7kW single-phase vs 22kW three-phase
Most Sydney homes are single-phase. A 7kW charger on a 32A circuit adds roughly 40–50km of range per hour, which refills a typical daily commute in an hour or two and a near-empty battery overnight.
A 22kW charger needs three-phase supply. Plenty of newer builds and knockdown-rebuilds have it, but many older homes do not. If you have three-phase, an 11kW or 22kW unit can be a good fit — if your car can actually use it.
Your car’s on-board charger sets the real limit
Home wall chargers supply AC power. The car’s on-board charger converts it to DC for the battery, and that converter has a fixed maximum. Many popular EVs accept 7kW single-phase and 11kW three-phase. Only some models accept 22kW AC.
If your car tops out at 11kW, a 22kW charger will still charge at 11kW. We check your model’s AC rating before recommending hardware, so you are not paying for speed the car cannot take.
Switchboard capacity and load management
A 7kW charger draws about 32A continuously for hours. On a home that already runs ducted air, an electric oven and a pool pump, that can push total demand past the main switch rating.
We assess the board and your existing load first. Where capacity is tight, we fit a load-management device or use the charger’s own current-limiting so it slows down when the house is busy, instead of tripping the main.
- Dedicated circuit with RCBO protection to AS/NZS 3000
- RCD type matched to the charger’s DC fault protection
- Cable sized for the run length and continuous load
- Isolator at the charger where required
- Commissioned and tested in the manufacturer app
When the mains need upgrading
Sometimes the consumer mains or the supply itself is the bottleneck. Work on the network side of the meter must be done by a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider. We coordinate a licensed Level 2 ASP for that portion and manage the rest of the job, so you still have one point of contact.
All our work is certified to AS/NZS 3000, with compliance paperwork provided where required.
EV Charger Installation FAQs
Do I need three-phase power for a home EV charger?
No. A 7kW single-phase charger fully recharges most EVs overnight. Three-phase only helps if you already have it and your car accepts more than 7kW AC.
Is a 22kW charger worth it?
Only if you have three-phase supply and your car accepts 22kW AC. Most EVs cap at 11kW on AC, so they charge at 11kW on a 22kW unit.
Will my switchboard handle an EV charger?
Often yes, but we check first. If demand is already high, we add load management or advise on a board or mains upgrade before quoting.
Which charger brands do you install?
Mainstream units such as Tesla Wall Connector, Wallbox, Zappi, Fronius Wattpilot and similar. If a dealer or rebate requires a specific model, we install that one.
Can the charger use my solar?
Yes, with a solar-aware charger such as Zappi or Wattpilot. It can charge from excess solar instead of exporting it to the grid.
EV Charger Installation across Sydney
We work right across Sydney metro. Jump to local information for your area: