Electrical Gremlins And Old Homes

Electric vehicles are easy to charge when you can park them in your garage since you can charge them with an EV charger connected to a wall outlet. Unfortunately, keeping your electric vehicle charged isn't as simple when you park your car outside. You may not have an exterior outlet, or the one you have may not be one that will accept a plug-in EV charger.

Thankfully, you have the option of installing an outdoor EV charger to make sure your car's fully charged and ready to go at the start of every day. These chargers are water-resistant, so they're safe to use in the rain without any risk of electrical shock. They'll also stand up to extreme snowfall without any issues. When you park your electric vehicle outside and are looking for a way to keep it charged, installing an outdoor EV charger is the best option. If you're thinking about installing one, read on to learn three tips about how to make sure it's safe and easy to use.

Keep It Safe From Theft: Choose a Hardwired Charger

When you purchase an electric vehicle charger, you'll have the option of buying either a plug-in unit or a unit that is hardwired directly into your home's electrical panel. A plug-in unit can be connected to any compatible electrical outlet in order to charge your car, including an outdoor NEMA 14-50 outlet in a weatherproof box. These are commonly used for charging RVs.

While plug-in units are convenient, they have a large downside when you're using them for outdoor charging. They're very vulnerable to theft. A thief who notices you charging your car at night can simply unplug the charger from the electrical outlet and steal it. Since electric vehicle chargers are quite expensive, it's a tempting target for thieves.

Installing a hardwired charger mitigates this problem since it's wired directly to your home's electrical panel. There's no way for a thief to remove your charger except by cutting the high-voltage wires leading to it, which could result in a fatal shock. In order to protect your outdoor EV charger, it's best to install a hardwired unit.

Avoid Tripping Over Cables: Place It Next to Your Driveway

When installing your outdoor EV charger, you should place it close to your driveway on the side that your car's charging port is located. This prevents you from being forced to run a long cord throughout your yard in order to charge your car, which can be a tripping hazard. This will most likely require digging a trench in your yard and running the electrical wires underground, but it makes charging your car much more convenient and prevents you from accidentally tripping over the cord.

Make Sure the Wiring Is Safe: Hire a Professional to Install It

In most areas, you'll need a permit in order to install a hardwired EV charger since it needs to be connected to a new circuit in your electrical panel. Some areas require permits for all EV chargers that are installed outdoors. In order to make sure that your outdoor EV charger installation is up to code, it's best to hire a professional electrician to perform it. In addition, hiring an electrician is the safest option — EV chargers use high-voltage wires with a significant amount of current running through them, so working with them can be dangerous.

Overall, the most important consideration when installing an EV charger outdoors is keeping it safe from theft. As long as you're installing an outdoor-rated charger, you don't have to worry about the elements — they're able to withstand snow and heavy rain. If you park your electric vehicle outside and need a way to charge it, contact an EV charger installation service in your area and ask about installing an outdoor charger. Installing an outdoor charger is typically inexpensive, even when you need to run wires underground to install it in a convenient location, and you'll be able to rapidly charge your car with ease.

For more information, contact a company like Shocking Difference LLC.