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How often should you inspect your EV charger?
Inspect the EV charger and cable once a year. The commonly recommended range is yearly, and after any damage to the cable. A crushed cable or a worn connector at 7 to 22 kW is an electric shock and fire risk in the garage or driveway. This is a safety-critical task, so do not let it slip.
A home charger pushes a large current for hours at a time. The yearly check is about the parts that take the wear: the cable, the connector and the wall mounting, plus the built-in protection test.
Why does inspecting your EV charger matter?
A crushed cable or a worn connector at 7 to 22 kW is an electric shock and fire risk in the garage or driveway.
What happens if you skip inspecting your EV charger?
A cable run over by a car or a connector with bent pins can overheat, and water getting into a damaged housing is an electric shock risk. These problems develop slowly and are easy to spot early.
How do you do it?
- Inspect the cable end to end. Look for flattened sections, cracks, cuts or exposed inner layers. A damaged cable should not be used.
- Check the connector and inlet. Pins should be straight and clean, and the connector should show no discolouration or melted plastic.
- Check the mounting and housing. The unit should be firm on the wall with no cracks, gaps or signs of water inside the cover.
- Run the protection test. Many chargers have a test button or an app function for the residual current protection. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly.
- Update the firmware and tidy the cable. Install updates, and store the cable on its holder so it is not left on the ground to be driven over.
What does it take?
How do you know inspecting your EV charger is overdue?
- The charger trips or stops charging part way
- The connector feels hot after charging
- Visible damage to the cable or housing
What do people get wrong?
- Using an extension lead or an adapter on a damaged cable
- Leaving the cable coiled tightly while charging, which traps heat
When should you stop and call someone?
For scorch marks, a hot connector, repeated trips or any internal damage. Charger wiring is a job for a qualified electrician.
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Get the free appDoes this differ in the US, UK, Australia or Canada?
United States
Level 2 chargers should be installed under a permit where your local jurisdiction requires one; keep the permit with the home records.
United Kingdom
Chargers must be installed by a qualified electrician to BS 7671, and smart charger regulations apply to units installed since 2022.
Australia
Chargers must be installed by a licensed electrician; check whether your network requires the installation to be notified.
Canada
Installation needs a licensed electrician and in most provinces an electrical permit.
Common questions
Why does inspecting your EV charger matter?
A crushed cable or a worn connector at 7 to 22 kW is an electric shock and fire risk in the garage or driveway.
What happens if you skip inspecting your EV charger?
A crushed cable or a worn connector at 7 to 22 kW is an electric shock and fire risk in the garage or driveway. Skipping it does not usually fail immediately, which is exactly why it gets forgotten: the consequence arrives months later as a repair bill rather than as an obvious fault.
Does inspecting your EV charger differ by country?
Universal. Chargers carry their own residual current protection; follow the manufacturer's test instructions and have an electrician check anything that trips or scorches.
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