EV Charger Installation FAQs — Christchurch

Every installation includes: the charger unit, a new dedicated 32A circuit from your switchboard to the charger, all cabling and conduit, the MCB in your consumer unit, charger wall mounting, wiring and terminations, WiFi and app configuration, CT clamp for DLB (if applicable), a full test with your EV, and the Certificate of Compliance. Labour is included. There are no extras on the day — the price in the written quote is the price you pay.

No. Our quote is fixed-price and itemised. The only reason a final price might differ from the quote is if something genuinely unexpected is found during installation — for example, if the cable route turns out to be substantially longer than the photos suggested, or if the switchboard has an undisclosed fault that must be addressed for safety. If anything like this arises, we stop and discuss it with you before proceeding. We do not add extras after the fact.

Yes. Our remote photo assessment and fixed-price quote are completely free with no obligation to proceed. In the rare cases where an on-site visit is needed to quote accurately, we'll let you know in advance whether there is a call-out fee. For the vast majority of Christchurch homes, photos are all we need.

We may require a partial deposit to secure your booking, particularly when a specific charger model needs to be ordered. This will be made clear in your quote and booking confirmation. Full payment is due on completion of the installation, after the Certificate of Compliance has been issued and you're satisfied with the work.

Most home EV charger installations take 3–6 hours. A straightforward garage install with a short cable run typically takes 3 hours. Longer cable runs through ceiling cavities, concrete walls, or installations that also include a switchboard upgrade take 5–7 hours. Everything is completed in a single visit — we don't leave and return another day.

In most cases, no. We can complete a full assessment and issue a firm fixed-price quote from photos alone. We'll ask you to send photos of your switchboard (open, showing all breakers), the wall where the charger will be mounted, and the approximate cable route between the two. A site visit is only needed for complex jobs — such as unusual switchboard access or very long cable routes.

Three photos cover most situations: (1) your switchboard with the door open showing all the breakers clearly, (2) the wall or area where you'd like the charger mounted, and (3) a photo showing the approximate cable path between the switchboard and the charger position — along the ceiling, under the eaves, or down the wall. If you're not sure, call us and we'll talk you through it in two minutes.

You need to be available at the start (for the site walkthrough) and at the end (for handover and app setup). During the middle portion of the job you're free to go about your day. We'll call you if anything unexpected comes up, but that's rarely necessary. Your home's power stays on throughout — only the new circuit and the relevant part of the switchboard are temporarily isolated.

Typically within 2–5 working days of quote acceptance, depending on charger stock and schedule availability. If your chosen charger model needs to be ordered, lead time is usually 2–4 business days from suppliers. We'll confirm the earliest available slot when you accept. We also offer Saturday installations at no extra charge.

No — not to the whole house. We only de-energise the specific circuits we're working on. The rest of your home — lights, appliances, heating, internet — stays live throughout. There is typically one brief period (5–10 minutes) when the board is open and we're fitting the new MCB, during which you may notice certain circuits going off momentarily. We'll let you know before this happens.

It depends on your EV. Most modern EVs sold in New Zealand use a Type 2 (IEC 62196) connector — including Tesla, BYD, Hyundai, Kia, MG, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, and Volvo. Older Japanese-market EVs — most commonly the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV — use a Type 1 (J1772) connector. If you're not sure which applies to your vehicle, call us and we'll confirm it in seconds.

We supply and install Wallbox, Zappi, Ocular, JuiceBox, and Tesla Wall Connector. We advise the best charger for your specific EV model, home wiring, and usage pattern during the free assessment. All chargers we supply come with manufacturer warranty and are suitable for residential installation under NZ electrical standards.

The difference is in the connector shape and the EVs they're compatible with. Type 2 (also called IEC 62196 or Mennekes) is the current global standard — it's a 7-pin connector used by virtually all new EVs. Type 1 (also called J1772 or SAE J1772) is a 5-pin connector used by older Japanese-market vehicles. Both provide Level 2 AC charging (7kW single-phase) and deliver substantially faster charging than a standard 10A outlet. The charger hardware and circuit are similar — only the cable and plug differ.

A 7.4kW Level 2 home charger will add approximately 30–40 km of range per hour of charging. For most EVs with a 60–80kWh battery, a full charge from near-empty takes 8–11 hours — easily achievable overnight. This compares to a standard 10A outlet, which adds only 8–12 km of range per hour and can take 30–60+ hours for a full charge. In practice, most owners plug in each evening and wake up to a full battery every morning.

Yes, in most cases. We can install customer-supplied chargers provided they meet NZ electrical standards and carry the relevant certification marks. We'll need the charger's specifications to confirm the circuit requirements. Note that the manufacturer warranty on a customer-supplied charger is your own responsibility, and we can only warrant our workmanship, not the charger hardware itself. Call us to discuss your specific unit before purchasing.

Probably not. Most Christchurch homes built after the mid-1990s have a modern consumer unit with sufficient capacity for a 7.4kW EV charger — especially when a Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB) charger is used. DLB prevents overloads by monitoring your live household load and reducing the charger's output when demand is high. Switchboard upgrades are typically needed only for homes with older rewireable fuse boards, very limited mains capacity, or no spare circuit positions. We assess this from your photos and tell you honestly upfront.

