EV charger installation, charged by morning.
Tired of waiting at a public station? Want to wake up to a full battery? We install every Level 2 charger, from a Tesla Wall Connector to a simple plug-in outlet. And before anything goes on the wall, we check whether your panel can handle it. If it can't, you'll hear it from us first.
Which EV charger setup fits your driveway?
Most people who call us are in one of four situations. Every one starts the same way. We come look at your panel, where you want the charger, and the car you're charging. We do the math on what your home actually draws, so the answer fits your house and isn't a guess. Then you get a written, itemized quote in your inbox.
01 You drive a Tesla and want the fastest home charge - a hardwired Wall Connector
Our most-requested install. We run a 48-amp circuit (60A breaker) for the fastest home charging on Tesla Model S, 3, X, Y, and Cybertruck. We mount the unit on the garage wall, run conduit from the panel, hardwire per NEC 625, and verify trip current on the dedicated breaker. For Tesla owners we recommend hardwired over plug-in because the 48A speed, integrated cable management, and cleaner install outweigh the small flexibility tradeoff of a plug-in. We follow Tesla's published installation guide on every job and configure load sharing if you run more than one Wall Connector.
02 You drive a Ford, Rivian, or Hyundai - a Level 2 charger matched to your car
For non-Tesla EVs (Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, and more) we install the three most common Level 2 chargers. ChargePoint Home Flex (40A, hardwired or NEMA 14-50 plug-in). Wallbox Pulsar Plus (similar specs, app-controlled). JuiceBox 40 or 48 (plug-in or hardwired). We size the circuit to the specific charger spec and your vehicle's onboard charger capacity. Most non-Tesla EVs charge at 32-40A max, so a 40A charger on a 50A circuit is typically the right size and hits your vehicle's full rate.
03 You want to stay flexible - a NEMA 14-50 outlet for a plug-in charger
When you want flexibility - renters, garages without a permanent install plan, Tesla Mobile Connector users, or non-Tesla EVs that ship with a NEMA 14-50 mobile cord - we install a 50A circuit (40A continuous max), GFCI-protected per NEC 210.8(A)(7), with an in-use weatherproof cover where the location calls for it. This is a lower-cost install than a hardwired charger but charges slower at the top end (40A versus the 48A of a hardwired Tesla Wall Connector). It is the right call when portability matters more than peak speed.
04 Your panel is already full - the EV charger and a panel upgrade as one job
When the NEC 220 load calculation shows your existing panel cannot support the EV charger circuit without exceeding 80 percent capacity, the EV install becomes a combined project. About half of NoVA homes built before 2000 need a 200-amp service upgrade before an EV charger can land safely. We quote both as one project, coordinate the Dominion or NOVEC disconnect, and complete the panel swap plus EV install in one project window. You do not pay for two separate consultations or contracts. See our Panel Replacement page for panel-only scope, or the Panels & Power sub-hub for the full picture.
What separates a charger that just works from one that trips the breaker
An EV charger pulls maximum power for hours at a stretch, which is harder on your panel than almost anything else in the house. Most EV-install complaints in NoVA come from contractors who bolt the charger up but skip the NEC 220 load calc, and the homeowner is left with a hot panel and breakers that trip mid-charge. We run the load calc on every install and size for your panel capacity first - here is what we check, and the choice we make on each one.
Continuous-duty derating and dedicated circuits
EV chargers run at maximum amperage continuously for hours during a charging session. NEC 625 requires that continuous loads be sized at 125 percent of the load - a 40A charger needs a 50A circuit, a 48A Tesla Wall Connector needs a 60A circuit. The dedicated-circuit rule applies on every install: no sharing the EV charger circuit with other loads.
Panel capacity assessment before quote
We run an NEC 220 load calculation on every EV install - total connected load plus EV charger demand must not exceed 80 percent of panel rating for a sustained safety margin. If your 100A panel runs HVAC, an electric range, and an electric water heater at typical NoVA loads, you almost certainly need a 200A upgrade before the EV install. We quote both as one project if so.
GFCI required on plug-in EV installs
NEC 2020 requires GFCI protection on all 50A NEMA 14-50 receptacles used for EV charging. We install Class A GFCI devices, verify trip current at install, and use weatherproof in-use covers if the receptacle is in an outdoor or garage-exposed location. Hardwired installs do not require GFCI - they are protected by the dedicated breaker on the circuit.
Hardwired, 48A, Tesla-OEM
The Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3 is the OEM home charger for Tesla vehicles - up to 48A (60A breaker), hardwired install, 24-foot cable, integrated cable management. We install per Tesla's published installation guide, verify firmware updates, and configure load sharing if multiple Wall Connectors are installed on the same service. For most Tesla owners this is the fastest, cleanest home option.
