Why a Level 2 Home Charger Changes Everything
The cord that ships with most EVs plugs into a regular 120-volt outlet and adds roughly three to five miles of range per hour. That’s fine for a short errand, but it can’t keep up with a daily commute to the Tech Center plus a weekend trip up I-70.
A Level 2 charger runs on 240 volts, the same kind of circuit as an electric dryer. Depending on the charger and your car, it adds around 20 to 40 miles of range every hour, so the car is full by morning. Home charging is also usually far cheaper per mile than paying for DC fast charging on the road.
EV Charger Installation Starts With Your Panel
The most important part of any EV charger installation in Denver happens before a single wire is run. A charger is a continuous load, meaning it can pull full power for hours, so the circuit and breaker have to be sized with extra headroom. A 48 amp charger, for example, needs a 60 amp circuit.
That’s why we start with a load calculation on your home. It looks at your service size, your big appliances, your heating and cooling, and what you plan to add next. The answer tells us one of three things:
- Your panel has room, and we install the charger at full speed.
- Your panel is close, and a smaller charger setting or a load management device keeps everything safe.
- Your panel is out of capacity, and an electrical panel upgrade makes sense before or alongside the charger.
You get that answer before you buy a charger, which saves a lot of guessing and returns.
Chargers We Install
We install every UL-listed Level 2 charger on the market, including Tesla, ChargePoint, Emporia, Grizzl-E, Wallbox and Autel. If you haven’t bought one yet, we’re happy to talk through what fits your car, your panel and where you park. Tesla owners can read more on our Tesla Wall Connector installation page.
A few things we look at when helping you choose:
- Amperage. A higher-amp charger only helps if your car can accept that rate and your panel can supply it.
- Hardwired or plug-in. Hardwired units charge faster and avoid GFCI nuisance trips. Plug-in units are easy to swap or take with you.
- Indoor or outdoor. Driveway and carport chargers need an outdoor-rated enclosure that handles a Colorado winter.
- Smart features. Wi-Fi scheduling lets you charge during cheaper overnight hours if your utility plan rewards it.
What to Expect on Installation Day
We protect your floors, mount the charger where the cable reaches your charge port comfortably, and run the circuit as neatly as the space allows. In an open garage that means straight, level conduit. In a finished space we fish wire through walls where we can and tell you ahead of time if any drywall needs to be opened.
Before we leave, we power up the charger, confirm it’s charging at the rate you expect, set up the app if it has one, and label the new breaker in your panel. You also get photos of the finished work.
Permits, Inspection and Rebate Paperwork
Every new 240-volt charger circuit gets a permit. We pull it with Denver or whichever city or county covers your address, schedule the inspection and attend it. Permitted work protects you with your insurance company and becomes a selling point when you list the house.
Utility rebates and incentives for home charging change from year to year. When a program is available, it usually asks for an itemized invoice and the installing contractor’s details. We supply exactly what Xcel Energy asks for, so the paperwork side is easy for you.
What Affects the Price of an EV Charger Installation
We give every customer a written flat-rate price before the work starts. The main things that move that price are:
- The distance from your panel to your parking spot
- Whether the wire runs through an open garage, finished walls or underground
- The charger’s amperage and whether it’s hardwired or plug-in
- Whether your panel has space and capacity for a new 240-volt circuit
- Whether a panel upgrade or load management device is needed
EV Charging for Two Cars, Rentals and Businesses
Two-EV households don’t always need two full circuits. Many chargers can share one circuit and balance power between cars automatically, which avoids a bigger panel upgrade. For apartment buildings, HOAs, offices and retail sites, see our commercial EV charging station installation service.
Home EV Charger Installation Across the Denver Metro
We install home chargers throughout Denver and the nearby suburbs, including Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Castle Rock, Centennial and Littleton. If you’re not sure whether we cover your area, give us a call or request a free estimate and we’ll let you know.