EV Charger Installation
5 Star Electrical Services installs Level 2 EV chargers at homes and businesses across San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County. We are a licensed C-10 electrical contractor, license #973698, bonded and insured, and a SPAN certified installer. A new installation including the building permit runs $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the length of the wire run from the panel. Replacing an existing charger runs $1,000 to $2,000. We install Tesla Wall Connectors, Emporia, ChargePoint and other Level 2 units. Call (805) 215-4503 or book a free estimate online.
Start With a $150 Load Assessment
Before anything is installed we run a load calculation on your existing panel and assess the site to confirm it can carry the charger. The assessment is $150 and the load calculation it produces is required for your building permit, so it is not a throwaway step. If your panel cannot carry a full-rate charger, we will tell you before the work starts rather than after — and load management can often solve it without a panel upgrade.
What the Installation Includes
Load calculation and site assessment. A dedicated 240-volt circuit sized to the charger, run from the panel to the charger location. Mounting and connecting the charger. Testing. The electrical permit and the inspection, which are required for EV charger installation throughout San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection.
Chargers We Install
Tesla Wall Connector and Universal Wall Connector, Emporia, ChargePoint Home Flex, JuiceBox, Grizzl-E, Wallbox and most other Level 2 units. We can install a charger you have already bought, or tell you what will work with your panel before you order. Emporia is a unit we install regularly and it has load management built in.
Hardwired or a NEMA 14-50 Outlet
Some owners prefer a NEMA 14-50 outlet so the charger can be unplugged and taken along. Both are valid. Hardwired installs allow higher amperage on most units and are usually the better choice for a permanent home charger. We walk through the tradeoff during the estimate.
If Your Panel Is Near Capacity
You may not need a panel upgrade. A load-managing charger communicates with your service and reduces its draw when the house needs capacity, which can avoid an upgrade entirely. Installed, that runs $3,300 to $5,300 — less than every panel option we offer.
We Do Not Install Solar
We do not install solar, which means when we tell you what your service can carry we have no solar sale to protect. We do handle the electrical panel work a solar installation often requires.
Do I need a panel upgrade to install an EV charger?
Not always. If your service is near capacity, a load-managing charger or a smart panel can reduce the charger's draw to stay inside what your service can carry, which can avoid an upgrade entirely. A $150 load assessment determines which applies to your home.
Can a 100 amp panel handle an EV charger?
Sometimes, with load management. A charger that communicates with the panel and throttles its output when household demand rises can often work on 100 amp service where a full-rate charger could not. It depends on what else the house draws.
What is load management?
The charger monitors the total load on your electrical service and reduces its own draw when the rest of the house needs capacity. In practice the car charges slightly slower at peak times, usually overnight when it makes no difference.
Which chargers have load management?
Tesla Wall Connectors have it built in. Emporia is a popular unit we install regularly. A SPAN smart panel manages load across the whole house rather than just the charger.
Do I need a permit to install an EV charger?
Yes. An electrical permit is required for EV charger installation throughout San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection as part of the installation.
How much does a load assessment cost?
$150. It includes the load calculation required for your building permit.