GM Level 2 EV Charger Install in Camas, WA

We put a GM Level 2 EV charger in the garage of a home in Camas, WA. The homeowner drives a GM EV (GM sells the same home charger for the Chevy Bolt, Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer and Sierra EVs) and wanted the charger made for their car. We did the circuit and the install.

GM’s charger vs other brands

Most chargers we put in are other brands: Tesla Wall Connector, Wallbox, ChargePoint, Emporia, Grizzl-E. The GM charger is less common, but it’s worth knowing about:

• 48 amps on a 60-amp circuit, as fast as Level 2 gets
• A J1772 plug that works with any non-Tesla EV (and Teslas with the adapter)
• Warranty and support through GM’s dealer service
• The GM Energy app for scheduling charging, and it works with GM’s home battery if the owner adds one later

The GM charger sometimes costs more than other brands with the same specs. A lot of people get it bundled with the car, though, so it’s already paid for.

60-amp circuit, 48 amps of charging

Charger sizing comes from NEC 625.42:

A charger can pull 80% of the breaker rating, continuously

So:

• 40-amp breaker: 32 amps of charging
• 50-amp breaker: 40 amps of charging
• 60-amp breaker: 48 amps of charging

At 48 amps and 240 volts, that’s 11.5 kW into the car. On a 75 kWh battery, that’s empty to full in about 6.5 hours, so overnight’s easy.

For most households, 40 amps is plenty. People who drive a lot every day, have more than one EV, or want the fastest charging ask for the 60-amp setup.

Relabeling the panel

This panel had been added onto a bunch of times over the years (furnace, A/C, jacuzzi and more), and the labels didn’t match anymore. Half the breakers still had the original 1996 labels, and the other half had handwritten notes from different electricians. The homeowner asked us to relabel the whole thing while it was open. If your panel’s running out of space, that’s often a sign it’s time for a service upgrade.

Now every circuit’s clearly marked, so the next electrician (and the homeowner) knows what each breaker does without flipping them one at a time. It’s a 15-minute add-on when we’re already in the panel. Ask for it any time an electrician has your panel cover off.

Planning an EV charger install around Vancouver, whether it’s your car maker’s charger or another brand? We’ve put in 120+ home chargers. See our guide to choosing an EV charger for your home or Level 1 vs Level 2 charging. Call 360-828-7143 or schedule a free estimate.