I'm Belvin, owner of PowerWorks LLC. Every EV charger install I do follows the same process — but I want to walk you through a specific one from last month, because it shows exactly why doing it right matters.
The Call
Rachel W. in Upper Marlboro had just bought a Model Y and needed a Level 2 charger installed in her garage. She'd gotten one other quote — from a general handyman, not a licensed electrician. The handyman's price was lower, but he wasn't going to pull a permit.
I told Rachel the same thing I tell everyone: an unpermitted EV charger install can void your homeowner's insurance, create problems when you sell the house, and — most importantly — it's dangerous if not done correctly.
The Panel Assessment
Before I quoted anything, I came out to assess her panel. This is non-negotiable for me. Rachel had a 200-amp service — plenty of capacity — but the panel was already fairly loaded. I identified a 30-amp circuit that could be repurposed and upsized to 50 amps for a 48-amp charger without adding a sub-panel.
“Belvin installed our Tesla Wall Connector and a NEMA 14-50 outlet in the garage. Permit pulled, inspection passed, car charges perfectly every night.” — Rachel W., Upper Marlboro MD
The Install
I pulled the permit with Prince George's County the morning of the install. The circuit run from the panel to the garage was about 40 feet — clean path through the utility room. Installed the Tesla Wall Connector at 48 amps, mounted at the right height for the car's charge port location, and ran the conduit cleanly along the wall.
The county inspection passed the same week. Rachel's car now charges from near-empty to full every night.
What You Should Know Before Your EV Charger Install
Every install is different. Your panel capacity, circuit routing, and whether you want a hardwired unit or a NEMA 14-50 outlet all affect price and timeline. What never changes: the permit gets pulled, the work gets inspected, and it's done right.