Buying an EV is the easy part. Figuring out whether your electrical panel can actually handle a charger? That's where most Southern NH and Seacoast homeowners get stuck.
The short answer: most homes need at least a 200-amp panel to safely run a Level 2 EV charger alongside everything else in the house. But "most homes" doesn't mean yours. Here's how to figure out what you actually need.
It depends on two things: what your panel is rated for right now, and how much of that capacity you're already using.
A Level 2 charger (the kind that fully charges overnight, which is what you want) pulls 30 to 50 amps on a dedicated 240-volt circuit. If your home has a 100-amp panel, that charger alone could eat up a third to half of your total capacity before you even turn on the AC or dryer.
Here's the quick rule we use on site:
If you're not sure what you have, look at the main breaker at the top of your panel. The number stamped on it is your total capacity.
Before we install a charger, we run a load calculation on your home. This isn't guesswork. It's a code requirement (NEC Article 220), and it accounts for everything pulling power in your house:
We add the EV charger's draw to that total. If the sum exceeds 80% of your panel's rated capacity, an upgrade is required before installation. The 80% rule exists because the NEC doesn't allow you to load a panel to its full rated capacity on continuous circuits like EV chargers.
The breaker size depends on which charger you're installing:
| Charger Level | Breaker Size | Charge Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (standard 120V outlet) | 15-20 amp | 4-5 miles of range per hour |
| Level 2 (240V dedicated circuit) | 40-50 amp | 25-30 miles of range per hour |
| Hardwired high-output | 60 amp | 35+ miles of range per hour |
NEC requires a dedicated circuit for EV charging. That means no other outlets or appliances share that breaker. It's not optional; it's code.
We install Level 2 chargers in the majority of homes we work on. It's the sweet spot between speed and cost, and it handles overnight charging for any EV on the market right now.
Many homes in Southern NH were built with 100-amp or even 60-amp panels. These were sized for a different era, before heat pumps, induction ranges, and EV chargers became part of daily life. If your home falls into any of these categories, you're likely looking at a panel upgrade before the charger goes in:
The upgrade itself typically takes a day. We pull the permit, coordinate with the utility if a service upgrade is needed, and handle inspection. Your power is off for a few hours while we swap the panel, then everything comes back online with proper capacity for today and whatever you add next.
Sometimes a subpanel is the smarter move. If your main panel has available amperage but sits in the basement while your garage is on the other side of the house, running a subpanel to the garage keeps the wire run short and the installation clean.
A subpanel fed from your main panel gives the EV charger its own dedicated space without rewiring your entire service. We assess which approach makes more sense during the site visit, because the right answer depends on your home's layout, existing wiring, and what else you might want to add down the road.
The National Electrical Code governs every EV charger installation. Three sections matter most for homeowners:
The 2023 NEC update added provisions for load management devices, which let some homes avoid a full panel upgrade by dynamically sharing capacity between the charger and other circuits. We can walk you through whether that applies to your situation.
New Hampshire requires an electrical permit for EV charger installations. That means the work gets inspected, which protects you. We handle the permit application and scheduling so you don't have to coordinate between the town and the utility. Licensed in NH (#14511), MA (#22825), and ME (#MS60023064).
Every home is different, and the final number depends on whether you need just the charger circuit or a full panel upgrade to support it. We put together a detailed breakdown on our cost of electrical services page that covers panel upgrades, EV charger installations, and the factors that move the price up or down.
We also offer financing through Wisetack. You can prequalify online without affecting your credit score. Most homeowners spread the cost over 12 to 24 months.
The fastest way to get a real answer is a site visit. We look at your current panel, run the load calculation, and tell you exactly what's needed for safe, code-compliant EV charging. No guessing, no generic advice.
Brenden Moore has been doing this work for over 25 years, and he's directly involved in every project we take on. This isn't a franchise crew showing up. It's a Master Electrician who built his reputation one job at a time.
We'll assess your panel, run the load calculation, and give you a clear plan with upfront pricing. Serving Southern NH, Northern MA, and Southern ME.
Schedule Your Free EstimateOr call 603-836-9513
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