DLB is a technology built into smart EV chargers that uses a current transformer (CT clamp) installed on your mains cable to monitor your home's live electricity usage in real time. When your household draws heavily — heat pump, oven, hot water all running at once — the charger automatically reduces its output so the total load stays within your switchboard's capacity. When demand drops, it ramps back up automatically. DLB can save $1,500–$2,500+ in switchboard upgrade costs and is our most common recommendation for Christchurch homes. We recommend it for most installations.

Yes. Solar-integrated charging allows the charger to prioritise your surplus solar generation before drawing from the grid — potentially reducing your home charging cost to near zero on sunny days. Smart chargers like the Zappi and Wallbox Pulsar Plus have dedicated solar-charging modes. We configure these to work with your existing solar inverter and export monitoring. If you're planning to install solar at the same time, we can coordinate the two installations for an integrated result.

Load management is a broader term — DLB is one form of it. In a residential context, load management refers to the use of smart technology to control when and at what rate your EV charges, based on your home's available capacity, your energy tariff, and your preferences. DLB handles real-time load protection. Scheduled charging (via the app) is another form — limiting charging to off-peak hours to reduce cost. Some chargers also support priority management, where the EV charger is the first load to be reduced if the grid or battery storage signals a high-load event. See our load management page for more detail.

Yes — if your property has a three-phase supply. A three-phase charger can deliver up to 22kW (though most residential EVs in NZ accept a maximum of 11kW on AC). Three-phase supply is more common in newer Christchurch homes, apartments, and some rural properties. We check your supply type during the assessment and recommend accordingly. If your property only has single-phase supply (the majority of NZ homes), a 7.4kW charger is the practical maximum and is sufficient for overnight charging.

Yes. We service all of greater Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region, including outer suburbs and rural properties. Call us on 021 194 9138 to confirm availability for your specific address. A travel surcharge may apply for very remote locations.

A Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is a legal document required under New Zealand's Electricity Act 1992 for every new electrical installation — including EV chargers. It confirms the work was carried out by a registered electrician and complies with the AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules. Without a CoC, your installation is illegal, may void your home insurance, and can cause issues when selling the property. We issue a CoC for every installation and email you a copy on completion. There is no extra charge for this — it's included in every quote.

You must use an EWRB-registered electrician. The Electricity Workers Registration Board (EWRB) is the NZ government body that licences and registers all electrical workers. Installing or connecting a 240V EV charger circuit is "prescribed electrical work" under NZ law — it cannot legally be done by an unlicensed person, a general builder, or anyone not registered with the EWRB, regardless of their experience. Only a registered electrician can issue a Certificate of Compliance. All our installers are EWRB-registered.

No. Under the NZ Electricity Act 1992 and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, the wiring of a dedicated EV charger circuit is prescribed electrical work that must be carried out by a registered electrician. A DIY installation is illegal, cannot receive a CoC, and will not be covered by your home insurance in the event of fire or electrical damage. Penalties for performing or procuring unlicensed electrical work can include fines. Don't risk it — our prices are competitive and the job is done correctly with full legal protection.

A professionally installed charger with a Certificate of Compliance should not negatively affect your home insurance — if anything, a code-compliant installation is what insurers expect. However, an EV charger installed without a CoC (or installed by an unlicensed person) may void your insurance coverage in the event of a claim related to electrical fault or fire. Always insist on a CoC from your installer. We include one with every job.

For standard residential EV charger installations (up to 7.4kW), formal notification to your lines company is not generally required. However, if you're installing an 11kW or larger charger, or if your total connected load approaches your network connection capacity, your lines company may need to be notified. We advise on this as part of every installation and handle any required notifications on your behalf where applicable. For most Christchurch homes, this isn't an issue.

We provide a full workmanship warranty on all electrical work we carry out. If any defect arises with our installation — a loose connection, a conduit issue, a wiring fault — we'll return and fix it at no cost. The charger hardware itself is covered by the manufacturer's warranty, typically 2–3 years depending on the brand. We assist with any warranty claim during the warranty period and act as the point of contact with the manufacturer on your behalf.

Call us on 021 194 9138 — we're available 24/7. If the issue is with the installation workmanship, we'll return and fix it under warranty at no charge. If it's with the charger hardware, we'll assist with the manufacturer warranty claim. For minor issues that can be resolved remotely — such as app setup questions or WiFi connectivity — we can often sort these over the phone in a few minutes.

We configure your charger's app to a schedule before we leave — set to begin charging at your cheapest off-peak tariff window (typically 11pm–7am for most NZ retailers) and complete before your morning peak rate begins. If you change power plans or retailers, you may want to adjust this schedule — it takes about 30 seconds in the app. Most Christchurch homeowners on a Time of Use tariff save $30–$80 per month on home charging costs compared to daytime rates. We walk you through the app fully before leaving.

Send us photos of your switchboard and garage or carport before you buy your EV — we'll tell you exactly what's needed and what it will cost. Most Christchurch homes built after the 1990s are straightforward installs. Getting a quote before your vehicle arrives means the charger can be installed the week your car is delivered, so you charge properly from day one rather than spending weeks on a 10A extension cord.

An EV charger installed with a CoC is a fixed electrical fitting and is typically considered part of the property — similar to a heat pump or bathroom exhaust fan. Unless explicitly excluded in the sale agreement, it generally stays with the house. This can actually be a selling point: an EV-ready home with a professional charger installation is increasingly attractive to buyers as EV adoption grows in New Zealand. Keep your CoC documentation on file — it may be requested by the purchaser's solicitor.