Can you install a DC fast charger at home? This is a question that most homeowners won’t stop asking. EVs have fundamentally changed most people’s perspectives about mobility. As the adoption of EVs increases, a dilemma of how to charge them effectively at home kicks in. Many homeowners know they can charge their EVs at home with Level 1 or 2 chargers.
Some have one of the chargers or both but are unhappy with their slow charging speeds. That is why the question of whether one can install a DC fast charger at home arises. Should you install a DC fast charger at home? This guide answers you comprehensively.
What are DC Fast Chargers?
Can you install a DC fast Charger at home and what is it about? Fast DC chargers are taking center stage in residential places as homeowners realize they can charge their EVs faster and more conveniently. DC fast charging is alternatively known as the Level 3 charging. It is currently the fastest EV charger on the market.
You can refill the battery in about thirty minutes with the fastest DCFC. DC fast chargers transfer direct current power into the EV battery directly. This is unlike AC EV chargers that relay electricity into an onboard converter where it turns into a direct current. Then, this DC power enters the battery.
AC chargers charge slowly because of all these steps. On the other hand, DC fast chargers bypass the onboard AC power conversion step, adding direct current straight into the EV battery. These chargers can add more miles to the EV within a few minutes. Their kilowatt range is 50 to 350, allowing you to choose the charger that suits your EV’s charging specifications.
Can You Install a DC Fast Charger at Home?
Research shows that eighty percent of homeowners prefer to use home-installed EV chargers. However, most fear integrating DC fast chargers into their residences because they are unsure if this could work. So, can you install a DC fast charger at home? These rapid chargers can be more convenient for home EV charging if you can afford to install them.
However, the installation process can be technical, expensive, and more complex than you can imagine. The infrastructure does not suit all residential properties, especially those without a higher-voltage power supply.
No wonder many DC fast charging stations are in public places, as they fit commercial and industrial uses. A homeowner who contemplates installing a DCFC charger at home should weigh various factors.
Barriers to Using DC Fast Chargers at Home
Can you install a DC fast charger at home? The answer is yes. Nevertheless, you must be aware of the barriers and limitations you will likely deal with. Below are the main ones:
1. High Power Demands
Countless homeowners find DC fast charging the most alluring option. After all, the charger finishes the task in minutes. But can you install a DC fast charger at home? While installing it at home is a viable option, you need a high-voltage power source upfront. DC fast charging cannot function with most residential electricity grid systems because they cannot meet high power demands.
Requiring a power output of fifty to three hundred and fifty kilowatts, a DC fast charger cannot use a standard home power outlet that delivers only 1.8 kilowatts. This outlet cannot handle the DC fast charger power load. Besides the capacity of your residential wiring, you will face a much bigger issue.
The electricity grid that serves your neighborhood may not support a DC fast charging station at all. Thus, you might have to consider how your project may affect other homes’ power supply before installing the charger at your residential property.
While you can renovate your home to host this DC fast charging technology, it would necessitate significant changes to the existing power system. You may require electrical professionals to do a comprehensive wiring job and install a new transformer. New upgrades to the local electric grid system to support your new DC infrastructure would also be unavoidable.
2. Infrastructural and Safety Modifications
Can you install a DC fast charger at home, and what are the safety concerns? DC fast chargers have a perfect design, allowing them to handle a high DC power load. However, they seem to work perfectly in public places where fire hazards and overheating are easier to handle or prevent.
As you plan to install a DC fast charger at home, consider that your infrastructure will extend to the electricity grid and inside the walls. Thus, the infrastructure should handle high amperage power without fluctuating.
Moreover, you should evaluate the extensive safety protocols and maintenance schedules that owners of public DC fast chargers adhere to. Can you replicate them at home? One of the safety protocols you must adhere to is to attach a technologically advanced cooling system to your charging station.
This cooler will prevent the charger from overheating and triggering hazards. Many homeowners may find it hard to replicate these safety standards as they upgrade the existing wiring infrastructure to meet the standards of a typical DC fast charger.
