Before you buy a charger
It is tempting to order a charger online and then call an electrician. We suggest doing it the other way around, or at least getting a quick opinion first. The right charger depends on your panel, your parking spot and whether load management is needed, and some features only matter for certain setups.
Whatever you buy, make sure it is certified for use in Canada. Look for a recognized certification mark (such as CSA, cUL or cETL) on the unit and in the listing. Equipment without Canadian certification will not pass inspection, and inexpensive uncertified units are common online.
Also check:
- Cable length. Long enough to reach your charge port from where the unit will mount, without stretching across a walkway.
- Outdoor and cold ratings if it will be outside or in an unheated garage.
- Adjustable current. Most units can be set to match the circuit, which matters if your panel is tight.
- Load management features if your service is close to its limit. See EV load management devices.
- Hardwired or plug-in. Both can be fine; we usually recommend hardwired for daily use.
Choosing the location
Start with where the car's charge port is. It might be on the driver's front fender, the passenger rear or the nose, and it varies by model. Then think about how you park, whether you might have two EVs one day, and where people walk.
In an attached garage, the best spot is usually on the wall closest to the panel that still suits how you park. In a detached garage, the feed from the house becomes the main question. A detached garage often gets an underground feed and sometimes a subpanel, which can also power a workshop or heater.
For outdoor parking, see EV charging in an Edmonton winter for mounting height, snow and impact protection.
Getting power from the panel to the charger
The new circuit starts at a 2-pole breaker in your panel and runs to the charger location. In most Edmonton homes the panel is in the basement, so the route goes through the basement ceiling and into the garage through the rim board or foundation wall.
Where the wall between the house and an attached garage acts as a fire separation, any opening has to be sealed properly. The same goes for the air and vapour barrier, which matters a great deal in an Edmonton winter.
A finished basement adds time, because the route has to be fished through ceilings or run in a tidy surface raceway. An unfinished basement and a garage close to the panel is the easiest case. That is the main reason two quotes for two different homes can differ so much.
The steps, from first call to handover
- Site visit. We look at the panel, the route and where you want the charger, and ask about your car and driving.
- Load check and quote. We do the load calculation and give you a written scope and price. If a service upgrade or load management is needed, we explain why.
- Permit. We apply for the electrical permit. In Edmonton that is the City; elsewhere in Alberta it is your municipality or its accredited agency.
- Install day. Most straightforward installs are finished in a day. Power to the house may be off for a short time while the breaker is added.
- Inspection and handover. The work may be inspected by a safety codes officer. We set up the charger, show you how it works and leave you with the paperwork.
Save the permit number, the charger's settings and the invoice. Home insurers and future buyers may ask for them, and they make any later changes faster.
What drives the cost
We do not publish flat prices, because two charger installs can be very different jobs. These are the factors that move the number up or down:
| Factor | Easier | More involved |
|---|---|---|
| Panel capacity | Room for the new load | Needs load management or a service upgrade |
| Panel space | Two open spaces | Full panel, tandem breakers or an old panel |
| Route | Short, through an unfinished basement | Long, through finished ceilings or underground |
| Location | Attached garage | Detached garage, outdoor post or driveway |
| Equipment | You supply a certified unit | Extra protection, bollards or lighting |
A written quote from us lists each of these for your home, so you can see exactly where the effort goes. If a choice you make, such as mounting location, would change the price a lot, we will point that out and suggest alternatives.
After the install
Most chargers have an app for scheduling and tracking energy. Set charging to overnight hours and, if your car allows, a departure time so it warms up before you leave.
There is very little maintenance. Hang the cable up after use, keep the connector out of slush and look at the cable now and then for cuts or flattening. If the breaker trips, you can reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call us.
The charger's maximum current is set to match the circuit and your load calculation. Do not raise it in the app or with a dial inside the unit. That setting is part of what keeps the wiring safe.
Our home EV charger team handles the full job, backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Common questions
How long does a home charger installation take?
The install itself is usually done in a day. The overall timeline depends on permit processing and on whether a service upgrade or load management device is part of the job.
Can I install the charger myself and have an electrician check it?
We do not recommend it. The work involves the panel and a high-power circuit. Hiring a licensed electrician who pulls the permit is the safest route and avoids problems at inspection.
Do I need a charger certified for Canada?
Yes. Electrical equipment installed in Alberta must be approved for use in Canada. Check for a recognized certification mark before you buy.
Can I take my charger with me if I move?
A plug-in charger is easy to take. A hardwired one can be removed by an electrician, who should leave the circuit safely terminated for the next owner.
Codes and permit rules change and every building is different. For work on your system, talk to a licensed electrician and your local permit authority.