Electric cars are fast transforming Australian motoring habits. Rising costs of fuel, developments in battery technology, and charging stations being developed are driving the shift. While the average homeowner is concentrating on selecting the right EV charger, he or she tends to ignore another very important part of the system—the electrical switchboard of the house.
The switchboard is essentially the brain of the whole electricity network in your house and it supplies energy to various devices safely and distributes it among them in order to protect electrical circuits from any faults and overheating. However, many of the older switchboards were installed many years ago when there were no such high demands on them as the use of electric cars, solar panels, batteries, induction cooking, etc. So, switchboard upgrades are very important.
According to the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), the number of EVs used in Australia increased dramatically due to the availability of more electric car models and better charging stations. At the same time, Energy Networks Australia anticipates that electricity consumption patterns will change as people continue to electrify transportation, heating, and cooking processes. To keep your switchboard EV-ready, read this blog. EV readiness is very necessary
Most people think that all they need to do if they have power supply at home is install an EV charger. Alas, it is not always so easy. EV readiness means that it has enough capacity, modern protection devices, and open circuits to handle the extra load from EV charging.
An electrician usually assesses:
It is only after performing this check that the electrician will be able to understand whether your switchboard is suitable for EV charging.
In contrast to charging a cellular phone, charging an electric car demands long-term currents.
Electric car chargers usually work through:
As electric vehicles are charged during nighttime, the electrical system should provide for steady work without any effect on other circuits of a house. Electricians evaluate the whole electrical consumption of the home to choose the right charging station.
Do not check your electrical system by yourself, yet there are some indicators that prove the necessity to check it:
Even without clear indications, old switchboards may need checking before installing an electric vehicle charger.
There are many houses in Australia that were constructed before the early 2000s.
Back then, a household consisted of:
Nowadays, there might also be:
Every new appliance adds to the electrical demand. For instance, consider a scenario where the family charges the EV during the night, but at the same time uses the air conditioner, pool filters, and batteries. The traditional switchboard that cannot cope with such loads risks getting overloaded, overheated, and possibly triggering an electrical fault.
A switchboard upgrade is not simply about the installation of additional circuit breakers. Switchboard upgrades guarantee improved electrical safety.
It may include:
Such upgrades help protect both the electrical system itself and those who use it. Moreover, in most cases, a switchboard upgrade ensures readiness for future technologies, including EV charging.
The Thompson family has just bought their first electric SUV. Eager to charge their vehicle at home, they made plans to install a wall charger. During the initial inspection, the electrician realized that the original switchboard had been installed more than 30 years ago.
While it had been working satisfactorily for general household purposes, it did not have enough capacity to support simultaneous charging of their electric vehicle along with their ducted air conditioner, electric stove, and solar panels.
Rather than go ahead with installing the charger, the electrician suggested that the Thompsons invest in a full switchboard replacement. The new switchboard came with enhanced circuit protection, safety switches, a surge protector, and separate circuits for EV charging. While this cost the family extra money, they now had a much safer electrical system which would be able to handle their technological advancements in the future as well.
The electric vehicle is just one part of the energy transition process in Australia. A lot of homes are slowly phasing out gas appliances for electricity-based ones.
Current upgrades include:
Each new appliance creates added pressure on the home’s electrical system. Upgrading the switchboard ahead of time ensures that future electrical upgrades will not be necessary.
Sometimes there are questions about if it is necessary to upgrade the switchboard after installation of an EV charger.
The decision will depend purely on the state of the current switchboard system. There should never be any compromises to electrical safety for the sake of cheaper installations. The consequences of an overloaded electrical system may include:
Load calculations are conducted by professional electricians to prevent these dangers.
Each property is unique. Two houses constructed in the same year will not necessarily have the same type of wiring due to any upgrades and changes that were made in the past.
Professional electricians consider:
Instead of merely setting up equipment, qualified electricians install systems that will be safe, efficient, and flexible for future use.
More families nowadays have more than one car. With EVs increasing in numbers, there is a possibility that you may need two charging stations in the future. Making plans for such an event during the initial switchboard upgrade process might help save money later on. Additional circuit capacity installed today can simplify future expansion without requiring another major electrical upgrade.
Given the role of switchboards in supplying power to the house, only qualified electricians are authorized to conduct any assessment or upgrade. The following are the considerations when choosing an electrical service provider:
Skilled electricians will explain all the necessary information clearly without recommending unnecessary products.
The installation of an EV-ready switchboard comes with advantages that go beyond charging the electric vehicle.
Benefits include:
These are some of the advantages that will prepare your home for new technology in the next few decades.
With the increasing popularity of electric cars in Australia, getting ready at home for the installation of chargers starts with the switchboard. Although the installation of the charger might be fun, having an electrical system able to handle your needs safely should be your first priority. Upgrading the switchboard will give you modern protection, extra space for circuits, and increased flexibility due to the growing demand for other technological devices like batteries, induction stoves, and energy management systems.
In case you’re not sure about the EV readiness, it is better to have it assessed professionally before buying the charger. Such an investment in switchboard upgrades will help you now and in the future to keep pace with innovations in energy efficiency. To keep your switchboard EV ready, call an electrician from Techsmart Electrical.
An EV-ready switchboard is one that is designed with the capacity, safety devices, and enough circuits to safely handle EV charging.
Old switchboards may not have the capacity or safety devices for continuous EV charging.
Although feasible, it is advisable to install a special EV charger done by an electrician.
An electrician will conduct inspection, calculate the electrical load and the available circuit capacity of your switchboard.
A switchboard upgrade will normally consist of circuit breakers, RCDs, surge protection, rewiring, and extra circuit capacity.
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