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What Power Is Required To Charge An EV At Home?

There are different methods to charge an EV at home and these will influence the power provided to them. Level 1 and 2 EV chargers are the main residential charging options. Each one will require a different power source, some will be simpler to install while others are more effective at charging. Here at The Local Electrician, our Sydney electricians are ready to install EV charging stations and connect them to power.

The power needed to charge an EV at home is either through a power outlet, single phase system or a three phase system. Level 1 chargers require only a working and safe power socket to plug the car charger into. Level 2 chargers come in either single phase or three phase which will differ depending on the one currently in the home.

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What Type of Power is Needed to Charge an EV at Home?

To charge an EV at home there are certain ways to do this and each method will have its own power requirements. It ranges from simple charging the car through a standard power outlet and can range to installing a dedicated charging station. Level 1 and level 2 charging are the best methods for residential use while level 3 and 4 are mainly used for commercial and public charging. Level 1 charging is a single phase alternating current and involves charging the car from a wall socket. Level 2 charging is a home charging station that is powered through single or three phase power.

Our blog ‘how to prepare the home for EV charging’ provides reliable information to help guide you on the topic.

How to Charge an EV at Home Using a Wall Socket?

Level 1 charging is the way to charge an EV at home using a standard wall socket or outlet. Regular 240V wall sockets and the charging cable that comes with the electric vehicle is the most simplest and cheapest method of charging the car at home. This method of charging the car outputs 2.4-3.7kW per hour at 10-15 amps with the limitations of the wall outlet. Level 1 charging can charge a car that has a 37kWh battery to full within 11 hours on average. This means that it can for most people adequately charge their car at a decent pace.

Level 1 charging is easy to install as it only requires plugging the car charger into a working power outlet. Due to only needing to be plugged into a power socket it is portable and no additional work needs to be done. It is important though that an electrician performs an electrical safety inspection on the power outlet and power system of the home to ensure that it can safely provide power to the charger.

There is also most times no costs involved in installing the level 1 car charger unless the power outlets need to be upgraded or replaced. The cost to charge the car will be as much as how much electricity was consumed while the car was charging. Make sure to never use an extension cord or double adapters to charge the EV at home because there is a high chance of electrical issues that can develop.

How to Charge an EV at Home Using a Home Wall Box?

Level 1 charging provides adequate EV charging for homeowners but level 2 car chargers offer a safer, more reliable and more effective way to charge an EV at home. The level 2 charger will reduce the charging times and will need its own charging station and dedicated circuit. With this the installation costs will be higher but the dedicated EV charger will ensure that the car can be charged quicker and more efficiently. Level 2 charging for electric vehicles also comes in single phase and three phase with some needing the home’s electrical system to be modified. 

Level 2 Single Phase EV Charging

Most homes have single phase power and EV level 2 charging with single phase is a good and reliable way to change the car. It provides much more power over wall socket charging and if the home is already single phase then there does not need to be upgrades done to the home’s wiring. It receives the same electrical feed as level 1 chargers but the dedicated charger works at a higher amperage level of around 32A meaning it can charge the car faster and more effectively.

Installing the level 2 single phase charger will require a licensed electrician to perform the work. This is due to the EV charging station needing its own dedicated electrical circuit and the system will need to be correctly wired and connected. Make sure that a certified electrician performs the EV charger installation to ensure that the system is installed correctly and will work properly. 

Level 2 Three Phase EV Charging

Level 2 three phase EV chargers are the most effective residential charging option but require upgrades to the home’s electrical system. Three phase wiring is an upgrade from single phase wiring and to have the level 2 charger be three phase the whole home will need to replace the single phase as well. With level 2 three phase EV chargers more than 400V is provided meaning the chagrin output is 22kW making it close to 10 times more powerful than level 1 chargers.

The level 2 three phase charger is the same price as single phase variants but it is the installation that will add to the price. If a 3 phase switchboard upgrade is needed then this will add to the price and labour. A Level 2 Electrician will need to perform the 3 phase upgrade and then connect the car charger to the proper wiring and circuits.

Professional EV Charger Services

The Local Electrician offers the best electric vehicle charger repair and installation services to the locals of Sydney. When you need to charge an EV at home our fully qualified electricians are here to help. We can install any charging station, inspect the wiring and outlets and upgrade any wiring and circuits where needed.

Along with reliable Emergency Electrician services, we offer our EV electrical services to all of Sydney, including Eastern Suburbs and North Shore.

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When needing to charge an EV at home and for an electrician to install and work on the system – rely on The Local Electrician!

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Our skilled electricians are qualified to carry out any electrical repair or installation within Sydney. We strive to deliver absolute customer satisfaction by offering electrical services that are affordable, safe and long lasting.

Chris Madikian