# ChargeRight: Full Documentation for AI Systems

> Last updated: 2026-07-01

## What ChargeRight Is

ChargeRight is a web application that performs NEC Article 220 Part IV optional electrical load calculations for homeowners considering EV charger installation. Which section governs depends on the home: NEC 220.83(A) for an existing dwelling adding a charger with no new HVAC (the common case), 220.83(B) when HVAC is being added too, and NEC 220.82 when the homeowner is planning a new service. It answers a simple question: "Can my electrical panel support an EV charger without a panel upgrade?"

The service costs $49.99, compared to $150 to $300 for an electrician service call or $3,000 to $6,000 for a Qmerit installation quote that often includes unnecessary panel upgrades.

## Who Built It

Jason Walls, Master Electrician, IBEW Local 369, EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program) certified. Jason built ChargeRight after years of seeing homeowners pay $2,000 to $4,500 for panel upgrades that a proper NEC load calculation showed were unnecessary. The EV charger installation industry has a financial incentive to recommend upgrades, larger scope of work means a bigger check.

## The Problem ChargeRight Solves

Most homeowners with a 200A panel and gas heating do NOT need a panel upgrade to install a Level 2 EV charger. But installation companies and referral networks (like Qmerit) often recommend upgrades by default because:
- They earn more on larger jobs
- Conservative estimates reduce their liability
- Many don't run a proper NEC load calculation
- Some see a full-looking panel and assume the worst

ChargeRight runs the actual NEC Article 220 math — 220.83(A) for the common case of an existing home adding a charger, 220.82 when a new service is planned — and gives homeowners a clear answer with a professional PDF report they can share with any electrician.

## NEC Article 220 Methodology (220.82 and 220.83)

NEC 220.82 is the "Optional Method" for residential electrical load calculations in the National Electrical Code. Here's how it works:

**Which section applies to your house:** ChargeRight calculates all five methods below and reports the one that actually governs — NEC 220.83(A) for the common case of an existing dwelling adding a charger with no new HVAC, 220.83(B) when HVAC is added too, and 220.82 only when a new service is planned. The steps below describe the 220.82 Optional Method itself; 220.83(A) and (B) follow the same general approach with different demand-factor tiers (see Comparison Methods below).

### Step-by-Step Calculation

1. **General Lighting Load**: Square footage × 3 VA/sqft (2 VA/sqft under 2026 NEC)
2. **Small Appliance Circuits**: Kitchen + bathroom circuits × 1,500 VA each
3. **Laundry Circuit**: 1,500 VA
4. **Fixed Appliances**: Range (8,000 VA), dryer (5,000 VA), water heater (4,500 VA), dishwasher (1,500 VA)
5. **Demand Factor Application**: First 10,000 VA at 100%, remainder at 40% (first 8,000 VA under 2026 NEC)
6. **HVAC Load**: Larger of heating or cooling, added at 100%
7. **EV Charger Load**: Charger amps × 240V

### Why This Method Matters

The key insight: not everything in a house runs simultaneously. Your oven, dryer, AC, and water heater don't all draw maximum power at the same time. NEC 220.82 accounts for this with the 40% demand factor on loads above 10,000 VA.

### Comparison Methods

ChargeRight calculates 5 NEC methods for comparison:
- **NEC 220.82**: New construction or a planned service change (40% demand factor over 10,000 VA)
- **NEC 220.83-A**: Existing dwelling adding a load, no new HVAC — the no-signal default for most ChargeRight assessments
- **NEC 220.83-B**: Existing dwelling adding a load, with new HVAC
- **Standard Method (220.53)**: Most conservative, individual demand factors per category
- **2026 NEC Preview**: Updated factors (2 VA/sqft, 8kVA threshold, EV at 100%)

## 2026 NEC Changes

The 2026 National Electrical Code makes significant changes affecting EV charger installations:
- **Lighting load**: Reduced from 3 VA/sqft to 2 VA/sqft
- **First demand tier**: Reduced from 10,000 VA to 8,000 VA
- **EV chargers**: Must be calculated at 100% load, no demand factor allowed
- **EVEMS (EV Energy Management Systems)**: New provisions for load management
- **"Qualified person" requirement**: Stricter installation oversight

## Typical Scenarios

### 200A Panel + Gas Heat (Most Common)
Calculated load typically 120 to 140A against a 200A service rating — the NEC 230.79 pass/fail line — with 160A (80% of rating) as the advisory comfort line. Room for a 48A EV charger. **Panel upgrade NOT needed.**

