An EV charger that is not working is most often caused by one of five things: a tripped breaker or GFCI, a loose or damaged charging cable, a connector that is not fully seated in the vehicle’s port, a failed Wi-Fi or app connection, or an overloaded shared circuit. Cable and electrical faults require a licensed electrician to diagnose and repair safely; connectivity issues (Wi-Fi, app, firmware) can often be resolved by the homeowner. If a charger trips breakers repeatedly, overheats, or shows visible cable damage, stop using it and call a professional immediately.
Why Your EV Charger Stopped Working: The Most Common Culprits
An EV charger, more precisely called an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment), doesn’t actually charge your car’s battery. It safely delivers power from your electrical panel to your vehicle, while the car’s onboard converter manages the actual charging. For a session to start, three things have to line up: a stable, correctly sized power supply, a physical connector that seats fully and locks (per SAE J1772 for most non-Tesla EVs, or NACS for Tesla and newer models), and a successful communication “handshake” between the charger and the vehicle. When any one of those three fails, the charger appears “broken” even when the hardware itself is fine.
At Arete Electric & HVAC Services, we’ve been called out across Sandown, NH and the surrounding New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities for EV charger issues that fall into two very different buckets: cable and electrical problems (wiring, breakers, panel capacity, grounding) and connectivity problems (Wi-Fi, firmware, app pairing). Knowing which bucket your issue falls into determines whether it’s a five-minute fix or a job for a licensed electrician.
Cable and Electrical Issues (Call a Licensed Electrician)
1. Tripped Breaker or Nuisance GFCI Trips
Most Level 2 home chargers run on a dedicated 240V circuit, and many local codes now require GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) protection on that circuit. A breaker that trips once might just mean the circuit was momentarily overloaded. A breaker that trips repeatedly is the panel telling you something is wrong — often a real ground fault, an undersized circuit for the charger’s amperage, or a shared circuit that’s also feeding another high-draw appliance. Never respond to repeated tripping by installing a larger breaker; that removes the safety margin the wiring was designed around and can overheat wires inside your walls.
2. Loose, Corroded, or Undersized Wiring
Intermittent charging — sessions that start strong and then stop, or that never reach full speed — is frequently a wiring problem rather than a charger problem. Loose lugs, corroded connections, or wiring that’s undersized for the charger’s rated amperage all create resistance, heat, and voltage drop, which can trigger the charger’s built-in thermal protection and shut the session down.
3. Physical Cable and Connector Damage
Frayed insulation, a cracked connector housing, a plug that runs hot to the touch, or visible water intrusion are not cosmetic issues — they’re fire and shock hazards. If you see any of these signs, stop using the charger immediately and have it inspected before plugging in again.
4. Overloaded or Shared Circuits
If your charger shares a circuit with a dryer, well pump, or shop equipment, running both at once can trip the breaker even though each device works fine on its own. This is one of the most common reasons homeowners assume their charger is defective when the real issue is circuit design.
Connectivity Issues (Often DIY-Fixable)
5. Wi-Fi and App Pairing Problems
Most smart chargers only support 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, not 5 GHz — a common reason a charger won’t join a home network. Weak signal strength in a garage or driveway, router security settings, or an outdated firmware version can all cause the app to show “offline” even though the charger itself is delivering power normally.
6. Communication Handshake Errors
If the charger has power and the connector is plugged in, but your car never starts charging, the connector may not be fully seated, or there may be a software mismatch between the vehicle and the EVSE. Reseating the connector, restarting the charger per the manufacturer’s instructions, and checking for a pending firmware or vehicle software update resolve a large share of these cases without any tools at all.
A quick way to tell which bucket you’re in: if a portable Level 1 charger still works using the same wall outlet, the problem is likely the Level 2 unit, its dedicated circuit, or connectivity — not your car. If nothing charges the vehicle at all, treat it as an electrical issue and stop testing further.
EV Charger Troubleshooting Checklist
- Check the breaker. Confirm it hasn’t tripped and that it’s fully in the “on” position.
- Inspect the cable and connector. Look for cracks, fraying, heat discoloration, or moisture. If found, stop use and call an electrician.
- Reset the connector. Unplug fully, confirm the port is clean and dry, and plug back in until it clicks and locks.
- Restart the charger. Follow the manufacturer’s power-cycle procedure (not just unplugging a hardwired unit).
- Check for scheduled charging. Many apps delay a session for off-peak rates — this can look like a “dead” charger.
- Confirm Wi-Fi band and signal. Ensure the router broadcasts 2.4 GHz and the signal reaches the charger’s location.
- Test with a Level 1 cord if available. This isolates whether the issue is the vehicle or the Level 2 circuit/unit.
- Call a licensed electrician if breakers keep tripping, the unit overheats, or none of the above resolves it.
