Home EV charger won't charge the car

A charger that won't start is usually a reset or a setting away from working again — most of the time nothing on your wall has actually failed.

tuneWhat are you noticing?

Select anything that matches and the checklist below reorders to fit. Not sure? Skip it.

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In Canada, check the breaker and the charger's own reset first. Look at the panel for the charger's breaker sitting slightly off-centre, and at the unit for a tripped-GFCI light or reset button. Switch the breaker fully OFF then ON, or press the unit's reset once. If it trips again right away, stop resetting it — repeated ground-fault trips mean something needs a licensed electrician.

Ranked from real-world failure data. The order updates as you select what you’re noticing above.

Likely causes, in the order to check them

Showing the typical order

Beginner-friendly Doable, with care Safety-critical Call a pro

visibilityHow to check

report Reset once — not again and againThe breaker and the charger's built-in ground-fault protection exist to cut power when something is wrong. One reset to clear a one-off surge is fine. But if it trips again right away, do not keep resetting it — repeated ground-fault or breaker trips mean current is going somewhere it shouldn't, which can be a shock or fire hazard. Leave it off and have a licensed electrician find the cause.

Look at the charger's status light or screen and at its breaker in the panel. A GFCI/CCID trip usually shows a specific fault light or a reset button on the unit; a panel breaker will sit slightly off-centre between ON and OFF.
Reset once: switch the breaker fully OFF then firmly back ON, or press the unit's reset button a single time, and start a charge.
If it charges, you're done. If it trips again straight away — especially a ground-fault/CCID trip — stop resetting it. A protection device that keeps tripping is doing its job; that is the point to call a licensed electrician.

buildNo tools schedule10 min

handymanHow to fix it

With the charge stopped, unplug and inspect the connector, clean off dirt or moisture, reseat the handle firmly in the car and (for a portable unit) the plug in its outlet, then restart the charge — but retire any connector that is scorched, melted, or hot rather than cleaning it.

Stop the charge from the car or app first, then unplug the handle from the car so you're not separating it under load.
Inspect the handle contacts and the wall plug (portable units) for dirt, road grime, moisture, or bent pins. Wipe dry and clear debris gently — do not force or file the pins.
STOP if any part is scorched, discoloured, melted, or warm to the touch: that connector is done, and reusing it risks a fire. Set it aside and have it replaced.
Reseat the handle firmly in the car until it clicks, push a portable unit's plug fully into its outlet, and start a charge to confirm.

schedule15 min savingsusually free

Replacement charging connector / portable EVSE cordsetMatch the connector type (J1772 on most non-Tesla EVs; NACS on Tesla) and the unit's amperage rating

gavel Check your province first AB: homeowner may do this · BC: homeowner may do this · ON: permit + inspection required · PE: homeowner may do this · QC: licensed professionals only
Reseating or replacing a portable EVSE cordset into an existing suitable outlet is generally owner-permitted (diy_allowed); installing or repairing a hardwired EVSE and its 240V circuit is licensed work — confirm the provincial rule before presenting circuit work as DIY.

verifiedWhy this one goes to a pro

A persistent fault light or error code means the electronics inside the sealed EVSE have faulted. Note the code and contact the manufacturer's support — the unit may be under warranty — or a licensed electrician. Opening a mains-powered unit exposes you to 240-volt live parts, and an improper repair can void the warranty and the safety certification. Leave the case closed.

Your notes travel with the request — what you saw, what you ruled out, when it started — so the pro arrives with a head start instead of a mystery.

verifiedWhy this one goes to a pro

Diagnosing or repairing the dedicated 240-volt circuit that feeds the charger — the breaker, the wiring, and every connection along it — means working on live, high-current conductors where a loose joint can start a fire. This is licensed electrical work in Canada. Leave the breaker off and have a licensed electrician trace and repair the circuit.

Your notes travel with the request — what you saw, what you ruled out, when it started — so the pro arrives with a head start instead of a mystery.

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Why the list is in this order

We don’t sort by likelihood alone. We sort the way a good, honest tradesperson thinks: rule out the free, safe, common causes first. That’s why the cheap checks outrank the expensive repairs — and why anything dangerous gets a hard stop instead of a pep talk. The order exists to save you money, not to sell you anything.