EV Charging Station Installation Guide

Once you switch to an electric vehicle, the biggest question is where and how you'll charge it. The most practical and economical approach is to charge at home, in your building or at work using your own charging station. But it isn't as simple as bolting an AC wallbox to the wall and plugging in: it takes proper planning, suitable electrical infrastructure, the necessary permits and a qualified installation. In this guide we bring home, apartment/building and workplace installations together in one place, laying out every step you need to know in plain terms so the whole process goes smoothly from start to finish.

What should you plan before installation begins?

A good installation begins at the desk, before a single cable is run. First, decide where you park your vehicle and where the charging device will be mounted; the distance between that point and the electrical panel directly affects the length and cost of the cable to be run. Next, find out your vehicle's onboard AC charging capacity: whatever the maximum AC power your car accepts, the charging speed will be capped at that limit no matter how powerful a device you install.

The key decisions to make during the planning stage are:

• Installation location: detached garage, apartment/building car park or workplace car park (each requires different permits and infrastructure).
• Target power: a value compatible with what the vehicle accepts and with the electrical capacity of the home or business (in the 7.4–22 kW AC range).
• Single-phase or three-phase: if your installation is single-phase the typical ceiling is 7.4 kW; with three-phase you can reach 11–22 kW.
• Cable route and distance: the distance between the panel and the device determines the cable cross-section and labour cost.
• Future needs: if a second vehicle or a second point will be added later, designing the infrastructure for that from the outset is the most economical route.

Which permits do you need to install a charging station?

If you're installing in a garage on your own property in a detached house, you generally won't need any additional permission; the decision is entirely yours. Installing in a shared space such as an apartment or building car park is different: because it involves alterations and additional wiring in a common area, you first need to consult the building management or the property owners and obtain the necessary approval. In Turkey, the regulations are evolving to make electric vehicle charging infrastructure requests easier; even so, the best course is to speak with your building management and a qualified electrician to clarify the current, binding situation.

The second key point is the distribution (grid) side. For a single, low-power home installation, the existing subscription is usually sufficient. But with high-power or multi-point installations, total demand may exceed your existing subscription capacity; in that case a power upgrade or grid opinion from the electricity distribution company may be required. Your qualified electrician makes this assessment and, if needed, explains the process to be handled with the distribution company.

General rule: Your own garage is yours; the decision on a common area rests with building management, and grid capacity with the distribution company. Clarify permits before installation.

What kind of electrical infrastructure does a charging station require?

So it can operate independently of the rest of the home, the charging device should be fed as far as possible from a dedicated line run from the electrical panel. This line forms its own circuit at the panel with a device-specific fuse and protection; that way there's no conflict with the home's other loads during charging and safety improves. The capacity of the existing installation — that is, the main fuse and existing wiring — must be assessed against the continuous load the device will draw.

Why does cable cross-section matter?

Cable cross-section is the most critical factor determining the current a cable can carry safely without overheating. A charging device draws high, continuous current over long periods; a cable with an inadequate cross-section will overheat under this load, lose efficiency and create a safety risk. The correct cross-section is determined by the device's power (its ampere rating), whether it's single- or three-phase, and the distance between the panel and the device. As distance increases, a thicker cable is usually needed to compensate for voltage drop. This calculation must be done with precise figures by a qualified electrician; choosing a cable by guesswork is not the right approach.

Is residual current protection (RCD) mandatory?

Yes. A suitable residual current device (RCD) must be present on the line feeding the charging device. In the event of a leakage current or insulation fault, the RCD instantly cuts the circuit, providing protection against the risk of electric shock. Because EV charging is a continuous, high-current use, this protection is far more critical than for a standard household socket. Even if the device has its own internal safety functions, the correct type of residual current and overcurrent protection on the panel side is an indispensable part of the installation.

• A dedicated supply line for the device, separate from the panel.
• A cable cross-section correctly calculated for the power and distance.
• The appropriate type of residual current protection (RCD) and overcurrent protection (fuse).
• If required, a separate meter for the device (especially to separate consumption in a common area).
• Solid earthing that complies with the standards.

Which charging device should I choose?

