A Scarborough beachside home with a coastal-grade wall charger sitting quietly through the salt air.
Scarborough · 6019

EV charger installation in Scarborough.

Beachside houses, apartment carparks, heavy salt exposure, and installs that need to survive a decade of onshore wind.

The install

What a Scarborough install actually looks like

Scarborough splits into two very different install jobs. The beachside houses along the Esplanade and West Coast Drive are premium standalone homes with garages and carports. The pockets further back toward Doubleview and Innaloo are a mix of older cottages, newer builds, and apartment complexes.

For the houses, the salt exposure is the whole conversation. Every screw, gland, bracket and isolator has to be marine-grade stainless or coated for coastal use. Standard hardware pits and fails within two years within a kilometre of the beach. We only quote sealed IP55 or better chargers within the Scarborough coastal zone.

For the apartments, the conversation is about strata approval, load capacity of the building supply, and whether the carpark power belongs to the owner or the body corporate. We handle that paperwork alongside the technical install so nothing stalls at the approval stage.

Marine grade stainless isolator next to the charger. This is the difference between a five year install and a fifteen year one.
Marine grade stainless isolator next to the charger. This is the difference between a five year install and a fifteen year one.
Scarborough beach at dusk. The onshore wind that makes it beautiful also destroys anything not rated for it.
Scarborough beach at dusk. The onshore wind that makes it beautiful also destroys anything not rated for it.

Solar first

Solar in Scarborough is worth the extra planning

The beachside strip gets exceptional sun and almost no shading. Solar yields here are among the best in Perth, and homeowners who invest in a proper system see payback in under four years even before the EV charger enters the picture.

For apartments, rooftop solar is often owned by the body corporate. Getting a private EV allocation from communal PV is possible but takes negotiation. We can quote both the technical and the process side.

Recent install

A recent Scarborough install

Location
West Coast Drive, Scarborough 6019
The home
Two-storey rendered coastal home, 10kW rooftop solar, three-phase supply, sheltered carport.
The charger
Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3, hardwired, on a corten steel accent wall inside the carport.
Outcome
Marine grade fixings throughout. Weatherproof isolator installed alongside. New three-phase RCBO in the switchboard. Half day on site.
Tesla Wall Connector on a corten steel wall. Sealed, minimal, and IP55 rated for the coastal exposure.
Tesla Wall Connector on a corten steel wall. Sealed, minimal, and IP55 rated for the coastal exposure.
Local considerations

What to know before install day in Scarborough

  • Within 500m of the beach, budget for coastal grade hardware upgrades. It is worth the extra $150 to $250 per install.
  • Apartment installs require strata approval in writing before we can begin. Allow two to four weeks lead time for that process.
  • Older Scarborough homes sometimes still have overhead service lines and undersized sub mains. Both may need upgrading before a 32A EV load is safe.
FAQ

Scarborough EV charging questions

I live in a Scarborough apartment. Can I get a charger?+

In most cases yes, but you need strata approval and confirmation that the carpark bay has a viable supply path. We handle both the paperwork and the install.

Will a normal charger survive the salt air?+

Not for long. We only install sealed IP55 or better units within the coastal zone, and we use marine grade fixings throughout. Cheaper hardware fails inside two years on this coast.

How long does a Scarborough install take?+

Half a day for a standalone house with modern electrical. Longer for apartments where strata approval and shared metering are involved.

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?+

For a standard single phase 7kW charger on an existing supply, no separate application is usually needed. Your electrician still lodges the required notice of completion with Building and Energy WA. If the install needs a bigger main switch, a service upgrade, or a move to three phase, that does go to Western Power first and it adds time to the job, so we check it before quoting.

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.

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