Questions that change the job from area to area
How hard the install is depends far more on the property than on the postcode. Three questions shape most jobs anywhere in Sydney.
- Where does the car sit overnight? A private garage or carport next to the house usually means a short cable run. A basement space in a unit block can mean a long run back to a shared board.
- Who controls the wiring? In a freestanding house the decision is yours. In a strata building, the owners corporation usually has a say in shared electrical work and common property.
- What can the switchboard carry? An older board may need work before it can handle a dedicated charging circuit. Some homes also have three phase power, which opens up faster charging options.
Freestanding houses in the outer suburbs
Suburbs such as Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Blacktown and Campbelltown have plenty of freestanding homes with garages or driveways. That often keeps the cable run short and the job simple. Houses in newer estates may already have a modern switchboard, while older streets may need a board check first. If you have rooftop solar, ask about a charger that can draw on your panels during the day.
Apartments and strata on the coast and in the centres
Bondi, Manly, Dee Why, Chatswood and Parramatta have a large share of unit living. In these buildings the meter, the board and your parking space can sit on different levels. Planning usually starts with the strata committee: what the by-laws allow, how power use will be measured and whether a shared charging setup suits the building better than single units.
Older family homes and newer unit blocks
Hornsby, Chatswood, Sutherland and Cronulla mix older family houses with newer unit blocks. Older homes are where switchboard capacity tends to come up, so it is worth having the board looked at early. Near the beaches at Cronulla, Manly and Bondi, ask whether the charger and its fittings suit an outdoor, salty air position if it will not sit under cover.
Charging from the street
If you only have kerbside parking, running a cable across the footpath is not something you can simply arrange yourself. Any work in the public road reserve, footpath included, needs consent from the relevant roads authority. Check that before choosing a charger.
Before you compare quotes for your suburb
Note where the car parks, how far that spot is from your switchboard, whether you live in a strata building and whether you have solar or three phase power. Photograph the switchboard and the parking spot too. With those answers in hand for your suburb, compare options, and you can request a quote here and a licensed and insured local contractor can follow up.