3. High Installation Expenditures
Can you install a DC fast charger at home and still handle the cost? This is the main limitation most homeowners interested in DC fast charging face. Besides buying the DC fast charging unit, you will face other costs. Here is the breakdown of these costs:
Installation Cost
The least expensive DC fast charger to buy and install is the 50 kilowatts option. Even if it is way cheaper to buy than the 350kW charger, you might spend more than $20,000 to mount it at home. This is so because you will account for electrical upgrades that you must do to allow the charger to receive high power output from the main grid. These upgrades may include altering your existing wiring system, replacing your circuit breaker with a heavy-duty option, and installing a new transformer to help manage power from the main grid.
Professional Fees
Can you install a DC fast charger at home with the help of a professional? You will probably use different professionals to handle the upgrades and ensure your infrastructure meets the complex safety standards your local authorities need. On the other hand, it would cost you $5000 utmost to install a Level 2 AC EV charger. The lower installation cost occurs because you will do minor electrical upgrades than if you try to fix the more convenient DC fast charging station. No wonder DC fast chargers are a more impractical choice for homeowners with EVs.
What to Do If You Cannot Install DC Fast Charging at Home
Can you install a DC fast charger at home that easily? So far, you have realized that doing this installation is difficult. You must check how feasible and complex the whole installation work will be.
If your property is not ready for this installation, you will do significant modifications and upgrades. Decision-making can be hard if your residential wiring infrastructure or the one serving your locality cannot withstand the high power voltage a DC fast charger requires.
Can you install a DC fast charger at home when facing all these difficulties? If this project does not seem feasible because of financial constraints or inability to meet local regulations, what should you do?
You can still learn how to install DC fast charger at home as you explore other options. While at it, consider factors that might influence the feasibility of these installations, including:
Charger Type
If you cannot install a DC fast charger, your next options are Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. You already have a Level 1 charger at home as it is the standard outlet you use for other charging needs. It is a slow charging system that most homeowners do not prefer to use. Besides, it is risky because it offers less protection from power surges. Level 2 AC EV chargers work faster than Level 1 options. Once you buy the charging unit, you might have to upgrade your wiring system slightly, depending on its phase.
Local Regulations and Codes on Building
Whether you will install a Level 1 or 2 EV charging station, you must follow some local building codes and laws. Before you start, check how these regulations and codes can make your installation more challenging. DC fast charger installation codes are more complicated and impossible for most people to follow. On the other hand, Level 1 and 2 AC chargers have easier installation codes and regulations.
Where to Locate the Charger
Consider where you can install your Level 1 and 2 chargers at home. Check the length of the charging wire and how weather elements might make your project more complicated or costlier.
Electrical Capacity
Can you install a DC fast charger at home given your current power output? Does your home’s electrical grid power have the capacity to support your AC chargers? You must answer these questions before taking any steps to add an EV charger at home. Since you have a slow Level 1 charger, your next best option is the Level 2 one requiring a 240V power source. With minor power output upgrades, you can have the Level 2 charger working soon enough.
Installation Cost
Level 1 and 2 chargers are cheaper to install even when doing electrical upgrades, paying professional fees, and buying the equipment.
Power Company Requirements
The local utility company might offer incentives or impose requirements on those looking to install EV chargers at home. Consider how these requirements might affect the overall cost of installing an EV charging unit at home. Choose a charger that might make you eligible for incentives without making you dig deeper into your pockets.
Verdict
Can you install a DC fast charger at home? You can install a DC fast charger at home, even if it is generally an industrial or commercial option. However, you must assess the project’s feasibility based on the factors enumerated in this guide. If you cannot meet the requirements of this project, consider installing Level 1 or 2 chargers.
These are less expensive to install because the local building codes and regulations are less strict. On the other hand, DC fast chargers are costlier because you might get a new transformer, renew your wiring system, and get professionals to complete the work according to the local building standards and codes.