Quotes, spec sheets and installation manuals for EV chargers use a lot of shorthand. This glossary explains 47 terms South Florida homeowners run into, in plain language, with links to the source where a number or a code section is involved. Florida currently enforces NEC 2020 through the Florida Building Code (floridabuilding.org), so code references here are to that edition; always confirm with your building department.
Terms A to Z
Adapter
A short connector that lets a car with one plug type use a charger with another, such as NACS to J1772. Use one rated for the current your charger delivers.
Amp (ampere)
The measure of electric current. Chargers are described by the amps they deliver to the car, such as 32 A or 48 A, and circuits by the amp rating of their breaker.
Branch circuit
The wiring from a breaker in your panel to an outlet or piece of equipment. An EV charger gets its own.
Breaker (circuit breaker)
The switch in your panel that shuts a circuit off when it carries too much current. Its rating, such as 50 or 60 amps, sets how much the charger may draw.
CCS (Combined Charging System)
The port used for years by most non-Tesla EVs in North America. Its upper section is a J1772 inlet for Level 2; the two lower pins add DC fast charging.
Charge limit
The state of charge at which the car stops charging, set in the car or app. Your owner's manual gives the recommended daily setting.
Charging efficiency
The share of energy from the wall that ends up in the battery. The EPA's fueleconomy.gov says it is often 84 to 93 percent (fueleconomy.gov).
Continuous load
A load that runs for three hours or more. EV charging is treated as continuous, so under NEC 2020 section 625.41 the breaker must be at least 125 percent of the charger's maximum load (Mike Holt, Article 625 summary).
DC fast charging
Public high-power charging that feeds the battery directly, bypassing the car's onboard charger. It is not installed at homes.
Dedicated circuit
A circuit that serves one thing. NEC 2020 section 625.40 requires each EV outlet to be on its own individual branch circuit (Leviton code summary). See our dedicated circuits page.
Disconnect
A switch that cuts power to equipment for service. NEC 2020 section 625.43 requires a readily accessible, lockable disconnect for EV equipment rated over 60 A or over 150 volts to ground (EC&M summary).
Dynamic Power Management
Tesla's feature for the Universal Wall Connector that uses a meter at the panel to slow charging when the house draws heavily (Tesla installation manual).
EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment)
The formal name for a home charger. The real charger is inside the car; the wall unit supplies power safely and talks to the car. See what is EVSE.
Florida Building Code (FBC)
The statewide building code. The 8th Edition (2023) is in effect, and its electrical provisions follow NEC 2020 (floridabuilding.org).
GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter)
A device that cuts power when current leaks to ground, protecting people from shock. NEC 2020 section 625.54 requires it on receptacles installed for EV charging (Leviton code summary).
Hardwired
A charger wired directly to its circuit, with no plug. It allows higher amperage and removes the receptacle as a wear point. See hardwired vs plug-in.
HVHZ (High-Velocity Hurricane Zone)
The part of the Florida Building Code with stricter wind provisions. It covers Broward and Miami-Dade counties only.
In-use cover
A weatherproof cover for an outdoor outlet that stays closed with a plug inserted. An outdoor 14-50 used for charging needs one.
J1772
The Level 2 plug standard used for years by nearly every non-Tesla EV in North America. NACS cars can use J1772 chargers with an adapter.
J3400
The SAE standard number for the NACS connector, published in December 2023 (Joint Office connector page).
Kilowatt (kW)
A measure of power, or how fast energy flows. A 48 A charger at 240 volts delivers about 11.5 kW.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
A measure of energy, or how much is delivered. Your electric bill and your battery size are measured in kWh.
kWh per 100 miles
The efficiency figure on an EV's window label; lower means less energy per mile (fueleconomy.gov label guide).
Level 1
Charging from an ordinary 120-volt outlet, about 1.9 kW and about 5 miles of range per hour according to the Department of Energy (AFDC).
Level 2
Charging at 240 volts, typically 7.2 kW and about 25 miles of range per hour (AFDC). This is what most home chargers provide.
Load calculation
The math that shows whether your service can carry a new load. An existing service can be assessed from 12 months of maximum-demand data under NEC 2020 section 220.87 (UpCodes).
