Bought an electric vehicle — or about to? Charging at home is faster, cheaper and far more convenient than hunting for public stations around Pinellas County. But a home charger is a dedicated electrical circuit that should be installed by a licensed electrician. Here is what every Pinellas County driver should know.
Level 1 vs. Level 2: which charger do you need?
Level 1 charging uses a standard 120-volt outlet and adds only about 3–5 miles of range per hour. Level 2 charging runs on a 240-volt circuit and adds roughly 25–35 miles per hour, fully recharging most EVs overnight. For nearly every homeowner, Level 2 is the right choice.
Will you need a panel upgrade?
A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 40–60 amp circuit. Many older Pinellas County homes run on 100-amp (or smaller) panels that do not have that capacity to spare. A licensed electrician can check your panel and tell you exactly what your home needs.
What a professional installation includes
- Assessing your panel capacity and the best charger location
- Pulling the permit and installing a dedicated 240V circuit
- Mounting and wiring the charger (Tesla, J1772, or a NEMA 14-50 outlet)
- Testing, inspection and a safe, code-compliant finish
How much does a home EV charger cost to install?
Most straightforward Level 2 installations fall in the $800–$3,000 range, depending on the charger, wiring distance and whether any electrical upgrades are needed. The only way to know your real number is a free on-site estimate.
Serving Largo, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and all of Pinellas County. Dimi Electrical Services is a licensed Florida electrical contractor (EC-13009881). Call (954) 289-7417 or request your free estimate online.