No open breaker spaces
A full panel can sometimes be fixed with a subpanel or tandem breakers where the panel allows them.
Panel and service work
Panel Upgrade for EV Charger Chicago
Panel full or service too small for a charger? See every option, from load management to a 200-amp upgrade, before you commit.
- Load calculation first
- Cheapest fix that works
- ComEd coordination planned
Start with the numbers
Electrical Panel Upgrades Before Adding a Level 2 Charger
A Level 2 charger is one of the largest loads a house will ever carry, and it runs for hours at a time. Before recommending anything, we add up what your home already uses at peak: heating and cooling, cooking, laundry, water heating and anything else on the panel.
Sometimes the answer is that the panel is fine and just needs breaker space. Sometimes the service is too small. A real calculation keeps you from paying for a panel upgrade you don't need, or skipping one you do.
When the panel is ready, the charger itself goes in the same way as any other install. Our EV charger installers in Chicago handle both jobs in one plan.
What we look for
Signs Your Panel Needs Work
60- or 100-amp service
Smaller services were common when much of Chicago's housing was built. A charger may still fit with load management, or it may call for a larger service.
Breakers that trip now
If breakers already trip with today's loads, a charger will make it worse. We find the cause first.
Worn or obsolete equipment
Scorched bus bars, loose connections or panels no longer supported by the manufacturer are replaced before adding a large load.
Options, cheapest first
Choosing the Right Fix Before Electric Vehicle Charger Installation
A smaller circuit. Many chargers can be set to 24 or 32 amps. That still adds plenty of range overnight and may fit an existing service.
Load management. A load management device watches the home's total draw and slows or pauses charging when other appliances run, so the charger never pushes the service over its limit.
A subpanel. When the main panel is out of spaces but the service has capacity, a subpanel near the garage can carry the charger and future circuits.
A service upgrade. When the numbers don't work, moving to a 200-amp service gives the house room for the charger and whatever comes next.
Utility and city steps
Working With ComEd on a Service Upgrade
A service upgrade changes the connection between your home and the utility, so ComEd has to disconnect and reconnect the service. We coordinate that appointment along with the permit and inspection so the power is off for as short a time as possible.
In Chicago, the electrical code adds its own metallic conduit requirements, and older homes often need the meter and service entrance brought up to current rules during an upgrade. We spell all of that out in the written scope.
A panel upgrade is priced after the site visit, because the condition of the existing equipment drives most of the cost.
Panel already crowded? Find out what fits before you buy a charger.
Call (773) 801-7276Service area
Where We Do Panel Work
We handle panel and service work for chargers across the city and nearby suburbs.
Call (773) 801-7276 to set up a load check.
Common questions
Panel and Service Questions
Do I need a 200-amp service for an EV charger?
Not always. Many homes on 100-amp service can add a charger at a lower amp setting or with load management. The load calculation tells us which.
What is a load calculation?
It's a standard method of adding up the home's electrical loads to see how much capacity is left. It's the basis for sizing the charger circuit and deciding whether an upgrade is needed.
How long is the power off during a service upgrade?
Usually part of one day. The exact window depends on ComEd's disconnect and reconnect appointment and the inspection.
Can you install the charger at the same time?
Yes. We plan the panel work and the charger circuit together so there's one schedule and one inspection where possible.
Not Sure Your Panel Can Take It?
Call with a photo of your panel label handy. We'll tell you what the load check involves and plan the simplest fix that works.