May 1, 2023
The primary purpose of a GFCI receptacle is to prevent electrical shock hazards. These devices are required to be installed in areas where there is a high potential of water intrusion to the receptacle. As such, Treehouse is required to install GFCI protection on receptacles that are located outdoors or in a garage. This includes NEMA 14-50 receptacles.
GFCI protection is embedded in almost all EV chargers and vehicles. However, the additional protection to any receptacle in wet locations is still required by the National Fire Protection Agency, National Electrical Code and California Electrical Code. This additional protection often causes nuisance tripping and will also increase the price of Treehouse’s installation. When more than one GFCI is installed on the same circuit, the signals create a false positive and shut the circuit off. For these reasons, we recommend installing a hardwired charger.
We've put together a few helpful resources to prepare you for installation day.
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) and Zinsco panels have design flaws that can cause their breakers to fail, creating a safety hazard.
Determine your electrical service by finding your main disconnect breaker. This is usually near your main electrical panel or meter.