EV Load Management

Max EV Charger Chart

The biggest EV charger that fits each service size across measured-demand levels, from the NEC 220.87 inverse solve. Every cell is a standard EVSE output; the branch is always sized to the full charger output.

Quick answer: read down to your measured 12-month peak and across to your service size. A 100A service at a 60A peak fits a 16A charger; a 200A service at that peak fits a 48A charger. A dash means no charger fits by 220.87 alone, which is where a load-management device comes in.

Biggest Charger by Service & Demand

Biggest standard EV charger output (amps) per service size and example measured peak, from NEC 220.87. Branch sizes are on the per-service pages.
Measured peak100A service125A service150A service200A service
40A peak40A48A48A48A
50A peak24A48A48A48A
60A peak16A40A48A48A
70A peak-24A48A48A
80A peak-16A40A48A
100A peak--16A48A

Amps are the standard EVSE output. The branch is sized at 125% (EV charging is continuous, NEC 625.42): a 16A charger takes #12 Cu / 20A, 24A takes #10 / 30A, 32A takes #8 / 40A, 40A takes #8 / 50A, 48A takes #6 / 60A. A dash is a charger that only fits with a load-management device. The demand rows are example peaks; your metered demand governs.


Frequently Asked Questions

How is the max EV charger chart computed?

Every cell is the NEC 220.87 inverse solve: 125% of the measured peak demand is subtracted from the service rating, and the headroom (divided by 1.25, because EV charging is continuous per NEC 625.42) is floored to the largest standard EVSE output that fits. The demand rows are example measured peaks, labeled as such; your own metered demand governs.

Why does a bigger service sometimes give the same charger?

Because the biggest standard residential EVSE output is capped: once the headroom passes what a 48A charger needs, a larger service does not raise the standard charger further until the next standard step. The chart floors to real EVSE output ratings (16, 24, 32, 40, 48A), never a non-standard number.

What if no charger fits?

When 125% of the measured demand leaves less headroom than the smallest standard charger needs, the chart shows a dash: no charger fits by NEC 220.87 alone. That is exactly where a listed load-management device (a shed DCC, a throttle, or a circuit-share switch) can allow one without a panel upgrade, with the branch still sized to the full charger output.


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