Comparing Common EV Charger Problems
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Cable Issue or Connectivity Issue? | Who Should Fix It |
| Charger won’t power on at all | Tripped breaker, dead circuit, or failed internal electronics | Cable/electrical | Licensed electrician |
| Charging stops mid-session or is intermittent | Loose, corroded, or undersized wiring; thermal throttling | Cable/electrical | Licensed electrician |
| Breaker or GFCI trips repeatedly | Overloaded shared circuit or a real ground fault | Cable/electrical | Licensed electrician |
| Charger won’t connect to Wi-Fi or app | Weak signal, 5GHz-only network, router settings, firmware | Connectivity | DIY, then electrician if faults persist |
| Car won’t recognize the charger (no “handshake”) | Connector not fully seated, software mismatch, or compatibility issue | Both | DIY first, then electrician |
| Visible cable damage, fraying, or a hot plug | Physical wear, water intrusion, or a failing connector | Cable/electrical | Stop use immediately — call an electrician |
Pricing, Timeline, and Red Flags to Watch For
What affects repair or diagnostic pricing: the type of charger (Level 1, 2, or 3/DC fast), whether the issue is in the EVSE unit itself or the home’s electrical panel and wiring, panel capacity and whether a service upgrade is needed, and whether permitting is required for New Hampshire or Massachusetts jurisdictions. A straightforward breaker or wiring repair is typically a same-day visit; a full panel upgrade or new circuit installation takes longer and should always be quoted after an on-site evaluation.
Red flags that mean stop charging and call now: a burning smell, a warm or hot connector/outlet, visible sparking, a breaker that trips on every attempt, or a charger that was DIY-installed without a permit or inspection. The National Fire Protection Association specifically advises stopping use immediately if you notice overheating, sparks, or damaged wiring.
Questions to ask before hiring anyone for EV charger work:
- Are you a licensed electrician, and will the work be permitted and inspected?
- Will you evaluate my panel’s available capacity before recommending a charger?
- Is the circuit dedicated, and will it meet local NEC and state code requirements?
- Do you offer diagnostic service for existing chargers, not just new installation?
Why Choose Arete Electric & HVAC Services
Arete Electric & HVAC Services is a family-run, licensed electrical and HVAC company based in Sandown, NH, serving homeowners and businesses throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Our team handles the full range of EV charger services, including charger selection, electrical system upgrades, new installations, charger inspections, cable repair, connectivity resolutions, and circuit breaker or wiring repairs — the exact cable and connectivity issues covered in this guide.
Whether you’re troubleshooting an existing EV charger installation or searching for “best electrician near me” after a charger keeps tripping your breaker, our licensed, certified technicians diagnose the real cause — electrical or connectivity — before recommending a fix. We also support the broader systems your charger depends on through our residential electrical and electrical service and repair work, and we’re a Mass Save® certified contractor for homeowners upgrading panels or adding electrical capacity.
Get Your EV Charger Fixed Right
EV charger problems rarely fix themselves, and guessing at electrical repairs is not worth the risk to your home, your vehicle, or your family. If your charger is tripping breakers, showing cable damage, or simply won’t connect, Arete Electric & HVAC Services can send a licensed electrician to diagnose it correctly the first time.
Call 603-453-2537 or request your free estimate online to get your EV charger back in service — serving Sandown, NH and communities throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my EV charger plugged in but not charging?
This usually means the connector isn’t fully seated, the vehicle and charger haven’t completed their communication “handshake,” or a scheduled/off-peak charging timer in the app is delaying the session. Unplug and firmly reseat the connector until it clicks, check the app for a scheduled start time, and restart the charger using the manufacturer’s power-cycle steps. If the charger still shows no power at all, the issue is likely electrical, not software.
Why does my EV charger keep tripping the breaker?
Repeated tripping usually points to a real ground fault, a circuit that’s undersized for the charger’s amperage, or a shared circuit that’s also feeding another high-draw appliance like a dryer or well pump. Never fix this by installing a larger breaker — that removes a safety protection built into your wiring. Have a licensed electrician evaluate the circuit and load.
Can I fix EV charger connectivity issues myself, or do I need an electrician?
Wi-Fi and app-related issues — weak signal, a 5GHz-only network, outdated firmware — are usually safe to troubleshoot yourself. But if connectivity problems show up alongside tripped breakers, overheating, or a charger that won’t power on at all, that’s an electrical issue and needs a licensed electrician, not just a router restart.
How much does it cost to repair a home EV charger?
Cost depends on whether the problem is in the EVSE unit itself or in your home’s electrical panel and wiring, plus whether a circuit upgrade or permit is required in New Hampshire or Massachusetts. A simple breaker or wiring repair is often a same-day fix; panel upgrades or new dedicated circuits take longer and should be quoted after an on-site evaluation.
Is it safe to keep using an EV charger with a damaged cable?
No. A cracked connector housing, frayed insulation, a hot plug, or signs of water intrusion are fire and shock hazards, not cosmetic issues. Stop using the charger immediately and have it inspected by a licensed electrician before charging again.
