Looking to put together what's needed for a charger install

[RSMLightning25]

Thank you for posting. I did have an electrician out here moments ago but he seemed unsure about how things should be handled, he's going to get back to me. I am in the process of looking for the next one to come out and take a look at things.

Sponsored

 

[RSMLightning25]

Lots of good advice here. I'd add one thought: If your main panel can support it, you might want to plan for a second EV at some point in the future. If you can, size your cable/subpanel to the garage to support this. I ended up with 2 EVs in short order. Many smaller EVs only need 16 or 24 amps, while our trucks are a bit more power hungry at 40 or 48 amps. Eg., a 40/16 amp combination would need an 80 amp subpanel. Your electrician can help with the calculations.

I would definitely like to look into this. I just need to speak with other electricians. The last one didn't provide the warm and fuzzies about what needed to happen so I am skeptical about their comfort level.

 

[The Weatherman]

Heck with Qumrick (sp). They have a national network of electricians that specialize in EVSE installations.

 

[PJnc284]

Thank you for posting. I did have an electrician out here moments ago but he seemed unsure about how things should be handled, he's going to get back to me. I am in the process of looking for the next one to come out and take a look at things.

Doesn't sound like he wanted the job. Then again there isn't as much money in just hooking things up v being able to mark everything up. We had one come out and quote 15k to run a 100amp about 125ft to a subpanel and install a charge station pro. Most of that was through the crawl space and trenching about 25ft to the detached building. Ended up having Duke Energy run a new service and had another electrician come out and hook it up. Also may be worth checking into if your power company provides any rebate. Duke Energy here in NC gives about $1100 to offset the costs of adding an evse.

 

[RSMLightning25]

GVEC here in Texas offers up to $600 bucks for a rebate but, yeah I am thinking maybe they didn't want the work either. We'll see how it goes. Luckily I can take my time on this.

 

[pdegenkolb]

Mostly, I would mirror what others have said about working with your electrician. I will note that a recent update of the National Electric Code now requires a licensed electrician to do installations for EVSE. Even if it is just a NEMA14-50 receptacle. Problems that have brought this on include the note that most hi amperage receptacles are used in a very low duty cycle environment, while EV charging is commonly at full power for over eight hours. I would consider upping the wire size by one size. (e.g. use a #6 vs a #8 for a 50A circuit.) Using conduit and upping the size beyond what is required is a great idea. And remember the circuit breaker has to be sized at 125% of the expected maximum load. (This last is also in the NEC.)

 

[PJnc284]

Mostly, I would mirror what others have said about working with your electrician. I will note that a recent update of the National Electric Code now requires a licensed electrician to do installations for EVSE. Even if it is just a NEMA14-50 receptacle. Problems that have brought this on include the note that most hi amperage receptacles are used in a very low duty cycle environment, while EV charging is commonly at full power for over eight hours. I would consider upping the wire size by one size. (e.g. use a #6 vs a #8 for a 50A circuit.) Using conduit and upping the size beyond what is required is a great idea. And remember the circuit breaker has to be sized at 125% of the expected maximum load. (This last is also in the NEC.)

Believe that's just proposed right? Guess they decided back in June to go ahead with it for the 2026 code. Looks like a 14-50 for a "welder/dryer" can be done by the resident with a simple permit. That will go well. Heck a licensed electrician and inspection doesn't seem to guarantee good work these days.

 

[unicorn1]

Hey Guys,

I have a buddy in electrical supply that I can source parts to install a charger at my place. I am simply trying to get a parts list together and I'll run the wire and conduit but have an electrician hook everything up.

Looking at a Tesla universal wall connector or a charge point home flex so I can a rebate from the electric company. I see the Tesla will accept up to 4 awg and the flex at 6 awg. I will have a run of right around 100ft as my power is on the other side of my house and I need to run to a detached garage. looking at 4 and 6 awg thhn, the needed breakers and what not. I've been looking at threads here and reddit posts on what I need but it looks like installs are not that consistent.

Any help you guys can provide on what all I need to procure would be great.

Thanks! - Richard

Before writing this I did read the preceding reply’s.

my take is based both on your post and some of the replies.

the Tesla wall connectors are good units so if that’s your desired unit go for it. If you can afford it you might want to get the one with adapter built in so if you change vehicles in the future you’ll be able to be NACS native.

definitely plan for at least a 60 A circuit or better. If you really want to put on the dog, get 100 A or more sub panel (and oversized cable/conducters) and obsolete the pre existing garage circuits. That will give you some future flexibility when changing things around in the garage without more trenching or pulling long lengths of conductors.

If you have an electrician that’s gonna let you do the grunt work great. But let him spec the cables/conductors, conduit, etc. it’s gonna be his/her reputation on the line.

I would definitely Hardwire, especially if using a sub panel. Put the panel at or near where you want your EVSE and then that circuit will be cheap and easily removable/ replaceable if so desired.

this is also the time to think about running internet cable to have an access WiFi point for the Tesla and maybe even an extra (or really over size the first conduit) to have either an input to your house for a V2H/240V AC circuit to access your PowerPoint if you have the 9.6kW one. You could mount a generator input in the garage and run aalso on a sub-panel consider having its own surge suppression wired in or some panel makers have buss mounted ones now.

if you did do a sub-panel consider AL for the panel to panel run. Again talk to your electrician on that. It would probably save enough to pay for the cost of the sub panel.

If you do sub-panel do yourself and future owners a favor and don’t use a between the studs panel. Mount on plywood like God intended power panels to be mounted. The first time you add or upgrade a circuit you will thank me. The second time you will start sending Xmas cards.

Consider also having a NEMA 14-50 plug as a backup to use a mobile EVSE in case your main unit has issues. I have one set up and I’ve used several times in last year when my Home Flex lost its mind and defaulted to 16 A for several weeks while I fought a running battle with ChargePoint support. It’s in that mode right now while waiting for my utility to replace it (It’s leased as part of my utility TOU).

Enough. My finger is getting tired!

Good luck.

Mostly, I would mirror what others have said about working with your electrician. I will note that a recent update of the National Electric Code now requires a licensed electrician to do installations for EVSE. Even if it is just a NEMA14-50 receptacle. Problems that have brought this on include the note that most hi amperage receptacles are used in a very low duty cycle environment, while EV charging is commonly at full power for over eight hours. I would consider upping the wire size by one size. (e.g. use a #6 vs a #8 for a 50A circuit.) Using conduit and upping the size beyond what is required is a great idea. And remember the circuit breaker has to be sized at 125% of the expected maximum load. (This last is also in the NEC.)

In my area very few jurisdictions are newer than NEC 2017. So we have latitude on installing stuff.

Sponsored