How to check my dryer circuit is ready for EV charging

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) requires a significant amount of electrical power and can put stress on the circuitry, drying clothes doesn’t come close. A dryer will usually run between 22 amps - 24 amps, and toggle between 5amps and 24 amps frequently during a cycle, while EV charger can pull 24 amps continuous for many hours per session.

Further more, many customer’s dryer circuit and outlet have not been inspected or maintained for years/decades. This can leads to loose wiring over time. Loose wiring can cause electricity to arc, generating lots of heat which can melt or burn the socket/plug. Vast majority of the time, the worse will happen is a melted plug/socket, but in rare occasions, this can lead to a fire.

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This is why we recommend having an electrician inspect your dryer circuit and the outlet before charging your EV. EV vendors may also recommend upgrading to a higher quality outlet, see Tesla’s recommendation.

We highly recommend customers to check the temperature of every connection point (at every plug and socket from wall to your car) every few months to make sure they do not feel exceptionally hot, which could indicate a loose connection.