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Avoid EV charging surprises: this smart electrical box protects your home and doesn't cost a fortune
With the kind volatility there is around gas prices, it’s no wonder people are considering electric cars for their next purchase. As more drivers make the switch to all-electric power, homes will need to adapt as well in order to accommodate them.
One shock new EV owners might come across is how long it could take to charge at home, especially if they stick to Level 1 charging with an ordinary 120V outlet — which could take several days. That’s why it’s recommended to install a Level 2 charger for the extra convenience of waking up the next day to a fully charged vehicle.
However, there are other unwelcome surprises when trying to integrate a speedier EV charger into an existing electrical system — such as tripping the breakers, potential wiring safety concerns and more.
Upgrading a home to satisfy these new demands can be overwhelming, but thankfully there are solutions that can provide for efficient EV charging at home with safeguards in place to make them compatible with what you currently have.
That’s why home owners should look into smart electrical boxes, which function as both a protective safety net for charging EVs, as well as providing oversight to a home’s energy consumption.
Many gadgets throughout the home have become ‘smart,’ but electrical boxes are neglected and overlooked. The best part about having a smart electrical box is the potential savings from powering your home more efficiently.
A smart way to prep your home for EV charging
Before you move forward with installing an EV charger, you should be aware of your electrical system. Upgrading to a smart electrical box, like the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 (from $1,599) or Anker SOLIX Home Power Panel (from $1,599), has several benefits when it comes to charging an EV at home.
One of the biggest benefits of installing one is that you’ll be able to know exactly what’s eating up the most power in your home, which is critical if you intend on charging an EV. The last thing you want to do is plug in your electric vehicle, knowing that the dryer’s running a cycle and someone’s using the air fryer to cook up dinner.
There’s the possibility of overloading the system, which could cause your breakers to go off and subsequently find your EV at the same charge level. Not only could this result in an outage, but it can also be a safety hazard.
You’ll be well informed about the current state of your home’s power use with a smart electrical box, while also uncovering trends you might not be aware about — like finding out that running high power appliances during off-peak hours can save money in the long run.
The great thing about installing these smart home energy monitoring systems is the data they gather, so you can make an informed decision on when it’s best to charge your EV.
In addition to knowing how much power is being used up by a specific breaker at an exact moment, smart electrical boxes can also alert you about how much they’re consuming over a period of time through their respective apps.
Potential for cost savings
Another benefit of having a smart electrical box is the potential savings of consuming electricity. Depending on your electric company, you could be on a plan where your rate is determined by time of use (TOU) — wherein electric rates are cheaper during off-peak hours. Usually this is when demand is lowest, which is typically during the evening.
You can create automations with smart electrical boxes to only allow certain breakers to operate during the peak times, like your heating, HVAC system, and essential rooms in your home where you absolutely need power.
The rest of the breakers, on the other hand, could be shut down until they’re needed — or when it’s off-peak hours.
With some electrical boxes, you could connect a power station to charge overnight when it’s off-peak hours and then use it to supply power to your home during peak hours. If for some reason you need to charge your EV during the daytime, you could still do it briefly with a power station connected to a smart electrical box.
By having all of these insights provided by a smart electrical box, you can better take hold of your home’s power usage — thus saving you money in the long run. With a more power efficient home, you'll be able to charge an EV more effectively.
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