In the vast majority of home, building and workplace installations, the preferred device type is the AC wallbox. Where the vehicle is parked for long stretches (at home overnight, at work during the day), AC charging is both sufficient and gentle on the battery. In terms of power, single-phase installations typically use 7.4 kW models, while three-phase installations use models in the 11–22 kW range. When choosing a device, assess your vehicle's accepted power and your installation's capacity together; a device more powerful than needed provides no benefit if your vehicle can't draw that power.

The key features to consider when choosing an AC wallbox:

• Connector: Type 2, the Turkish and European standard (compatible with all modern electric vehicles).
• Power and phase: 7.4 kW (single-phase) or 11–22 kW (three-phase), depending on the installation.
• Protection rating: IP65/IP66 for outdoor and car-park use (dust and water resistance).
• OCPP compatibility: for installations that need remote management, monitoring and per-use billing.
• Load management (DLM) support: to share power evenly if more than one point is to be installed.

Bemis manufactures its domestically produced AC wallbox models at its facility in Bursa. The product range includes models in the 7.4–22 kW AC range with Type 2 connectors, IP65/IP66 protection and OCPP compatibility, along with CCS2-connector DC fast-charging solutions for road/fleet use. The devices carry the CE mark. You can decide which model suits which installation together with the qualified team, based on your vehicle's power, your installation and your usage scenario.

How does load management work across multiple charging points?

In installations where several vehicles can charge at once — a building, a business or a fleet — what often falls short is not the device but the building's electrical capacity. If every point draws full power at the same time, the main fuse may trip or the grid may be strained. Load management (DLM – Dynamic Load Management) shares the available power intelligently among the points, keeping total consumption from exceeding the facility's safe limit. When only one vehicle is connected it receives more power; as a second and third vehicle are added, the system automatically redistributes power in a balanced way.

This makes it possible to offer charging at more points using the existing infrastructure, without an expensive subscription power upgrade or a new transformer. OCPP-compatible devices let you handle this management remotely through central software and bill each user's consumption separately. If you'd like to explore how load management works in detail, take a look at our dedicated guide on the subject.

What are the installation steps?

Once the permits and plan are ready, the physical installation usually takes little time. A typical installation proceeds in this order: a qualified electrician surveys the site and determines the mounting point; a separate supply line is run from the panel to the device; residual current and overcurrent protection is added to the panel; the device is fixed to the wall or a stand and wired; earthing is connected. Finally the device is powered up and tested, and if required registered with the OCPP/management software.

• 1. Site survey: the authorised dealer or electrician determines the distribution board, the main breaker, the phase configuration (single-phase/three-phase), the position of the device and the length of the cable run.
• 2. Permits and metering plan: usually not required in a detached house; in an apartment building or gated community you need the management's approval and a decision on a dedicated or a shared meter.
• 3. Cable run: a dedicated line from the main board to the device; a 1×32 A single-phase breaker for 7.4 kW, 3×16 A for 11 kW and a 3×32 A three-phase breaker for 22 kW; cable cross-section according to distance.
• 4. Residual current protection: the electrician selects protection that detects the DC residual component (a Type A RCD combined with 6 mA DC detection inside the device, or a Type B RCD).
• 5. Installation: the device is fixed to the wall; an IP65 enclosure needs no additional cabinet outdoors; on the tethered model the cable holder is planned, on the socket model the orientation of the socket.
• 6. Commissioning and testing: phase sequence, earthing and residual current tests; Wi-Fi/app pairing and RFID card registration; a test charge with the vehicle and verification of the power.

Who should install and commission the charging station?

Installing a charging station is work that involves the electrical installation and carries continuous high current; for that reason it must always be carried out by a qualified electrician or authorised service. An unauthorised or careless installation carries the risk of fire, electric shock and device failure, and may also affect warranty coverage. A qualified installation guarantees that every detail — from correctly calculating the cable cross-section to properly selecting the protection devices — is done in line with the standards.

Once installation is complete, the device is commissioned and tested: it's confirmed that the protection devices work correctly, that the earthing is solid and that the device charges smoothly at the specified power. In an OCPP-compatible installation, the device is registered with the management software and prepared for remote monitoring and billing. Because this commissioning step confirms that everything works safely and correctly before the first charge, it's the final link that should never be skipped.

Whether your installation is for a home, a building or a business, with the right device selection and a qualified installation you can charge trouble-free for years. From the guides below you can explore the one that best fits your own scenario, and take a look at Bemis's OCPP-compatible, domestically produced models.