An electric car is easiest to live with when you can charge it at home. A Level 2 charger can charge most cars overnight, so you start each day ready to drive. It also needs its own 240 volt circuit and a panel with room for the load.
Chris Electric handles EV charger installation in White Bear Lake and nearby towns. We put in Tesla chargers and other Level 2 units in garages, on driveways and under carports. A licensed electrician checks your panel first, and you get the price before we start.
Charging Levels
Every electric car can charge at home. The question is how fast. Level 1 uses the outlet you already have. Level 2 needs a new 240 volt circuit, and that is the part our electricians install.
If you drive a plug-in hybrid or only a few miles a day, Level 1 may be all you need. For most full electric cars, Level 2 makes daily life much easier, especially in a Minnesota winter when cold batteries charge slower.
The cord that comes with most cars. It plugs into a regular wall outlet.
A wall charger or a 240 volt outlet on its own circuit, like the one a dryer uses.
Real charging speed depends on your car, the charger and the size of the circuit. We match all three before we install.
Before We Install
A Level 2 charger is one of the biggest loads in a home. It can pull steady power for hours, often on a 40 amp circuit or larger. That is why every install starts at your electrical panel, not in the garage.
Many older homes around White Bear Lake still have 100 amp panels. Add central air, an electric range and a charger, and the panel can run out of room. If yours is too small, we can upgrade your electrical panel first.
Ask About Your PanelWhat we check first
Your panel has the capacity and the space. We add a breaker and run the circuit to your charger.
We can set the charger to draw less power or add a load management device, so the panel is never pushed too far.
An older or full panel needs to be upgraded before a charger goes in. We can do both in one project.
Pick Your Setup
Both give you Level 2 charging at home. The difference is how the charger connects and how fast it can go. Here is how they compare.
The charger mounts on the wall and connects straight to its own circuit. There is no plug to wear out or pull loose.
Good for
Keep in mind
We install a heavy duty 240 volt outlet, the same style many RVs use. You plug in a portable charger or a plug-in wall unit.
Good for
Keep in mind
We install the Tesla Wall Connector, which is hardwired, and 240 volt outlets for the Tesla Mobile Connector. Many newer Tesla chargers also work with other electric cars. Tell us what you drive and how far you go each day, and we will help you pick the right setup.
Where It Goes
Your charger should go where you park every night. We plan the spot around your charge port, the length of the cord and the shortest safe path back to your panel.
Minnesota winters are hard on outdoor gear. For outdoor installs, we pick chargers rated for snow and cold, and we mount them high enough to stay clear of plowed snow.
The most common spot. We mount the charger where the cord reaches your charge port without stretching across the floor. A detached garage may need a buried line or a small subpanel.
No garage, or more cars than spaces? We mount an outdoor rated charger on the side of the house or on a post by the driveway. The wire runs in conduit along the wall or underground.
A carport keeps snow off the car but still gets wind and rain. We use a charger and parts rated for wet spots and set it where a bumper will not hit it.
Our Process
From the first call to your first full charge, here is what to expect. A licensed electrician handles every step.
Call with the car you drive, where you park and a photo of your panel if you can. That helps us plan before we arrive.
We look at your panel, measure the run to the parking spot and give you a clear price.
A new charger circuit usually needs an electrical permit. We file it, so you do not have to.
We add the breaker, run the wire and mount the charger or outlet, set to the right amps for your circuit.
We plug in your car and make sure it charges at the right speed. Then we help with the app and the inspection.
Pricing
Every home is wired a little differently, so there is no single price. These are the things that move the cost up or down.
Wire and labor grow with every foot between your panel and the charger.
A panel with room to spare only needs a new breaker. A full one may need more work first.
Indoor garage walls are the simplest. Outdoor spots need weather rated parts and sometimes a trench.
Open framing makes the wire run quick. Finished rooms take more time to route wire cleanly.
Faster chargers need a larger breaker and thicker wire, which cost more.
Your Price Before Any Work Starts
We check your panel and the route, then give you a clear price. Nothing starts until you say yes.
Get Your PriceCustomer Reviews
LicensedWhy Chris Electric
A charger runs for hours at a time, often overnight while you sleep. It should be installed by people who do this work every day. Our local White Bear Lake electricians treat every charger like it is going in their own garage.
A charger circuit is permitted electrical work. A licensed electrician does it, not a handyman.
We size the circuit to your panel, so the charger and the rest of the house run without tripped breakers.
Outdoor chargers get parts rated for cold and wet weather, mounted where snow will not bury them.
You get the price before we start, and we clean up the garage before we leave.
Our Service Area
From lake homes with detached garages to newer builds with big driveways, we install home chargers across White Bear Lake and the nearby towns below. Do not see your town? Call and ask.
FAQs
Not sure which charger fits your car or your panel? Call and talk it through with an electrician.
(651) 382-9397A garage install close to the panel can often be done in one visit. A long wire run, an outdoor post or a panel upgrade takes more time. We give you a time estimate along with the price.
In most cases, yes. A new 240 volt circuit is electrical work that needs a permit and an inspection. We pull the permit and set up the inspection for you.
Yes. We install the Tesla Wall Connector, and we add 240 volt outlets for the Tesla Mobile Connector. We set the circuit size to match the charger and your panel.
Either works. If you buy your own, send us the make and model before the visit so we can plan the right circuit. If you are not sure what to get, we can help you choose.
Yes, as long as the charger is rated for outdoor use and cold weather. We mount it on the house or a post, run the wire in conduit and keep it above where snow piles up.
Often, yes. Some chargers can share one circuit and split the power between two cars. If your panel has room, a second circuit is another option. We can plan for it during the first install.
Licensed, Bonded and Insured
Tell us what you drive and where you park. A licensed electrician will check your panel, give you a clear price and install a charger that is ready for daily use.
