Install an EV Charger at Home
It is very annoying to go to the gas station every time to charge an electric car. To avoid the hassle of driving to a pump to charge your EV, install an EV charger at home. This is a good solution. You can install three different types of EV chargers in your house.
Every charger requires a different installation procedure. Now someone is wondering whether I can install an EV charger at home myself. Typically, it entirely depends on your experience with electricity.
If you have enough knowledge and experience fixing different electronic components, you can easily install an EV charger at your home. Otherwise, hiring an experienced and certified electrician will be the best option. However, read the entire context if you want to know more information about installing an EV charger at home.
Different Types Of Electric Vehicle Chargers
There are three types of electric vehicle chargers you will find in the markets. Typically, these are referred to as the level of charging in an EV. When the level is high, electric vehicles will be charged faster. Here we have discussed a short brief about different EV chargers.
Level-1: Standard Wall Outlet
Level-1 EV charger is a standard 120-volt wall outlet that offers around 5 miles of range per hour. It requires charging an EV overnight for average daily driving. This charger is so tiny that you can keep one in your vehicle for emergency charging. Another good thing is that level-1 EV chargers are compatible with almost all vehicles. And the connector and charging cable is usually included with this EV charger.
Level-2: 240-Volt Outlet
These chargers are used as home EV chargers because they require 240 volts to charge a vehicle. It offers up to 25 miles of range per hour, but you can drive 60 miles per hour according to your car. This charger helps to charge an EV more quickly than a level-1 EV charger. For example, a level-1 EV charger takes around 6.5-8 hours to fully charge an EV, while a level-2 charger requires only 3 hours.
Level 2 charging stations are commonly found in public parking lots. They are capable of delivering up to 22 kW of power to an electric vehicle. A single level 2 charger can charge an electric car about three times faster than a standard Level 1 charger. That means you could get 75 miles out of your battery if you charged for just 30 minutes.
Level-3: DC Fast Charging
Among the three EV chargers, Level-3 is the fastest charging available. It can give around 250 miles of range an hour. Depending on the car, a level-3 DC fast charger can provide 50 to 125 miles per range in charging 15 minutes. These charging options are usually used to enable your car for long-distance driving. You will find this charging station at commercial locations and different fuel filling stations.
A level 3 charger can charge an electric vehicle in about 30 minutes. At 50 kW, you can get up to 173 miles of driving range. At 350 kW, you can get almost 300 miles of range. A full charge takes around three hours.
Is Level 3 Charging Suitable for Any Ev?
Level 3 fast chargers are compatible with most electric vehicles. However, not all cars can charge at the same rate. Some can take up to 350kW while others need less.
Tesla owners can charge at any Tesla Supercharger station, even if they're not using a Tesla Model S. However, certain models may need an adapter to connect to other charging stations.
Can I Install An EV Charger At Home Myself
Any of the EV chargers among the three chargers can be installed at home. But installing level-2 chargers will be more convenient than the three EV chargers. This is because level-1 EV chargers are not efficient enough to charge vehicles. Besides, installing a level-3 EV charger will be expensive and require powerful and specialized instruments to operate.
They are usually installed in commercial and industrial areas. However, if you wish to install an EV charger at home yourself, you can do it once you have enough experience working with electricity. Otherwise, there is a high chance of getting electric shocks and severe injuries.
So, avoid installing an EV charger yourself unless you have experience. In that case, you can hire a professional and certified electrician to install an EV charger at your home. For your help, we will discuss a step-by-step guideline for installing an EV charger at home in the section below.
How To Install An EV Charger At Home?
If you have an EV, installing a level-2 charger at your home can make charging easier. For installing an electric vehicle charger, follow the steps discussed below.
Hire A Professional Electrician
First, you have to hire a certified and professional electrician. Hiring a professional electrician will help you do the task safely and properly. This way, you will ensure your overall home and vehicle safety as well. However, if you have experience with working electricity, you can install an EV yourself. Otherwise, hiring an electrician will be a wise decision.
Getting Permits To Install An EV Charger
At this stage, you have to check the capability of your home to install an EV charger. You can examine if your house's electricity system is eligible to load an EV charger. If the electricity system requires to be upgraded, you will need to consult with the local electricity department. In some cases, you may have to get permission to install an AC transformer to increase electricity consumption. The electrician you hired can explain the process to you.
Check The Electrical Panel Has Space
Check whether the electrical panel at your home has sufficient space to install a circuit breaker for the EV charger. In some cases, you may need to make additional space to set up the circuit breaker. Your hired electrician will help you to do this.
Buy A Level-2 EV Charger
It is crucial to buy the right EV charger, and always make sure you buy one from a reputed brand. This is because local brand EV chargers can save you an initial cost, but they can also cause security issues for both your home and car. Different EV chargers brands can easily confuse you about which one to buy in the market. You should make a selection by checking the OEM details.
Install The EV Charger
Once you have purchased the right EV charger, now it's time to install it in your preferred locations. Most EV owners prefer to install an EV charger in that garage. For that, you have to connect all the required wires to the EV charger that comes from the circuit breaker. Make sure the wires are connected to the right places individually. At this stage, you can take the help of the instruction guide that came with the EV charger box. Your hired technician would do this for you. Before powering the circuit breaker, inspect all the connections to ensure they are correctly wired
Why Should You Install Level-2 EV Charger At Your Home?
Compared to the other two types of EV chargers, level-2 chargers are the most ideal for installing at home. There are several reasons why this charger is best. Some common causes are described below.
Compatibility
When it comes to compatibility, level-2 EV chargers offer the maximum potential. This charger is simple to attach to your primary power source and electric vehicle. Besides, most level-2 EV chargers are universal, so they will work with almost all EVs.
Water Resistance
All EV owners may not want to install an EV charger inside the house. In that case, level-2 EV chargers feature water resistance so that you can install them outside the garage or at home. Besides, sometimes you may need to carry the charger outside to charge vehicles. In such situations, having a water-resistant EV charger will prevent damaging it from rain or snow.
Cable Length
Most people overlook the cable’s length connected to an EV charger. As a result, they face problems covering the distance between the car and the power source. Fortunately, level-2 EV chargers come with a 25 feet cable to connect the charger to your vehicle. So, you can easily charge your car even if it parks far away from your garage.
Installation Process
Although level-1 EV chargers require only a plug-in to charge a vehicle, they are quite slow in changing. Level-2 EV chargers require hardware installation and a permanent electricity source. This charger helps set up a permanent charging option somewhere in your home. On the other hand, level-3 EV chargers need professional and certified technicians to install.
Additional Features
Some level-2 240 volt outlet EV chargers offer outstanding features that make your car charging experience more efficient and convenient. For example, wireless features enable you to control the charging through your mobile device. Besides, you can monitor your car's charging status using a particular application.
Can I Install a Level 3 Charger at Home?
Level 3 charging stations are expensive, but they offer several advantages over other types of chargers. They provide a significant amount of energy at a high rate of speed, making them ideal for public and commercial spaces. Their price tag also means they won’t be suitable for private homes. However, if you’re looking for an easy solution to charge your car, then a Level 1 or Level2 charger will suit you just fine.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you got enough information to figure out whether to install an EV charger at home yourself. Basically, you can install it, but you should avoid it if you don’t have enough experience. In that case, hiring a professional electrician will help to install an EV charger to your desired location at your home.
You already see three different types of EV chargers that you can install in your home. Among these chargers, level-2 chargers are ideal for installing at home because the installation process is quite easy. For your convenience, we have demonstrated a complete guideline about installing a level-2 EV charger. You can easily set up a charger following the simple steps.
