There’s a fresh car around and it doesn’t need gasoline to go-go. Actually, there’s a number of new electric cars offered by several car makers. From the domestic American made Chevrolet Volt to the Japanese Nissan Leaf, these new models of electric cars are likely to change the way we drive.

The EVs, because they are called, will require a power charging station. Think of it as a gas station right in your own garage. Better yet, EV charging stations will quickly begin appearing all over the nation. Any commercial parking area today will have the choice to put in EV charging stations for the convenience laadpaal installatie echarge installs of these EV driving customers. The dealerships may also need charging stations to demonstrate the new electric vehicles.

So, which EV charger is the best charger for your house? You do have a choice. There’s the 120 volt charging system that will plug right into any household wall socket, preferably in your garage. This charger can fully charge your EV in 10-14 hours. This standard charging system comes standard with all the new Electric Vehicles.

How would you like to have to stand at a gas pump for 10 hours pumping gas? Obviously, you’re going to have to plan your driving habits. Your EV must be parked at least 10 hours each day, most likely when you sleep.

Imagine if you could fully charge your EV in 4 hours? What might that be worth for you? Let’s face it; these cars aren’t cheap to start with! To totally charge your EV in 4 hours, you’ll need a level 2, 240 volt rapid electric vehicle charging station rated at 20 amps. These are available from the EV manufacturers along with from several third party providers.

To be able to put in a 240 volt level 2 rapid charger in your garage, you’ll need a licensed electrician or electrical contractor. The Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet VOLT require the use of certainly one of their particular certified electrical contractors. Soon you might be able to hire your personal electrical contractor if you sign a waiver, however initially the electric vehicle car manufacturers want you to use their certified installers who’ve been trained for their specifications. The electrician will need to put in a 240 volt electrical outlet in your garage and also to put in the charger on the wall nearby the outlet.

So what’s involved if you decide to purchase the optional 240 volt, 4 hour charger?

First you will need to choose the rapid charging station either from the electric car dealership or from a third party provider (if allowed). Then you definitely will need to hire either the dealers electrical contractor of certainly one of your choosing.

The electrician will need to acquire a double pole, or 240 volt circuit from your own electrical panel. Which means there has to be space in your panel to allow for 2 additional circuit breakers. A 240 volt circuit breaker is commonly known as a double pole breaker. If there isn’t any room for additional circuit breakers, sometimes the prevailing breakers may be replaced with tandem breakers. Tandem breakers are 1/2 how big is a regular breaker. Two of them will easily fit in the space designed for one full size breaker. By doing this, it’s possible to generate room enough for a fresh double pole circuit breaker. Once that’s established, a 240 volt copper wire, size 8 gauge, is installed from the panel to the garage to carry the energy required for your 240 volt EV charger. Eight gauge wire is recommended by the manufacturer. The manufacturer also recommends installing a sub-circuit panel in the garage for the charger, but I do not believe that’s absolutely necessary.

So so how exactly does the electrician have the 240 volt circuit wire from the panel to the garage? Sometimes, the panel is a mix circuit breaker panel and electric meter box all in one. In a great world, this box will often be available on an exterior garage wall. However, it can be located on the opposite side of your home! If the panel is on a storage wall, the installation is a lot easier and less costly. The closer the circuit panel, the less time and material it will require. If it’s not on a storage wall and is found further away, then creative measures might be necessary.

If your home features a crawl space either above or below, that’s the most effective case scenario. Because case, a short part of electrical conduit will be installed out of the bottom or the surface of the panel and turn into the crawl space to carry the wire across to the garage. Worst case scenario, is if you find no access above or below the house. These are the absolute most challenging.

You would want to hire a skilled electrician that has a lot of pride in his workmanship. The electrician will be required to put in electrical conduit from the panel to the garage. Exterior wiring of 120 volts or higher must certanly be protected inside electrical conduit, either metal or PVC. Usually the conduit will be fastened to the exterior of one’s home. Sometimes, to prevent what some may call an unsightly addition to the exterior, the conduit might be buried in the ground.

I have installed miles and miles of electrical conduit on the exterior of people’s homes over the years. If your electrician is proficient at bending and installing metal or PVC conduit, he then can execute a good job without detracting from the appearance of one’s home. Knowing how to properly bend electrical metal tubing (EMT) has turned into a lost art among many of the younger residential electricians.

If you intend to put in a 240 volt rapid charger in your garage for your EV, and you will be required to operate electrical conduit on the exterior of your house, then you’ll want a conduit expert to be able to get a nice, neat job. Conduit may be painted, but a neat installation is critical. Bad conduit installations can really “ugly up” a house. Not totally all electricians are skilled at conduit bending. It requires a lot of practice. Many handymen and even some less reputable electricians will simply staple plastic jacketed cable (Romex) directly to the exterior of the house. It serves the reason, but it’s not legal. All exterior 120 volt wiring or higher must certanly be inside electrical conduit. This is also the rule when running exposed AC wire on a floor wall indoors as well.

If you’re able to live with a 10 hour charge time, then you won’t need to spend any additional money for an even 2 rapid charging station. If you wish to fully charge your EV in 4 hours, prepare to spend a tad bit more money. I do believe things will evolve as time goes on and maybe the charging systems will be much more efficient and less charging time will be required. Only time will tell.

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