Can your electrical panel handle an EV charger? Enter your panel details, proposed charger, and existing loads to find out — with recommended breaker, cable size, and RCD protection.
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Enter your existing panel details and proposed EV charger to see if your panel can handle it.
Check your main switch rating
Home chargers: 7.4kW is most common
Sum of all existing circuits on the panel
From main switchboard to charger location
See exactly how much of your panel capacity the EV charger will use.
Get recommended breaker size and cable size based on your charger rating.
Correct RCD type for EV charger installations per AS/NZS 3000.
Supports 3.6kW, 7.4kW, 11kW, and 22kW chargers on single and three phase.
A 7.4kW charger draws approximately 32 amps on single phase. Most NZ homes have a 63-amp main switch. If your existing loads total less than 30 amps, you can typically add a 7.4kW charger without upgrading the panel.
For chargers up to 7.4kW, single phase (230V) is sufficient. For 11kW or 22kW chargers, you need a three-phase supply (400V). Most residential homes in NZ and AU have single phase.
The circuit breaker should be rated at 125% of the charger continuous load. A 7.4kW charger (32A) typically needs a 40A breaker. A 3.6kW charger (15A) needs a 20A breaker.
For a 7.4kW charger on a 40A breaker, a 6.0 mm\u00B2 copper cable is typically suitable for runs up to 25 metres. For longer runs, 10.0 mm\u00B2 may be required to stay within voltage drop limits.
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