What's in a standard install
- Panel check — main breaker capacity, demand-load calc per NEC 220, breaker space
- New circuit — typically 60A double-pole breaker for 48A continuous load (125% rule)
- Conductor sizing — #6 AWG copper THHN typical for runs under 100 feet; #4 for longer
- Conduit run — EMT for indoor, PVC schedule 40 for exterior; routed to minimize length
- Disconnect — local lockout box, required by code for hardwired installs
- Wall connector mount — typically 48–50" off floor, eye-level for the user
- Phone pairing — paired and tested with the homeowner's phone before sign-off
- Permit + inspection — pulled, scheduled, signed off by city/county inspector
When it's NOT a standard install
- Panel is undersized (100A or 125A) — needs upgrade or load-management system first
- Charger location is far from panel — >100 ft conductor runs add cost
- Detached garage — needs sub-panel or trench/underground
- Charging two EVs simultaneously — load-management system or separate circuits
- Older home with knob-and-tube electrical — service-entrance work required first
What you'll spend in 2026
- Standard 48A Wall Connector, 200A panel, short run — $1,290–$1,800
- Same, longer run (50–100 ft) — $1,800–$2,400
- Same, exterior conduit + weather-rated install — $2,000–$2,800
- Add: load-management system (avoid panel upgrade) — $1,420
- Add: panel upgrade to 200A — $3,800–$6,400 (separate scope)
The biggest cost-driver isn't the charger. It's the conductor run. Garages on the same wall as the main panel cost less than detached or far-side garages. Network installers measure the run at the free panel check and quote accordingly.
Permits
Required in every city in our service area. Network installers pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and handle final sign-off. Typical permit turnaround:
- City of Davis / Yolo County — 3–5 business days
- City of Sacramento — 5–10 business days
- City of Roseville — 3–5 business days
- City of Folsom — 5–7 business days