As Boston’s most trusted custom builder for over 30 years, Sleeping Dog Properties constantly evolves its services to meet modern demands. Fitting homes properly for electric cars is one of the newer services Sleeping Dog Properties provides. Sleeping Dog Properties advises their customers on fitting homes appropriately to help them avoid lawsuits. There are a lot of legal ramifications to having an electric car charger installed incorrectly. Sleeping Dog Properties looks to help its clients avoid a lawsuit by informing them of common mistakes people make after their electric vehicle purchase.
The biggest issue those who live in a condo or apartment community make is assuming that the homeowners association will allow them to fit their property for an electric charger legally. Those who don’t live in a single-family home cannot legally ad an EV charger to the property. Sleeping Dog Properties has had to help customers avoid a lawsuit by turning down jobs where EV chargers are not legal. Before anyone spends money on an electric vehicle, they should make sure they are legally allowed to fit an EV charger on their property. Otherwise, they will need to locate a public charging station.
Some shared properties can outlaw EV chargers, and some homes cannot currently accommodate EV chargers. It is not uncommon for American homes to be unable to accommodate a Level 2 EV charger. This is simply a matter of the electrical panel in the home being too full. Correcting this issue can cost up to $10,000. Needing to double up or triple up circuits can lead to a hazardous situation. An electrical fire associated with an electric vehicle can be catastrophic. These vehicles burn at extremely hot temperatures, so it is absolutely pivotal that a home is properly prepared to install an EV charger.
A trusted, licensed electrician should fully inspect a home’s electrical system before a home EV charger is considered. No one should assume that an open panel or an empty slot means a new circuit can be added without issues. The risks are real, and property owners need to be cautious. The best thing a property owner can do is have the electrician visit the home and inspect the present electrical system. If the homeowner can provide info on the charger they are looking to add, an electrician can tell what upgrades will be required and what they will likely cost.
Sleeping Dog Properties notes that many lawsuits surrounding electric car charger installation in a home come from a failure to pull an electrical permit. Most cities in towns around Boston and the entire United States require an inspection from the local municipal office. Failure to get this inspection is a lawsuit waiting to happen. In addition to the inspection, the electrician will have to provide proof of insurance.
Finally, Sleeping Dog Properties notes that EV charging setups have a built-in ground fault circuit interrupter protector. The problem is that not all outlets have breakers that mesh well with the ground fault circuit interrupter protector of the EC charger. Only a certified electrician should be trusted to ensure everything is up to code and that charger installation won’t put a homeowner and their family in grave peril.
