With the increasing popularity of electric cars, many EV owners have thought of installing a charging station in their homes. Charging the vehicle’s battery at home is a convenient option. It will improve your battery-powered car driving experience. You might have checked YouTube videos on how to install EV battery chargers at your home. But, managing the electrical works on your own is complicated and risky. That is why hiring a professional electrician is the best idea for installing EV chargers.
Where will you install your electric car charger?
The best places for installing EV chargers are-
- Interior walls inside the garage
- Exterior walls in the driveway
You must have an off-street parking zone to install your home EV charging station. Most people decide to place chargers in the garage or driveway. It is a convenient choice because you can easily connect the EV to the electricity. Moreover, the charging station should be adjacent to the place where you regularly park the vehicle.
If you have no garage or driveway, it is challenging to install the EV charger. The cables will stretch over the pavement, and it may cause risk to pedestrians. You can consult a professional installer to choose the right place for installing your EV charger.
Engineers know how to pick the right installation point for EV charging installation without violating regulations. It will affect the place to put the EV charger on the wall. Professional engineers will evaluate the place before they deal with charger installation. They look for metal objects connected to the electricity supply. For instance, if the metal case has lights, they will replace it with the plastic case.
Steps for installing EV chargers at your home
Survey the site
You should install the charger at a site, which is accessible to your vehicle. The charger must also be within a reasonable range of the main electricity panel. If you are confused about the site, you may engage a qualified electrician.
Obtain permission to avoid legal issues
The second step is to ensure that the electricity system in your home is eligible for an electric car charger. To avoid legal complications, you can contact the local electricity board to have a permit. It is also essential to upgrade the allocation of your electricity usage. Consult the electrician to make the upgrade successfully.
Have some space for extra components
An EV charger comprises various components, and the most important one is the circuit breaker. So, install the circuit breaker in the electricity panel of your house. There must be significant space to hold the circuit breaker.
Install the EV charger
After buying the charger from a reliable brand, you can start installing it. The certified electrician will assist you in installing the charger flawlessly. He knows how to stay safe while dealing with the charger. He will link it to the electricity supply system using your circuit breaker.
The overall installation process may take almost 4 hours. But, it will take longer if the installation is a complicated process. Rescheduling the installation is important in case you have experienced any issues.
Which EV charger level should you choose?
Level 1
No particular installation is essential if you have chosen Level 1 chargers. The Level 1 charger needs to be plugged into a regular 120 V outlet. It is the biggest advantage of using the Level 1 charger, as you can save costs related to installation. You may configure the overall charging system without the technician’s help.
Level 2
If your car needs 240V of electricity, you can invest in Level 2 chargers. Faster charging is the major reason for the popularity of this type of charging station. However, you need to implement a special installation technique because the average wall outlets provide only 120V. Ovens and other appliances also need 240 Volts; so the installation procedure will be quite similar.
Due to the potential risk and technical nature of the Level 2 EV charger, you can rely on qualified technicians. Professional installers know about the local building codes and help you install the charging system efficiently. If you make any error during installation, there is a risk of damage.
Level 3
Most commercial places have Level 3 EV charging stations because they are costly and need specialized equipment. You can avoid them for home charger installation.
Within 3 minutes, you can charge 80% of the vehicle’s battery. Level 3 chargers are best for roadside charging facilities. It is to be noted Level 3 chargers are not the right choice for every vehicle.
Depending on your choice, you will find a difference in the EV charger installation cost. The charging rates are also different based on your setup.
Why do EV owners like to install chargers in their homes?
Installing an electric vehicle charger at home ensures convenience for users. The EV simply needs to be plugged into the charger. You can keep your car fully charged and get ready for the journey.
With a Level 2 charger, you can fill up the battery within 4 hours. You will not need to stand in a queue to refill the battery.
When your EV battery is 80% full, the public charging stations allow only slow charging of the car. But, if you have a Level 2 charging system at your home, recharging the vehicle to 100% is now easy. So, when you take a long road trip, it will be a convenient choice. There is no need to stop your vehicle several times to recharge it during your journey.
Conclusion
Installing EV chargers at your home gives you the opportunity to use the charging stations at any time. But, you need to hire professional electricians and other technicians to install the charger. Proper setup allows you to make the optimal use of the electric vehicle charger.
