mm × 122mm | 350mm × 200mm × 110mm |
| Weight | ~7.5 kg | ~5.5 kg |
| IP Rating | IP54 (weatherproof) | IP54 (weatherproof) |
| Certification | OLEV/OZEV approved | OLEV/OZEV approved |
Price & Value
The Simpson & Partners Home 7 is £346 cheaper at £649 compared to the Andersen A3 at £995.
When you factor in professional installation (typically £400–£600), the total installed cost for the Andersen A3 is approximately £1395–£1595, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 comes in at around £1049–£1249. Fully installed, the Simpson & Partners Home 7 remains the more affordable option.
If you're eligible for the OZEV grant (available to renters and flat owners), you can claim £350 off the installation cost. That would bring the effective unit-plus-install price down to roughly £1045–£1245 for the Andersen A3 and £699–£899 for the Simpson & Partners Home 7. Both chargers are OZEV-approved, so eligibility depends on your living situation rather than the charger itself.
Looking at overall value, the Simpson & Partners Home 7 offers a compelling combination of price and features at £649. The Andersen A3 at £995 may still be the better buy if its specific feature set — such as andersen app — is important for your setup. The best value depends on which features you'll actually use day-to-day.
Power & Charging Speed
The Simpson & Partners Home 7 (7kW / 22kW) supports three-phase charging at up to 22kW, while the Andersen A3 is single-phase only at 7.4kW. On the standard UK single-phase supply (95% of homes), both charge at roughly the same speed. Three-phase is only relevant if your property has a three-phase electrical supply.
On a standard UK single-phase supply, both will charge a Tesla Model 3 Long Range (75kWh battery) from 20% to 80% in approximately 5–6 hours overnight. Even a Tesla Model Y with its larger battery completes a typical daily top-up well within an overnight window. For the vast majority of UK Tesla owners, single-phase 7kW charging is more than sufficient — you'll wake up to a full battery every morning.
Cable length is an often-overlooked consideration. The Andersen A3 comes with a 5.5 metres (hidden cable system) cable, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 has a 5 metres (tethered version) cable. A longer cable gives you more flexibility for driveway positioning — particularly useful if your charger is mounted on a side wall but your Tesla's charge port is on the rear left. Measure your likely cable run before buying to ensure the cable reaches comfortably without being fully stretched.
For most Tesla owners who plug in when they get home, both chargers provide more than enough power for a full overnight charge. The real-world difference between 7kW and 7.4kW is negligible — roughly 20 minutes over a full charge cycle. Unless you have a three-phase supply and regularly need rapid top-ups during the day, charging speed should not be the deciding factor between these two chargers.
Smart Features
The Andersen A3 offers: Andersen app, Smart tariff support, Solar integration, Scheduled charging, Hidden cable system, Wi-Fi connected. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 offers: S&P app, Smart tariff support, Scheduled charging, Solar compatible, Energy monitoring, Wi-Fi connected.
Breaking these down by category: for connectivity, the Andersen A3 uses Wi-Fi connected, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 uses Wi-Fi connected. For energy management, the Andersen A3 provides basic monitoring, compared to the Simpson & Partners Home 7's Energy monitoring. Solar and scheduling features are covered in the dedicated sections below.
The most meaningful differentiators: the Andersen A3 uniquely offers Andersen app, Solar integration, Hidden cable system, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 exclusively provides S&P app, Solar compatible, Energy monitoring. These unique features often determine which charger is the better fit — if a feature on one charger's exclusive list is a must-have for you, that should heavily influence your decision.
The app experience matters as much as the feature list — you'll use it daily. The Andersen EV app provides standard charging management features. The Simpson & Partners app provides standard charging management features. Both apps are available on iOS and Android, but user reviews suggest the day-to-day experience can vary significantly between brands.
Solar Compatibility
Both the Andersen A3 and Simpson & Partners Home 7 support solar integration, allowing you to charge your Tesla using surplus solar energy rather than drawing from the grid. The implementation and sophistication of solar diversion differs between the two, which can significantly affect how much free charging you actually get.
The Andersen A3 supports solar diversion through its energy management system. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 supports solar diversion through its energy management system. The key difference is how precisely each charger tracks surplus generation — CT clamp-based systems typically offer more responsive diversion than those relying on smart meter data, which can have a slight delay.
For home battery pairing, the Andersen A3 can work alongside a home battery system, though the integration may require additional configuration. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 can work alongside a home battery system, though the integration may require additional configuration. A home battery lets you store daytime solar surplus and charge your EV overnight at zero cost — effectively eliminating the limitation of only being able to solar-charge while the sun is shining.
