How do I find my home's electrical service?

Your home's electrical service is the maximum amperage (A) that can be safely delivered to your home by your utility. Over time, US homes have been built with more electrical service to support our ever growing electricity consumption. Most homes built in the 1950s or earlier were installed with 60A service. From the 1960s to 1980s, 100A-125A service was most common. For homes built in the 1980s to present, 200A service has been the standard. Today, large modern homes may even have 300A-400A service.

To determine your home's electrical service, you need to find your main breaker or disconnect. This is a plastic switch that controls the electricity flow from your utility to your home. The main disconnect breaker will be labeled with the service amperage e.g. 100, 125, 200, etc. To find your main breaker:

1. Locate your electric meter, it is usually located on the exterior of your home and is often a round or rectangular device with a clear or opaque cover.
2. Look for a metal panel near your meter, it's usually gray and is often located in a utility room, basement, or garage.
3. Open the panel to reveal the main breaker or disconnect. This is a large switch that controls the power to your entire home.
4. If you can't find the main breaker near your electric meter, check your home's electrical panel. It's typically a gray metal box with a door on the front, and it's often located in a utility room, basement, or garage. The electrical panel contains breakers for all the circuits in your home.

Here are some additional tips for finding the main electrical breaker:

• Look for a label: Some homes have a label on the main electrical breaker that says "main" or "main disconnect."
• Follow the wires: The main electrical breaker is typically connected to the electric meter by a thick wire. If you follow this wire, it should lead you to the main breaker.
• Ask neighbors: If you live in a shared building or complex, ask your neighbors where they found their main electrical breaker.

Before installing your EV charger, an electrician is required to perform a residential electrical load calculation to determine if an EV charger can be safely installed in your home. Your EV charger can be safely installed if the load calculation with it installed is less than the total electrical service available for your home.

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