EV Charger Installation: What Orlando Homeowners Should Know Before Buying
Before you buy a Level 2 charger, check your panel capacity, plan the circuit, and understand Orlando permitting. Here is the short version.
Buying the charger is the easy part. Getting it installed correctly — on the right circuit, with the right panel capacity, permitted and inspected — is where Orlando homeowners run into surprises. Here is what to sort out first.
Level 1 vs Level 2
Level 1 is the cord that came in the trunk: a standard 120V outlet, roughly 3–5 miles of range per hour. Fine for a plug-in hybrid or a short commute.
Level 2 runs on a 240V circuit and adds roughly 25–40 miles of range per hour — a full overnight charge for nearly any EV. It is what most homeowners actually want.
Check your panel first
A Level 2 charger typically needs a dedicated 40–60 amp 240V circuit. Three things determine whether your panel can take it:
- Service size. 200-amp service usually handles it easily. 100-amp service often needs a load calculation, a load-management device, or a service upgrade.
- Open slots. A full panel means a sub-panel or a panel replacement.
- Panel condition. Older or defective-brand panels should be addressed before adding a high-continuous-draw circuit.
If yours needs work first, see electrical panel upgrades.
Hardwired or plug-in
A NEMA 14-50 outlet gives flexibility if you move or change chargers. Hardwiring supports higher amperage and is required for some units. Either way, an EV charger is a continuous load — the circuit must be sized at 125% of the charger draw, exactly the kind of detail an unlicensed install gets wrong.
Placement and cable length
Measure from the panel to where the car charge port sits when parked. Garage walls are the norm; outdoor installs need a properly rated enclosure — and in Florida, surge protection is a genuinely good idea.
Permitting
EV charger installations require a permit and inspection in Orlando and surrounding municipalities. A licensed electrical contractor pulls the permit as part of the job. An unpermitted install can create insurance and resale problems later.
Cost drivers
Distance from the panel, whether drywall or conduit work is needed, panel capacity, and indoor versus outdoor placement drive most of the price variation.
See EV charger installation or book online for a site evaluation.