F I NI S HI N G t o u ch
What a charge
A 34 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 2
s sales of electric vehicles in the United States continue to grow, the probability that new homes will include an EV charging station like the one
pictured here from Legrand/Pass & Seymour also increases. EV charging stations are nowhere near commodity status, but installing one in a new home could some day soon be standard practice. Most requests for EV charging stations
come from curious production builders who want to be educated on the product, says Kiran Laxman, product manager, EV Charging Solutions, Legrand/Pass & Seymour, Syracuse, N.Y. "We haven't seen much of that translate into actual installs, however. Most installs on the residential side are being driven by either the car dealer or a homeowner who buys [a charging station] and hires an electrician to install it." Home builders, architects and designers
not ready to install an EV charging station in a new home can at least plan for them, Laxman says. "Make sure there is a separate, dedicated 40-amp circuit in the garage or where the car would be parked. In existing buildings, the cost of wiring for the installation is far more than the cost of a
charging station itself. Planning for it as the home is being built would save the homeowner a lot of heartache and money." Installation is best handled by a licensed
electrician, and some jurisdictions require permitting. However, consumers are able to purchase them, as are home building professionals. Legrand's EV charging stations are sold at Home Depot and by electrical distributors.
C
hargers come with cord management technology, which keeps the cord clean
and in place, and are designed for users to plug in their cars and forget about them. In North America, the EV charging market is standardized so one car fits all chargers and vice versa. One charging option is 110 volts up to 12 amps, similar to a charger for a laptop computer. Legrand's product is a level two charging station with 240 volts and up to 75 amps. "The unit we offer is rated for both indoor and outdoor use," he adds. A pedestal model is available, which commonly is installed in multifamily developments. For more
information, circle 43 or visit Legrand.us. — Rob Heselbarth ■
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