More EVs are turning up in Gladstone driveways, and the granny lead out the laundry window gets old fast. A proper wall charger fills the car overnight and does it safely. Here is what the job involves on the electrical side.
Before you book: call Kelly on 0421 644 207 to talk through your switchboard and charger.
Level 1, level 2 and why it matters
A standard 10A power point gives you roughly 10 to 15 km of range per hour of charging. A 7kW single phase wall charger gives you around 40 km per hour. A 22kW three phase charger is faster again, though most cars only take 7 to 11kW on AC anyway.
For most households a 7kW single phase charger on its own 32A circuit is the sweet spot.
What the electrician checks first
Switchboard capacity. A 32A circuit is a big new load. Older boards often have no room and no safety switches. Sometimes the board upgrade is most of the job. See switchboard upgrades.
Supply size. Ergon’s service fuse and your consumer mains have a limit. A 22kW charger on a house that already runs ducted air conditioning may need a supply upgrade, which involves Ergon and takes time.
Cable run. Board on one side of the house, garage on the other, means a long run and more cost. Underground to a detached shed means trenching.
Solar. If you have solar, a charger that can follow your solar output uses power you would otherwise export for a few cents.
Off-peak. Some chargers can be put on a controlled load tariff or scheduled to charge in cheaper windows.
What a compliant install includes
- A dedicated circuit with the correct breaker and a Type A or Type B RCD as the charger requires.
- A weatherproof isolator near the charger where required.
- The charger mounted at the right height, cable managed so it is not run over.
- Testing and a certificate of test.
Rough pricing
A straightforward single phase install close to the board is mid-size work. Long runs, board upgrades or three phase move into project pricing. Every job is quoted first.
Next step
Tell Kelly the car, the charger you are looking at and where the switchboard is, through the contact page. If the board needs work, that is a job he does every week.
Related service: Switchboard Upgrades · Service area · Contact Kelly