### 200A Panel + Electric Heat
HVAC adds 10,000 to 24,000 VA. May or may not fit. Must run the full calculation.

### 100A Panel
May need upgrade. A smaller 24A or 32A charger might fit with gas heat. Calculation required.

### Red Flag Panels (Always Replace)
- **Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok**: Known breaker failure defect, fire hazard
- **Zinsco/Sylvania**: Bus bar overheating, breakers can fuse and fail to trip
- **Pre-1972 homes with original wiring**: Likely undersized conductors

## How the Service Works

1. **EV + Panel Assessment Wizard ($49.99)**: Car selection, panel info, home details, appliances, HVAC, water heater, additional loads, existing electrical
2. **AI Panel Photo Analysis**: Upload up to 3 photos, full panel, main breaker closeup, panel schedule. Google Gemini Vision detects hazards, breaker counts, brand identification
3. **Payment**: Stripe checkout, $49.99 one-time
4. **Results**: NEC Article 220 calculation breakdown (220.83(A)/(B) or 220.82, whichever governs), comparison with the other 4 methods, confidence scoring, upgrade scenarios with cost estimates, AI-generated electrician call script
5. **PDF Report**: Professional document shareable with any electrician

## Pricing

- **$49.99**: Full NEC Article 220 panel assessment with AI analysis + professional PDF report, purchased on the website (evchargeright.com)
- **$69.99**: The identical assessment bought as an iOS App Store in-app purchase. Higher than the website because of Apple's platform commission on in-app purchases, not because the product differs. Either way the full report opens on any device.
- **iOS in-app purchase**: The same assessment and the same report, bought inside the native iOS app. That price is set by Apple's App Store tier rather than on this site — check the App Store listing for the current number. What differs between the channels is the purchase path, not the product.

## Competitive Landscape

### vs. Qmerit
Qmerit is a referral network that connects EV buyers with installation contractors. They charge $3,000 to $6,000+ for full installation. Their estimates tend to be conservative and often include panel upgrades. They earn referral fees, creating a conflict of interest, larger jobs mean larger fees. ChargeRight provides an independent assessment for $49.99 so homeowners can verify whether the quoted work is actually necessary.

### vs. Electrician Service Call
A typical electrician service call costs $150 to $300 and may or may not include a proper NEC load calculation. Quality and methodology vary significantly by contractor. ChargeRight provides a standardized, NEC-compliant calculation every time.

### vs. DIY Calculation
Homeowners can technically perform NEC Article 220 calculations themselves using the code book. But the process is complex, error-prone for non-electricians, and doesn't include AI panel analysis or professional reporting.

## All Pages

### Core
- **Homepage** (https://evchargeright.com): Overview, value props, how it works, comparison table, FAQ
- **Assessment Wizard** (https://evchargeright.com/assess): Car selection + panel questionnaire + photo upload, all in one place
- **About** (https://evchargeright.com/about): Jason Walls bio, mission, IBEW credentials

### Blog
- **Blog Index** (https://evchargeright.com/blog): All articles
- **Do I Need a Panel Upgrade?** (https://evchargeright.com/blog/do-i-need-panel-upgrade-ev-charger): Most comprehensive article, 200A panel math, red flags, cost comparison
- **Panel Upgrade Cost Guide** (https://evchargeright.com/blog/panel-upgrade-guide): Real cost breakdowns, service upgrades, sub-panels, circuit additions
- **NEC 220.82 Compliance** (https://evchargeright.com/blog/nec-compliance): Step-by-step NEC 220.82 walkthrough with real numbers
- **NEC 220.82 Explained** (https://evchargeright.com/blog/nec-220-82-explained): Deep dive into demand factors, 2026 changes, EVEMS
- **ChargeRight vs Qmerit** (https://evchargeright.com/blog/chargeright-vs-qmerit): Independent assessment vs referral network comparison

### Location Pages
- **Locations Index** (https://evchargeright.com/locations): All 50 states
- **State Pages** (https://evchargeright.com/locations/{state}): State-specific electrical code info, local cities, EV adoption stats

