Powering your garage: EV charger, 240 V, lighting
EV charger, welder, compressor: today’s garage needs far more than an old light circuit. Here’s how to power it properly — without overloading your panel.
Far more than a ceiling bulb
EV charging, compressor, welder, table saw, space heater, freezer: the modern garage draws far more power than before. Running it “off an extension cord from the house” is a recipe for tripping breakers — or worse.
An EV charging station
A dedicated 240 V circuit, sized to the charger — often 40 A.
A 240 V outlet for tools
Welder, compressor, dryer: each on its own circuit, at the right rating.
Enough 120 V outlets, GFCI protected
A garage is a damp location: GFCI protection is required here.
Efficient LED lighting
To work safely, without overloading an old lighting circuit.
Can your panel keep up?
Before adding a charger or a 240 V outlet, the real question is: does your panel have the capacity? A 100 A panel that’s already full may need a 200 A upgrade, or a load-management system that balances the load intelligently. A master electrician calculates this before connecting anything — that’s what prevents overloads and keeps you code-compliant.
Powering your garage, in the right order
Assess the panel’s capacity
We calculate the real load and decide whether you need an upgrade or load management.
Run dedicated circuits
One circuit per big appliance (charger, welder), at the right rating — never a jury-rigged split.
Protect: GFCI and durability
GFCI outlets (damp location), protected wiring, sturdy boxes.
Lighting and comfort
Efficient LED, well-placed switches, outlets where you need them.
A garage to power up?
We calculate your panel’s capacity and install charger, 240 V outlets and lighting to code. CMEQ member · RBQ licence · 5-year warranty.
What people ask us
Can I install an EV charger in my garage?+
Yes, it’s the ideal spot. It needs a dedicated 240 V circuit sized for the charger (often 40 A) and a panel with enough capacity. A master electrician confirms the size and, if needed, adds load management or upgrades the panel.
Is my 100 A panel enough for a well-equipped garage?+
Sometimes yes, sometimes no — it depends on what you plug in. A charger, a welder and a heater can exceed its capacity. We calculate the load first: the fix is either load management or a 200 A upgrade.
I need a 240 V outlet for my welder. Is it complicated?+
It’s a dedicated circuit at the right rating, with the right outlet. The ‘complicated’ part is doing it correctly: right wire, right protection, code compliance. That’s exactly the kind of work reserved to a master electrician.
Do garage outlets have to be GFCI protected?+
Yes. A garage is considered a damp location, so outlets must be protected by a Class A GFCI — the same protection as outdoors.
Do I need a permit / a master electrician?+
Yes. Residential electrical work must be done by an RBQ-licensed company that’s a CMEQ member. It also protects your insurance.
How much does it cost?+
It depends on your needs and your panel’s capacity. At Groupe Quenneville, a regular service call is $150 plus $140/hr (1 hr minimum). We assess, explain and quote — free quote at 514-503-1353.
