If you’ve been considering or have recently purchased an electric vehicle, installing an at-home charger may be a great home investment to save you stress from having to find an open, public charger for use when you’re low!
What Do I Need to Charge my Car?
Before plugging in your vehicle, you should have an electrician come out to inspect your home to ensure it can handle charging an electric vehicle. You should have a designated circuit solely for your vehicle and you need GFCI protection to prevent trips on your electrical circuit which could lead to damage to your home, appliances, and even electrocution.
Level 1 and Level 2 Chargers
Your electric vehicle should come with the standard charging cable. This is usually 120-volts and can plug into your normal three-pronged grounded plug. This is known as Level 1 charging and takes the longest time to charge your vehicle. It usually gets you between two to five miles per hour charged.
Level 2 charging is through 240-volts, and this needs special equipment to charge. This charger must be installed by an electrician and can give you between ten to sixty miles per hour charged depending on the type.
Upgrade Your Home’s Electrical System for an EV Charger
You may need to upgrade your home’s electrical system if it can’t handle the 240-volt outlet needed for the level 2 charger or if you don’t have a designated circuit for your 120-volt plug. If your electrical system is further from the area you want the charger installed, you may also need to upgrade your system with a little more work to make the necessary connections!
If you feel like an at-home electric vehicle charger is right for you, contact us at Colvin Electric to schedule an appointment with one of our qualified electricians!