Anybody looking to buy an electrical vehicle has likely pondered over this question at some point: “Can I install an EV charger myself?”
Well, the short answer is: no.
It’s a no unless you happen to be a certified electrician who has experience installing and maintaining EV charger units.
Now, this isn’t to say that it’s impossible to install an EV charger yourself – after all, it’s an electronic piece of equipment, and like all pieces of equipment, it probably comes with installation instructions and safety precautions to take, right?
If this is the first EV charger you’ve brought for your environmentally-friendly vehicle, then it can be very tempting to save some money and do it all yourself.
But is it really worth it? What if something “bad” happens – who’s going to take care of the mess?
To answer the above questions fairly, let’s discuss what you’ll need to take into consideration before going down the DIY EV charger installation route:
EV Charger Location
All EV chargers are built to be weather and water-proof. You could place them inside or outside, depending on what you find most convenient, but it has to be close to where you park your EV.
Most charging units run cables that are between 4-10 meters long – so if you need a longer charging cord, you’re out of luck: EV owners aren’t currently allowed to use any kind of extension lead. Plus, it’s not safe to run cables from your home, across the pavement, and onto where your EV may be parked, which could be on the driveway or even across the street.
On the other hand, an EV charger installer will conduct a survey ahead of time, and ensure that you get the right cabling, and in the safest, most convenient, and most reliable way possible.
EV Charger Safety
Naturally, safety is going to be one of your biggest concerns if you decide to do a DIY EV charger installation. Since EV charging will cause your power demands to rise steeply, you need to check if the current electric cabling, primary supply, and sockets can all carry the additional load needed by your EV while charging.
Furthermore, checking the cabling requires examining the total number of safety cut-outs – if this isn’t done properly, a fire can easily occur if the electrical installation overloads the supply in your home. An EVSE-qualified electrician, however – those specialising in EV supply equipment and installation – can easily determine if your existing supply is fit for handling the EV charging load.
Moreover, your installer will bear the responsibility of informing the District Network Operator about the EV charging point requirement in your residence or area.
EV Charger Install Permissions
In most cases, EV owners are not required to acquire planning permission in order to install charging points on their properties.
With that said, permission must be sought when your EV charger installation is:
- Within close proximity of a highway or freeway
- In a listed building
- A ground-mounted unit that’s taller than 1.6 metres
- A wall-mounted unity measuring more than 0.2 cubic metres in volume
There may be other requirements depending on the kind of EV charger you decide to buy and it’s up to you to contact the local authority planning officer before you do any installation yourself.
If you’re living in a rented property, then you need to get permission from the owner before any kind of installation work can take place.
Closing thoughts
There are many benefits to driving an EV and the ability to charge it easily in your home is something you definitely want to have. But is it really worth it to install the EV charger unit on your own?
