After deciding toย purchaseย an electric vehicle, the next decision facing owners is whether toย install a homeย EVย charger.ย ย
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Before making that commitment, homeownersย should do aย thorough assessment of their existing electrical capacity, according to Michael Chance,ย digitalย marketingย manager forย Qmerit,ย whichย specializes inย EV charging and electrical services for homeowners and businesses.ย
EV Charger Capacity Checklist
Before installing an EV charger,ย itโsย important to makeย sure yourย homeโsย electrical system is ready for the extra demand.ย ย
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Homeowners usuallyย choose aย Level 2 chargerย because it charges much faster thanย aย standard wallย outlet. These chargers runย on a 240-voltย circuitย โย the same power used by large appliances,ย likeย aย clothesย dryersย or ovens.ย
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To ensure yourย charger is installedย safely and meetsย localย codes,ย work with aย licensed electricianย whoย hasย experience withย EV charger installations.ย
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Findย out if your home is ready for an EV chargerย withย this checklist.ย ย
- Getย an EV charger load calculationย doneย toย determineย how much electricity your home is using and how much it will need for an EV charger.ย An EV charger can increase a homeโs electrical load by about 7,200 watts or 30 amps,ย according to Qmerit.ย
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Simply take photos of your electrical panel and charger location andย send them to Qmerit. Its proprietary Panel Insights AI tool analyzes panel capacity and total electrical load, helpingย determineย your EV charging installation requirements.ย
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- Check for empty slotsย or unused breaker spacesย in your electrical panel.ย A Levelย 2ย charger needs a dedicated 240-voltย double-pole circuit breaker.ย
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If your panel is 100 amps and is powering appliances such as an HVAC, water heater and dryer, you are at or near capacityย andย will need to upgrade your electrical panel or install aย load-sheddingย tool such as aย loadย controller, which can shut down breakers if too much power is in use.ย
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- Decide on a location.ย Before youย pickย a spot for the charger, make sureย the carโs charging cableย easilyย reaches the charger from where the car will be parked. Never use an extension cord with an EV cable.ย ย
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- Check the strength of the Wi-Fi signal in the garage, if that is where the charger is installed, otherwise theย chargerย wonโtย be able toย send signals to its app. If the signal is not strong enough,ย potential solutions includeย installing aย Wi-Fi extenderย orย purchasingย aย charging stationย with anย Ethernet port or cellular connectivity.ย
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- Consider a smart electrical panel.ย Whileย smart electrical panelsย do the same job asย traditional onesย โย keepingย circuits from overloadingย โย theyย do it more thoughtfully. Installed hardware and software seamlessly ensureย thatย power goes to the most necessary appliances and allows homeowners toย monitorย usage and cut power to rooms or appliances that are not in use and even turn off home appliances remotely.ย
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Smart panels also can prevent power surges and give homeowners the ability to schedule heavier powerย usageย such as charging an EV, at times of the day when the electrical rates are lower.
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Learn moreย about howย Qmeritย can help with EV charger installation and a variety of electrical upgrades for your home orย business.ย
AAA’s Recommendation: Whether you own an electric vehicle or a gas-powered car is up to you โ and you should consider lots of factors in making that choice. No matter what type of vehicle youโre choosing, we recommend visiting a dealership, test driving one, and asking as many questions as possible to make an informed decision.
