EV Charger Installation
A Level 2 charger, on a circuit that can actually carry it
Most home charging problems are not charger problems. They are panel problems that nobody checked before the charger showed up in a box on the porch.
- Level 2 hardwired and plug-in installs
- Load calculation before we quote
- Dedicated circuit and correct breaker
- Permitted and inspected
First question
Can your panel take it?
This is the whole job, and it is answered by arithmetic rather than opinion.
The load calculation
A Level 2 charger typically wants a 40 to 60 amp circuit. We calculate your existing load against your service size to see what is actually free.
Usually fine on 200 amp
A modern 200 amp service in a St. Peters or O'Fallon home usually has room, assuming the panel has physical space for the breaker.
Often tight on 100 amp
An older St. Charles home on 100 amp with electric range and dryer may need a panel upgrade first, or a load management device instead.
Want the numbers first? See our EV charger installation cost guide before you buy the unit.
Why it matters
What a proper install includes
Correctly sized wire and breaker
Sized for continuous load, which is not the same as the charger's peak rating. This is where undersized DIY installs go wrong.
A dedicated circuit
Nothing else on it. A charger sharing a circuit with anything is a nuisance-trip machine at best.
Proper location and protection
Garage, carport or exterior — with the right enclosure rating, GFCI protection where required, and the cable reaching where you actually park.
Permit and inspection
Required for a new circuit. It also matters for utility programs and for resale documentation.
Alternatives
If a panel upgrade is not in the budget
There is usually a middle path, and we would rather offer it than lose the job on the bigger number.
If your service cannot support a full 48 amp charger, you have real options short of upgrading the panel. Many chargers can be set to a lower amperage at install, which still adds far more range overnight than a standard outlet ever will. Load management devices can share an existing high-draw circuit, such as a dryer, so the charger backs off when the other appliance runs. And a plain 240 volt outlet at a lower rating is still a very serviceable overnight charge for most commutes. We will lay out what each costs and what each gets you rather than defaulting to the biggest install.
How we work
What to expect when you call
- 01
Tell us the vehicle and the panel
Vehicle, charger model if you have one, main breaker rating and where you park. That is most of the quote.
- 02
We calculate and quote
Load calculation, circuit route, and a written number including permit. If you need a panel upgrade first, you hear it now, not later.
- 03
Install and inspect
Circuit run, charger mounted and terminated, tested with your vehicle where possible, and inspection scheduled.
Free estimate
Get an EV charger quote
Include your main breaker amp rating and where you park. If you already bought a charger, tell us the model.
Related: EV charger cost, panel upgrade, do I need a panel upgrade, permits in St. Charles, surge protection
Something electrical that is not getting better on its own?
Call for anything urgent, or send the form and we will get back to you within one business day with a real number.