Multi-vehicle Level 2 chargers
ChargePoint Home Flex, Wallbox Pulsar Plus, and JuiceBox 40/48 are the three most-installed non-Tesla Level 2 chargers. All use the J1772 standard, compatible with Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, and more. Hardwired or NEMA 14-50 plug-in options. Each has different app and Wi-Fi capability, which we configure during install. We recommend the right one for your vehicle and your panel - no brand preference based on margin.
Tesla NACS plug going industry-standard
Ford, GM, Rivian, and other manufacturers are transitioning to Tesla's NACS connector as the industry standard. For NACS-equipped non-Tesla EVs, the Tesla Wall Connector becomes the highest-speed home option. For older J1772-equipped vehicles, an adapter handles the NACS connection. We help you pick the right charger based on your vehicle's connector and your future-vehicle plans.
What getting your charger installed actually looks like
Two visits, start to finish. First we come out, look at your panel, and do the math on what your home draws. Then we come back and do the install. If your panel needs upgrading, you'll hear it on that first visit. You'll see it in writing before anyone touches a wire, never as a surprise on install day.
-
01
Free consultation (visit one, 30-45 minutes) plus NEC 220 load calc on site
We come look at your panel, the proposed charger location, your vehicle if it is available, and run the load calculation. We tell you up front whether you need a panel upgrade before any quote is drafted. Most EV consultations take 30-45 minutes - shorter than panel-only consultations because the install scope is more bounded. Typical: same day or next.
-
02
Written proposal · charger plus (sometimes) panel upgrade plus permit
An itemized quote: charger model, dedicated circuit, conduit run, panel upgrade if needed, and the electrical permit. NEC sections cited. If a panel upgrade is required, we quote both as one project - no two-contract scenario. We would rather tell you that on consultation day than have you discover it three weeks into the install. Typical: quote within 48 hours.
-
03
Install (visit two, 4-6 hours hardwired / 2-3 hours NEMA 14-50)
Same crew. Permit pulled. We run conduit from the panel to the charger location, install the dedicated breaker, and mount and hardwire the charger (or install the NEMA 14-50 receptacle). For combined EV plus panel-upgrade projects: 1-2 days total, with the panel swap, utility coordination, and EV charger install in the same project window. County inspection is scheduled at job close. The charger is tested and the Wi-Fi or app configured before we leave.
What an EV charger install runs - and what moves the number
EV charger pricing depends on the charger model and brand (Tesla Wall Connector versus ChargePoint, Wallbox, or NEMA 14-50), your existing panel headroom (no upgrade versus upgrade required), the conduit run distance from panel to garage, the install location (interior garage, detached garage, or exterior wall mount), and your vehicle's connector (NACS, J1772, or adapter handling). We do not post fixed prices because the variables are too wide - but here is how we frame the conversation.
Recent EV chargers we put on NoVA garage walls
"A NEMA 14-50 outlet install is the same job, mentally, as a Tesla Wall Connector hardwire - we just have less to do. We run the same NEC 220 load calc. We pull the same permit. We verify the same trip current. The job size does not change the standard."
Why homeowners trust us with the circuit feeding their car
The load calc is run by a master electrician
Brad Anson is a Virginia Master Electrician, trained in the Shreve/McGonegal lineage, and he sits at most EV consultations himself. Reading whether your service can carry a 48-amp continuous load is exactly the judgment 20 years builds.
One crew from the driveway to the dashboard
The same people who measure your panel run the conduit, land the dedicated breaker, and hand you a working charger. If a panel upgrade is part of it, they do that too - no sub you have never met touching your service.
The panel-upgrade answer in writing, before any work
An itemized quote citing NEC 625 and NEC 220, the load calc done on site, and a straight answer about whether your panel needs upgrading - all before install day. We would rather tell you on day one than three weeks in.
5.0 on Google, and EV work is climbing fast
Two decades of master-electrician work behind every install, and a lot of our 5.0 rating comes from repeat customers who called us back for the next job. EV chargers paired with 200-amp upgrades are one of the fastest-growing projects we run.
Questions about EV charger installation
How much does an EV charger installation cost?
EV charger installation cost depends on three things: the charger model, the length of the dedicated circuit run, and whether your panel needs an upgrade first. A typical standalone install on a panel that already has headroom runs about $1,500-$3,000. A combined EV charger plus 200-amp panel-upgrade project runs about $4,500-$8,000+.
