Quick Hits

⚡ Quick Hit: EV Chargers — The Simplest Rule Yet

NEC Article 120 — “Load Calcs Won't Kill You” 🔌⚡

Episode 23 — 120.57 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)

🚗 THE QUICK HIT

After working through cooking appliances and commercial kitchen equipment, here's a refreshingly simple load-calculation rule.

EVSE = NAMEPLATE

And if you don't have a nameplate rating available?

7,200 VA

That's the basic rule provided by 120.57.

🔌 120.57 — EVSE LOAD

For each Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) served, determine the load using its:

NAMEPLATE RATING

when the nameplate rating is available.

🧮 EXAMPLE

An EVSE has a nameplate rating of:

9,600 VA

Calculated load:

9,600 VA

No special demand-factor table is needed under this section.

❓ NO NAMEPLATE?

What happens if the EVSE doesn't have an available nameplate rating?

120.57 provides a default value:

7,200 VA

🧠 EASY TO REMEMBER

Nameplate available?

→ Use the nameplate.

Nameplate unavailable?

→ 7,200 VA

⚡ QUICK COMPARISON

After all the cooking-appliance calculations:

🍳 Cooking appliances

Tables + demand factors + special notes

🍽️ Commercial kitchen equipment

Table + qualifying conditions + minimum floor

🚗 EVSE

Nameplate

or

7,200 VA

That's it.

🎯 TEST YOURSELF

An EVSE unit has no available nameplate rating.

Per 120.57, what value must be used for the load calculation?

A) 5,000 VA

B) 7,200 VA

C) 1,500 VA

D) 0 VA until the nameplate is found

👇 What's your answer?

✅ ANSWER

B) 7,200 VA

When the EVSE nameplate rating isn't available, 120.57 provides 7,200 VA as the load value.

🔑 THE TAKEAWAY

🚗 EVSE

Nameplate → Use it

No available nameplate → 7,200 VA

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🧭 QUICK HIT NAVIGATION

← Back to Article 120 Quick Hits

← Episode 22 — Commercial Kitchens Get Their Own Table

→ Episode 24 — Feeder & Service Neutral Loads

⚠️ EDUCATIONAL NOTICE

This Quick Hit is an educational explanation based on the author's understanding of the NEC. It is not a substitute for the official NEC, applicable local amendments, manufacturer instructions, or the determination of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Always verify the requirements applicable to your specific installation.

The National Electrical Code® and NEC® are registered trademarks of NFPA. JoshTheSparky.com is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by NFPA.