How do I add an EV charger circuit if my electrical panel is already full?

If your panel is full, you have three main options: install tandem breakers to free up space, add a subpanel fed from the main panel, or upgrade to a larger panel. The right choice depends on your current panel's amperage, the available space, and your budget.

Option 1: Tandem (slim) breakers — $200 to $500. Many panels accept tandem breakers, which put two circuits in the space of one standard breaker. If your panel is physically full but has amperage capacity to spare, an electrician can replace two standard single-pole breakers with a tandem breaker, freeing up one slot. Do this twice, and you have a double-pole slot available for your 240V EV charger breaker. Not all panels accept tandem breakers — your panel's internal labelling will show which slots are rated for them. An electrician can assess this in about 15 minutes.

Option 2: Subpanel — $1,200 to $2,500. If your main panel has amperage to spare (you're on 200 amp service but only using 120 to 150 amps of capacity), your electrician can install a subpanel nearby and feed it from a double-pole breaker in the main panel. The subpanel gives you 6 to 12 new breaker slots for the EV charger circuit plus future expansion. This is a clean solution that doesn't require replacing your existing panel, and it's the most common approach for adding EV charging to New Brunswick homes that have adequate amperage but no physical space in the panel.

Option 3: Panel upgrade — $2,500 to $4,500. If your home is on 100 amp service (common in New Brunswick homes built before the 1980s), adding a 40 to 50 amp EV charger circuit isn't just a space problem — it's a capacity problem. A 100 amp panel running an electric dryer (30 amps), range (40 amps), and heat pump (20 to 30 amps) simply doesn't have the amperage headroom for an EV charger. In this case, upgrading to a 200 amp panel solves both the space and capacity issues. The new panel will have plenty of slots and double the total capacity.

Option 4 (emerging): Smart electrical panels — $3,000 to $5,000. Products like the Span smart panel or load management devices can dynamically share capacity between circuits. For example, when the EV charger is running at night, the system can temporarily reduce power to the dryer circuit (which isn't in use). This technology is newer but gaining traction in situations where a full panel upgrade isn't practical.

How to determine which option you need. Your electrician will perform a load calculation — adding up the demand from all your existing circuits and comparing it to your panel's total capacity. This calculation, done according to CEC Section 8, determines whether you have enough amperage to add the EV charger or need to upgrade. The inspection takes about 30 minutes and most electricians include it in their quote.

TSANB permits are required for all of these options — adding tandem breakers, installing a subpanel, or upgrading the main panel. Your electrician handles the permit and coordinates the TSANB inspection. If upgrading from 100 to 200 amp service, NB Power will also need to upgrade the service drop to your home, which they typically do at no charge but may take several weeks to schedule.

---

Find a Electrical Contractor

New Brunswick Electrical connects you with experienced contractors through the https://newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com:

• A+ Solar Solutions ✓
• BCB Electric ✓
• Blue Energy Ltd ✓