How to Prepare for Home EV Charger Installation (US & EU Guide)
Everything you need before calling an electrician.
Electric vehicles make daily driving simpler, cleaner, and cheaper — but the real convenience comes from charging at home. Whether you’re in the United States or Europe, the universal preparation steps before installing a home charging station are almost the same.
This guide focuses on the first three steps most homeowners must take before AC Charging Station installation at home.
🟦 1. Understand Your Charging Level & Plug Type
Before installation, you need to decide which charging setup fits your home and your vehicle. This differs slightly between regions.
🇺🇸 US (NEMA, J1772, Tesla / NACS)
- Level 1 (120V): Plug into any household outlet. Very slow, only for emergency use.
- Level 2 (240V): The most common home setup; adds 20–45 miles of range per hour.
- Plugs you’ll see in the US:
- NEMA 14-50 / 6-50 outlets for plug-in chargers
- J1772 (standard for non-Tesla EVs)
- NACS (Tesla plug standard, now adopted by most US carmakers)
👉 Most American homeowners install a 240V Level 2 charger, either plug-in or hardwired.
🇪🇺 EU (Type 2, 3-phase compatibility)
Europe uses a different electrical system and connector type:
- 230V single-phase or 400V three-phase supply
- Type 2 (Mennekes) connector is standard
- Many EU homes can support 11 kW or even 22 kW charging if 3-phase is available
👉 European homeowners usually install Type 2 wallboxes that match local grid configuration.
🟦 2. Check Your Electrical Panel / Consumer Unit
This is the most important preparation step, and it varies by region.
🇺🇸 US Checklist
For a Level 2 charger, verify:
- You have a 240V circuit available
- A double-pole breaker slot exists in your panel
- Your main panel can handle an extra 40A–60A load
- Wiring path from panel to charger location is feasible
- You meet NEC Article 625 requirements
If your panel is older (100A, 125A), an electrician may recommend:
- A load calculation,
- Load-management device, or
- Main panel upgrade (not always necessary).
🇪🇺 EU Checklist
European households check different things:
- Is your home single-phase or three-phase?
- Do you have free breaker space in the consumer unit?
- Do you need an RCD Type A + DC protection, or a wallbox that includes it internally?
- Is the charging point distance suitable for surface trunking or concealed cabling?
- Are you following regional regulations (VDE, BS 7671, NFC 15-100, CEI 64-8, etc.)?
- Many EU countries also require:
-
Load balancing with smart meter integration
-
Automatic power reduction during peak grid demand
🟦 3. Choose the Best Location for Your Charger
The principles are universal, but regional weather and housing types create slight differences.
🇺🇸 US Location Tips
- Garage wall is the most common installation place
- Keep the charger close to parking position to reduce conduit length
- Outdoor setups should use NEMA-rated enclosures
- Avoid long cable drags across the driveway
- If installing a NEMA outlet for portable chargers, place it:
- 18–48 inches above ground
- Near cable hangers for good cable management
🇪🇺 EU Location Tips
- Indoor garages, carports, or exterior walls all work well
- Ensure easy access for Type 2 cable connection
- Consider parking angles — many EU chargers have shorter included cables (4–5 meters)
- Wallboxes should be installed:
- 1.2m–1.5m above ground
- With adequate ventilation
- Away from water runoff or snow accumulation
Some EU countries (Germany, Netherlands, UK) encourage pre-installing conduits or ducting for future upgrades.
🟩 What Happens After These Steps?
Once you’ve taken these three steps, the rest is straightforward:
- Electrician site visit
- Permit (if required in your region)
- Installation day
- Inspection (applies in US and certain EU countries)
- First charging test
This blog intentionally stops at the preparation stage so customers can plan confidently before contacting an installer.