A typical 4kW solar array in the UK can provide approximately 1,400–1,700 kWh of free EV charging per year, worth £390–£475 at standard electricity rates (around 28p/kWh). For context, the average UK Tesla owner drives around 8,000 miles per year, requiring roughly 2,400 kWh — so solar could cover 60–70% of your annual charging needs. Over the charger's lifetime, solar diversion can save thousands of pounds and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Smart Tariff Support
Both the Andersen A3 and Simpson & Partners Home 7 support smart energy tariffs, enabling automated off-peak charging at significantly reduced rates. This is one of the most impactful ways to cut your EV running costs, potentially saving hundreds of pounds per year compared to charging on a standard tariff.
The Andersen A3 supports smart tariff scheduling with popular EV tariffs including Octopus Go (~8.5p/kWh) and similar time-of-use plans. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 supports smart tariff scheduling with popular EV tariffs including Octopus Go (~8.5p/kWh) and similar time-of-use plans. The most popular EV tariffs in the UK include Octopus Intelligent Go (~7p/kWh), Octopus Go (~8.5p/kWh), OVO Charge Anytime (~14p/kWh), and British Gas EV Power+ (~7.9p/kWh). Not all chargers work with all tariffs, so check compatibility with your specific provider before buying.
The depth of integration matters. The Andersen A3 supports scheduled charging aligned to off-peak windows, though it may not communicate directly with the energy provider. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 supports scheduled charging aligned to off-peak windows, though it may not communicate directly with the energy provider. Direct provider integration is more flexible — the energy company can shift your charging to the cheapest slots dynamically, rather than relying on fixed schedules that might miss cheaper windows.
The financial impact is substantial. Switching from a standard variable tariff (~28p/kWh) to Octopus Intelligent Go (~7p/kWh) saves approximately £400–£600 per year for a typical Tesla owner driving 8,000–10,000 miles annually. Even moving to Octopus Go (~8.5p/kWh) or British Gas EV Power+ (~7.9p/kWh) delivers savings of £350–£500 per year. A charger with smart tariff integration ensures you capture these savings automatically, every single night, without having to remember to set timers.
Warranty & Build Quality
The Andersen A3 comes with a 7 years warranty, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 offers 10 years (enclosure). The Simpson & Partners Home 7 offers 3 years more coverage, giving you added peace of mind. Both are OZEV-approved and suitable for outdoor installation — a longer warranty provides more peace of mind for a product that lives outside year-round and is exposed to British weather.
For weatherproofing, the Andersen A3 is rated IP54 (weatherproof) (splash-proof — protected against splashing water from any direction), while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 is rated IP54 (weatherproof) (splash-proof — protected against splashing water from any direction). A higher IP rating means better protection against rain, hose water, and dust. In practical terms, any rating of IP54 or above is suitable for a UK outdoor installation, but a higher rating provides extra confidence in extreme weather — particularly relevant if your charger is exposed rather than sheltered under a car port.
Build quality is reflected in the materials and construction. The Andersen A3 weighs ~7.5 kg with dimensions of 388mm × 183mm × 122mm, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 weighs ~5.5 kg with dimensions of 350mm × 200mm × 110mm. A heavier charger typically indicates more robust construction, though modern chargers use high-quality polycarbonate housings that are both lightweight and impact-resistant. If your charger is in a location where it might get bumped by car doors or footballs, look for IK10 impact resistance in the specs — this is the highest rating and means it can withstand 20 joules of impact (equivalent to a 5kg weight dropped from 40cm).
For extended protection: the Andersen A3 comes with a standard 7 years warranty from Andersen EV. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 comes with a standard 10 years (enclosure) warranty from Simpson & Partners. When comparing warranties, also check what's covered — most warranties cover manufacturing defects and component failure, but may not cover damage from incorrect installation or extreme weather events. Having your charger installed by an OZEV-approved installer typically ensures the warranty remains valid.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Andersen A3 if overall quality and user satisfaction matter most, or you want the best design.
Buy the Simpson & Partners Home 7 if you want the best value for money, or long-term peace of mind is a priority, or you have or plan to install a three-phase electrical supply, or 10-year warranty.
Our Verdicts
The Andersen A3 is the only charger where design is genuinely the primary selling point. The hidden cable system is unique, the finish options are extraordinary, and the 7-year warranty shows real confidence. But you are paying a hefty premium for aesthetics — the Tesla Wall Connector does the same job electrically for less than half the price. Buy the Andersen if your charger is prominently visible and you want it to look like it belongs there.
Simpson & Partners is the underdog that deserves more attention. The Home 7 offers premium British-made build quality, a 10-year enclosure warranty, and three-phase support for £649 — less than the Andersen A3 (£995) and with a warranty that's 3 years longer. The trade-off is a less established brand with fewer reviews and a smaller installer network. If you're willing to take a chance on a smaller brand, the value proposition is excellent.
