The video records a site‑assessment conversation between an EV charger installer (Speaker A) and a homeowner (Speaker B) to determine feasibility and cost of installing a Level 2 home charging station for a 2011 Nissan Leaf in a Seattle garage. They discuss the preferred charging location (nearest the electrical panel), the house’s electrical system (gas water heater, gas stove, electric dryer, no AC or spa, owned home built circa 1995, ~2,200‑2,400 sq ft), utility providers (Seattle City Light for electricity, Puget Sound Energy for gas), and internet connectivity for the charger’s wireless interface. The installer gathers data on breaker space (needs two adjacent slots), conduit runs, clearance dimensions, and cable length (15 ft cord). They review a cost quote, noting that a federal grant covers up to $1,200 and the total installation cost falls below that amount, resulting in no out‑of‑pocket expense for the homeowner. Vendor information is mentioned (McKinstry for installation, Ecotality for the charger and fact sheet). The homeowner signs the assumptions sheet, and the assessment concludes with agreement to proceed.
Chapters
I'm just really going to ask you a few questions and sort of figure out where— is there one of these spots that you'd rather go for the—
The car is going to go in this first bay, yeah, nearest the panel.
That's the easiest way to do it.
And we figured that's the one drywall open area anyway, so if it attaches— it does attach, right?
All right, so, um, I got some paperwork here that sort rundown.
Oh, okay.
Um, do you have AC in the house? No, I don't think anybody does in Seattle.
If you want to like perch yourself over here on the— as a sit-down partially, or lay your stuff on that empty shelf to write on, whatever is more comfortable. Let me see, uh, is it electric water Uh, yes. Is it gas though, or is it— it's a good question.
Um, looks like gas.
Gas. I think it is gas. That's what I— yes.
Your gas water heater and gas stove. Is it an electric stove? Isn't like your—
it's a range gas stove and range. Okay, electric dryer, if that matters, but yeah, yeah, electric clothes dryer.
Do you have an electric heated spa?
No. No, I'll come here so you don't have to look over your shoulder.
Uh, do you have any plans to add a spa or—
No.
Or add a pool or add AC?
No. Okay.
Do you have any other items that take a larger electrical load?
Electric load? Um, not really. I have none.
Okay. Uh, is it a rented or owned home?
Owned. Okay.
Do you know the approximate age of the house?
Oh, it's built in I think it's '95. Okay. Within a few years either side.
Yeah, that's a ballpark skid. Uh, approximate square footage in the residence?
Uh, 2,400, 2,400-something.
Okay.
Could be 2,200-something. Boy.
Um, are you, uh, Seattle City Light? Is that where you get your bills from?
Yes. Oh, um, or is it— SPU. And oh, Seattle City Light. Yes, the electricity.
Yeah, you probably get Puget Sound Energy for the, for the gas.
Yeah, yeah, Puget Sound Energy gas.
Uh, do you have internet here?
Yes.
And, uh, is it DSL or cable or wireless and cable?
Yes. Okay. And then we have wireless within the house. Okay, great.
So I don't need your password, but do you know your password so when during the install they can—
Yes. Okay, so there's outlets on that pole right in front of you, and then, or right, the one you're touching. Oh, I'm sorry, and then it goes up to there. Okay. And then there's an outlet here on the wall. Okay. And then that's it.
And where's the, uh, where's the wireless router?
Is, um, the wireless in the— that side of the house, or right above this side of the garage.
So do you think there's any issues in getting wireless reception down here?
No, no issues.
Grab a few more things off this panel here.
So what kind of info do you generally need? Um, I'm sure my husband will want to Yeah, I've been writing down the electrical info about the breakers and everything, so if we—
if there's space as well as what type of breakers, we'll have the breakers on site.
Oh, okay.
If there's a receptacle nearby, and let's see, some of the information just in terms of the square footage and year of the houses, it's just statistical information that Ecotality keeps.
