As the name implies, an electric vehicle charger is a device that takes electricity from an electrical grid or outlet and sends it into an electric vehicle.
For a Level 2 charging station — the most common system of EV home charging — the wiring often consists of a ground wire, a common wire, and a pair of hot wires.
You can plug a Level 2 charger right into a 240-volt electrical panel. Alternatively, you could hardwire it to an electrical panel.
Yes, a “normal” certified electrician should be able to manage an EV charger installation with no problem.
You need an experienced and licensed electrician to install your home EV charger. Without expertise, this work is dangerous. If you attempted to do it yourself, you’d face the risk of a severe electrical shock.
Moreover, unless you install this machinery correctly, it could easily malfunction. It could even start a fire.
You shouldn’t have to charge your electric car every night. Ideally, your EV battery would stay in the range of 20% to 80% charged. Most electric vehicles need charging once every few nights to remain in that zone.
Of course, the exact frequency depends on how far you drive each day and how many miles of range your vehicle has. Soon enough, you’ll figure out how often to charge it.
Despite the initial cost of installing an EV charging station at home, this system will save you money over the long haul. That’s because public charging costs significantly more than home charging.
On top of that, many utility companies offer discounts to EV owners who get an EV charger installation. And some of those companies even provide cheaper electricity at night for after-dark EV charging.
Level 1 EV charging is a simple concept. It involves using an average 120-watt home electrical outlet to charge a vehicle. The main drawback is that it takes so long to fully charge a vehicle this way: probably at least 30 hours.
Thus, it’s best to try the Level 1 approach in emergency situations only.
As mentioned above, Level 2 charging involves a special device. And those devices require professional EV charging installations.
A Level 2 charger supplies 208 to 240 volts of power, about the same as a central air conditioning system.
In addition, this charger can provide between 12 and 80 amps of electricity. For most people, 40 amps or so would be ideal. However, for 80 amps of power, you’d need a special supply line as well as a dedicated server, and the entire apparatus would be more expensive.
In practical terms, this type of charging is much faster — and thus much more convenient — than Level 1. Indeed, with a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station, you should be able to fully charge your EV in three to eight hours.
There’s another type of charging: Level 3. It’s the fastest type of EV charging currently available, and commercial enterprises are the typical users.
Level 3 uses direct current (DC), whereas Level 2 chargers rely on alternating current (AC). DC is more expensive but more powerful. With DC, the direction and voltage of the electricity never change. By contrast, with AC, they do change from time to time.
In fact, Level 3 charging is so fast and powerful that you should be able to fully charge your vehicle in about half an hour.
Installing an EV Level 3 charger at home is possible. However, this system is much costlier than the Level 2 version. Not to mention, many homes just don’t have the capacity to provide the necessary voltage for Level 3 charging.
To answer this important question, just keep this handy formula in mind:
Yes, it is perfectly safe. Charging your EV is safe in almost any weather condition. EV charges are designed with weather in mind to withstand water and other particles that could potentially be hazardous to your electrical system.
Finally, if you’re seeking an EV charger installation near Tulsa, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime. Our electrical contractors offer first-class customer service, competitive install costs, and unsurpassed workmanship.
Once you receive our EV charger installation services, you’ll enjoy safe and fast charging right in your own garage. Each morning, you can hop into your car and look forward to the open road without a worry about finding a public charging station.
Mister Sparky Electrician is Tulsa's On-Time Electrician in Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, Sapulpa, and Claremore. Our team of licensed electricians services the Tulsa metro area. In addition to emergency electrical repairs, our residential electrician services include electrical outlet/switch repair, ceiling fan installation, lighting installation, residential wiring repair, landscape lighting installation, and home electrical inspections. Call us today at (918) 205-1309 to schedule an appointment!
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