Choosing the Best Location for Your Electric Car Charger Installation

With the use of electric cars on the rise, having a home electric car charging station is now considered a necessity for car owners of such vehicles. However, selecting the proper place to deploy the EV charger is very important to avoid the risk of fire, accidents, and inefficiency in future deployments. In this guide, we will explain to you the different important factors that you need to consider when choosing the best location for an EV charger, as well as the strategies for planning for the future.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Location for Your EV Charger

When deciding about the electric car charger placement, consider the following factors to ensure optimal performance and convenience:

Distance Of Home To The Electrical Panel

It is important that your EV charger installation location be as close as possible to the main electrical panel of your home to reduce costs. The greater the distance between the charger and the panel, the more wiring and trenching may be needed; hence, the costs are likely to rise.

Charging Convenience

The placement of your charger should ensure that charging your vehicle is as easy as possible. If you are one who usually parks your car in the garage, then this might be the most appropriate place for the charger.

Electrical Capacity

Make sure you acquaint yourself with the electrical appliances that you use in your home to avoid overloading the circuits with the new EV charger. An electrician will have to estimate the extent of the electrical capacity that you have and may require you to replace your panel to enable it to take the load of a new charger.

Weather Conditions

When it comes to choosing a charger to be installed outside, consider the climatic conditions of the region. In warm weather, conductions become thin; in rainy conditions, they get filled with droplets; and they also corrode in snow and harsh seasons. In this case, you may need to buy weather-resistant equipment or construct a shed or roof to cover the equipment.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Electric Car Charger Installation

Perhaps one of the most important decisions that you have to make is where you are going to place your charger, indoors or outside. All of these options have their advantages and disadvantages, so considering this will be quite useful if you find yourself in a similar context.

Indoor Charger Installation

The most common location for an indoor charger is inside a garage, and this is the one most favored by many homeowners. Here are some reasons why:

Protection from Weather: Charging indoors, your charger is protected from some effects of weather, such as frost, dust, and other factors that lead to damage to your desk calendar.

Increased Security: Indoor installations shield your charger from possible theft or acts of vandalism.

Easier Maintenance: When there is a problem, it is simple to identify the fault in the indoor charger as compared to an outdoor charger.

But, as with most indoor charge options, indoor charge also necessitates having access to a garage or an enclosed parking space, and therefore you should ensure that the place of the charger is strategically well placed so that it can allow easy parking and charging.

Outdoor Charger Installation

It is required to have outdoor chargers if one has no garage. Outside chargers may be more exposed to different weather and possible theft.

Weatherproof Options: Most outdoor chargers come with this aspect in mind, as the chargers are normally made of material that is resistant to weather elements.

Easy Access: Outdoor chargers are also preferred if you do not have a garage because you can fix them in driveways as well as other areas.

Flexible Installation: Outdoor chargers can be located in areas that provide more convenience when charging several numbers of vehicles.

Before installing the charger outdoors, ensure that you find a place where you can park nearby so that you do not overstress the wiring when plugging in.

How to plan for future-proof EV charger installation

Here are a few ways to future-proof your charger setup:

Install a Higher-Capacity Charger: Further, even if you own a car that can be charged by a Level 1 charger, it is advisable to install a Level 2 charger for charging future EVs that have larger battery sizes.

Upgrade Electrical Infrastructure: If you are already approaching the limit of what your electrical panel can handle, it is better to do it now to avoid much stress in the future when you wish to add other charging stations or even higher current chargers.

Plan for Multiple Vehicles: In the future, if you intend to have multiple EVs, you should consider the prospect of adding more chargers or opting for a two-port charger.

Considerations for Installing a Charger in Multi-Unit Dwellings

Here are some key considerations and electric car charger installation tips:

Building Regulations: Ensure that you read the guidelines of your building as to whether you are allowed to install an EV charger or not.

Shared Parking Spaces: In case you park it in a shared garage or parking lot, then you may need to occupy a spot close to your charger.

Electrical Infrastructure: These unit buildings may need an electrical upgrade for the installation of other EV chargers to suit the growing demand for electric cars among the residents.

Permission and Permits: You have to seek consent from the management of the building in which you are installing the system.

How to Protect Your Electric Car Charger from Weather and Vandalism

Weather Protection

Install a Shelter: In case your charger is outdoors, you can spend a few bucks to put up a canopy or a small shed where the charger will be protected from rain, snow, and direct sun.

Weatherproof Chargers: Select an outdoor charger as the charger is to be used outside the house; it should be able to withstand water and high or low temperatures.

Cable Management also means ensuring that the charging cable is appropriately stored to prevent it from getting damaged by different weather.

Vandalism Prevention

Secure the Charger: Mount the charger using tamper-proof hardware so that the charger cannot be easily stolen or deformed.

Lighting and Security Cameras: Some of the ways of preventing charger theft and vandalism include placing the charger in an area that has security cameras and adequate lighting when charging.

Lockable Chargers: Some of these chargers have a lock that does not allow anyone to use it or disconnect it without the owner’s permission.

Deciding on the best place to locate your electric car charger therefore requires some kind of evaluation in light of such attributes as convenience, electrical capacity, weather cover, and security.