Install an EV Charger in Your Garage With NAPA

Everything You Need to Install an EV Charger in Your Home Garage

So after meticulous research, you’ve taken the plunge and purchased an electric vehicle. Welcome to the future! One of the benefits of driving an electric vehicle is the ability to charge the battery at home. Sure, it is faster to swipe your credit card and ‘fill up’ your battery at the nearest EV charging station, but the convenience of home EV charging means no more worries about leaving with a drained battery. If you are thinking of installing a home EV charger, here’s a few specifics you need to know from the NAPA experts.

Picking an EV Charger & the Perfect Spot

There are a wide variety of home EV charging stations on the market from the very affordable Schumacher EV Charger to the popular Wallbox Pulsar Plus to the deluxe Bosch EV810 Series Electric Vehicle Charger and the flexible Autel MaxiCharger line. Not every EV home charger is created equal, so you need to consider your vehicle’s plug type first and confirm that the charger can physically connect to it. Then you need to make sure the charger fits in your desired location. Another issue to consider is if you want a Level 1 or Level 2 charger. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of EV charging stations at home, keep reading to make sure your selection fits your home charging arrangements.

Where do you park your vehicle? Will your home EV charger live inside the garage or outside on the garage or house wall? Do you have an enclosed garage or an open carport? Is there an open wall space available to mount your EV charger or will you need to build something? Your physical charge location will dictate what kind of electric vehicle charger you pick. Some EV chargers are not waterproof, so they need shelter. You also need to consider cord length. Per National Electric Code, the longest charging cable allowed is 25 feet, so your charging station location needs to account for that limitation. You also need a mounting location sturdy enough to support the weight of the charging station and cord.

Power Supply & Mounting Plate

Not all electrical outlets are made the same. A 220V outlet for your clothes dryer may physically appear ready for EV charging at home, but the wiring behind is potentially not up to the task. A clothes dryer or oven may use 220 volts of electricity, but it does so at relatively lower amperage for short amounts of time. On the flip side, charging an EV at home will pull 220 volts at up to 50 amps for hours at a time. An EV charging outlet that wasn’t specified for the task can heat up and create a potential fire hazard. 

When it comes to feeding power to your EV charger, you really should have a Qmerit EV charger installation expert support you on this project. You may also need a permit to install an EV home charging station. Even if you already have an outlet in your house that seems ready to use, have an expert from a credible service like Qmerit check it regardless to make sure the wiring is capable of the expected load. Have your installer specify what voltage and amperage the outlet can handle so you can adjust your charger at a later time.

Your at-home charger needs to be mounted to something. Most EV charge stations are wall mounted and include a wall plate. The wall plate is attached to the wall first, and the charger hangs from the wall plate. You need to make sure there are no utilities located behind the wall because some drilling is probably required for the mounting plate screws. If the charger is pole mounted, you may need to drill into the cement or even pour a new cement pad to mount the charger.

Charging Cable Handling & Storage

Where will the charging cable run while in use? Letting it sit on the ground is just fine, but will that leave it in the way? Will you need to step over it every time you leave the house? Is there enough room to navigate around the plug and cable when in use? You don’t want to trip over your charging cable, so try and plan a route that is both convenient to use while not blocking pathways. 

If the cable must run under a garage door or out a side door, it needs protection from pinching. Do not let the door close on the cable itself, which could damage the cable insulation. You can go the extra mile and even put in a small pass-through door to accommodate the charging cable during use, which allows you to store it inside when unplugged.

Where will the charging cable live when not in use? Some EV chargers have a built-in charging cable storage hook, while others simply loop around the charging unit itself. You don’t want to leave the charging cable sitting on the ground when not in use, so even something as simple as a wall hook will do. 

Charging Unit Setup: Leave It to the Pros

Once your EV charger is physically installed, it still may need configuration. Luckily, most EV chargers use a phone or tablet app to handle all the settings. Read the EV charger instructions thoroughly and follow the setup process step-by-step. Once the charger is configured, plug in your EV and verify that the charging process starts.

Prefer to let the professionals handle your EV charger installation? The NAPA Network has partnered with Qmerit to help guide you through the decision-making process and installation of your own home EV charger. You can get a quick installation estimate right now from Qmerit for whichever EV charger you purchase through NAPAonline. 

Purchasing the best home EV charger isn’t always easy, but if you take your time and consider your installation needs, you can have confidence in your decision. And, the next time you search “EV charging stations near me,” you will find your own driveway as the answer!