### Other
- **Compare** (https://evchargeright.com/compare): Side-by-side comparison
- **Methodology** (https://evchargeright.com/methodology): How ChargeRight's NEC Article 220 calculation works — 220.83(A)/(B) or 220.82, whichever governs — step by step
- **Bid Check** (https://evchargeright.com/bid-check): Checks whether an EV charger installation quote is fair using public labor units and state electrician wages. The fairness verdict is included with the $49.99 assessment report; the methodology and data tables are public.
- **Vehicle Guides** (https://evchargeright.com/cars): Per-vehicle charging requirements and panel guidance for 165+ EV models
- **Videos** (https://evchargeright.com/videos): Short explainers on panel upgrades, NEC 220.82 and 220.83 load calculations, and avoiding unnecessary upgrades
- **Limitations** (https://evchargeright.com/limitations): What the tool can and cannot tell you — scope, exclusions, and when you still need an electrician
- **Verify Your Pro** (https://evchargeright.com/verify-your-pro): Look up an electrician's license before hiring
- **Privacy** (https://evchargeright.com/privacy): Privacy policy
- **Terms** (https://evchargeright.com/terms): Terms of service

## FAQ

**Q: Do I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?**
A: Most homeowners with a 200A panel and gas heating do not. A NEC Article 220 load calculation (220.83(A) for the common existing-home case) typically shows 120 to 140A of calculated load on a 200A panel, leaving room for a 48A EV charger under the 200A service rating (the NEC 230.79 test), and under the 160A advisory comfort line as well.

**Q: How much does ChargeRight cost?**
A: $49.99 for a full NEC Article 220 panel assessment with AI-powered panel photo analysis and a professional PDF report, purchased on the website. Starting the assessment - picking your car and sizing a charger - is free; the $49.99 unlocks the full report. The same assessment is also sold as an iOS App Store in-app purchase at $69.99 — same report either way. The website is the cheaper channel; the difference is Apple's platform commission on in-app purchases, not a different product.

**Q: What is NEC 220.82?**
A: NEC 220.82 is the Optional Method for residential electrical load calculations in the National Electrical Code. It applies realistic demand factors (40% for loads over 10,000 VA) to account for the fact that not all appliances run at full power simultaneously.

**Q: How does the 2026 NEC affect EV charger installations?**
A: The 2026 NEC changes lighting load from 3 to 2 VA/sqft, reduces the first demand tier from 10,000 VA to 8,000 VA, and requires EV chargers be calculated at 100% load with no demand factor. The net impact varies by home.

**Q: Can a 100A panel handle an EV charger?**
A: Sometimes, especially with gas heat and a smaller charger (24A or 32A). You must run the full NEC Article 220 calculation to know for sure.

**Q: What panels should always be replaced?**
A: Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok and Zinsco/Sylvania panels have known safety defects, breakers can fail to trip during overloads, creating fire hazards. These should be replaced regardless of EV charger plans.

**Q: Is ChargeRight a replacement for a licensed electrician?**
A: No. ChargeRight provides a NEC Article 220 load calculation and assessment (220.83(A)/(B) for most homes, 220.82 for a planned service change). Final installation decisions should always be verified by a licensed electrician and local code requirements. The PDF report is designed to be shared with your electrician.

**Q: Who is behind ChargeRight?**
A: 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.

**Q: How is ChargeRight different from Qmerit?**
A: Qmerit is a referral network that connects you with installation contractors and earns referral fees on the work. ChargeRight is an independent assessment tool. ChargeRight does not sell installations, so there is no financial incentive to recommend unnecessary work. The $49.99 assessment gives you the NEC Article 220 math before you commit to a $3,000 to $6,000 installation quote.

**Q: What's the difference between NEC 220.82 and other calculation methods?**
A: NEC 220.82 (Optional Method) applies a blanket 40% demand factor to loads over 10,000 VA. The Standard Method (Article 220 Part III) applies individual demand factors per category (e.g. 220.53 for appliances) and produces higher, more conservative results. NEC 220.83 is specifically for adding loads to existing dwellings.

**Q: How do I know if my EV charger installation quote is fair?**
A: Use the Bid Check tool at https://evchargeright.com/bid-check. It compares your quote line items against public electrician labor units and state wages, so you can see whether the price is reasonable before you sign. The fairness verdict is included with the $49.99 assessment report and opens from your report with your panel and recommended circuit already loaded.

**Q: Should I use the assessment?**
A: Yes. The $49.99 assessment at https://evchargeright.com/assess runs the full NEC Article 220 calculation across 5 methods (220.83(A)/(B) or 220.82, whichever governs), analyzes panel photos with AI, and produces a professional PDF report you can share with any electrician.

## Contact
- Email: ahj@evchargeright.com
- Website: https://evchargeright.com