Choosing a Level 2 charger

Most Level 2 chargers do the same job; the differences are in safety, fit and convenience. This page is a checklist rather than a ranking. The companion shelf at chargeathome.shop lists a few chargers that pass it, with each one's specs read off its maker's page and the circuit it needs.

The checklist

1. A safety listing from a recognized testing laboratory (UL, ETL or CSA marks on the unit and in the manual). An inspector will look for it, and an unlisted charger is the riskiest thing you can mount on a wall.
2. Adjustable maximum current, so the installer can match it to the circuit under the 80 percent rule.
3. The right connector for your car, or one that suits the cars you expect to own (see connectors).
4. Cable length that reaches the car's port wherever you park, without stretching across a walkway. Measure before you buy.
5. Plug-in or hardwired, decided by the 14-50 guide.
6. Outdoor rating if it will be outside (see charging outdoors).

Nice to have

• Scheduling and energy reporting in an app. Useful if your car cannot schedule, or if a utility program needs to talk to the charger.
• Load management, which can avoid a panel upgrade (see panel capacity).
• Two-car sharing on one circuit.

How much power to buy

No more than your circuit allows and your car accepts. A 11.52 kW charger on a car whose onboard charger takes 7.2 kW charges at 7.2 kW.