A Como home wired for EV charging without disturbing the rest of the household load.
Como · 6152

EV charger installation in Como.

Riverside streets, a mix of 1950s originals and new builds, and homes with enough load already before the car turns up.

The install

What a Como install actually looks like

Como runs from tidy 1950s and 1960s originals near Canning Highway through to serious new builds along the river. The older stock usually has a single phase supply and a board that has been added to piecemeal over sixty years. The new builds usually have three phase and plenty of spare ways.

The riverside homes are the ones that need a real load calculation. Ducted air, pool pump, spa, induction cooking and a 32A car charger on the same supply is a genuine maximum demand problem, not a theoretical one. We do the numbers and either load manage the charger or recommend the supply upgrade.

Garages here are almost always attached or very close, so runs are short and installs are quick once the board question is answered.

Three phase board with the EV circuit on its own RCBO and clearly labelled for whoever works on it next.
Three phase board with the EV circuit on its own RCBO and clearly labelled for whoever works on it next.
The Como foreshore. Short trips into the city are exactly the driving pattern home charging is built for.
The Como foreshore. Short trips into the city are exactly the driving pattern home charging is built for.

Solar first

Big arrays, bigger loads

Como homes with river frontage often run 10kW or more of solar and still import in the evening because the load profile is heavy. Charging the car at midday off the roof is the single cheapest energy the household will ever use.

If there is a battery in the mix, priority matters. Get the settings right and the car takes surplus PV first, the battery holds capacity for the evening, and you stop paying peak rates for both.

Recent install

A recent Como install

Location
Near Preston Street, Como 6152
The home
Modern two storey riverside build, 13kW solar with battery, three phase supply, double garage.
The charger
Fronius Wattpilot Home 22 on the garage wall, integrated with the existing inverter setup.
Outcome
Dedicated three phase RCBO added. Charger configured for solar surplus first with a battery reserve. Half day on site including commissioning.
Fronius Wattpilot on a Como garage wall, using the three phase already sitting at the board.
Fronius Wattpilot on a Como garage wall, using the three phase already sitting at the board.
Local considerations

What to know before install day in Como

  • Heavy household loads need a proper maximum demand calculation before adding an EV circuit. Ask for it in writing.
  • Battery homes need the charge priority set deliberately, otherwise the car drains the battery you were saving for the evening peak.
  • Some older Como streets still have limited single phase capacity. A supply upgrade through the network takes lead time, so start early.
FAQ

Como EV charging questions

Should I upgrade to three phase?+

Only if the household load or a future second car justifies it. For one car and a normal commute, single phase 7kW is genuinely enough.

Will charging drain my home battery overnight?+

Not if it is configured properly. We set the charger to draw from solar surplus and grid off peak, and to leave a reserve in the battery.

Can two cars share one circuit?+

Yes. Load sharing across two chargers on one circuit is common here and both cars are full by morning.

Is there a licensed EV charger electrician near Como?+

Yes. Candela Electrical Services is based in Mullaloo and installs EV chargers across Como 6152 every week. We are licensed electrical contractors in WA (EC 15317) and every install is tested and certified.

Do you charge extra to travel to Como?+

No. Como is inside our regular Perth service area, so travel is built into your quote. The price you approve is the price you pay.

How do I book an EV charger install in Como?+

Start the free online estimate and add a few photos of your switchboard and parking spot. You can also call 0476 033 037. We then confirm the details and lock in a date that suits you.

Local electrician

Your EV charger installer for Como 6152

Licensed WA electrical contractor (EC 15317). Rated 5.0 on Google by Perth homeowners.

Candela Electrical Services
7 Transit Way, Mullaloo WA 6027
0476 033 037
Mon to Fri 6:30am to 5:00pm, Sat 6:30am to 1:00pm
Perth FAQ

EV charger installation in Perth, answered

The questions we get asked most by WA homeowners, answered by the electricians who do the work.

Does Western Power need to be notified about my EV charger?+

In Perth, a standard 7kW single-phase charger is generally permitted on a standard Western Power connection (63A single-phase or 32A per phase three-phase) without a separate application, as long as your electrician confirms the home's total maximum demand stays within that limit. If the added load would exceed your connection, we either apply to Western Power for a supply upgrade or use a smart charger with grid import limiting. Bidirectional (vehicle-to-grid) chargers need a separate embedded generation application. Regional WA customers on Horizon Power have different rules (an EV Connect application).

Is single phase or three phase more common in Perth homes?+

Most Perth houses are single phase, which caps a home charger at about 7.4kW. Newer estates in areas like Ellenbrook, Baldivis and Canning Vale are more likely to have three phase already at the board, and a lot of older knock down rebuilds get it too. Lift the switchboard cover and count the incoming actives, or send us a photo and we will tell you.

Which Synergy plan is best once I have a home charger?+

Synergy runs time of use options aimed at EV owners with a cheap overnight window and a cheaper midday window built around WA's solar surplus. Charging in those windows rather than the evening peak is where the real savings sit. Check current rates on Synergy's site before switching, because the windows and prices change.

Should I charge from my solar instead of the grid in Perth?+

Usually yes. WA feed in tariffs are low, so exporting midday solar earns you very little while grid power costs several times more. A solar aware charger such as a myenergi Zappi or Fronius Wattpilot watches your export at the switchboard and pushes surplus into the car instead of sending it out for a few cents.

Do coastal Perth suburbs need a different charger?+

If you are in the salt spray zone near the coast from Mullaloo through Scarborough, Cottesloe and Fremantle, outdoor units cop corrosion. We fit chargers rated IP65 or better, use stainless or marine grade fixings, and where possible mount the unit inside the garage with only the tethered lead exposed.

What about summer heat and charger derating?+

Perth summers regularly sit over 40C, and a charger baking in full afternoon sun can throttle its output to protect itself. West and north facing walls are the worst spots. We site the unit in shade or under eaves where we can, which keeps it charging at full rate and extends the life of the electronics.

Can I get a charger installed in a Perth apartment or strata complex?+

Yes, but it is a different job to a house. You need strata approval, a metering plan so the electricity bills back to your lot rather than common property, and often a load managed charger so the building's supply is not overloaded. We put that documentation together for the strata council as part of the quote.

How does a limestone driveway or brick paving affect the cable run?+

Plenty of Perth homes have the switchboard on one side and the parking on the other, with paving or limestone in between. Where we can, we run the cable through the roof space or along the eaves to avoid lifting anything. When trenching is unavoidable we lift and relay pavers rather than cut them, and that extra work is priced up front, not added later.

Are there WA rebates for home EV chargers?+

WA does not currently run a state rebate on home charger installs. The EV rebate scheme that ran on vehicle purchases has closed. The saving comes from the tariff side instead: charging off peak or straight off your own solar. We will not quote a rebate that does not exist.

Who is legally allowed to install an EV charger in Perth?+

A licensed WA electrical contractor. The circuit has to be dedicated, protected by the correct RCD type for the charger, and wired to AS/NZS 3000 with the EV specific requirements of AS/NZS 3012 and the manufacturer's instructions. Candela is licensed under EC# 15317 and fully insured, and you get the compliance paperwork on completion.

Ready for a proper Como EV install?

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