EV Car Chargers

Many electric cars come equipped with chargers that work with typical 120V electrical receptacles. These chargers use less power, so they will work on a basic circuit, but they take a much longer time to charge your electric vehicle than a "Quick Charging station." Even if your car comes with a low-power charging option, you may want to consider using a dedicated 20-amp circuit to avoid tripping breakers or overloading circuits.

Not all Level 2 chargers are the same, even though they all have the same plug configuration. A Level 2 Residential Home Charging Station uses 240-volt split phase power from your home’s main electrical panel to recharge your electric car in four to eight hours, depending on the type of station and vehicle. While all residential Level 2 chargers use the same voltage (a measure of electrical potential), the amount of power transferred to your car per hour can vary depending on the amperage (a measure of electrical strength). Some chargers, like the Leviton Evr-Green 160, are rated for only 20 amps at 240 volts, while the Evr-Green 320 model can handle twice that amount.

Also, some vehicles like the Tesla Model S, can use a variety of Level 2 charging options. As a rule, the higher the amperage of a charging station, the faster it will charge your car. The drawback of the larger chargers is that they require a little more effort and upfront cost in the installation. Larger chargers need more available power at your electrical panel, and a larger-sized circuit runs from the electrical panel to the car charger.

Some homes are not equipped to handle the additional load needed for quickly charging an electric vehicle and may require a newer electrical panel or even a higher amperage service. Our skilled technicians will complete a professional review and electrical load calculation to ensure a safe installation. When an upgrade is needed, we are experts at installing new panels and upgrading electrical services.

Our team looks forward to providing you with reliable, prompt, and courteous EV Charger installations and services. Contact Palm Island Electric at (941) 468-6375 for an estimate.