Single phase
About 7kW
What you will see in the box
One main switch, and a single set of mains coming into the board.
This is what most Gold Coast homes have. It runs a 7kW charger comfortably, which adds roughly 40km of range an hour.
Three Phase Power Upgrades Gold Coast
We upgrade Gold Coast homes and businesses to three phase power, a bigger supply from the street, when the one you have cannot run the charger you want. We check what you have, tell you honestly whether an upgrade is worth it, and handle the work and the network application if it is.
Free check
Find out what you have
A photo of your meter box is usually enough for us to tell you whether you are single or three phase. Send one through with your address.
- 7kW to 22kW
- what three phase makes possible
- Licence 91381
- Queensland electrical contractor
- We lodge it
- the network application and the paperwork
What you have now
How to Tell Whether You Have Single or Three Phase
You can work this out yourself in about a minute. Open your meter box and look at the main switch, which is the largest switch in the board.
Three phase
11kW or 22kW
What you will see in the box
A wide main switch with three poles, or three separate main switches side by side.
More common on newer builds, larger homes and anything with ducted air conditioning or a pool. It is what unlocks the faster chargers.
If you are not sure what you are looking at, send us a photo of the open meter box and we will tell you.
Do you need it?
Most Homes Do Not Need Three Phase for EV Charging
We would rather tell you this before you spend the money. A 7kW charger on a single phase supply covers normal driving several times over while you sleep.
Single phase is usually enough when
- You drive a normal daily distance and charge overnight.
- You have one electric car in the household.
- The car sits at home for eight hours or more at a time.
Three phase starts to make sense when
- You drive long distances and need a fast turnaround between trips.
- You have two electric cars sharing one charger.
- You want the car charged inside the hours your solar is producing.
- You are adding other heavy loads at the same time, such as ducted air conditioning or a pool.
If your situation is in the first list, we will say so and fit a 7kW charger on the supply you already have.
The upgrade
What a Three Phase Upgrade Involves
An upgrade changes the supply coming into your property, so it involves your electricity distributor as well as us. These are the parts of it.
We check what is available at your property
Three phase has to be available in the street before it can come into the building. That gets confirmed before anything else is discussed.
The application goes to the network
Your distributor has to approve the change to your connection. We prepare and lodge that application and deal with the queries that come back.
New mains from the point of supply
Heavier cable runs from the connection point into your switchboard, which usually means a trench or a new overhead run depending on how your property is fed.
Switchboard and metering work
A three phase main switch, the protection to go with it, and space for the metering equipment your distributor requires.
Testing and connection
Everything is tested to AS/NZS 3000 before the supply is energised, then the charger is commissioned on the new capacity.
Pricing
What Affects the Cost of a Three Phase Upgrade
Four things set the price, and they vary a lot between properties on the same street.
How your property is fed
Usually costs less
An overhead supply with a clear run to the board.
Usually costs more
An underground supply that has to be re-trenched from the street.
How far the board is from the connection point
Usually costs less
The switchboard sits on the street side of the building.
Usually costs more
The board is at the back of the property, or in a second building.
The condition of your switchboard
Usually costs less
A modern board with room for three phase gear.
Usually costs more
An older board that needs replacing before the supply can change.
What the network asks for
Usually costs less
A straightforward connection change within the usual limits.
Usually costs more
Additional equipment or work required by your distributor.
We quote a three phase upgrade after a site visit and after the availability has been confirmed with your distributor.
Common questions
Three Phase Upgrade Questions
Open your meter box and look at the main switch. One switch and a single set of mains means single phase. A wide three pole switch, or three switches side by side, means three phase.
If you are not sure, send us a photo of the open box and we will tell you.
No. A 7kW charger on a single phase supply adds around 40km of range an hour, which covers a normal day's driving several times over while you sleep.
Three phase matters when you drive long distances, run two electric cars, or want the charging done inside the hours your solar is producing.
It has to be available in the street first, and that varies by area and by how your property is connected.
Confirming availability with your distributor is the first thing we do, before any quoting or planning.
The electrical work is usually the shorter part. The network application and the distributor's own scheduling set the overall timeframe.
We will give you a realistic picture once the application is in and we have heard back on your specific connection.
Often yes, because the board needs a three phase main switch, the protection to match, and physical space for the metering equipment.
We assess the board on the site visit and include any work it needs in the quote.
Up to a point. Three phase raises the ceiling from about 7kW to 11kW or 22kW, so the charger can draw more.
Your car sets its own limit as well. A vehicle that accepts 11kW will charge at 11kW on a 22kW charger, so it is worth checking your model before committing.
It often is, because the same switchboard work covers both and you only pay for the disruption once.
We have six accredited sign-off electricians across solar, battery and EV, so the whole thing can be planned together.
Our other services
- Home EV Charger InstallationA dedicated charger on its own circuit, sized and wired for it.
- Commercial EV Charger InstallationWorkplaces, strata, retail and fleets, with load management across the bays.
- Tesla Wall Connector InstallationCertified to install and commission it, and it charges most other EVs too.
- EV Charger Repairs and ServicingTripping, slow, offline or damaged. Every brand we install, plus most other brands.
Worth reading
- 7kW or 22kW: Which Home Charger Do You Actually Need
The honest answer for most households is the slower one, and it is not close. Here is the arithmetic, and the cases where it flips.
- Do You Need a Switchboard Upgrade for an EV Charger
It is the line on a quote people least expect and most often assume the worst about. Usually the board is added to, not replaced.
Read more EV charging guides, or find out who we are.
Not sure what your property has?
Get a Free Quote
for EV Charger Installation
Send us a photo of your open meter box with your address. We will tell you whether you are single or three phase, and whether you need to change it.
Request a Free Quote
Fill in the form below and we'll get back to you shortly.
We will come back to you once we have looked at your board.
- Licence 91381Queensland electrical contractor.
- AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 5139Tested before the supply is energised.
- Servicing the Gold CoastCoolangatta to Ormeau and Pimpama.
