Single-phase or three-phase? Tethered or socketed? A practical guide to choosing and installing an EV charger at a Sydney property.
Start with your supply, not the charger
The most common mistake is buying a charger first. What your property can support depends on your main switch rating, your existing peak load, available switchboard space and the cable run distance from board to parking space.
Most Sydney homes are single-phase with a 63A or 80A main. That comfortably supports a 7kW charger, which adds roughly 40km of range per hour — more than enough to fully recharge overnight for almost every driver.
When three-phase is worth it
Three-phase 22kW charging makes sense for high-kilometre drivers, households with two EVs, or businesses running fleet vehicles. Bear in mind many vehicles cap onboard AC charging at 11kW, so the extra capacity is not always usable.
If your property is single-phase, load management is usually a smarter investment than a supply upgrade. It throttles the charger when the oven and air conditioner are running, then ramps back up automatically.
Solar, tariffs and smart features
If you have rooftop solar, a solar-aware charger will divert surplus generation into the car instead of exporting it for a few cents. Over a year that difference is significant.
Look for scheduling so charging shifts to off-peak windows, and check the charger has the Type A/B or DC leakage protection required for EV circuits in Australia. We handle all of that at commissioning.
Need a licensed Sydney electrician?
Bright Electrical is available 24/7 across Sydney for emergencies and scheduled work.
0421 664 004