Most of what makes a home EV charger installation go smoothly happens before the electrician arrives: the right photos for the quote, a clear wall, the association's paperwork in hand, and a decision about where the car will actually park. The rest happens after: the inspection, the charger's settings, and a first charge that confirms everything works. This checklist covers both, in the order you will need it.
For background, see the Florida Home EV Charging Guide. For what happens on the day itself, see what happens during an EV charger installation.
Before you ask for a quote
- Photograph the panel. One photo of the closed door, one of the open panel showing all the breakers, and one of the label inside the door with the panel's brand and ratings. Do not remove the inner cover.
- Photograph the main breaker so its number (100, 150, 200 and so on) is readable.
- Photograph the meter and the area around it outside.
- Photograph the parking spot from behind the car, showing the wall where the charger would go and the path back toward the panel.
- Know your car's maximum AC charging rate in amps or kW. It is in the owner's manual or the automaker's site. There is no point paying for a circuit the car cannot use. See how many amps an EV charger needs.
- Note where the charge port is on the car (front, rear, driver or passenger side), and whether a second EV may join it later. See two EVs, one home.
- List any large loads you have added since the house was built: a pool pump, a second A/C, a spa, an electric tankless water heater.
Decide these before install day
| Decision | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Charger location | Within cable reach of the port with the car parked normally, not where the cable crosses a walkway. See where to install a charger in the garage. |
| Hardwired or plug-in | A hardwired unit avoids a receptacle; a plug-in unit needs a GFCI-protected receptacle. See hardwired versus plug-in. |
| Who buys the charger | If you buy it, have it on site before the install, still boxed, with the manual. |
| Indoor or outdoor | Outdoors, choose a unit rated for the location and a spot out of standing water. See outdoor chargers in rain and salt air. |
| Flood risk | In a flood-prone garage, mount the charger higher. See flood zone mounting. |
| FPL program or your own charger | Decide first; the two paths use different installers. See EVolution Home versus your own charger. |
Paperwork
- Check the license of the contractor you choose on myfloridalicense.com. Our guide to hiring an installer covers what to look for.
- Get the scope in writing: breaker and wire size, route, charger setting, permit and inspection, and what patching is included.
- Condo owners: get the association's written requirements and approval first. Florida law lets the association require a licensed and registered installer and a certificate of insurance naming the association within 14 days of approval (section 718.113(8), Florida Statutes).
- HOA homes: read your governing documents for any architectural review, particularly for an exterior or driveway charger. See Florida HOA EV charger rules.
- Confirm the permit has been issued before work starts, and ask where the permit card or notice will be posted.
The day before
- Clear about three feet in front of the panel and along the wall where the charger will go. Garage shelving, bikes and storage bins are the usual obstacles.
- Clear a path to the attic hatch if the route goes through the attic, and move anything stored directly under it.
- Park the cars outside or on the street so the garage floor is free.
- Check the Wi-Fi signal at the charger spot with your phone. Weak signal in a block-walled garage is common. If it drops, consider a mesh node or extender before the install.
- Download the charger's app and create the account, so setup on the day takes minutes.
- Arrange for pets to be kept away from open doors and the work area.
On the day
- Expect a short power interruption. Connecting a new breaker usually means switching off the panel. Save your work if you are on a computer, and expect to reset some clocks. The garage door opener may need a reset too.
- Walk the route with the electrician before they start: where the charger mounts, where the wire runs, where any conduit will be visible.
- Confirm the charger's current setting matches the breaker and your car.
- Ask for a quick walkthrough of the breaker label and how to shut the charger off.
After the installation
- The inspection. The building department inspects the work. Someone may need to be home to give access to the garage and the panel. The job is not finished until the inspection passes.
- Keep the records. Save the permit number, the passed inspection, the invoice and the charger's manual and serial number. They help if you sell the house, file a claim or need service.
- Check the panel label. The new breaker should be labeled for the charger.
- Set a charging schedule in the car or the charger app, not both. See FPL EV rates and off-peak charging for the on-peak hours.
- Do a first full charge and watch it start, ramp up and finish. Note the kWh delivered and compare with your energy estimate.
- Feel for heat. After an hour of charging, a plug and receptacle may be warm, but should never be hot or discolored. If they are, stop charging and call your electrician.
- Register the charger with the manufacturer if it asks you to, and install firmware updates through the app.
Before hurricane season
Add the charger to your storm routine: know where its breaker is, think about surge protection, and read our EV hurricane preparation guide for what to do with the car and charger when a storm is coming.
Questions homeowners ask
Do I need to be home for the installation?
For the start, yes, to confirm the location and route, and at the end for the walkthrough. For the inspection, someone may need to give access to the garage and panel.
Should I buy the charger before the electrician comes?
If you are supplying it, yes, and leave it boxed with the manual so the installer can check its requirements. Confirm the model with the electrician first so the circuit is sized for it.
How long will the power be off?
Usually briefly, while the breaker is connected. Your electrician can tell you in advance based on your panel.
My charger does not start at night. What should I check?
First, whether the car and the charger both have schedules that conflict. Then Wi-Fi and the breaker. Our troubleshooting guide goes step by step.
What photos should I send for a quote?
The closed panel, the open panel with breakers visible, the label, the main breaker, the meter, and the parking spot showing the path to the panel.
KRW Electric (EC13012832) installs home EV chargers across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and handles the permit and inspection on its jobs. Send us your panel and parking photos and we will tell you what the job involves. More on the service: home EV charger installation.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
