Level 2 EV Charger Install in Cochrane

The Brief

A Cochrane homeowner had picked up a new Tesla and was charging it off a standard 120 V outlet in the garage. Manageable for short days, painful for long ones. They wanted a proper Level 2 install, and they also knew they'd eventually want a second charger for a partner's EV and a heat pump in the next two or three years. The existing 100 A service didn't have the headroom for any of that.

What We Did

• Site assessment and load calc: Confirmed the 100 A panel was already running close to its useful limit. A 200 A upgrade was the right call rather than a load-management workaround.
• Service upgrade to 200 A: New panel, new meter base, masthead reworked to match the new service drop. Permit pulled, FortisAlberta coordinated the disconnect window.
• Tesla Wall Connector install: Wall-mounted in the garage with the connector reach planned around the homeowner's parking habit. Hardwired into a dedicated 60 A breaker so we can adjust amperage later without rework.
• Future-proofing: Sub-feed left for a second Level 2 charger on the opposite side of the garage. Pre-wired path identified for the eventual heat pump tie-in.
• Commission and handover: Charging tested live with the homeowner's car, walked through the Tesla app, and explained how to read the load management indicator on the Wall Connector.
• Inspector visit: Booked and attended. Sign-off completed the following week.

The Result

A modern 200 A service, a clean Wall Connector install in the garage, and capacity for the next two appliances they bring on board. Total power-off time on swap day was four hours. Total project time from first call to inspector sign-off was nine days.

Job Duration: One full day on site for the swap and charger install. Inspector visit the following week.

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