03 / EV CHARGING

Your EV charger should work with your house.

We look beyond the charger nameplate: phase supply, car acceptance rate, switchboard capacity, solar surplus and the household loads running while you charge.

We look beyond the charger nameplate: phase supply, car acceptance rate, switchboard capacity, solar surplus and the household loads running while you charge.
THE QUESTION TO ASK FIRST

7 kW or 22 kW is not the whole story.

The actual charging rate depends on your supply, the vehicle’s onboard AC charger, installation and load management.

1Φ

Single phase

We commonly discuss 7 kW AC charging for single-phase Perth homes. We confirm the property’s supply and circuit design before installation.

3Φ

Three phase

A 22 kW three-phase charger may be suitable where the supply and vehicle support it. It does not guarantee the car will accept 22 kW AC.

☀

Solar smart charging

A charger can respond to solar surplus when monitoring and controls are compatible. Small surplus and export settings can limit solar-only charging.

⌁

Load management

Ducted aircon, induction cooking, battery charging and EV charging compete for available power. Dynamic control can be important.

AN EXAMPLE FROM OUR CUSTOMER EMAILS

What happens if you have 6.6 kW solar and an EV?

We explained two honest approaches to a single-phase homeowner: stagger big household loads and EV charging, or charge as usual and accept grid import whenever combined demand exceeds solar generation.

For simultaneous daytime household use and EV charging, we discussed a larger 10–13 kW solar array paired with an appropriately sized inverter—subject to roof and network conditions.

This was tailored advice to one household, not a default specification for every EV owner.

Solar home and plugged-in electric car
CHARGING MODES

What “solar-only” actually means.

If panels are producing 5 kW but the house is already using 3 kW, only about 2 kW is left for the EV before other system constraints.

Solar priority

Use surplus PV generation when it is available. Minimum start currents, phase switching, export limits, CT installation and charger software all affect real operation.

Scheduled charging

Charge at chosen times, such as daytime solar windows or an eligible tariff period, rather than assuming every hour is solar-powered.

Grid + solar

Use both sources for flexibility when you need the car ready. We explain where your grid consumption comes from instead of promising free charging.

EQUIPMENT WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH CUSTOMERS

Different chargers. Different ecosystems.

Final compatibility and price depend on exact model, phase supply and installation.

Zappi

Solar-aware modes

Often considered where solar priority and surplus-based charging control are central.

GoodWe

Integrated options

A natural comparison when the household already has a GoodWe inverter and battery ecosystem.

Sigenergy

One connected platform

EV charging considered alongside the SigenStor battery and app experience.

Tesla / Others

Vehicle and preference fit

We assess the charger requirements, electrical supply and available control modes—not just the car badge.

EV QUESTIONS

Charge smarter.

Can I install a 22 kW charger on single-phase power?+

A typical 22 kW AC charger is intended for three-phase connection. We assess a suitable single-phase alternative and the property’s electrical capacity.

Will “solar-only” charging always work?+

No. It depends on enough available surplus, the minimum charging current, your inverter/export settings and monitoring integration. We will explain those limitations.

Does a battery automatically charge my car?+

It can contribute energy depending on how the system is configured. We discuss whether you want to reserve battery energy for the house rather than unintentionally discharge it into the car.

Do I need to upgrade my switchboard?+

Not always. We review the board, supply phases, spare ways, protective devices and any load-management requirement before quoting.

START WITH A CONVERSATION

Let’s size the charger to the house.

Tell us your EV model, power phase, existing solar and preferred charging habits. We will advise the workable charger options.