The purchase of an electric car comes with many benefits, but one of the main ones for drivers is the ability to charge your vehicle right from home. No need to stop at gas stations and take extra time with your commute. When you add charging stations at your home, you have two main options to choose from, along with the installation location.
Level 2 Home EV Charging Stations
Home EV chargers are broken down into two levels known as Level 1 and Level 2 charging. Level 2 charging offers the fastest charging options for your vehicle. The chargers run on a maximum of 240 volts and can fully charge most electric vehicles in three to five hours. Level 2 chargers require their own outlet installation and special outlet connections for a vehicle. Also found at gas stations and parking lots, the installation of an at-home Level 2 charging station can occur either indoors or outdoors.
Weather-resistant equipment allows you to run electrical connections during all four seasons of the year. If you do not have garage parking, then electricians can install an outdoor charging terminal next to your main parking area. Some terminals will attach to the side of a garage while others feature standalone devices that look similar to a miniature gas pump. An electrician can showcase a gallery of options to choose from that is not only easy to use, but is aesthetically pleasing to your indoor or outdoor garage area.
If you prefer to park inside your garage, then electricians can install an interior charger. Proper wiring allows the charging receptacle to get installed on either side of the garage, including your preferred parking area. The compact size of EV charging stations will ensure that you do not need to change the way you park. You will also not have to move around a lot of garage items like shelves or toolboxes. Once you pinpoint the ideal installation location, an electrician will figure out the best way to wire and install the charging station.
Level 2 Home Testing and Electrical Upgrades
When you run a 240V charger, you want to ensure your home’s electrical grid can handle the extra power. Comparatively, many electric dryers rely on a 240V plug and a laundry room will often need its own breaker to properly handle power loads. Before you have a Level 2 charger installed, an electrician will perform tests on your home’s power capacity. The tests will ensure breakers won’t jump and your home will not run into power issues whenever you go to charge your car.
One way to make your home compatible with EV chargers is through capacity upgrades. An electrician can improve the electrical setup of your home to ensure you do not overload the capacity. Specifically, the garage could be broken up into different elements within the circuit breaker. For example, the exterior lights and an outdoor EV charger may get paired into a single breaker while the interior lights and power outlets get paired into their own circuit breaker. If you choose to have the charger installed on the interior, then the reverse case may occur or elements on the interior could get split into two.
If your home runs on solar energy, then an electrician can make sure the charging station drives power directly from the solar panels. This will reduce your carbon footprint and save on your monthly electric bill when you rely solely on solar power to charge your car.
Level 1 EV Car Charging
Car manufacturers designed EV vehicles for convenience, and this is why homeowners can take advantage of Level 1 EV car charging. A Level 1 charging plug uses a standard charging outlet no different from a three-pronged outlet used for home electronics or appliances like a microwave.
The maximum power draw from Level 1 EV car charging includes 120 volts. When you use a Level 1 charger, it can take up to 24 hours for a car to fully charge and often the charge time takes longer. If you use an outlet with multiple sockets, you cannot use the other socket while the car charges. If you do, then you can run into power issues for your home.
Despite the advantages of a Level 2 charging station, you may still choose to have some Level 1 charging stations at your home. If this is the case, then an electrician can install interior and exterior outlets on your garage. Much like the Level 2 installation process, electricians will test out the plugs and power capacity to ensure your home’s power can handle the extra influx of power.
Level 1 Home Charging Uses
If you decide to have a Level 1 charging station, you may find many uses for the extra charging option. For example, if you have visitors over who drive EV vehicles, they can plug into the Level 2 charger for an extra boost while you still charge your own car with the Level 1 installation. If you decide to add another EV car to your own fleet, then you can have an alternative charging area. This is so you do not have to constantly move and swap cars from their original parking positions.
A Level 1 charger also helps in any emergency situations. For example, if your Level 2 charger or cable suffers damage, then you will still have Level 1 charging access to keep your car charged until the problem gets fixed. You just want to make sure you have a tested and approved Level 1 outlet. An electrician can test any current outlets you have in your garage or install new outlets as needed.
Level 3 Charging Stations and High Costs
As you plan for the installation of a home charger, you may come across Level 3 charging options. While Level 3 chargers offer a maximum of 1000 volts, these chargers are only commercially viable. A home’s power grid could not handle the power surge from these chargers and the cost of installation would be exponentially higher than a Level 1 or Level 2 charging station. The speed and power from a Level 2 charging station is more than enough for home charging needs.
Contact the Professionals
As you seek home charging options for electric vehicles, consider the services from Potts Electric in Ellisville, MO. Along with the testing and installation of EV charging stations, we can perform a wide range of other electrical tasks. Our experienced team can install or repair home generators. We have years of experience in electric panel repairs and upgrades to help improve the power flow in your home.
We can also perform smart home device installation and wiring for smart home devices along with outlet wiring, light wiring, and electrical wiring to all parts of the home. We work on residential properties, commercial properties, and new construction as well. Contact us at Potts Electric to find out more information on our electrical services!
