Planning EV Charging at Home and at Work
5 min read
Charging an electric vehicle at home or on site is mostly an electrical design question. The charger itself is simple; the circuit, panel capacity and installation location are where planning pays off.
Choosing the charger type
- Wall-mounted units suit garages and building walls
- Floor-standing pedestals suit parking areas without a nearby wall
- AC chargers cover most home and workplace needs; DC fast chargers are for larger, high-turnover sites
Check the electrical panel first
A Level 2 charger is a continuous load on a dedicated circuit. Before choosing a model, confirm there is spare capacity in the panel. If there is not, a load calculation can show whether a panel upgrade or a load-managed charger is the better answer.
Pairing with solar
Chargers combine well with rooftop solar or a solar carport, since cars are often parked during the day. A combined design lets the permit package cover both the array and the charging equipment in one submission.
