Install of Charge Station Pro between Meter and Electrical Panel

[xycarp]

My meter is near my drive way, and my panel is already crowded. Can I have an electrician add a new junction after the meter, and install the CSP right there (before my main panel)? It seems as though it would be much simpler than messing with the panel, and then running a new line from the panel all the way back to next to the meter.

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[ericpullen]

You can do that, but it would require a fair amount of work and possibly a service upgrade (depends on how big your current house panel is). You can move from a meter socket to a meter socket that has a built in set of breakers. That's what I did when we did a full panel upgrade last year.

 

[Maquis]

In addition to the above, adding the service disconnect at the meter location makes your existing panel a subpanel. The wiring to it will need separate neutral and ground which means 4 wires instead of 3, likely requiring a new run. Then the neutrals and grounds must all be separated in the subpanel.
Discuss details with a reputable electrician.

 

[Pioneer74]

In addition to the above, adding the service disconnect at the meter location makes your existing panel a subpanel. The wiring to it will need separate neutral and ground which means 4 wires instead of 3, likely requiring a new run. Then the neutrals and grounds must all be separated in the subpanel.
Discuss details with a reputable electrician.

This x2. A lot of work.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Post 2 resembles what my plan B would have been if I was not successful getting the second service to my garage.

Agree with following posts, the meter pan with two 200 amp double pole breakers, one feeding house the other feeding your garage, then conduit with ground, neutral, A & B hots to another load center from which the 100 amp breaker feeding to the FCSP.

 

[Akbrian]

At the meter there is likely a breaker there hopefully 200Amp. Like previous post said, two options depending on main panel add another breaker and feed the charger or splice in and add a subpanel. My service box wouldnt accept another breaker so spliced in after main breaker with proper mechanical connectors and fed a subpanel. My house panel was a 45 foot run with sheet rock and or conduit so was easier and cheaper to go 70 feet underground back to the meter, put the subpanel in and power off that also added RV power and backup 50amp receptacle at charger location so if charger stops can still charge with receptacle power.

 

[ddbrooke]

This solves those problems if it ever comes to market and your electric supplier supports it. Still, a pretty elegant solution.
https://electrek.co/2022/07/27/siemens-home-ev-charger-adapter/

 

[xycarp]

More details…. I have two meters. One feeds the main panel. The other feeds a very simple fuse box on the outside of the house, next to the AC that it serves.

What if I replace that fuse box with a mini panel that supplies both the AC and a charger?

 

[Maquis]

More details…. I have two meters. One feeds the main panel. The other feeds a very simple fuse box on the outside of the house, next to the AC that it serves.

What if I replace that fuse box with a mini panel that supplies both the AC and a charger?

Sounds like a good plan as long as it’s OK with your utility. Why do you have a second meter? If it’s for a special HVAC rate, the utility may not allow other loads.

 

[Pioneer74]

More details…. I have two meters. One feeds the main panel. The other feeds a very simple fuse box on the outside of the house, next to the AC that it serves.

What if I replace that fuse box with a mini panel that supplies both the AC and a charger?

I remember having something like that as a kid. It was called "interruptable service". It was a way to get a special rate for the air conditioning because the utility provider could shut it off during peak demand.

Before doing anything with that circuit you should check with your utility to make sure that it can be altered and that it has the capacity to support the load of the EVSE.

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