We do not quote fixed numbers over the phone because the variables are too wide. What shapes the number: the charger you choose (a hardwired Tesla Wall Connector versus a NEMA 14-50 outlet), how far the charger location is from the panel (more conduit and labor for a detached garage or a long run), and the single biggest swing - whether the NEC 220 load calc shows your panel can carry the new circuit or needs a 200-amp upgrade first. We run that load calc on site, then put a written, itemized quote in your inbox. Every quote is good for 30 days.
Do I need a panel upgrade before installing an EV charger?
Maybe - and we tell you up front whether you need a panel upgrade. About half of NoVA homes built before 2000 need a 200-amp service upgrade before an EV charger can land safely. We run an NEC 220 load calculation on every consultation, so you are not guessing.
This is the panel-upgrade conversation, and it happens on consultation day, in writing, before any work starts. The load calc adds up your home's total connected load - HVAC, electric range, water heater, dryer - plus the EV charger demand, and checks that the total stays within 80 percent of your panel rating. If your existing panel clears that margin, no upgrade is needed and we install the charger on the existing service. If it does not, we quote the EV charger and the panel replacement as one project, coordinate the utility disconnect, and complete both in the same window. We would rather tell you that on consultation day than have you discover it three weeks into the install.
Tesla Wall Connector or NEMA 14-50?
For Tesla owners we recommend the hardwired Tesla Wall Connector: it charges at 48 amps versus 40 amps for a NEMA 14-50 plug-in, it has integrated cable management, and it is a cleaner permanent install. A NEMA 14-50 outlet makes more sense for renters, portable mobile-connector users, or anyone who values flexibility over a small amount of charging speed.
The tradeoff is speed and permanence versus flexibility and cost. A hardwired Wall Connector is the fastest, tidiest home option for a Tesla, but it is a fixed install. A NEMA 14-50 outlet is a 50-amp receptacle (40A continuous) that any plug-in charger or mobile connector can use, costs less to install, and travels with you if you move - but tops out slower. We walk through which fits your vehicle and your plans during the consultation, and we are happy to install either. We do not push the more expensive option to grow the ticket.
Are you a Tesla Certified Installer?
We install Tesla Wall Connectors regularly and follow Tesla's published installation guide on every job. We mount per Tesla's spec, hardwire the unit on a dedicated 60-amp breaker for 48-amp charging, verify firmware, and configure load sharing when multiple Wall Connectors are installed.
Whether you are running a single Tesla today or planning for a second EV later, we size the dedicated circuit and the panel for it. The Wall Connector Gen 3 is the OEM home charger for Tesla vehicles, and the install is well within the scope a Master Electrician handles routinely - the NEC 625 continuous-duty rules and the NEC 220 load calc are the same rigor we apply to every EV install, Tesla or not. If you have a specific firmware or load-sharing configuration in mind, tell us at the consultation and we will set it up.
What about non-Tesla EVs? Will my Ford, Rivian, or Hyundai charge at full speed?
Yes. Most non-Tesla EVs have 32-40A onboard chargers, so a 40A circuit hits full speed. A ChargePoint Home Flex, Wallbox Pulsar Plus, or JuiceBox 40 on a 50-amp circuit will charge a Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, or Kia at the vehicle's maximum rate.
Your vehicle's onboard charger sets the ceiling, not the wall charger. Installing a 48A charger on a vehicle that accepts only 40A does not make it charge faster - it just adds cost. That is why we size the charger and the circuit to your vehicle's onboard capacity, not to the biggest unit on the shelf. One note for newer models: many manufacturers are moving to Tesla's NACS connector, and NACS-equipped non-Tesla EVs can use a Tesla Wall Connector at full speed through the included plug or an adapter. We help you pick based on your connector today and your next vehicle.
How long does the install take?
A hardwired charger install typically takes 4-6 hours. A NEMA 14-50 outlet install takes 2-3 hours. A combined EV charger plus panel upgrade takes 1-2 days because it includes the panel swap and utility coordination in the same project window.
The on-site time is only part of the timeline. Permit and inspection scheduling adds 1-2 weeks before the install start date in most NoVA jurisdictions - Prince William County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, or your independent city. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and handle the paperwork. On install day, the same crew runs the conduit, lands the dedicated breaker, mounts and wires the charger, then tests it and configures the Wi-Fi or app before we leave. For combined projects, the panel swap and the EV install happen in one window so you are not living through two separate jobs.
Services that pair with an EV charger
EV charger installs often touch one or more of these. Panel work is the most common pairing. Whether you need it comes down to what your home already draws.
Want to charge at home? Let's check your panel.
Free visit to your home. We check what your panel can handle, then send a written, itemized quote within 48 hours. We pull the permit. And if you need a panel upgrade first, you'll hear it up front.