Newsletter – October 2020

24Oct

CAR CHARGERS – A NEW STANDARD EQUIPMENT AT HOME

By Francisco Beroiz

During last years, with electric vehicles gaining a big portion of the automotive market, electric car chargers are becoming an extremely popular appliance to be installed not only on public places but in residential facilities. You can easily find car chargers in a lot of customer’s garages, attached to their electrical panels, and finally, they will be such common as a pool pump, a stove, or a cloth dryer.

Since we offer to our customers the unit hook up, and we are now a certified installer of Clipper Creek brand, there are some issues that need to be addressed for a successful implementation.

  1. Make Sure the unit is suitable for your needs:

The suggestion is to choose a unit that can produce at least 30 amps, connected to a circuit that can handle at least 40 amps. Even if you currently own an older electric car, buying more capability than you may need today makes the installation “future proof” should you eventually trade it in for a model that can handle the added power.

Also, if you’re installing a charger outdoors, the equipment shall be rated for that purpose.

  1. Cable length:

Make sure the unit’s cable is long enough to reach your electric car’s charging port. Common cable length is between 15 and 25 feet. Only consider charging units that have been tested and certified for safety by an independent source like Underwriters Laboratory (UL).

  1. Electric Service Capacity:

Check with a Licensed Electrician your electrical service has enough capacity to handle the new load. If not, you may need to upgrade the service, and/or the electrical panel

  1. Local Regulations:

To ensure safety, proper working, and keep the manufacturer´s warranty, always ask your installer to pull the appropriate permits and conduct the inspections required by the jurisdiction authorities.

 

Francisco Beroiz is an Electrical Engineer with 18 years’ experience in the electrical field, and he is the new Manager at Al Siefert Electric (Lic.#EC0002423)

The articles he writes are about matters of interest and questions from his customers. Please call Francisco if you have questions concerning electric service, installation, and repair.

(954) 493-9411