With the growth of electric vehicles (EVs), homeowners are now more inclined to install trusted EV chargers in their homes. This change is an excellent opportunity for electricians to branch out and satisfy the growing demand. If you’re considering starting this business, this guide is the step-by-step process for starting home EV charger installation.

Understanding EV Chargers

Prior to installing EV chargers, it is important to know the various types available:

  1. Level 1 Chargers – They utilise a standard 10A household outlet and operate at a slow rate (8 AMPS) charging an EV in around 24 – 38 hours at a rate of 10km per hour of charge.  Please note this is dependent on what vehicle is being charged.
  2. Level 2 Chargers – These are wired directly to the houses electrical supply, through a switchboard and are the most common residential option.  This option charges an EV in 4-12 hours. This is dependent on the household’s supply, the charger’s output and the EV’s charging capabilities.
  3. Level 3 Chargers (DC Fast Chargers) – These are made for commercial use due to the significantly higher demand of electricity.

 

Steps to Becoming an EV Charger Installer

1.Qualified and Fully Licensed

Electricians must be fully licensed and qualified to meet all Australia Safety Standards and Requirements. Electricians need to do their due diligence in referencing manuals and installation guides specific to each charger before installation, also being aware of local electrical codes to provide safety and compliance.

2.Understand Local Regulations

Every region has its own electrical codes for EV charger installations. Check local government and utility company regulations to meet safety and zoning requirements.

3.Select the Proper Equipment

The proper Ocular EV Charger model must be selected. Consider the following:

  1. Power Supply & Demand of the Premises – How much power is available and what set up they have (Single Phase, Two Phase & Three Phase).
  2. Solar Functionality – If the client owns a solar system and wishes to utilise the excess solar, you will be required to understand their power supply and solar inverter (single or three phase) to determine the correct variant of charger.
  3. Customer Requirements – What do they require? A plug & play charger or a smart charger (Bluetooth app or OCPP)

 

4.Perform a Site Assessment

Check the electrical panel of the home to see if it supports the selected charger requirements mentioned above. Make sure the location of the charger is in a location where it is easy to access and utilise.

5.Safely Install the Charger
Accurate installation entails:
  1. Mounting the charging unit securely – The chargers come with instruction manuals and a mounting template.
  2. Conducting proper wiring and conduit – Ideally, we recommend 40A Type A RCBOS and 10mm2 power cabling this is to prevent nuisance tripping and account for 3% voltage drop.
  3. Setting up Isolator Switches – We recommend setting up an Isolator Switch within a 1m radius of the charger to comply with the Australian safety standards.
  4. Testing for compliance and functionality – Once set-up, test the charger to ensure that it is fully functional. You can do this via a Metrel Tester or by plugging the charger into an EV.

 

6.Educate Homeowners

After installation, train homeowners on charger usage, safety protocols, and cost-saving strategies such as off-peak charging.

For further information please feel free to visit our website or our youtube channel, which contain further educational resources.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at:

sales@ocularcharging.com.au

1300 912 650 

1. What is the difference between AC and DC Charging?

AC charging utilises the on-board AC to DC power converter that is connected to your EV battery to charge your car. AC EV chargers require an adapter connection to a distribution board to charge your car

  • Available in single-phase and 3-phase charging
  • More cost-effective solutions

DC Charging performs AC to DC power conversion outside of the EV.

  • Units are much larger due to housing a much larger AC-DC power converter than the converter in your car
  • Greater charging range and capacity (20kWh-150kWh)
  • Charging times are much faster than AC charging
  • DC Charging leads connect directly to your battery

 

2. What is the difference between Single-phase and three phase charging?

All EVs are capable of charging with both single-phase chargers and three-phase chargers, but only select EV models can utilise the full capacity of a 3-phase charger EV charger:

  • Single-phase EVs can accept 3-phase chargers but will charge at a slower rate than their 3-phase charger counterparts e.g., BMW E-range, Fiat 500E etc.
  • Other EVs accept 3-phase chargers and can utilise these chargers to their full capacity e.g., BYD Atto 3, Mercedes EQA, Polestar 2 etc.
  • 7kW single-phase, 32A per phase (average charging time: 4-6 hours)
  • 22kW, 32A per phase (average charging time: 2-3 hours

 

Advantages of AC EV Charging:

Single-Phase AC EV Charging:

  • More cost efficient than 3-phase charging
  • Suitable for residential EV charging e.g., carports, garages

Three-Phase EV Charging:

  • Suitable for commercial EV charging e.g., commercial carparks, service stations
  • Quicker charging time
  • Higher charging rate compared to single-phase

 

3. What are smart charging features?

With the increasing number of EVs on Australia’s roads, the number of EV chargers in Australia will only increase and diversify in the coming years to satisfy our evolving electrical infrastructure and consumer needs.

Smart charging features include:

  • Energy consumption monitoring and management
  • Automated billing of EV charging sessions
  • EV charging load management
  • Remote troubleshooting

 

4. What is OCPP?

The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is a communication standard for EV charging stations and network software companies, allowing end-users and operators to access smart features on their EV charger through a user-friendly interface on a phone app or website.

 

5. What is the difference Type-1, Type-2 Leads and DC Charging Leads?

Type-1 leads have a 5-pin design and is commonly used in Asian and American markets. Type-1 cables are available for single-phase AC EV charging units only.

Type-2 leads have a 7-pin design and is the standard lead type in Europe and are fast becoming. Newer EV Models and chargers are standardised to utilise type-2 leads. Type-2 charging leads are available for single-phase and three-phase AC EV charging units.

For DC fast charging, the charging socket of the cable connects directly to the EV battery.
CHAdeMO and CCS2 cables are the standard socket types when it comes to DC EV charging.

What Are EV Charger Types, Levels and Modes?

6. What can I claim through the EV Charging Grants Scheme?

Rebates are dependent on state legislation regarding EV charger and EV charging accessory installation and operation. Please refer to the link here for more details regarding state specific EV charger funding and rebates.

If you are considering installing an EV charger for home, public, fleet, or heavy commercial, you will find the right charger in our range of AC and DC EV chargers. You can speak to us or look through our website for more information.