Design tools · EV charging

EV Charger Planner

Thinking about a home charger? Tell us a little about your car, your driving and your panel, and we’ll sketch a simple plan: how long charging takes, what size circuit it needs, and whether your service likely has room. It’s an estimate, and we’re glad to check it with you.

Plan my charger Call (530) 401-7419, 24/7

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Estimate only. This is a planning sketch based on the 2023 NEC as adopted in California. Your charger’s instructions, your local inspector and a licensed electrician have the final word. Wire size also depends on the wiring method, distance and temperature.

Plan your charger

1. The charger
2. Your driving
3. Your panel

Charging and the circuit

Does the service likely have room?

How we figured this

Prefer the full contact form? Open it with this filled in.

What the code asks for, in plain English

Our own summary of the 2023 NEC, not the code text. Check with your city or county.

  • Its own circuit (625.40)A charger over 16 A or over 120 V normally gets an individual branch circuit, unless load management or adjustable-setting chargers let more than one share it (Leviton).
  • 125% for the breaker (625.41)Charging is treated as a continuous load, so the breaker is at least 125% of the charger’s maximum current (Mike Holt, EC&M).
  • How much the charger adds (220.57)In a load calculation, each charger counts as 7,200 W or its nameplate rating, whichever is larger (Leviton, Eaton).
  • Adding to an existing home (220.83 and 220.87)You can start from a load calculation of the home as it is, or from a year of the utility’s peak demand records with 25% added, then add the new load (TrueLoad).
  • Load management (625.42 and 750.30)When a listed energy management system limits the chargers, the service and feeder can be sized for the limit it enforces instead of every charger at full power (Electrical License Renewal, Eaton).

What this planner doesn’t do

  • A full load calculationIt adds the charger at its full code value to the number you enter. The existing-home method in our Load Calculator applies demand factors and may come out lower.
  • Wire for every caseThe wire suggestion is copper only, for the breaker size, before voltage drop, long runs, conduit fill or hot attics.
  • Your car’s own limitsMany cars accept less than a large charger can give, so charging may take longer than shown.
  • The 2026 NECWe use the 2023 edition, which California’s current code is based on. The 2026 edition renumbers Article 220 to 120 and changes several values, including the EV minimum.

How IES helps

  • We check your panel properlyWe read the labels, run the load calculation and tell you plainly whether you need an upgrade.
  • Charger installs, start to finishCircuit, permit and inspection, and load management when it saves you a service upgrade.
  • Free estimatesCall (530) 401-7419, answered 24/7, or send your plan below.

Want the whole picture? Try the Load Calculator or the quick Panel-Size Helper.

Common questions

What size breaker does my EV charger need?

EV charging counts as a continuous load, so the breaker is sized at 125% of the charger’s current, rounded up to a standard size. A 32 A charger goes on a 40 A breaker, 40 A on 50 A, and 48 A on 60 A. The wire has to be sized for the breaker too.

How long will it take to charge each day?

Divide the energy you use (daily miles divided by your car’s miles per kWh) by the charger’s power in kW. Most daily driving is a short top-up overnight. The car itself can also limit how fast it charges.

Should I enter amps or watts?

Whichever is on your charger’s label or app. Pick the unit next to the box and type the number as you see it. We never change what you type; if a number looks unusual, we’ll point it out.

What if my panel doesn’t have room?

You may still have options before a service upgrade: a lower charger setting, or a listed energy management system (EVEMS) that limits charging when the rest of the home is busy. The code lets the service count the limit that system enforces.

Can two EVs share one circuit?

Usually each charger over 16 A gets its own circuit. Two chargers can share one circuit or one limit when a listed load-management system or adjustable-setting chargers control them.

Is this a load calculation for a permit?

No. It’s a quick first look that adds the charger to your existing load. For a full calculation, try our Load Calculator, or let us prepare one from your panel and equipment labels.

Send your charger plan for a free estimate

Free estimates, no pressure. Tell us a little about the job and we’ll get back to you. Or call (530) 401-7419, answered 24/7.

Name, a short description, and a phone number or email, please. We only use them to reply to you.

Use the full form

Sources

The code notes checked against the sources above in November 2026. Sources are listed for reference only; we don’t sell or endorse any brand.

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