PART DIY HOME 32A CHARGER INSTALLATION

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alex29a

Active member
Joined
Nov 22, 2021
Messages
28
Has anyone with sound DIY electrical skills install their own 32A 7Kwh Home Charger? ( perhaps a basic charger)
I look at installing a home charger as just another power tool device plugged into the power supply but this requries
specialised handling at the supply end.

Say, run a 32A+ cable from the consumer unit to the Charger location ( this is not difficult but is where it can take electrician much time and effort )
and Install & connect the charger unit outside the house.

Then engage a certified electrician to connect the cable to the Consumer Unit correctly and test.
 
Like this?

https://www.vwidtalk.com/threads/detached-evse-detached-garage-installation-walk-thru.2227/#post-31208
 
I Installed mine in my garage myself - had the main house panel there. Followed this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9ro7Tc2nFI

A few who have installed outside the garage have just run the conduit through the wall and into a weatherproof box that the charger plugs into. I just ran the conduit to a plug receptacle I installed inside right next to the garage door - I normally plug the car in, inside the garage, but can run the charger cable under the garage door and plug in outside if needed..

Charger box.jpg
 
Thanks. This weatherproof security charger box is very cool?
is there a photo of the left side? to show the cable entry ?
 
The box is just an outdoor electrical junction box - like this one on Amazon. Look below this listing on the page for more. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DVNZHPD/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFMVTJFWUVZNzlKMUkmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MTA3NDFBWDdYWE9PSVdIQTEmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDMwNDU4NDNBNUxUR1hGQUszN08md2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVkJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

The guy just cut out a slot in the bottom, then lined the edges with electrical tape, for the charge cord to fit through.

The wiring comes out the wall and through the back of the box, into the back/side of the small plug box installed there to plug in the charger.
 
MKH said:
The box is just an outdoor electrical junction box - like this one on Amazon. Look below this listing on the page for more. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DVNZHPD/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFMVTJFWUVZNzlKMUkmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MTA3NDFBWDdYWE9PSVdIQTEmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDMwNDU4NDNBNUxUR1hGQUszN08md2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVkJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

The guy just cut out a slot in the bottom, then lined the edges with electrical tape, for the charge cord to fit through.

The wiring comes out the wall and through the back of the box, into the back/side of the small plug box installed there to plug in the charger.

Thanks Smilies
this is amazing work. fully protected in every way. just perfection.
 
I would put some protection on the "charger" cable where it goes out of the box on the notch in the metal. Some duck tape, or a rubber grommet ( cut to be able to slide it on the cable)

Or fixing the outside part of the cable to the wall with a shock cord

One day, someone will pull on that cable, and it will damage the rubber of the cable at the notch. It is just a question of time before it happens on such a setup.

Louis
 
8 AWG and larger wire is stranded. Solid is too hard to pull and doesn't bend well. I'd recommend the ferrules, too, because the stranded wire gets mashed and splayed out when clamped down under terminal screws. Plus it's an overall neater, more professional appearance.
 
8 AWG and larger wire is stranded. Solid is too hard to pull and doesn't bend well. I'd recommend the ferrules, too, because the stranded wire gets mashed and splayed out when clamped down under terminal screws. Plus it's an overall neater, more professional appearance.

Oops! You are right! For some reason I was stuck on my install, which is a 30 amp circuit - but that only supports 24 amp charging. For 32 amp charging (max that the i3 will take), you have to go to a 40 amp circuit, which indeed requires 8 AWG wire, which as pointed out 8 AWG and up is stranded. My bad :oops:
 
I installed a 14-50 outlet myself. It wasn't hard as my electric panel was close to garage, I needed about 6' of cable. After that I called an electrician to legalize this work and get it inspected by the county. He charged $180 (6 years ago), so maybe I didn't save much by DIY. But I needed all permits to get EVSE rebate from the state.
My EVSE had to be on the other side of the garage, I didn't want to run the cable all the way and run into some compliance issue, so I bought a heavy duty 14-50 RV extension cord an ran it along the ceiling. If the extension cord option works for you it can be easier than installing a conduit.
 
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