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Home EV charger jobs are skyrocketing around here. Smart move or risky business?
Lately, almost half my service calls are for putting in electric car charging stations. One crew says it's easy money and we need to adapt to stay in business. Another group warns that messing up the load calc or using cheap parts could burn a house down. How are you all handling this change?
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ryan_singh126mo ago
Honestly, that fire story is exactly what worries me. How often are you guys actually finding old panels that just can't handle the extra load? It seems like that's the real make-or-break part of the job.
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paulw536mo ago
My friend Carl took an EV charger job last winter without checking the main panel first. He overloaded an old circuit and it sparked a small fire in the garage, total nightmare. So yeah, adapting is key but you HAVE to respect the load calc or it's not worth the risk.
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jamesf296mo ago
My buddy Mark over in Springfield did a charger install last month on a 70s split-level. He skipped the full panel check because the homeowner was in a rush. Turns out the main service was only 100 amps with aluminum branch wiring. Charger ran for two hours before it melted a connection in the crawlspace. They had to replace the whole service mast. He lost money on the job and his reputation took a hit. It's not just about knowing the new tech, it's about respecting the old bones of the house. Cutting corners is a sure way to end up in a bad spot.
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