Electric cars like the Tesla are rapidly growing in popularity—more so than any type of car in the industry. At some point, it’s safe to assume that vehicle powered primarily by electricity will be the standard for the automotive industry, so it’s important for the infrastructure in the U.S. to change in order support electric vehicles. Electric cars save energy, promote health, and are environmentally friendly, so they can offer a number of great benefits, and if you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle, it’s important that you prepare your home for the change.

When it comes to residential Tesla and other electric vehicle chargers, it’s generally recommended that you install a Level 2 charger. Here some basic information about Level 2 charging devices:

Level 1 and Level 2 chargers are what most homeowners have access to. Level 1 electric vehicle chargers use standard household outlets, and it’s common for electric cars to come with Level 1 charging cords that cna be directly plugged into your home’s outlets. The downside of Level 1 chargers is that they’re limited to about 120 volts, which means that they can take up to 22 hours to charge your car.

Level 1 chargers are probably not a feasible option unless your car is a plug-in hybrid.

Our professional Princeton electricians recommend Level 2 chargers for residential electric vehicle charging. Level 2 chargers supply 240 volts of electricity to your car, so they can significantly reduce charging times. You’ll be able to fully charge your car in as few as three to four hours.

Installing Level 2 chargers will probably require some adjustments to your home’s electrical wiring, but our Princeton electricians will be able to handle the job.

The primary benefit of a Level 2 charger is the significant reduction in charging time. You’ll be able to charge your car much more quickly, which gives you more flexibility when it comes to using your automobile. Your car can easily be fully charged over night, or while you enjoy a meal and complete some household duties.

Level 2 chargers can also help you save money on your electrical expenses. They’ll allow you to charge your vehicle at strategic times when electrical demand is lower. You can take advantage of lower electrical costs during the night, which help maximize energy savings on an already efficient vehicle.

Electricians provide a wide variety of services from tracking down the rogue outlet that keeps tripping the breaker to installing ceiling fans or lighting. Additionally, an electrician can install new home wiring or repair problems that already exist and need to be addressed. Sometimes you inherit electrical problems when you move into a pre-existing home that need to be resolved. Here are some signs that you may need to hire an electrician to upgrade the wiring in your home.

Unlike many other appliances or home features, age isn’t always the best indicator for when wiring needs to be updated. That being said, having an electrician come out to inspect the entire electrical system and having that information on hand is important. If you suspect that something may be wrong, don’t know when the last time an inspection was done, or your home was built in a year that used suspect electrical systems, call your Top Rated Local® electrician today.

The next time you get the chance, take a good, long look at your home’s outlets. What do they look like? Do they have three-prongs or only two? If you have a variety of two-pronged outlets it’s time to give an electrician a call. Two-prong outlets are ungrounded, unlike three-prong, which means that they can be a fire hazard. The outlets either need to be changed to three-prong and attached with a grounding wire or they need to be replaced by GFCI outlets in order to protect homeowners. An electrician is best to evaluate your specific home’s needs.

Above we mentioned homes being built during years that have suspect electrical elements. Aluminum wiring is the perfect example of this. During the 1960s and 70s, many homes were constructed utilizing aluminum wiring instead of copper. Over time, aluminum wiring will loosen, making it easier for fires to start when the outlet is in use. An electrician can let you know if your home is at risk and what to do about it.

Contact the Electrical Gurus if you think your home may need a wiring upgrade!