Load management
A device or feature that reduces or pauses charging when the home's total load is high. One example, the RVE DCC-12, cuts the charger above 80 percent of the main breaker rating (RVE specification sheet).
Main breaker
The large breaker at the top of the panel that controls the whole house. Its rating, such as 100 or 200 amps, usually matches the size of the service.
Mobile Connector
Tesla's portable charging cable. Tesla lists 32 A on its NEMA 14-50 adapter and 12 A on a 5-15 household outlet (Tesla owner's manual).
NACS (North American Charging Standard)
The connector Tesla designed, standardized as SAE J3400. Many automakers moved to it on 2025 and 2026 models; check your car's port.
NEC (National Electrical Code)
The model electrical code, NFPA 70. Florida currently enforces NEC 2020 through the Florida Building Code (floridabuilding.org), and Article 625 covers EV charging.
NEMA 14-50
A 240-volt, 50-amp receptacle, the most common outlet for EV charging. EV-rated versions such as the Leviton 1450R are built for long charge sessions and frequent plugging (Leviton). See NEMA 14-50 outlet installation.
NEMA Type 3R, 4 and 4X
Enclosure ratings. Type 3R is built for falling rain; Type 4 adds hose-directed water; 4X adds corrosion resistance (NEMA), which matters near salt air.
Onboard charger
The converter inside the car that turns AC from your home charger into DC for the battery. Its rating is the ceiling on home charging speed; check your owner's manual.
Panel (panelboard)
The cabinet of breakers that distributes power to your circuits. Its capacity and free spaces decide what a charger installation involves. See does my panel have room.
Permit
Approval from your city or county building department for electrical work, followed by an inspection. A new EV circuit needs one; KRW Electric handles both.
Power sharing
Splitting one circuit's capacity between several chargers. Tesla Wall Connectors can share among up to six units (Tesla). See two EVs, one home.
Preemption
Florida law that reserves regulation of EV charging stations to the state; it does not affect individuals installing chargers for their own vehicles (F.S. 366.94).
Scheduled charging
A car or charger setting that starts or finishes charging at a chosen time, useful with off-peak rates.
Service
The utility's connection to your home: the drop or lateral, the meter and the main breaker. Its amp rating sets the home's total capacity. See when an EV needs a bigger service.
Splitter
A device that shares one 240-volt outlet, often the dryer's, between two appliances and gives one priority. NeoCharge's 14-30 model provides 24 A on a 30 A breaker (NeoCharge).
Surge protective device (SPD)
A device that limits voltage spikes from lightning or utility switching. See our surge protection page.
Time-of-use rate
An electric rate that prices energy differently by time of day. FPL offers a residential time-of-use rider (FPL).
UL 2594
The safety standard for EV supply equipment (UL Standards). Look for a listing mark from a recognized testing laboratory on any charger you buy.
V2H (vehicle-to-home)
Using the car's battery to power a house in an outage, through bidirectional equipment that isolates the home from the grid. The code requires power-export EVSE to be listed for it (NEC 625.48 summary).
V2L (vehicle-to-load)
Powering devices from outlets on the car. Useful after a storm, but never a way to feed house wiring.
Wall Connector
Tesla's hardwired home charger, delivering 12 to 48 A depending on the breaker (Tesla breaker table). The Universal version adds a docked J1772 adapter.
Questions homeowners ask
What is the difference between a kW and a kWh?
A kW is a rate, like gallons per minute; a kWh is an amount, like gallons. A 7.6 kW charger running for two hours delivers about 15 kWh.
Is the thing on my wall the charger?
Technically it is EVSE; the charger is inside the car. Everyone calls the wall unit a charger, and that is fine.
Which of these terms matter most for my installation?
Your car's onboard charger rating, your panel and service size, and the breaker size. Those three decide what the installation involves.
More in the guide
Every term here is covered in more depth in the Florida home EV charging guide, including Level 1 vs Level 2 and how many amps an EV charger needs. When you are ready, our EV charger installation page explains how KRW Electric (EC13012832) works across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Get in touch with a photo of your panel and we will translate the rest.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
