EV charger installations in Australia must comply with national and state or territory electrical standards. This guide outlines the key requirements under AS/NZS3000:2018 and the applicable Service and Installation Rules (SIRs) for each state or territory.
IMPORTANT
All installations must be carried out by a licensed electrician, and the relevant safety certificate must be issued upon completion.
Unlicenced installation is illegal, dangerous, and voids product warranty
What AS/NZS3000:2018 Requires
AS/NZS3000:2018 (the Wiring Rules) sets the minimum mandatory requirements for electrical installations across Australia. The following apply to all EV charger installations.
Cable Sizing A minimum 6mm² cross-sectional area (CSA) cable is required for a standard 32A domestic installation.
Dedicated Circuit The EV charger must be supplied by a dedicated circuit — no other appliances or outlets may share the circuit supplying the charger.
RCD and Circuit Protection A Type A RCD is required — 2-pole for single-phase, 4-pole for three-phase — along with a Curve B or Curve C circuit breaker. A 40A-rated device is recommended to prevent nuisance tripping on a 32A circuit. The zappi includes built-in DC fault protection above 6mA as standard, meaning a Type A RCD is sufficient. Chargers without this capability require a Type B RCD, which is significantly larger and more costly.
Isolation Switch AS/NZS3000:2018 does not mandate a dedicated isolation switch at the charger location. Where the switchboard is clearly visible and within close proximity to the charger, the upstream RCBO can serve as the isolation point. In commercial installations, or where the charger is located at a distance from the board, a dedicated isolation switch adjacent to the charger is advisable.
Mechanical Protection & Environmental Ratings AS/NZS3000:2018 sets minimum ingress and impact protection ratings depending on installation location:
- Outdoor installations: minimum IP44
- Car park or public installations: minimum IK07
The zappi exceeds both requirements, rated at IP65 and IK10 — the highest rating on the IK scale. This makes it suitable for exposed outdoor environments, garages, and commercial installations without the need for additional enclosures or mechanical protection in most scenarios.
State and Territory Requirements
Beyond AS/NZS3000:2018, each state and territory has its own mandatory Service and Installation Rules (SIRs). The most significant variation relates to the maximum permitted single-phase load. Three-phase 32A EVSE can generally be installed across all jurisdictions — confirm with your local network operator prior to installation.
| State/Territory | Max Single-Phase | Notes | Link to SIR |
| New South Wales | 32A / 7kW | 32A permitted | NSW Fair Trading |
| Victoria | 32A / 7kW | 32A permitted | Energy Safe Victoria |
| Queensland | 20A / 4.6kW | Limited to 20A unless connected via methods approved within QECM4 | Energex / Ergon Energy |
| Western Australia | 32A / 7kW | 32A permitted as long as it does not exceed main supply | Western Power |
| South Australia | 32A / 7kW | zappi permitted up to 32A if Smart Apply process is followed. | SA Power Networks |
| Tasmania | 32A / 7kW | 32A permitted. | TasNetworks |
| Australian Capital Territory | 25A / 5.7kW | Must be limited to 25A. | Evoenergy |
| Northern Territory | 25A / 5.7kW | Must be limited to 25A. | Power and Water Corporation |
Useful Resources
The Electric Vehicle Council publishes national guidance and installer support materials for EV charger installations. View EV Council Guidelines