An electrical vehicle charging installation is an essential step in purchasing an electric vehicle. However, adding an electrical vehicle charging station to your home can feel like a challenge. Before you can set up your charger, you’ll need to make sure your home’s electrical system is equipped to handle it.
The first step in this process is hiring a licensed electrician to inspect your electrical panel and make sure it can take on the charger without overloading.
At Oak Electric, we’re the best choice if you’re looking for help with an EV charger installation near you. We provide our EV charging solutions in Commerce Charter Township, MI, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to learn more about working with us.
Why Should You Inspect Your Panel Before Adding an Electrical Vehicle Charging Installation?
Your electric vehicle will likely require a Level 2 charger. These chargers require significant electrical power to function, usually a dedicated 40 to 60 amp circuit, and provide a similar amount of power as a central AC unit. On top of that, these chargers have a high power demand since they are often used for many hours overnight.
This extensive power load is why the first step in installing your charger is a proper assessment of your home’s electrical panel.
Without an assessment, you run the risk of:
- Tripped breakers
- Flickering lights
- Damaging appliances
- Potential fire hazards
- Voiding your insurance
A Level 2 charger requires a dedicated 240V circuit breaker, and it must be sized larger than the charger’s output in order to comply with National Electrical Code (NEC) rules. In addition, the breaker must be rated at 125% of the charger’s maximum draw.
This required output and increased load can be hard for older panels to handle, and push them past a safe limit. Ultimately, this puts your home, appliances, and electrical equipment at risk.
How Can You Tell If Your Electrical Panel is Ready for an Electrical Vehicle Charging Installation?
To see if your electric panel is ready for an electrical vehicle charging installation, a licensed electrician will visit your home and perform an assessment of your panel. This includes two main parts:
- Load Calculation: The electrician will calculate the power draw from all major fixed appliances, including the home’s HVAC system, water heater, kitchen appliances, and larger, heavy-duty appliances. From there, they’ll add the amperage from electrical vehicle charging. If the sum exceeds the panel’s capacity, an upgrade is needed.
- Physical Panel Inspection: The electrician will make sure there’s enough physical space for the new circuit breaker. They’ll also look for visible signs of wear, corrosion, and overheating, especially in older panels.
What Happens If Your Current Panel Can’t Handle Electrical Vehicle Charging?
If the electrician determines your panel isn’t equipped to handle the electrical vehicle charging installation, there are a few options they can pursue. First, a full panel upgrade is an entire replacement of your panel. It’s a comprehensive solution that eliminates all capacity concerns and provides plenty of room for future circuits.
If you don’t want to completely replace your panel, a smart load management system is another option. These systems are best for panels that have just enough capacity to safely take on an electrical vehicle charging installation.
They monitor the electrical consumption of your entire home, and if the load ever approaches the maximum safe limit, it will temporarily pause the power going toward electrical vehicle charging. When the load decreases, it will automatically resume charging.
Lastly, a sub panel installation is another choice. A sub panel works best if your main panel has enough capacity but doesn’t have any open slots. In this case, the electrician will install a second, smaller panel near the electrical vehicle charging location, which allows them to safely connect the EV circuit.
Contact Us for Expert Electrical Vehicle Charging in Farmington Hills, MI
Looking for an EV charging installation service in Commerce Charter Township, MI, or the surrounding areas? Contact Oak Electric to work with our licensed electricians and get your EV charger setup properly.
With 50+ years of experience in the electrical industry, we have the knowledge, experience, and skills to add an electrical vehicle charging station to your home or business.
In fact, our team has an Electric Vehicle Charging Station certification through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP). This certification demonstrates our expertise in delivering quality electrical vehicle charging installations.
Want to learn more about working with our team? Call (800) 964-7070 or contact us online today to get started with our electrical vehicle charging services.
