Home EV charger electrical plan: prepare a clear installation

Why prepare the plan before choosing the charger?

The power printed on a charger is only one part of the design. The vehicle, parking time, electricity plan, existing switchboard and distance to the parking space all affect the final solution.

An electrical plan brings these decisions together. It shows the actual parking position, the side of the vehicle charging port, the possible cable route and the equipment needed near the switchboard.

• Location of the wallbox or dedicated EV socket-outlet.
• Distance and route between the switchboard and parking space.
• Indoor, wall, garage or underground conduit route.
• Possible location of load management and sub-metering equipment.

Dedicated socket-outlet or wallbox: what should the plan show?

A dedicated socket-outlet (Mode 2 charging, with the cable supplied with the car) can suit low daily mileage when the vehicle stays parked for a long time. A wallbox (Mode 3) usually offers more power, finer load control and scheduling or monitoring features.

Common comparison points include up to 3.7 kW for slower charging, 7.4 kW on single phase, and 11 or 22 kW when both the vehicle and a three-phase installation support it. The actual rating must be validated against the property and the vehicle.

• Daily driving range to recover.
• Usual parking duration at home.
• Maximum AC power accepted by the vehicle.
• Available supply and load-management options.

3.7, 7.4, 11 or 22 kW: which power should you install?

Charger power is measured in kilowatts (kW), while kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure battery capacity. The power actually received by the car is always limited by the weakest link: charger, vehicle onboard charger, supply capacity or the property installation.

The most powerful wallbox is therefore not automatically the best choice. When a car stays parked overnight, 3.7 or 7.4 kW may be enough; 11 or 22 kW is mainly relevant with a three-phase supply, a compatible vehicle and a need for faster charging.

• 3.7 kW — single phase, roughly 16 A: slow, but enough for a short commute and a car parked all night.
• 7.4 kW — single phase, roughly 32 A: the usual home wallbox, and what most home installations end up being.
• 11 kW — three phase, roughly 16 A per phase: only relevant if the property has a three-phase supply.
• 22 kW — three phase, roughly 32 A per phase: needs three phase, a compatible car and the supply capacity to match. Many vehicles cap AC charging at 7.4 or 11 kW anyway.

What should appear on the electrical plan?

The plan should be detailed enough to prepare a quote without pretending to replace the electrician’s technical study. Show the charger, its dedicated route to the switchboard and the visible constraints along that route.

In Planelico, you can distinguish a wall-mounted charger, pedestal charger, dedicated socket-outlet or future provision. Dedicated symbols also cover dynamic load management, sub-metering, emergency isolation and an outdoor conduit.

After placing a wallbox, select it in the editor to choose 3.7, 7.4, 11 or 22 kW and state whether 6 mA DC detection is built in. “Generate circuits & panel” then creates the dedicated circuit and the matching pre-sizing.

• Charger, dedicated socket-outlet or provision for future work.
• Dedicated circuit kept separate from general power circuits.
• Dynamic load manager linked to the meter or switchboard.
• Conduit, penetrations and approximate route length.
• Notes about access, weather exposure and future extensions.

AS/NZS 3000 Appendix P and what it means for the circuit

In Australia, AS/NZS 3000 gives EV charging guidance in Appendix P, which is informative rather than mandatory. It recommends a dedicated circuit for each charging point and an RCD whose type depends on the charger: Type B, or Type A where the charger itself detects DC fault current above 6 mA.

Every circuit in a home also needs 30 mA RCD protection under clause 2.6.3.2.2, so the charger circuit is always RCD-protected. Your distributor’s service and installation rules can add requirements — load limits, demand management or how the charger connects — so check them with your electrician before choosing the hardware.

• A dedicated circuit, typically 32 A for a 7.4 kW charger.
• 30 mA RCD protection: Type B, or Type A when the charger has built-in 6 mA DC detection.
• Distributor rules checked before ordering the charger.
• Installation tested and certified by the licensed electrician.

Plan smart charging before increasing the supply

Dynamic load management adapts charging to the home’s live demand. It can temporarily reduce the charger when cooking, hot water or air-conditioning loads are high and increase it again when capacity becomes available.

Many chargers schedule charging for off-peak tariffs or solar surplus. Show the intended control link on the plan, not just the power cable: a current transformer on the incoming supply is common and needs a route of its own.

Incentives: check the current scheme, not an old article

Support for home chargers in Australia depends on your state or territory and on distributor or retailer programmes. Eligibility and amounts change.

Check the current schemes at the point you accept a quote, rather than relying on a figure quoted in an older article or by an installer.

What the plan does not replace

The plan prepares the location, route and desired equipment. On its own it does not calculate voltage drop, final cable size under AS/NZS 3008, protective devices, earthing, maximum demand or the suitability of the existing switchboard.

Give the PDF to a licensed electrician so they can inspect the property, size the circuit and confirm the usable charging power before work starts.

Quick method with Planelico

1. 1

   Import the property plan

   Add the PDF for the home, garage and any relevant outdoor area.

2. 2

   Place the charger

   Position the wallbox, pedestal, dedicated socket-outlet or future provision beside the parking space.

3. 3

   Locate the switchboard

   Mark the board that will supply the dedicated circuit, and note whether it has a spare way.

4. 4

   Draw the proposed route

   Show the cable route, penetrations and any outdoor conduit.

5. 5

   Add smart controls

   Mark load management, the current transformer on the incoming supply and any sub-metering.

6. 6

   Export for quotation

   Generate a readable PDF for pricing and validation by a licensed electrician.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Standards Australia — AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules
• Electric Vehicle Council
• NSW Building Commission — electrical standards, rules and notes