Tenaga Nasional (TNB) has released a guide for its customers who intend to install an EV home charger, listing the prescribed steps to be taken in order to determine that one’s home is prepared to safely accommodate an EV home charger.
The process begins with consultation, and homeowners should first engage the services of a contractor who is registered with the ST (Suruhanjaya Tenaga, or Energy Commission) to inspect the internal wiring and distribution board (DB) and to assess the electrical load capacity for EV charging.
The ST-qualified contractor will then have to confirm the supply scheme and determine the total load requirement, which includes the EV home charger. A single-phase supply will support a total load of up to 10 kW, while loads above 10 kW will require a three-phase setup.
Should wiring upgrades be required, your electrician may recommend internal upgrading including wiring improvements, new main circuit breakers (MCB) a residual current device (RCD) for safety, along with other distribution box enhancements or safety protection devices. If upgrading to three-phase wiring is required, only Tenaga Nasional may process and approve upgrades to electricity supply at the premises.
Tenaga Nasional notes that the EV home charger must be approved by ST, the installer must be ST-registered and be a competent person or company in accordance with Act 447 of the Electricity Supply Act 1990. Mode 1, or direct wall socket charging is not permitted, while Mode 2 (wall socket with safety box) and Mode 3 (Type 2 AC charging) is allowed.
For wiring, the minimum wiring size is six square millimetres, or 10 square millimetres if the wiring setup is exposed to sunlight. Installation of the socket must be at least 1.2 m above ground, and the installation of a residual current device (RCD) and a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is required.
Once the EV home charger is installed, regular inspections and maintenance should be scheduled. In the case of a Mode 2 charging setup, TNB advises against using extension cords, and a Class C fire extinguisher (for electrical fires) should be located nearby.
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