# What do I need to install a Level 2 EV charger at home?

> A dedicated 240-volt circuit, enough panel capacity and an open breaker space. How we check your panel and install the EV charger you choose.

Canonical page: https://hotshotelectrical.com/answers/what-a-level-2-ev-charger-needs/

Hot Shot Electric Service Co. is a family-owned electrical contractor in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, founded August 1, 1995. Oklahoma Electrical Contractor License #26574, bonded and insured. BBB A+ accredited. Rated 4.9 stars across 246 Google reviews. Address 9203 S 241st E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014. Phone (918) 261-8024. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Urgent problems (no power, a burning smell, a hot panel, storm damage) are worked the same day during business hours. Calls after hours go to voicemail and are returned first thing the next business morning.

**Short answer:** A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit sized to the charger, usually on a 40 to 60 amp breaker, a panel with enough capacity and an open space, and either a hardwired connection or an EV-rated outlet. You supply the charger; we check the panel, run the circuit and mount it.

EV charging at home is mostly a question about your panel. The charger itself is the easy part.

## Three things we check first

1. **How old is the panel, and is it on the obsolete list?** There are a few older panels we will not add a breaker to.
2. **Is there breaker space?** A Level 2 circuit needs a double-pole breaker, two spaces.
3. **Is the service big enough?** The charger is a large continuous load added to everything else the house already runs.

**Send a photo first** If the charger is going in the garage near the panel, a clear photo of the open panel and its label often tells us the brand, the main breaker size and whether there is room, before anyone drives out.

## Hardwired or plug-in

Some chargers are hardwired. Others plug into a 240-volt outlet such as a NEMA 14-50. When we install an outlet for an EV, we use an EV-rated receptacle built for hours of continuous load, because a standard range-type receptacle is not designed for daily charging.

## You choose the charger

Hot Shot Electric Service Co. does not sell chargers. Buy the one that fits your vehicle and the length of cable you need, and we install the circuit, mount the unit and confirm it charges as the manufacturer intends. Read the manual's breaker size requirement before you buy; it tells you what circuit you will need.

## When the panel is full

A full or undersized panel does not always mean a new panel. Depending on the house, options include freeing space, a subpanel, a load management device, or a panel upgrade. We explain the options and costs before you decide.

A customer who had Hot Shot Electric Service Co. install new GFCIs and EV chargers wrote that the crew did good work and did not mind working around the home's solar system. [See EV charger installation](https://hotshotelectrical.com/ev-charger-installation/).

## Where to mount the charger

Most chargers go in the garage near where the car's charge port sits when parked. The closer the charger is to the panel, the shorter and simpler the circuit. Outdoor locations need a charger and connections rated for outdoor use. Tell us the make of the car and where you park, and we plan the shortest safe run.

## Protect the investment

EVs and chargers are full of electronics. Many owners add [whole-house surge protection](https://hotshotelectrical.com/services/whole-house-surge-protection/) at the panel at the same time. One recent project installed a dedicated EV outlet and breaker and an Eaton surge protective device in the same visit.

If you are buying the car and the charger at the same time, call before you buy the charger. The breaker size and cable length you need depend on where the panel is and where you park, and knowing that first can save you buying the wrong unit.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do you supply the charger?

No. You buy the charger you want; we install the circuit and mount it.

### Will I need a permit?

A new 240-volt circuit generally needs a permit where the city requires one. We handle it.

### How long does installation take?

When the panel has capacity and the charger is near it, usually part of a day. Longer runs or panel work take more.

## Related services

- [EV Charger Installation Broken Arrow OK](https://hotshotelectrical.com/ev-charger-installation.md)
- [Electrical Panel Upgrade and Replacement in Tulsa](https://hotshotelectrical.com/services/electrical-panel-upgrade.md)
- [Whole House Surge Protection Tulsa OK](https://hotshotelectrical.com/services/whole-house-surge-protection.md)

## Contact

- Hot Shot Electric Service Co., 9203 S 241st E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014
- Phone: (918) 261-8024
- Email: johnbrown@hotshotelectrical.com
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
- Request service: https://hotshotelectrical.com/contact-us/