Reviewed by Lee Gundenswager (Lead Electrician, Connex Lic #92217) and Darren Standring (Owner). Written for North Brisbane and Moreton Bay homeowners. Last updated 2026-07-25.
Quick answer: You can buy an EV charger from Bunnings or online, but in Queensland you cannot legally install or hard-wire it yourself — that’s licensed electrical work. A plug-in “granny” charger that goes into an existing power point is the only thing a homeowner can use without an electrician, and it’s slow (around 10–15km of range per hour). Any proper 7kW wall charger must be installed by a licensed electrician, with a dedicated circuit, RCD protection, Energex lodgement and a Certificate of Compliance. DIY hard-wiring is illegal, dangerous, voids insurance, and can void the charger warranty.
I’m Lee, lead electrician at Connex Electrical. “Can I just grab a charger from Bunnings and put it in myself?” comes up a lot — usually from people trying to save on install costs. It’s a fair question, so here’s the honest answer about what you can and can’t do yourself in Queensland, and where buying your own hardware genuinely does save money.
Can you buy an EV charger from Bunnings?
Yes. Bunnings and plenty of online retailers sell EV charging equipment — from basic portable “granny” chargers to 7kW wall units. Buying the hardware yourself is completely fine, and for some brands it can save a little on the unit cost. The catch is what happens next: installing it.
Can you install an EV charger yourself in Queensland?
No — not a wall charger. In Queensland, installing or hard-wiring an EV charger is licensed electrical work under the Electrical Safety Act 2002. It is illegal for an unlicensed person to carry it out, and for good reason: an EV charger is a large, continuous load that requires a correctly sized dedicated circuit, proper RCD protection, and compliant cabling. Getting that wrong risks fire, electric shock, and a non-compliant installation.
The only EV charging a homeowner can set up without an electrician is a portable plug-in charger that goes into an existing, sound power point — and even then, that circuit should be in good condition and ideally on its own. Anything that mounts to the wall and connects to your wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
Why DIY EV charger installation is a false economy
- It’s illegal. Unlicensed electrical work in QLD carries significant penalties.
- It’s dangerous. A 7kW charger draws ~32A continuously for hours — undersized cable or missing protection is a genuine fire risk.
- It voids your home insurance. Illegal electrical work discovered after a fire or fault can leave you uninsured.
- It voids the charger warranty. Most manufacturers require licensed installation for the warranty to stand.
- No Certificate of Compliance. You won’t have the paperwork proving the work is safe and legal — an issue when you sell the home.
- No Energex lodgement. EV chargers require an Energex Electrical Work Request, which only a licensed electrician can lodge.
The plug-in “granny” charger — the one DIY option
Every EV comes with (or offers) a portable charging lead that plugs into a normal 10A or 15A power point. This is the one form of home charging you can use without an electrician — but understand the trade-off:
- It’s slow: around 10–15km of range per hour, so a full charge can take a day or more.
- A standard 10A point isn’t designed for many hours of continuous high load; on an old or shared circuit that’s a real concern. A dedicated 15A outlet (installed by an electrician) is safer for regular use.
- It’s fine as an occasional top-up, but most people find it too slow as their main charging method.
For day-to-day charging, a proper 7kW wall charger — installed from $990 at Connex — adds around 40km of range per hour and refills most EVs overnight. That’s the difference between “topping up” and actually running your car on electricity.
Where buying your own charger DOES save money
If you want to keep costs down, the smart move isn’t DIY installation — it’s supplying your own hardware and having us install it. Many customers buy their preferred charger (a Zappi, Tesla Wall Connector, Ocular, etc.) and we install it compliantly. You save on the unit markup and still get a legal, safe, warranted, certified installation. Just check with us first that the model you’re eyeing is a sensible fit — our best home EV chargers guide covers the ones we recommend.
What a compliant Connex install includes
- A dedicated circuit sized for the charger.
- Correct RCD (safety switch) protection.
- Compliant cabling and mounting.
- Energex Electrical Work Request lodgement.
- A Certificate of Compliance for the completed work.
- Testing and a walkthrough of how to use it.
All for a fixed price quoted in writing. Buy the charger where you like — let a licensed electrician put it in. Call 0474 207 609 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
No. Installing or hard-wiring an EV wall charger is licensed electrical work under the Queensland Electrical Safety Act 2002, and it is illegal for an unlicensed person to do it. The only home charging you can set up yourself is a portable plug-in charger into an existing sound power point. Any wall-mounted 7kW charger must be installed by a licensed electrician with a dedicated circuit, RCD protection, Energex lodgement and a Certificate of Compliance.
Yes. You can buy the charger hardware from Bunnings or online and have a licensed electrician install it. This is a smart way to save on the unit markup while still getting a legal, safe, warranted and certified installation. It’s worth checking with your electrician first that the model suits your home and car.
A portable charger on a normal 10A power point works for occasional top-ups but is slow at around 10 to 15km of range per hour. A standard point isn’t designed for many hours of continuous high load, so on an old or shared circuit it can be a concern. For regular charging, a dedicated 15A outlet or a proper 7kW wall charger installed by an electrician is safer and much faster.
Unlicensed electrical work in Queensland is illegal and carries significant penalties. Beyond the legal risk, DIY installation can cause fire or electric shock, void your home insurance, void the charger’s warranty, and leave you without a Certificate of Compliance, which becomes a problem when selling the home. It is a false economy compared with a fixed-price licensed install.
Book your EV charger installation in North Brisbane
Connex Electrical installs EV chargers across North Brisbane and Moreton Bay — supply your own charger or let us provide one. Legal, safe, certified, fixed-price in writing. QLD Electrical Contractor Licence #92217, $20M public liability, 5.0★ rated with 513 Google reviews. Call 0474 207 609 or see our EV charger installation North Brisbane service page.
Sources & references
- Queensland Electrical Safety Act 2002 — licensed electrical work
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules
- AS/NZS 61851.1 Electric Vehicle Conductive Charging System
- Energex — Electrical Work Request (EWR) requirements for EV chargers