Three Things To Know Before Installing An EV Charger
Electric vehicles offer a convenient way for people to help minimize their impact on the environment. Purchasing this type of car or truck means you'll need a way to power the vehicle when you're not on the road. Adding an EV charger to your home's garage makes it easy to keep the battery powered and ready for use each morning. Before you get ready to install an EV charger in your garage, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Hire An Electrician
You may already have power running to your garage for the automatic door and traditional wall outlets, but you'll want to make sure the wiring is set up for an EV charger. A skilled electrician can inspect the current wiring as well as your breaker box set up to create a plan of action for installing your car charger. This might mean creating a dedicated circuit just for the EV charger, and it might also include running some additional wiring. Schedule a consultation with your electrician before making an EV charger purchase.
Do Some Comparison Shopping
There are a variety of EV chargers on the market, so you'll want to do some comparison shopping before making a purchase decision. For example, determine if you'll need a single charger or a dual charger. Even if you only have one electric vehicle currently, a dual charger may be a wise choice if you think you'll purchase a second one in the future. Some chargers include smart capabilities, so you can set charging to run on a timer or check the current battery status on your smartphone or tablet. Be sure to check the measurements for any charging cables to ensure they'll provide enough reach for powering up your vehicle.
Set Up Space For Installation
You'll need to clear space along one wall in your garage for installing the charger. While EV chargers don't take up a lot of space typically, you may need to move shelving or racks to provide a permanent home for the unit. If you have a smaller garage, you'll also want to make sure there will be enough clearance for your vehicle once the charger is installed. A residential EV charger installer can help you determine the proper placement to ensure everything fits seamlessly into place. He or she can figure out the logistics involved, such as making sure the charging cable is positioned so it reaches the ports on your vehicle easily.
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