GM Level 2 EV Charger Install in Camas, WA

A GM Level 2 EV charger install in the garage of a home in Camas, WA. The customer owns a GM electric vehicle (Chevy Bolt, Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq, or GMC Hummer/Sierra EV; GM sells the same OEM home charger across all of them) and wanted the charger that ships branded for their vehicle. We handled the circuit and install.

GM’s OEM charger vs third-party chargers

Most EV charger installs we do use third-party hardware: Tesla Wall Connector, Wallbox, ChargePoint, Emporia, Grizzl-E. The GM OEM charger is less common but worth knowing:

• 48-amp continuous output on a 60-amp circuit (the fastest Level 2 charging available)
• J1772 connector that works with any non-Tesla EV (and Teslas with the included adapter)
• Warranty and support integrated with the vehicle’s OEM service network
• Smart-home / GM Energy app integration for charge scheduling and whole-home battery coordination if the customer adds a GM Energy storage unit later

The downside is that the OEM-branded charger sometimes costs more than comparable third-party units with the same specs. For customers who bought the charger as part of their vehicle purchase bundle, it is already paid for, so this is usually a non-issue.

60-amp circuit = 48-amp continuous charging

The math on Level 2 charger sizing comes from NEC 625.42:

Continuous load = 80% of breaker rating

So:

• 40-amp breaker → 32-amp max continuous output
• 50-amp breaker → 40-amp max continuous output
• 60-amp breaker → 48-amp max continuous output

At 48 amps / 240 volts, that’s 11.5 kW going into the vehicle. On a 75 kWh battery that’s a full charge from empty in about 6.5 hours, or an overnight charge is trivial.

For most households, 40-amp is enough. Customers who drive a lot of miles per day, have multiple EVs, or want maximum charge speed for road trips ask for the 60-amp install.

The bonus: panel relabel

This was one of those houses where the panel had been modified multiple times over the years (furnace, AC, jacuzzi, later additions) and the directory labels no longer matched reality. Half the breakers had the original 1996 labels, half had handwritten update notes from different electricians. Customer asked us to relabel the whole thing while we had it open. If a panel in your home is running out of labeled space, that’s often the trigger for a full service upgrade.

After relabel, every circuit is clearly identified. Future electricians (and the homeowner) know exactly what each breaker controls without trial-and-error. This kind of panel directory hygiene is a 15-minute add-on when we’re already in the panel for something else. Worth asking for any time you have an electrician with the dead front off.

Planning an EV charger install in Clark or Cowlitz County, whether your OEM charger or a third-party unit? Newman Electric has installed hundreds of home charging stations across the region. See our guide to choosing an EV charger for your home or EV charger installation cost in Vancouver, WA. Call 360-828-7143 or schedule a free scope visit.