Upgrading Your Electrical Panel for EV Charging: Is It Necessary?

Home EV Charging Requirements for Different Charging Levels

Whether you want to use Level 1 or Level 2 charging is an important factor in determining whether your current electrical panel supplies sufficient power to charge your EV. Level 1 charging uses 120-volt, 12-amp current, meaning you can just use an adapter to plug your EV into a standard three-prong grounded outlet. Most 120-volt circuits are 15 amps, which means you’ll usually still need to have an electrician install a new circuit you will use only to charge your EV to prevent overloading the circuit. Nonetheless, your existing electrical panel will often be able to support an additional 120-volt circuit with no issues.

Level 2 chargers typically range between 30 and 80 amps and require a dedicated 240-volt circuit. That means there’s a fairly high chance that you’ll need to upgrade your electrical panel to safely meet the home EV charging requirements.

Signs Your Electrical Panel May Not Be Sufficient for EV Charging

When considering installing an EV charger at your home, the first thing to do is check the label on your electrical panel to see how many amps it is. Many homes have only a 100- or 150-amp electrical panel. A 100-amp panel can support two or possibly three 240-volt appliances, such as an air conditioning system, a clothes dryer, and/or an electric water heater. That means you’ll almost certainly need to upgrade your electrical panel if it’s only 150 amps. If you have a larger home and multiple existing 240-volt circuits, even a 150-amp panel may not be sufficient.

You also need to look at the panel to see whether it has free slots for additional circuit breakers. A 240-volt circuit requires a double-pole breaker, meaning there need to be at least two open slots in the panel. While a Level 2 charger requires only two available slots, having only a few free spots usually means that your panel is already almost maxed out and likely not sufficient to support an EV charger without the risk of frequent overloads. You need to avoid these at all costs, as they can cause the wiring in the panel to get so hot that it catches on fire.

Another sign that your maxed-out electrical panel can’t support the extra load of an EV charger is if your lights frequently flicker for a short time when your AC turns on. This can also happen when you turn your clothes dryer on or when your electric water heater turns on. The lights flicker because these 240-volt appliances are drawing so much of the available or unused current when turning on that it causes a temporary drop in the current flowing to the 120-volt circuits. That means less power flows to your lights, causing them to dim or flicker for a short time.

The best way to know for sure if your current panel is sufficient is to have a professional evaluation. An electrician can quickly calculate your current electrical load to determine if an EV charger risks overloading the panel. They’ll also inspect your panel for issues like rust, corrosion, and damaged or deteriorated wiring.

Benefits of Upgrading Your Electrical Panel

Even if an electrical panel upgrade isn’t necessary for your EV charger installation, there are some reasons why you may still want to consider it. One is that a new panel helps improve electrical safety. This is especially the case if your existing panel is 20+ years old, as older panels often have issues that can create a fire hazard.

If your current panel is older, upgrading it can also save you money by lowering your electricity bills. Old panels are often not efficient in terms of how they distribute power, resulting in higher usage due to wasting electricity.

A new, higher-amperage panel is a great way to future-proof your home and prepare for other electrical installations down the road or put an addition on your home. If you decide to sell your house at some point, having an EV charger and a newer electrical panel will also boost your property value and usually help you to get a better price on your home.

The expert team at Stuart Services is ready to help with all your needs. We’ve been serving homeowners throughout New Orleans since 1956 and are committed to providing the safe, honest, and reliable electrical services.

To schedule an electrical panel evaluation or any other home service, contact us today.