ChargeRight vs Qmerit: Why You Should Get an Independent Assessment Before a $5,000 Installation Quote
When you buy an EV, the manufacturer or dealership often directs you to Qmerit for “home charging installation.” Tesla, Ford, GM, Rivian, and BMW all use Qmerit as their preferred installation partner. What they don't tell you is that Qmerit is a referral network — not an independent assessor — and their financial incentives don't always align with yours.
I'm Jason Walls, Master Electrician, IBEW Local 369. I built ChargeRight because I kept seeing homeowners get $4,000–$6,000 quotes that included panel upgrades they didn't need. A $12.99 NEC 220.82 load calculation would have shown them the truth: most homes with 200A panels and gas heat have plenty of room for an EV charger.
Should I use Qmerit or get an independent assessment first?
Get an independent NEC 220.82 load calculation first. For $12.99, you'll know exactly what your panel can handle before committing to a $3,000–$6,000 installation quote from a referral network.
Qmerit connects you with contractors who earn more when the scope of work is larger. An independent assessment has no financial incentive to recommend unnecessary upgrades. You should know your panel's capacity before any contractor gives you a quote — that's the only way to verify whether a recommended upgrade is actually necessary.
NEC References:
- NEC 220.82
Last updated: February 2026
The Referral Network Conflict of Interest
Here's how Qmerit works:
- EV manufacturer partners with Qmerit as their “preferred installation partner”
- You fill out a form on Qmerit's site describing your electrical setup
- Qmerit matches you with a contractor in their network
- The contractor provides a quote (typically $3,000–$6,000)
- Qmerit earns a referral fee on the completed work
The problem? Every party in this chain benefits from a larger scope of work:
- The contractor earns more on bigger jobs
- Qmerit earns a larger referral fee
- The manufacturer wants satisfied customers who don't blame them for complications
Nobody in this chain has a financial incentive to tell you that you don't need a panel upgrade. And many Qmerit contractors don't run a formal NEC 220.82 load calculation — they look at the panel, see it's full, and recommend an upgrade.
Cost Comparison
Corporate Referral Network (Qmerit, etc.)
$4,850 avg
Installation quote often includes panel upgrade. Referral fees built into price. May not run a load calculation first.
ChargeRight Panel Assessment
$12.99
NEC 220.82 load calculation + AI panel analysis + professional PDF report. Know if you actually need an upgrade before you spend thousands.
Potential Savings
$4,837.01
If your panel doesn't actually need an upgrade
What ChargeRight Does Differently
ChargeRight is an independent assessment tool. We don't sell installations, we don't earn referral fees, and we have zero financial incentive to recommend work you don't need. Here's what you get for $12.99:
- Full NEC 220.82 load calculation — the same method licensed electricians use
- 5 NEC method comparison — 220.82, 220.83(A), 220.83(B), Standard, and 2026 NEC preview
- AI-powered panel photo analysis — detects hazards, brand, breaker count, and safety issues
- Professional PDF report — shareable with any electrician, not locked to a network
- Electrician call script — know exactly what to say when getting quotes
| Feature | ChargeRight | Qmerit / Typical Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $12.99 | $3,000–$6,000 |
| Time to results | Minutes | Days to weeks |
| NEC 220.82 calculation | Always included | Varies / not always |
| Financial incentive to upsell | None — we don't sell installations | Yes — larger job = larger fee |
| AI panel photo analysis | Included | Not available |
| Multiple NEC methods compared | 5 methods + 2026 preview | Usually 1 method |
| PDF report for your electrician | Included | Varies |
| Independent assessment | Yes | No — referral network |
The Real Numbers: When Panel Upgrades Aren't Needed
Based on hundreds of NEC 220.82 calculations run through ChargeRight:
200A panel + gas heat
Typical calculated load: 120–140A. Safe capacity: 160A. A 48A EV charger fits with room to spare. Panel upgrade NOT needed in most cases.
200A panel + electric heat
HVAC adds 10,000–24,000 VA. May or may not fit — must run the full calculation. A smaller charger (32A or 40A) often works.
100A panel
More likely to need an upgrade, but not always. Gas heat + smaller charger may fit. Worth $12.99 to find out before committing to a $5,000 upgrade.
What If You Actually Need a Panel Upgrade?
ChargeRight doesn't just tell you yes or no — it shows you the exact numbers so you can make an informed decision. If your panel is at capacity, we provide:
- Upgrade scenario options with cost estimates
- Comparison of different charger sizes and their impact
- Sub-panel options when physical space is the issue
- 2026 NEC considerations if your jurisdiction is adopting it
Even when you do need an upgrade, knowing the NEC 220.82 numbers gives you leverage. You can verify that a contractor's quote is based on actual engineering — not just a visual assessment of your panel.
The Safety Issue Nobody Talks About
While cost is important, some panels need to be replaced for safety reasons regardless of capacity:
Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok panels
Known breaker failure defect — fire hazard. Replace regardless of EV charger plans.
Zinsco/Sylvania panels
Bus bar overheating — breakers can fuse and fail to trip. Replace for safety.
ChargeRight's AI panel photo analysis specifically checks for these hazardous brands and flags them immediately — something a referral network quote might not catch or might not prioritize.
Jason Walls
Master Electrician · IBEW Local 369 · EVITP Certified
NEC 220.82 Specialist · ChargeRight Founder
“I built ChargeRight because I was tired of seeing homeowners pay $3,000–$5,000 for panel upgrades that a $12.99 load calculation would have shown they didn’t need. The math doesn’t lie — and every homeowner deserves to see it before they write a check.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ChargeRight and Qmerit?
ChargeRight is a $12.99 independent NEC 220.82 panel assessment tool built by a Master Electrician. It tells you whether your panel can support an EV charger. Qmerit is a referral network that connects you with installation contractors — their quotes typically range from $3,000 to $6,000 and often include panel upgrades.
Why are Qmerit quotes so expensive?
Qmerit earns referral fees from contractors on each job. Larger scope of work means larger fees. Their quotes often include panel upgrades by default because it reduces their liability and increases revenue. They may not run a proper NEC 220.82 load calculation first.
Does Qmerit run a NEC 220.82 load calculation?
Qmerit's process varies by contractor. Some contractors in their network run load calculations, others don't. The assessment is not standardized. ChargeRight runs a full NEC 220.82 calculation every time, comparing 5 different NEC methods.
Can I use ChargeRight results with any electrician?
Yes. ChargeRight generates a professional PDF report with your NEC 220.82 load calculation breakdown. You can share this with any licensed electrician — you're not locked into a referral network.
Is ChargeRight a replacement for an electrician?
No. ChargeRight provides the load calculation and assessment. Final installation must be performed by a licensed electrician. The advantage is that you'll know exactly what you need before getting quotes — so you can identify unnecessary upsells.
How much can I save by using ChargeRight first?
If ChargeRight's NEC 220.82 calculation shows your panel can handle the EV charger without an upgrade, you could save $2,000–$5,000 that would have been spent on an unnecessary panel upgrade. The assessment costs $12.99.
About the Author
Jason Walls
Master Electrician, IBEW Local 369, EVITP Certified. Jason built ChargeRight after seeing too many homeowners pay for panel upgrades they didn't need. “The math doesn't lie — and every homeowner deserves to see it before they write a check.”