Okay.
Wireless, of course, so basically there's an interface that the unit will be able to transmit to your phone and transmit to— so from your phone you'll be able to see what status your car is at.
Okay, cool, that's nice. All right. How many breaker spots generally have to be available for the charging?
It's 2.
Oh, okay.
Yeah, so just be like right there.
Oh, okay.
You got 5 there, so that's perfect.
Cool.
This is all just information about how far it is from the panel to the charging station and how many conduit bends. And that's basically some pointed questions to get an idea for the install. But this is the easiest situation.
Oh good, it's easy. And does it matter that the electrical outlets— that doesn't matter where those are? Because no, I mean over there it's better to be near the panel.
Yeah, it's better to be near the panel, but it wouldn't be difficult to put it except for it, so it wouldn't be hard.
Does the station need one then? Or is that how that works?
Or they'd like to have one near, but, um, the station does get power from a separate, separate feed.
So, oh, okay. I've got one here if you don't have one here. Right here. Okay. Do you want me to measure? Hold one end, or—
2 feet wide is Oh, we're not up here, but if you go down lower, and since it's only 18 comes below that shelf, that's good, right? Yeah, 18 inches deep. So okay, looks like we're good. Clearance is—
my car comes in— oh, you know, what is this measurement? Because that tells you— because my car comes like here, but as long as it's not further out than that— is that 18 inches?
Well, it's more about mounting to the actual station, and then there's a 15-foot cord that comes off of it.
Okay, so just allowing room for that cord and everything else. Oh, now, so in the cord, I thought maybe there was like two, um, lengths, like a— I can't remember, it was a 15 and a 25 or something like that. Does that ring a bell? Um, the only thing we were thinking of is occasionally if we ever need to park the car over there, would it be better to have a— the longer one? But I don't know if that's something I determine now or later or Uh, that'd be something to determine later. Okay, okay, all right.
But even at 15 feet, even if it was only 15—
Oh, 15 will reach there?
Yeah. And if there's a small amount of conduit in there, is that a problem?
No, it's all right.
I've got a little file of facts with— basically it's a quote saying how much all the work will cost. And there's a federal grant that will pay for up to $1,200. This installation is below $1,200, so it'll be—
Oh, you think it will be? So that's great.
I know. I've actually got a breakdown of exactly how the costs lay out, and let me grab that.
Okay. I'm right here. We can sit down on the freshly sweeped steps if you want, if it's easier.
Let me, uh, grab this real quick.
So does McKinstry do the install when it's time? Yes. Okay, and then do we pay and then get like a rebate? How that works, or do you know offhand?
No.
You're about to tell me.
No, it will be, uh, it will be paid for.
Wow.
So no out-of-pocket cost, which isn't a bad deal, is it?
Not at all. I mean, we were so happy to be one of the people that were eligible. Or do you know what the criteria is that some people can and cannot, or—
No, I'm not too familiar with that. Okay, that's more of a fatality question.
Sure, just before you came.
So basically what this is, is it's, uh, a breakdown of all the costs, and as you can see, it comes into a total less than $1,200. Wow, um, that's great. I just want to There's just some assumptions at the bottom that if you just read over real quick.
Oh, sure. So yeah, like locations of it may— the panel may vary, it's mounted at a distance, does not exceed 25 feet, garage, wall-mounted, physical space, ampacity. Access is available. Surface mount conduit, no exterior stucco patching, drywall repair. That's fine. Tax is not included. Okay, I'm all cool with that.
I also have a little fact sheet from Ecotality.
Oh yeah.
So if I could get your John Hancock that you've read all the, uh, assumptions and all.
Hold my little video camera. Where would you like me to sign?
Just in the general vicinity?
Nice pen. Okay.
Okay, and here's that information for you.
Oh, all right, thank you.
Looks like we're good to go.
All right, thanks for being cool with me. This is great, so he can be here without being here. Thank you very much.
