Residential / Solar & energy
EV chargers
A convenient way to charge at home. We check your vehicle, parking position, switchboard and supply before recommending a charger installation.
Local electricians · Clear advice · Ongoing support
How fast do you actually need to charge?
This is where most people overspend. A typical commute uses a fraction of a battery, and the car sits at home for twelve hours overnight. You rarely need to refill the whole pack by morning.
| Setup | Approximate rate | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Standard power point | Around 2kW | Adds a modest top-up, fine for short commutes |
| 7kW single phase wallbox | Around 7kW | Covers almost all household driving comfortably |
| 22kW three phase wallbox | Around 22kW | Only useful with three phase supply and a car that accepts it |
For most households a 7kW single phase charger is the right answer. Three phase is worth it if you already have three phase supply, drive long distances daily, or run two electric cars.
What the installation needs
- A dedicated circuit, correctly sized, running from the switchboard to the charger position. A charger cannot share a general power circuit.
- A spare way at the board with RCD protection suited to EV charging.
- Enough headroom in your main supply that charging does not trip the main switch when the oven and air conditioner are also running.
- A sensible charger position, close to where the car parks, with the cable reaching the port without stretching across a driveway.
- Weatherproofing appropriate to the position, particularly for carports and open driveways.
If the board is full or has no RCD protection, the switchboard upgrade comes first. We check this during the assessment so it is priced up front.
Load management
Homes have a limited main supply, and an EV charger is a large, sustained load. Load management lets the charger sense total household demand and throttle back when the house is drawing heavily, then return to full speed once the oven is off. It is often what makes a 7kW charger workable on a supply that could not otherwise carry it.
Charging from your own solar
This is where a home charger genuinely pays. Charging from your own solar during the day costs you the feed-in tariff you gave up, which is a fraction of the grid rate, and a long way below public charging. Solar-aware chargers can track your surplus and charge only on excess generation.
If nobody is home during the day, battery storage lets you shift that midday generation into an overnight charge instead.
Cable or socket? A tethered charger has the cable permanently attached, which is convenient day to day. An untethered socket takes your own cable, keeps the unit tidier and copes better with different vehicles. Both are fine, it is a preference.
Good to know
Your questions, answered.
Can I just use the granny lead that came with the car?
For occasional light use, yes, on a sound dedicated circuit. It is slow and it puts a standard outlet under sustained load for hours, which is not what those outlets are designed for.
Do I need three phase power?
Almost certainly not. Most households are well served by a 7kW single phase charger. Three phase only helps if you already have it.
Can you install a charger before I take delivery?
Yes, and we would encourage it. Sorting the electrical work before the car arrives avoids a scramble.
Will it work with my solar?
Yes. Solar-aware chargers can prioritise surplus generation so the car charges on power you produced rather than power you bought.
Let’s talk about your project.
Tell us your suburb, priorities and the work you have in mind. We’ll help you take the next step.