Home EV charging: a checklist before ordering a charger

List the vehicle, typical daily distance and the hours it is parked at home. A car that sits overnight has a different charging window from a vehicle returning between shifts. Include whether a second EV is likely in the next few years.

Ask how the proposed charger works with the vehicle’s AC charging capability and your available supply. The number printed on the charger does not guarantee that the car and installation can use all of it. A useful proposal explains the limiting factors clearly.

Mark the usual parking position and note where the vehicle’s charge port sits. Think about opening doors, pedestrian routes, garage storage and the length of cable needed without creating a trip hazard. An outdoor location also needs a product and mounting arrangement suitable for exposure.

If the board is at the opposite end of the house or the garage is detached, discuss the cable route early. Trenching, concrete paths, finished walls and shared property can change the scope well before the charger is mounted.

Give the electrician a list of major equipment, including electric cooking, air conditioning, hot water and other planned upgrades. A capacity assessment should consider the installation as a whole, not just whether another protective device will fit.

Load management may be relevant where compatible equipment can adjust charging alongside household demand. Ask exactly what is being measured and controlled, what extra hardware is included and what happens if communications fail. The design needs to suit the actual charger and installation.

Scheduling, solar-aware charging, remote monitoring and access controls are not identical across products. Check whether your preferred feature needs an app, internet connection, additional metering or an ongoing subscription. Ask which functions continue to work if the internet is unavailable.

If you already have solar or a battery, share the model and monitoring information. Do not assume that two products advertised as smart will communicate with one another. Keep a written record of the promised integration and who configures it.

A complete quote identifies the charger, cable route, protection, mounting, any load management and electrical testing. It should make exclusions such as trench reinstatement or painting visible. Agree the power interruption and access arrangements before installation.

Keep the installation paperwork with the charger model and warranty. Ask for a practical demonstration with the vehicle, plus an explanation of schedules, isolation and fault notifications.