Who can install it
A hardwired (wall-mounted) EV charger must be installed by a licensed electrician. That follows from the broader rule set out by the Electrical Safety Office: electrical work in Queensland must be done by a licensed electrician, and DIY electrical work is illegal.
So the charger can be bought anywhere, but fixing it to the wall and connecting it to the house is a licensed electrician's job. If you have bought a charger that came with fitting instructions, those are for the electrician.
What the installation involves
Putting the charger on the wall is the easy part. Most of the work is getting power from the switchboard to the spot where the car sits, along a route that suits the house. In general terms, an installation covers:
- Looking at the switchboard and the spot where the charger will go
- Working out the cable route between the two, through walls, ceilings or along the outside of the house
- Mounting the charger in the garage or carport
- Connecting it, switching it on and checking it powers up before we leave
The distance between the switchboard and the parking spot does a lot to shape the job. A board on the garage wall next to where the car parks is a different job from a board on the far side of a double-storey house, with the carport out the back.
Some switchboards have room for a charger and some don't. If yours needs work first, that goes into the same quote. The switchboard upgrades page explains what that involves, and there is no way to know until someone has looked at the board.
What to have ready before you ask for a quote
Every P4 installation is quoted, and the quote starts with two things: your switchboard and where you park the car. You will get a quicker, more accurate quote if you can send:
- A clear photo of your switchboard, with the door open so the inside is visible
- Where you park: garage, carport or driveway
- Roughly how far that spot is from the switchboard
- Whether the house is single or double storey
- The make and model of the charger, if you have already bought one
- A photo of the wall or post where you would like the charger to go
A photo of the board is for looking only. Don't take covers off or move anything to get a better shot. If the board is behind a locked meter box door, say so, and we will look at it on the visit.
We may still need to see the house in person before we quote. Photos get the conversation started.
Buying the charger
Talk to us before you buy. The right charger depends on the car, how you use it and what suits the house, and a charger bought in a hurry can make the installation harder than it needs to be. Send us the model you are considering and we can tell you whether it suits the install.
The charger's own warranty comes from its manufacturer, so keep the box paperwork somewhere you can find it. After the installation you get an invoice and a certificate for the electrical work.
If you rent
Tenants need approval from the owner or property manager before an EV charger is installed in a rental, according to the Residential Tenancies Authority. Get that sorted in writing first, then ask for a quote. If you manage rentals, the real estate and rentals page covers the rest of P4's rental work.
What P4 doesn't do
Jamie's happy to talk solar and batteries and give his advice. We install the charger on the house's electrical supply. Installing the solar or battery system itself isn't one of P4's listed jobs, so that goes to a solar installer.