EV charger cost and load calculator
See if your panel has room for a Level 2 charger, and what the job typically costs.
Result
- Main breaker
- Room left
- Largest charger that fits
Typical SoCal cost
An estimate, not a field load calculation.
Questions people ask
What method does the load calculator use?
It uses a simplified version of the National Electrical Code existing-dwelling method, section 220.83: lighting and receptacle loads, fixed appliances and the charger added up, the first 8,000 VA counted in full, the rest at 40 percent, then the larger of AC or heat. A licensed electrician confirms it with a field calculation.
Why does the charger count at 125 percent?
An EV charger runs for hours, which the code treats as a continuous load. The circuit and the calculation use 125 percent of the charger amps. A 40 amp charger therefore calculates as 50 amps.
What if my panel is too full?
Two options: a panel or service upgrade, or a load-management device that limits the charger when other big loads run. NEC 625.42 allows load management on the charger circuit. Your electrician and the city decide what is accepted.
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